Hundreds of people put their best foot forward for charity as Bridgnorth's annual walk returned Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Each year hundreds of competitors don their walking shoes and take part in one of the events at the walk family walk and the gruelling 21.5 walk that includes a climb up Brown Clee Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Shropshire Star’s free newsletter Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter This year saw numerous groups take part in the walk, including the town's Bridgnorth Spartans junior football team that fielded around 100 walkers, as well as a similar number of pupils from Castlefields Primary School who were raising money for the Severn Valley Railway following its landslip Residents across Shropshire are invited to join in with local celebrations and festivities as Shropshire Council leads the way in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on the May bank holiday Local communities can join the nationwide Great British Food Festival on Monday 5 May by holding street parties cooking up a BBQ or fry up with their neighbours The Great British Food Festival will bring together residents and visitors to celebrate the county’s rich culinary and cultural history whilst also honouring the sacrifices and triumphs of the nation’s veterans during the Second World War Shropshire Council’s chief executive “Whether it’s a street or garden party we’re inviting everyone to come together in Shropshire for the Great British Food Festival for a day of fun and to honour the veterans who ensured we could live peacefully today “VE Day is a significant occasion for our nation and the 80th anniversary gives us a unique opportunity to bring all of our residents together to reflect on “We will be proudly flying the VE Day Flag outside the main council offices at The Guildhall in Shrewsbury.” VE Day is a day of remembrance that commemorates Germany’s surrender to the Allies everyone can get involved with local events including: people can follow Shropshire Council on Facebook and X and join the conversation using #VE80 the Together Coalition’s chief executive officer “VE Day is perhaps the most formative single moment in shaping the collective image we have of ourselves as people and as nations That is why we’re encouraging all communities to come together and celebrate our shared history.” Email: communications@shropshire.gov.uk Phone: 01743 252826 Email: customer.service@shropshire.gov.uk Phone: 0345 678 9000 A road connecting Bridgnorth in Shropshire with Wolverhampton has reopened after being blocked due to a crash Congestion is also being caused around the incident on the A454 near Bridgnorth in both directions The AA reported the road had reopened at 12.30pm The emergency services have been approached for further information Shropshire Council is taking steps to save the 125 Bridgnorth to Stourbridge – via Highley – bus service after Diamond Buses announced they will end the service from 31 March 2025 The 125 service has been completely commercial but with no other bus operator in the area considering this route commercially viable the council will now need to consider fully subsidising the service for a limited time using funding provided by the Government to improve bus services across the county The service is out to tender for three weeks and the council will then assess which – if any – operators are interested in operating this route under contract Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for public transport “We’re very disappointed that Diamond Buses has chosen to stop operating this service due to it no longer being commercially viable we know that this remains an important route for many people and we plan to step in to fund a replacement for a limited time “The council’s public transport budget is very limited and money already received from the Government to fund our planned bus service improvements will need to be used to fund the replacement service This is something we’ve done recently to support some former Arriva services in the short-term “Once the contract is awarded we will use the contract period to work out passenger numbers and usage it’s really important for people to use the service to ensure continued financial support in the longer-term The message really is ‘use it or lose it.” After deregulation of the bus network in the 1980s any local bus operator can put on a bus service they see as commercially viable They can operate these bus services on routes that generate enough revenue for them Local councils can then only set up bus services along routes that bus operators do not deem commercial and the council will contract these for a period with a subsidy A stunning Shropshire home that featured on a property renovation TV series has been listed for sale Walnut Tree Cottage in the Hamlet of Midwinters near Bridgnorth was featured on HGTV's 'My Dream Derelict Home' when it was remodelled in 2012/13 that is believed to date back to 1795 and thought to be associated with Thomas Crump who was a local mine owner and philanthropist The current owners have renovated and modernised the cottage to an "exemplary standard" and the home is designed to be as economically and environmentally friendly as possible Walnut Tree Cottage has hit the market with a guide price of £1 million with Savills estate agents The cottage offers an idyllic lifestyle and is set in approximately 6.76 acres of land The listing adds that a separate barn - that is currently used as a garden store - has potential for conversion The property boasts beautiful expansive gardens and grounds to enjoy while the cottage itself features a balcony where the homeowner can sit and enjoy the view and fabulous sunsets and sunrises The listing says: "Walnut Tree Cottage is the perfect example of an exemplary renovation which offers the most idyllic lifestyle and was featured on 'My Dream Derelict Home' when it was remodelled in 2012/13 The house is made up of a perfect combination of organic materials including original stone work and green oak "The current owners have very thoughtfully and sympathetically renovated the property by using reclaimed products and natural stone "The original cottage dates to 1795 and is thought to be associated with Thomas Crump who was a local mine owner and philanthropist The current owners have added conventional and green oak timber framed extensions to the original cottage There is stone flooring throughout the ground floor and the whole property is fitted with underfloor heating "It is designed to be economically and environmentally sympathetic which utilises a large ground collector and two 80 metre boreholes as heat sources." The 'oak room' is flooded with natural light and provides a calming space to relax There are French doors leading onto a balcony where there are views of the Brown Clee and surrounding countryside Walnut Tree Cottage is situated in 6.76 acres of gardens and paddocks Within the land are natural springs which feed the property's ponds Electric wooden gates open onto a gravel parking area and driveway that features a car port "A wicket gate provides access to the main house door and a gravel path meanders through the garden where there are planted beds and borders a number of seating areas and a central fountain," the listing adds "Wicket gates provide access into the pastureland to the small grove of trees around the well/spring and to both ponds There are raised vegetable beds and a greenhouse along with access to the cellar "Pretty rose beds border the back of the house and there is a BBQ and terrace area for al fresco dining or enjoying the wonderful sunsets The current owners have built a sunken firepit with stone seating for six people two of which are accessible from the garden and are currently used as a garden store and tool shed This building has the potential for conversion subject to the necessary planning permission and the current owner has had architects plans drawn up "To the bottom of the middle paddock is a pond There are two separate causeways over the stream for tractor access and a glorious walnut tree pear and quince trees and alongside is an enclosed and electric fenced chicken run." Further information about the property can be found on Rightmove or Savills This page will be used to share the latest information about vote verification and counting at the Shropshire Council election count on Friday 2 May [2025] – showing at a glance whether the votes for a particular division are are being For updates please visit this page from 9am on Friday 2 May To see the order in which votes for each division will be verified and counted – and at which table, follow this link. For the latest situation please refresh this page Three fire crews were called to help after a late night crash near Bridgnorth Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service sent three crews to the incident at Dallicott near Bridgnorth They were called at around 11.06pm yesterday - Friday with reports of a crash involving one vehicle The ambulance service and the police were also in attendance These are the results for the 2025 Shropshire Council election A former public house near Bridgnorth is set to be sold at auction next month is set to go under the hammer with agents Lambert Smith Hampton in an online auction on June 11 The building is currently listed with a guide price of £465,000 According to an online listing for the property the building comprises a public house for approximately 90 covers with a kitchen on the ground floor and bedroom residential accommodation and function room at first floor A note attached to the listing prior to the sale said the vendor has "a number of potential publicans" who have expressed an interest in leasing the public house element of the building The building is described as having "development potential" - with planning permission to build four two-storey houses with car parking on land to the rear of the pub granted by Shropshire Council in 2020 Formerly named the "New Inn" the pub traces its roots back as far as 1839 It was rebuilt at the turn of the 19th century The pub was designated as an Asset of Community Value in 2023 following a successful nomination from The Bache Arms Community Organisation - meaning the pub could not be sold until community groups had been given an opportunity to buy the building during a six month moratorium period The building will be sold via an online auction set to be held on June 11 Traders in Bridgnorth have been left frustrated after a series of weekend road closures will see some of the businesses forced to close Earlier this week, signs went up on Mill Street in Bridgnorth advising that on this Sunday and next Sunday from 9am to 10pm the roads will be closed The signs by Cadent Gas alarmed a number of traders who rely on Sunday passing trade said he had called Cadent Gas to ask why the road needs to close “I must have called Cadent Gas five times and nobody has got back to to explain if his is necessary and what it is for," he said “I'm going to have to close as people won't be able to get here It means myself and all my stallholders will lose trade and I'll lose out on rents.” His business will not be the only one affected by the closure with nearby chain stores M&S and the Co-Op situated on the affected road along with Parlours Hall Hotel and Natasha's Tearooms at the Old Mill Cadent said the work on Mill Street was to a domestic property and the closure was necessary due to health and safety regulations A spokesman said: “The work scheduled to take place in Mill Street on Sunday 27 April and Sunday 4 May is a domestic connection to increase demand to a property we are required to close it to comply with working regulations that are in place to ensure safety for the public and our engineers “We have worked closely with the local authority regarding this road closure and have agreed to carry out work on the next two Sundays to minimise disruption in the town Pedestrian access to Mill Street will remain in place throughout the planned work “We would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that if you ever smell gas please act immediately and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999 Please do not assume it is related to these works It may not be and needs to be checked out.” A number of solar panels were destroyed in a fire near Bridgnorth Fire crews from Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock were called to the incident at Faintree Bridgnorth Fire Station posted an update on the incident on social media The post explained that they had initially been called to reports of a fire in the open - and only discovered the real cause when they arrived It said: "This afternoon, along with our colleagues from Much Wenlock Fire Station we were mobilised to reports of a fire in the open "When in attendance crews discovered five solar panels involved in fire "They were able to make the area safe and stop the fire spreading to nearby hedgerow and trees before handing the incident over to a qualified engineer "Crews then returned later on this evening to ensure no hot spots remained and the fire was fully extinguished." A historic former Bridgnorth restaurant building could become a mixed-use development containing three new shops under new plans The plan for number 3-5 Mill Street in the low-town area of Bridgnorth would see the renovation of the ground floor as three new commercial units - alongside the creation of four new apartments on the second and third floor of the building Applicant Mr Asif Sultan has applied for listed building consent for changes to the Grade II listed property which is located within the town's conservation area and is described as being of "significant architectural and historic value" The building was formerly home to the Argento Healthy BBQ Grill restaurant If the plan is approved by Shropshire Council will be renovated to house three smaller commercial units which the applicant says allow for "a variety of potential uses" that complement the historic nature of the building and support local business growth "The proposal involves the conversion of the existing building from a former restaurant use at ground floor level to three commercial units alongside the creation of three apartments on the first floor and a single apartment on the second floor," said a statement attached to the proposals "The proposed design takes a sensitive and responsive approach to the Grade II listed building considering both its architectural value and the modern requirements of residential and commercial spaces "We believe this development will contribute positively to the local area supporting both commercial activity and providing new residential units all while respecting the heritage value of the building." A heritage report described the building as being in a "deteriorating state" adding that the works will include "necessary repairs and alterations" to preserve its long-term viability "The building is currently in a poor state of repair The deterioration of these features threatens the building’s longterm survival and requires intervention to stabilize and preserve its historic elements," it said "By converting the building into residential apartments and commercial units the proposal will not only protect the building but also give it a viable future restore the building’s architectural integrity and contribute to the local economy by providing commercial space The application will be decided following the end of the consultation period this month, and is available to view on Shropshire Council's planning portal under reference 25/01238/LBC Firefighters have extinguished a fire involving multiple solar panels in a Hamlet near Bridgnorth The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to an incident in Faintree at around 1.22pm Two fire crews were sent from Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock fire stations to the scene Reports from the fire service said the fire involved five solar panels electrical gloves and shovels to extinguish the fire and make the scene safe The question of when is the right time to turn off the heating is one which can cause arguments among couples As the seasons start to change from winter to spring and onwards towards summer households will be looking at their temperature gauges and working out when the best time to turn the heating off may be It's a debate which has divided households over the years with new research showing that couples are likely to argue an average of six times a week about when the heating should be switched off The research, which was commissioned by Worcester Bosch and conducted by Perspectus Global during March showed that 75 per cent of households across the West Midlands had a difference of opinion about it 26 per cent were arguing more about it due to rising energy bills while seven per cent said it was more of a bone of contention than money and 16 percent of couples said that heating is the number one battleground at home While the weather for shoppers in Bridgnorth on a Friday lunchtime was warm and sunny there was still a cool wind blowing across the town and shoppers of all ages could be seen walking with coats on A Bridgnorth-based consultancy which supports and promotes town centre businesses has been shortlisted for an award The company has been shortlisted alongside Aico of Oswestry, Brightstar of Shifnal and Capgemini of Telford with the winner being crowned at a gala night at Telford’s International Centre on June 20 Last year's award was won by Learning Community Trust The 125 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster – via Highley – bus service is to continue operating after 31 March 2025 following discussions between Shropshire Council and its operator Diamond Buses – and using funding provided by Shropshire Council In late January [2025] Diamond Buses announced that they would end the service from 31 March 2025 as it was no longer commercially viable Shropshire Council subsequently put the service out to tender for three weeks As a result of these discussions Diamond Buses will continue to operate the service with an updated timetable from 20 April 2025. See new timetable here. “We know that many people were very disappointed to hear that Diamond Buses were to stop operating the 125 service “I’m delighted that following our discussions with them the service will now continue to operate beyond 31 March and I’m sure many people will welcome this news.” The funding will be provided from Shropshire Council’s recent allocation of Government bus service improvement funding for the year 2025/26 which will also be used to improve bus services across the county A man and woman from Bridgnorth have been charged with drug offences following an incident on Wednesday Bridgnorth was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of class B drugs possession of class B drugs and possession of an offensive weapon Both appeared at Telford Magistrates Court this morning and is due to next appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court at a later date Stevens was released on bail and is due to next appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court at a later date Shropshire Live has been providing Shropshire news and entertainment since 2009 We reach tens of thousands of readers per month making us the biggest online-only news publication in the county You can now also listen to Shropshire Live Read more about us For general enquiries and press releases email interact@shropshirelive.com or call 01743 818 095 For advertising opportunities call Fiona on 01743 816 817 or email sales@shropshirelive.com Shropshire Live is regulated by impress Read our Privacy Policy or find out more about our use of cookies and change your personal settings by viewing our We and our {{count}} partners use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your experience on our website We may store and/or access information on a device and process personal data audience research and services development we may utilize precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning Please note that your consent will be valid across all our subdomains You can change or withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the “Consent Preferences” button at the bottom of your screen We respect your choices and are committed to providing you with a transparent and secure browsing experience More than 100 primary school pupils in Bridgnorth are to take on the town's walk to raise money for the landslip hit Severn Valley Railway The Bridgnorth Walk returns next Monday (May 5) when around 1,000 people are set to take on the various walking and marathon events Among the entrants this year are 117 pupils from Castlefields Primary School in the town, who are taking on the walk to raise money for the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) Earlier this year the heritage line was hit with a landslip that saw part of a section of its track in Bridgnorth close which sends a team to the Bridgnorth Walk every year said this year it has secured sponsorship from print firm The Lux Group Hannah Pritchard from the school said this year's “Castlefields Crew” represents the highest number the school has yet fielded for the walk She said; ”Castlefields Primary School have a fantastic history with their involvement with the walk - over the past 13 years they have submitted huge junior and senior teams raising tens of thousands of pounds for the school and charities grandparents and staff members will be walking to raise money 50/50 for the school PTA and the Severn Valley Railway “The school are showing their support to our local SVR to help fix the recently damaged track “The team T-shirts have been sponsored this year by The Lux Group This is an amazing contribution that the team really do cherish.” The Castlefields Crew can be sponsored at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/castlefieldscrew2025 A Shrewsbury stationery shop is set to close down later this month after serving notice on its premises Stationary chain Smiggle, which sells "colourful, fun, fashion-forward stationery" along with accessories such as lunchboxes and drinks bottles, is set to close its shop in the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury at the end of May A brief statement from the Darwin Centre said the company had served notice on its store with no official conformation of a closure date "We can confirm that Smiggle has made the difficult decision to close its premises at The Darwin," said a spokesperson for the shopping centre "The store’s management team has served notice in accordance with the terms of its lease agreement "While the exact date of closure has not yet been confirmed it is expected that the store will cease trading later this month "We would like to thank Smiggle for being a valued part of The Darwin and extend our appreciation to the customers and community who have supported the store during its time with us." The company opened a store in Telford in 2023, and also operates in Brierley Hill inside the Merry Hill Shopping Centre Smiggle did not respond to a request for comment Police are appealing for help to find a 15-year-old girl who has gone missing from Bridgnorth West Mercia Police said that Mataya had last been seen in Birmingham on Thursday evening (April 24) An appeal posted by the force urged anyone with information to contact police It said: "We are appealing for information to find 15-year-old Mataya who has been reported missing from Bridgnorth and was last seen in Birmingham "She was last seen leaving New Street Station in Birmingham on Thursday at around 9.20pm "The CCTV image shows her exiting the station wearing a black jumper and trousers and carrying an Addidas rucksack "Please call 01743 264825 immediately if you see Mataya or have information on her whereabouts." A paedophile who admitted to having a sexual interest in boys as young as 11 years old has been spared jail after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children at his Bridgnorth home A Shropshire antiques shop has created a Second World War-themed display ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day marks eight decades since war was declared over in Germany and a number of events have been arranged across Shropshire to mark VE Day The Old Mill Antiques Centre in Bridgnorth has put together a collection of items dating back to the Second World War as part of the town's celebrations “We wanted to mark this important day with a display that will evoke the essence of wartime Britain,” said Old Mill owner John Ridgway “A number of our stallholders sell wartime memorabilia as it is hugely popular with collectors so we were able to put together a really interesting collection “We have everything from medals and flags to military clothing and silk postcards “We even have a hand-grenade – not primed of course is open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm Firefighters have been battling blazes at homes in Telford and near Bridgnorth The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 2.44pm today (April 28) reporting a house fire in Swancote, near Bridgnorth Two fire crews were sent from Bridgnorth and Telford fire stations to the scene An operations officer was also in attendance Reports from the fire service said the fire involved an outhouse and spread to fascia and guttering of the main house Firefighters removed a wooden roof from the outhouse and affected guttering so the fire could be extinguiished firefighters were called to a house fire on Haybridge Road in Hadley Two fire crews were sent from Wellington Fire Station The fire is believed to have been caused by unattended cooking Firefighters used a hose reel jet while wearing breathing apparatus to extinguish the blaze Bridgnorth residents are starstruck as film crews have been spotted in the market town Filming crews were spotted on Bridgnorth's Whitburn Street filming for a new drama by English writer and Church of England priest 'Murder Before Evensong' for Channel 5 features Matthew Lewis who played Neville Longbottom in the film adaptations of Harry Potter Pictures from the scene show a 1982 Volvo surrounded by studio lights and actors Resident Caroline King said: "I just walked into the filming of Richard Coles' Murder Before Evensong!" In a letter, sent to business owners and residents last Friday (January 31), The Lighthouse Ltd of Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham said that filming is taking place around Shropshire for 'the next eight weeks' with several spots being used in Bridgnorth A man and woman from Bridgnorth are due to appear in court after being charged with drug offences The charges are in relation to an incident that happened on Wednesday (March 26) Ryan Wilson, aged 28 and of Innage Road, Bridgnorth was charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of class B drugs being concerned in the supply of class A drugs Both appeared at Telford Magistrates Court this morning (Friday Wilson was remanded into custody while Stevens was released on bail. Both are due to next appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court at a later date Sign up today to get all the latest news headlines from Shropshire and Mid Wales delivered straight to your inbox with the Shropshire Star’s free newsletter Firefighters have battled a car fire in a village near Bridgnorth this morning (Monday The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 10.26am today (Monday April 7) reporting the incident on Holmes Orchard in Alveley One fire crew was sent from Bridgnorth Fire Station to the scene Reports from the fire service said one car was fully involved in fire New pictures from Bridgnorth Fire Station showed a red Volkswagen Beetle car on fire outside a property Firefighters used two hose reel jets while wearing breathing apparatus and 'environment grab packs' to extinguish the fire A post by Bridgnorth Fire Station said: "This morning crews were alerted to a car fire in Alveley. One car was fully involved in fire "Two firefighters in breathing apparatus were quickly able to control and extinguish the fire using a hose reel jet." Shropshire Council residents will tomorrow (May 1) go to the polls in an election promising a huge shakeup at county hall - whichever party wins The results should be known by Friday evening - with 74 councillors to be elected across 72 divisions The election comes as Shropshire Council like councils and local government across the country has faced some of its most testing times in recent years The authority has been led by the Conservatives since its creation in 2009 - although defections left its majority on a knife-edge earlier this year We already know that a host of Shropshire's big-name Tories will not be returning Council leader Lezley Picton announced her intention to step down prior to the election - a decision that followed a testing period navigating the authority through major financial challenges and leading a host of some of the council's most ambitious and controversial projects That means that whichever party takes control on Friday Shropshire is guaranteed to have a new council leader - with a host of pressing issues on their plate Councillor Picton has been joined in confirming her departure by Tory cabinet mainstay Councillor Dean Carroll former cabinet member and deputy leader Councillor Steve Charmley cabinet members Kirstie Hurst-Knight and Cecilia Motley as well as fellow Conservatives Nicholas Bardsley A number of other prominent councillors will not be returning including Labour's current Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley and her party colleagues Ted Clarke and Tony Parsons The opposition Lib Dem group is meanwhile losing Nat Green Notable independents Robert Tindall and Ed Towers are also standing down The dynamics for this year's election promise to be wildly different to 2021 - not least because that election took place in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic The rise of Reform has thrown a major unknown into the proceedings The party's mainstream breakthrough in last year's general election has been followed by a major push ahead of the local elections across the country Nigel Farage's party is putting candidates up in every ward for the first time That coupled with the creation of the New 'Shropshire First' group promises a host of different variables which didn't exist four years ago Labour and the Lib Dems both expect to make headway after a testing period for the ruling Conservatives but while many expect Reform to predominantly impact the Tories it's a brave person who predicts that political upstarts will not pull support from across the political spectrum the ballot will have huge implications for the future of Shropshire Council with the incoming administration likely to have little time to settle before the serious business begins The most obvious pressing issue will be what happens with Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road. The ongoing saga surrounding the controversial road project has dominated council proceedings for the last four years with opposition groups eventually lining up against the Conservatives to pledge that they would scrap the plan if they take power That conviction would likely be tested early on if there is a new party in charge with the financial reality of cancelling the road - and the consequences for an already cash-strapped authority - almost certainly set to shape the decision For their part the Conservatives have made their position clear - if you want the road built All those come as the new council will have to wrestle with the consequences of its local plan being thrown out - alongside a huge increase in the Labour Government's house building targets for the area the next four years are likely to be just as eventful as the last four A Shropshire friends group of a county hospital are to celebrate the 1940s in style at an event to commemorate VE Day Between 10am and 4pm next Thursday, May 8, the League of Friends of Bridgnorth Hospital will transform their coffee shop into a 1940s ‘street style’ party scene to celebrate and commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe The group has a full programme of events aimed at all to enjoy with volunteers in clothing representative of the era and would like to encourage anyone wishing to attend to come in fancy dress too The day begins with a grand opening at 10am followed by a talk by local historian Clive Gwilt at 11am on Bridgnorth's role in the war Clive has generously offered to donate some of the proceeds of his books to the League of Friends and will sign copies on May 8 There will be 1940s-style refreshments served at noon followed by a talk by representatives of the Bridgnorth branch of the British Legion at 1pm The day finishes with the AB Ukulele Band singing favourites from bygone days at 2pm A spokesperson said: “Please come along and join in with our celebrations Veterans will receive a very warm welcome.” A last push for entries was being mounted this week to boost one of Bridgnorth’s biggest annual fundraising events People are being urged to dust down their walking boots and sign up for the 58th Bridgnorth Walk and Marathon which will take place on Bank Holiday Monday with over 1,000 entrants who raised more than £90,000 for good causes This year the event will have a military theme to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War organisers the Bridgnorth Lions say they have had only 500 entrants to date said: “Last year we had over 1,000 and that is what we are hoping for again this year.” He said only around half that number had entered the various walk categories and other events but he was hoping for a number of late entries adult walk and other events we have only got around 500 entrants The walk is a popular spectator event that this year will see Second World War military vehicles stationed on the High Street for people to view at Cleobury North where the family and junior walks begin Extra parking has been laid on to make life easier for those attending Cleobury North will have fair rides and food and beverage kiosks available for families to enjoy This year extra parking has been arranged to make life easier for those attending As usual much planning has gone into the event with road closures marshalling and almost 200 volunteers to assist on the day As always the route will take the walkers to Cleobury North Ditton Priors and back to Bridgnorth with 23 manned water stations to make sure nobody is without water For those who may find the 22 miles a bit daunting there will be a short walk of 10k This will follow the main walk route and turn off to the village of Chetton reaching the "back road" to Bridgnorth via fields The route will be well marked out and signed Howard added: “We encourage local and not so local folk to put on their walking shoes and join what is always a fun day and a chance to raise some cash through their sponsors for their favourite charity The county council has addressed "a number of false claims" concerning the use of the Parish Rooms in Bridgnorth Shropshire Council, who purchased the homeless shelter in 2024 with the support of Bridgnorth Town Council insists that the facility will not be used to accommodate asylum seekers the authority said there have been several "false" claims circulating on social media regarding the Parish Rooms which it says could "cause considerable community concern" The county council opened its statement saying it was "important that the community know the facts" It stated that the Parish Rooms were purchased as part of the council's temporary accommodation to help people from the county who are homeless or at risk of homelessness Shropshire Council outlined that it has a legal duty to support these people The authority reiterated that that the accommodation would not be used to house asylum seekers The Shropshire Council statement said: "Such accommodation is shown to be far better for people in this situation to help them find a permanent home as soon as possible and means the council needs less and much more costly B&B type accommodation when the council also made very clear that this accommodation would not be used for the resettlement of asylum seekers "Responsibility to accommodate asylum seekers rests with the Home Office and not the council "The Parish Rooms will support people in Shropshire who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and will prove a very valuable resource for people at a difficult time." Parish Rooms is currently being refurbished and will house 12 local people when it opens The facility is expected to open in August this year Shropshire Council previously said that the Parish rooms and will be jointly managed by themselves and managing agent Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing (STAR Housing) The authority added: "Currently homeless people are housed away from the area as the council has no provision locally and are forced to use expensive hotel facilities across the county or even in locations outside of our area." Residents in Bridgnorth are being invited to utilise a new mental wellbeing hub The new 'Stay Mentally Healthy' community hub is operating from above Kershaw’s Café on Faraday Drive and is run by volunteers who are qualified SEJ consultants and trainers Residents can attend one of several drop-in sessions and receive a free personalised wellbeing plan Sessions take place each Tuesday between 11am and 1pm Organisers said the hub is looking for local service providers who could donate any help to the hub Shropshire Council is supporting the hub using funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Community Grants Officer at the authority said: "Shropshire Council is delighted to be in a position to support Stay Mentally Healthy’s Community Hub in Bridgnorth offering people a safe space where they can access the necessary support and social connections to overcome wellbeing concerns and focus on a return to good mental health "We are able to support the project using funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund awarded through Crowdfund Shropshire The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place "The work is in partnership with Spacehive We recognise that crowdfunding isn’t always easy for volunteers already doing a lot to support their local communities so encourage anyone in a position to support the project to see if they can help "Financial donations can start at a few pounds - a lot of people giving a small amount will help the project achieve its vision and make a real difference in Bridgnorth and beyond." The Railwayman's Arms is the perfect place for a cold pint while watching vintage trains pass through the Severn Valley We paid a visit to the beloved Railwayman's Arms in Bridgnorth - a pub that offers cold pints brilliant snacks and fantastic views - no wonder so many people keep on coming back Pubs offer a range of great things to our lovely communities one thing at the Railwayman's Arms that encourages customers to return is the heritage locomotives that run right by The Railwayman's Arms sits on the Severn Valley Railway line in Hollybush Lane so it isn't your regular town centre local Thousands of people travel from all over the country to have a drink in this brilliant pub Originally opened as a refreshment room in 1861 The Railwayman's Arms has been serving drinks to weary travellers for more than 100 years The pub sits on Platform One of the Severn Valley Railway Station and features a comfortable relaxed feel that is approachable for even the most non-pub inclined traveller More than 100 players from a town's junior football team to tackle town's walking challenge in memory of 'beloved' coach Every year Bridgnorth Spartans submit a huge team to take on the Bridgnorth Walk a 21 mile walk - which involves a taxing climb up Brown Clee Hill as well as some less intense family events more than 100 members of 'Team Spartans' are walking in memory of Andy Wenlock co-chair at the club said he was a "beloved member of our Spartans family and coach of the U8 Reds team" They plan to donate their sponsorship money to Severn Hospice which provided Andy's family with incredible care and support Severn Hospice is a local charity helping families across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and North Powys who are living with an incurable illness Kelly said: "Bridgnorth Spartans are at the heart of the Bridgnorth community It is important to bring the large numbers in the club together to effect positive change "Helping others develops our players off the pitch encouraging our members to think of others "This year the walk is particularly poignant as we walk in memory of Andy Wenlock who was part of our Spartan family as an U8R coach." Dozens of animals were seized from a property near Bridgnorth last week in a joint operation between police Officers from Bridgnorth's safer neighbourhood team (SNT) were joined by the Environmental Agency (EA) and the RSPCA on Wednesday, March 12, to execute a warrant at an address near Bridgnorth A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said that a stolen vehicle was recovered from the address and dozens of dogs were seized from what they called a "puppy farm" 38 dogs were seized along with five horses A spokesperson for Bridgnorth SNT said: "In the morning a stolen vehicle from the West Midlands was recovered and valuable intelligence was gathered a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) was given to the registered keeper of a vehicle displaying a Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) which did not conform to regulations the police seized a total of 38 dogs from a puppy farm and 5 horses before handing them to the RSPCA where they have been taken away so that their health and welfare can be evaluated." Bridgnorth are to be resurfaced from Monday 30 September to Saturday 5 October 2024 Work will take place from 8pm to 6am each day and the road will be closed during these times During the closures a signed diversion will be place – and access/egress for properties and businesses within the closure will be maintained when safe to do so road users may be able to choose an alternative diversion route People are asked not to park on the road during the day whilst the work is in progress All planned roadworks are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Any changes will be displayed on the yellow advanced warning signs and on https://one.network/ access to the works area will be restricted to: Firefighters rushed to an open fire in Bridgnorth this afternoon Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service received a call reporting the open fire in Upper Farmcote, Claverley, Bridgnorth Upon arrival, the firefighters found 50 meters squared of scrubland and woodland alight They tackled the fire with a hose reel jet Repairs to Bridgnorth Cliff Railway are on schedule The funicular train that ferries passengers from Low Town to High Town has been closed during the weekdays for scheduled maintenance It is planned to reopen next Monday if the work Owner Mr Malvern Tipping said he has visited the Cliff Railway to check on the progress of the work which is being conducted by Think Contracts He said: "Last Friday, I was at the Cliff Railway to ascertain progress with the trackside concreting "The contractors advise that preparatory work has gone well they intend to start fixing anchoring to the rock and laying steel reinforcing caging the steel reinforcing would serve to give the concrete greater structural strength it will serve the purpose of preventing the wet concrete slumping down the incline as it is poured Concrete pouring is expected to take place during the middle of this coming week "Contractors were unable to work last Wednesday due to rain Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at https://www.yourworld.net/submit/ It's free to use and A new women’s clothing shop has opened in Bridgnorth Land & Limey welcomed its first customers through its new site in Waterloo Terrace, Bridgnorth The business, which also recently opened a site in Pershore, Worcestershire, is designed to be a “go-to destination” for high quality clothes Customers can find an array of top brands in the shop - from White Stuff and Mistral to Seasalt and Joules All styles from coastal chic and countryside classics to modern casuals are catered for at Land & Limey The new shop has taken over the former This which first opened in 2013 and is now listed as permanently closed on Google It sold an array of “quirky” items including cinema seats A legend of folk music used to playing large theatre venues is set to take to the stage in Shropshire later this month at a much more intimate venue Richard Thomson, OBE, singer-songwriter and founding member of Fairport Convention is to play St Leonard’s Church in Bridgnorth on Wednesday April 23 in a concert already sold out With a career spanning more than five decades Richard Thompson is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters of his generation and his performance is set to be a true highlight in ShireFolk’s ongoing celebration of world-class folk and acoustic music The organisation has been bringing acts to various South Shropshire and Herefordshire venues but Richard Thompson is among the biggest names Shirefolk have managed to secure “We're incredibly proud to be bringing such an iconic artist to Bridgnorth,” said Westley Bone “The response has been phenomenal — to sell out so quickly is a testament to the enduring appeal of Richard’s music and the growing enthusiasm for live folk music in our community.” Richard Thompson is a founding member of Fairport Convention and is often named as among the top 100 guitarists of all time along with engaging energy and onstage wit continues to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history Taking place in the stunning setting of St Leonard’s Church the concert continues ShireFolk’s commitment to pairing exceptional artists with unique intimate venues that bring audiences closer to the music For those lucky enough to have secured tickets To stay up to date with future ShireFolk events, visit shirefolk.co.uk or follow @ShireFolkMusic on social media A large power outage has affected homes and businesses in Bridgnorth At 7.30pm, National Grid reported that 140 properties in the WV15 area were without power The power cut was described as a 'high voltage' incident The power company says these incidents tend to be larger and affect a wider area National Grid expects power to be restored by 9pm Further information can be found on National Grid's live power cut map A Telford store could be replaced with a new concept homeware and clothing outlet - as retailer ASDA prepares to roll out new plans for its 'Living' stores Grocery retailer Asda has revealed it is trialling a new George stand-alone concept store that will replace its Asda Living brand portfolio across the UK ASDA is currently running a trial of its George concept in Leeds after which it hopes to roll the scheme out nationwide The company currently runs one ASDA Living store in Shropshire, at Wrekin Retail Park in Wellington Under the plans the firm's existing ASDA Living stores will be replaced with a "bigger and better" standalone George store such as clothing and homewares along with what the firm describes as a "major upgrade" which it says will include streamlined checkouts and new self-serve and click & collect options “Our Asda Living stores have been incredibly successful in showcasing the best of our non-food offering conveniently under roof creating a seamless shopping experience for our customers," said Asda chief commercial officer George and Retail stores "As retail habits evolve and customer expectations rise we remain committed to delivering exceptional choice and an experience that continues to meet—and exceed—the needs of today’s shopper “The George brand is deeply woven into our heritage and our customers have a strong connection with it as a trusted name known for delivering both quality and value This latest transformation is all about making shopping easier and more inspiring with the Geroge brand at its heart “Our plans for the new George concept store in Leeds are really exciting and will offer a unique format that truly sets us apart from competitors We believe this new approach along with our focus on value and standout hero categories will continue to differentiate us in the market and we look forward to hearing what our customers think.” Police are appealing for witnesses after a "serious collision" near Bridgnorth saw five people rushed to hospital Emergency service crews including an air ambulance helicopter team were called to a two-vehicle crash in Hilton, near Bridgnorth It happened at around 3.15pm on the A454 - the main road between Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton Police say the crash involved a Mini Cooper and Toyota a spokesperson from Bridgnorth Fire Station warned the road would be closed for several hours after what was called a "serious collision" The driver and three passengers from the Mini Cooper were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries, while the driver of the Toyota was also taken to hospital with "minor" injuries. West Mercia Police has confirmed that the Toyota driver has since been discharged from hospital West Mercia Police would like to hear from anybody who witnessed the collision and from anyone who has dashcam footage from around the time it happened Those with information are asked to contact Police Constable Ashley Keville by emailing ashley.keville@westmercia.police.uk A South Shropshire village hall welcomed the crowds as well as the local MP as it unveiled its brand new kitchen Willey Village Hall near Bridgnorth held a grand opening on Saturday of its long-awaited from Much Wenlock Mayor along with James Benting from Caltel Kitchens were at the opening as well as a crowd of residents and even the local PCSOs came to enjoy the refreshments and sunshine Mr Anderson has recently welcomed the government's release of £43million in investment for village halls, an expansion of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) following a campaign the South Shropshire MP has been running to protect the rural spaces The new kitchen has been paid for by fundraising events such as a Race Night held earlier this year with the new kitchen unveiled to the public in a special day-long event secretary of Willey Village Hall said: “The Hall Committee ran a bar and a café and adult participants were challenged to make a Victoria sponge to bring along while children were asked to create cakes with an Easter theme James Benting and Lord George Forester cut the ribbon and Stuart made an impassioned speech about the need for village hall's like ours and also in praise of how important volunteers are to our community after which he was presented with a framed Lino print of our Hall "During the afternoon the children in particular enjoyed games in the field next to the Hall and took part in a Welly Wanging competition with the gold trophy going to William (53m) with Willow in second place (41.9m) and Florence third (39.7m) also ran a colouring competition and all the children were amply rewarded for their efforts “The cake competitions were judged by Stuart Dan and James with Lisa Walker winning the adult section and Max winning the children's category with Willow in second place and Rowan in third place “Due to the warm weather many people sat outside into the evening to enjoy the lovely views, and when the bar finally closed at 10pm. we were all tired, but happy that the day had gone so well. Thank you to everyone who came along, and if you want to hire our hall with its new, multi functional kitchen please email Vanessa on vanessalee@wildenestates.co.uk” Police are appealing for witnesses after a fatal collision near Bridgnorth on Friday night A man in his 30s has died after a black MG Roadster overturned on the Bridgnorth Road between Wyken and Hopstone West Mercia Police said the cause of the crash is unknown The driver was pronounced dead at the scene a paramedic officer and a community first responder were sent to the scene A police appeal said: "For reasons yet to be established a black MG Roadster has upturned on the road "Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the car before the collision or has dashcam footage from around the time it happened "Please contact PC Tom Walters by email tomas.walters@westmercia.police.uk or by calling 01743 237483 quoting incident number 594i of April 4." A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson added: "We were called to reports of a car that had crashed into a tree on the A454 in Worfield at 11.16pm on Friday night a paramedic officer and a community first responder attended the scene a man who had suffered serious injuries in the incident it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene." A trailer has been stolen from a sailing club near Bridgnorth Police are appealing for help after the theft of a Brian James Boater Trailer Type A4 Twin axel 1600 from Chelmarsh Sailing Club The trailer was stolen between 2pm on March 16 and midnight on April 1 PCSO for Cleobury and Highley, Jacqueline Fletcher, posted an appeal on West Mercia Police's Neighbourhood Matters page Officers are keen to hear from witnesses or hear from anyone who may have doorbell footage A post said: "We are appealing for your help following the theft of Brian James Boater Trailer "The trailer was stolen between March 16 at 2pm and April 1 at 12.01am "We would like to hear from you if you witnessed this incident or may have any doorbell camera footage available "Anyone with information is asked to contact PC 21211 Reynolds at emma.reynolds@westmercia.police.uk with reference 00156_i_17042025."