food menu and refurbished patio for drinks in the sun this spring and summer Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 There is no shortage of fantastic pubs to visit in the lively town of Shifnal, just east of Telford With fantastic train routes into the market town it is clear to see why so many people pop into its main streets for a pint - or two - at each pub in its own secret pub crawl you will inevitably be pulled into The Crown Inn Formerly bar and grill Seven, owned by Wood's Brewery, the site underwent major renovation when Lee and Louise Roberts took over the pub in August 2021. The couple, who are both from Shifnal and have worked in the industry for decades, wanted to create a "traditional” pub that welcomed people of all backgrounds, manager Paul Beckett told the Shropshire Star. It now comfortably seats 120 people along with a patio for al fresco drinks and dining. The former black and red aesthetic has been stripped out and replaced to be easier on the eyes, brighter and more spacious. A fireplace in the main seating area has added a layer of warmth to the venue. Paul, who has been in the industry for more than 20 years, said: “They still wanted that traditional pub with a bit of a modern twist. Working in the RAF as a policewoman for two decades, being an active runner and taking part in multiple expeditions over the years, Ann Hughes has always taken on challenges that test her mental and physical health. But nothing could prepare her for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2007. Ann, 54, from Shifnal, started her career in the RAF police in 1990 with jobs including guarding nuclear weapons, counterintelligence and being part of the drugs squad. She did a tour in Iraq for four months and detachments in Italy and Cyprus, as well two postings in Germany, where Ann stayed for five years. Ann met her RAF fireman husband Mick while they were both stationed in the Shetland Islands and had their daughter Lauren. Ann was medically discharged from the RAF in 2009, two years after she was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS, due to the deterioration of her condition. She said: “It took a while to get my diagnosis – I was experiencing symptoms for many years before. My MS affects walking, my eyes, everything really. I get a lot of spasms and fatigue and can’t walk far without a crutch – I have to use a wheelchair for distances.” As an RAF veteran, Ann was eligible for support from the RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund. Ann had paid into the Fund via the Service Days Pay Giving scheme since starting her career in the RAF, however she never thought she’d need to use the Fund’s services. But, after being medically discharged, Ann felt depressed and physically unwell and struggled living in married quarters, so she contacted the Fund for support. Ann said: “It was frightening. After being in the air force for so long, I didn’t know what to do knowing I had MS – I was lost. I don’t like asking for help but I’m so glad I contacted the Fund. “They stepped in to help me with my mobility and adaptation needs and found house which we now rent. They adapted the whole place and also provided me with a mobility scooter on a permanent loan. I can’t tell you how much it has benefitted me. The Fund has been like another family to me.” Talking about her own family, Ann said: “My daughter Lauren was only eight years old when I was diagnosed. She, along with my husband Mick have been a huge support – it hasn’t been easy for them.” The Fund has also enabled Ann and her family to have two breaks with the Disabled Holiday Trust in Anglesey and Devon. The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional, and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. This includes grants to help with financial difficulty, mental health support, Airplay youth clubs, and more. including in former council leader Lezley Picton's old ward Several senior Tories including deputy leader Ian Nellins Vince Hunt and Gwilym Butler have lost their seats Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey handed out ice creams in Shrewsbury claiming Tory support had "melted" The picture has varied from neighbouring counties, where Reform UK made strong gains in neighbouring Staffordshire and Worcestershire We're wrapping up our live coverage of the Shropshire Council election - thank you for following along with additional reporting from Mark Elliott and Elizabeth Glinka It's been an action-packed day and of course there'll be more analysis on the new shape of Shropshire Council in the coming days on BBC Radio Shropshire You can find coverage of results from around the country and the national fall-out here Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingA yellow dawn for Shropshire as the blue wall retreatspublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 2 May19:43 BST 2 MayRob TriggPolitical reporter The Liberal Democrats have spent years nibbling away at the Conservative’s majority and today they achieved their end goal – taking control of Shropshire Council but nobody expected the group to be virtually decimated in Shropshire with their 2021 total of 43 councillors reduced to just seven “not in our worst nightmares did we expect this” The Lib Dems are a well-oiled group with some very experienced councillors they are a “political movement” and “novices” with some candidates who had never expected to win the party received 97 votes across the whole council area; today they became the second largest party with 16 councillors Staff at Shropshire Council have barely got used to working in a new headquarters after 60 years at Shirehall Later this month there will be a new council and a new party in charge with its own plans and priorities Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingDelight for Lib Dems after Shropshire Council victorypublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 2 May19:01 BST 2 MayChloe HughesBBC News I think this photo sums it all up for the Liberal Democrats On the lawn outside the bowling centre in Shrewsbury Sports Village with the May sunshine beating down and clear blue skies they let out an eruption of cheers that could probably be heard streets away and it's safe to say they're delighted Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAnd we're done with the countingpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 2 May18:53 BST 2 MayHere are the final scores on the doors Liberal Democrats will take control of the council with Reform as the largest opposition party Labour lost more than half of its nine seats on the old council while the Greens added one to take them back to their 2021 total Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingA close win for Lib Dems in The Strettonspublished at 18:48 British Summer Time 2 May18:48 BST 2 MayWow - that was tight The Lib Dems won in The Strettons division - by just one vote The winning councillor was Mark Morris with 695 votes and the Independent candidate came away with 694 Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingVictories for the two parties in frontpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 2 May18:45 BST 2 MayThe Lib Dems and Reform UK are continuing to dominate Ellesmere Urban has been won by the Lib Dems Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingA round-up of more resultspublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 2 May18:41 BST 2 MayHere's a quick round-up of some more results that have come in The Conservatives have won in Shifnal South - Edward Bird is councillor Rachel Connolly is the first Independent winner - she'll be councillor for Bridgnorth West and Tasley the Lib Dems have won in Whittington - their councillor is David Walker And Reform UK has taken Bridgnorth East - electing Susan Eden as councillor Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingKidd wants council leader jobpublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 2 May18:37 BST 2 MayRob TriggPolitical reporter It really is all smiles for every Lib Dem you see here - they're ecstatic This change in the council's make-up truly is a seismic shift Heather Kidd told me on BBC Radio Shropshire's election programme she wanted to be leader of the council her co-leader of the party group in the last council And we’ll have to see who in the group will elect us." She also said that "as far as she could see" the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road was "dead in the water" because we keep spending money or we have been spending money right onto the last minute on it and we can’t afford to keep spending money on stuff so it has to stop." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform win againpublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 2 May18:30 BST 2 MayReform have won in another division - this time Just a reminder for you - Reform did not have a single councillor on Shropshire Council until today Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThe day keeps getting better for Lib Demspublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 2 May18:28 BST 2 MayTwo more victories for the party in control of Shropshire Council The Lib Dems have won in The Meres - their councillor is Sarah Marston They also won in Market Drayton East and Rural - the councillor there is Tom Dainty Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBig victory for Reformpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 2 May18:28 BST 2 MayIt's been a good day for Reform although less stellar than in other counties and they've just had a big victory in Claverley and Worfield It's another seat in what has become a stronghold in the south-east of Shropshire Dawn Husemann is the division's new councillor with 690 votes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLiberal Democrats take control of Shropshire Councilpublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 2 May18:18 BST 2 MayBreakingThe Liberal Democrats have done it - they now have majority control of Shropshire Council A nightmare for the Conservatives is reflected in an utter dream day for the Lib Dems They've just passed the threshold - which is 38 councillors But the day isn't over yet - there's still more to come An absolute eruption of whoops and cheers here Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHuge win for Lib Dems in Chirbury and Worthenpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 2 May18:17 BST 2 MayHeather Kidd - joint leader of the the Lib Dem group - has absolutely wiped the floor in her Chirbury and Worthen seat She had 1,014 votes - her nearest rival was the Reform candidate with 263 Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThree further wins for Lib Demspublished at 18:14 British Summer Time 2 May18:14 BST 2 MayThe Lib Dems have secured wins in three more divisions - Prees Joshua Dickin and Duncan Borrowman respectively Today really has been a dream for the party as they edge ever-closer to having majority control of Shropshire Council Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingResults still coming in thick and fastpublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 2 May18:12 BST 2 MayThere are still loads of people gathered here in the bowling club building craning their necks to see what's going on at the podium the Lib Dems have won in Market Drayton South - their councillor is David Minnery Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLib Dems win twice in Wempublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 2 May18:08 BST 2 MayThere are two councillors elected in the Wem division and the Lib Dems will certainly be very happy Their winners are Alan Holford and Gary Groves Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLiberal Democrats close in on a majoritypublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 2 May18:08 BST 2 MayFive more needed for the overall majority "winning line" of 38 seats Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLib Dems win by ONE vote in Bridgnorth South and Alveleypublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 2 May18:05 BST 2 MayThe Liberal Democrats have won by just one vote in the Bridgnorth South and Alveley division Colin Taylor is elected as councillor with 509 votes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhy did I not get a vote?published at 18:03 British Summer Time 2 May18:03 BST 2 MayLocal authorities are elected on a four-year cycle with different councils Telford and Wrekin Council has its elections two years after Shropshire's Some of yesterday's planned county council elections elsewhere in the country were postponed while authorities draw up plans to merge counties and districts into unitary authorities which carry out the function of both tiers of local government Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Absolutely disgusting' behaviour on polling daypublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 2 May18:02 BST 2 MayRob TriggPolitical reporter The Conservative candidate and the councillor in charge of finance on Shropshire Council came into the count very unhappy with the behaviour of a Liberal Democrat candidate Rival Cleobury Mortimer candidate Ben Williams was caught on a doorbell camera taking a Conservative leaflet from a resident’s letterbox before placing his own inside Another resident caught a different Lib Dem campaigner doing the same thing Mr Williams has apologised and said “it was not with malicious intent” I guess neither of us was thinking straight after days of working all over the district in the heat,” he said who said he was likely lose the seat to the Lib Dems described it as “absolutely disgusting behaviour and no integrity to local government” I asked Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey for his thoughts and he said it was right that Mr Williams apologised Shifnal will be closed from Monday 10 to Friday 21 February [2025] for work to remove several ash trees affected by ash dieback disease Work will take place from 9.30am to 4pm 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 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: Email: communications@shropshire.gov.uk Phone: 01743 252826 Email: customer.service@shropshire.gov.uk Phone: 0345 678 9000 The town of Shifnal is preparing to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a series of commemorative events on May 8th The day will feature poignant reflections on wartime memories and a community-wide celebration of peace A central part of the commemorations will be the screening of recorded interviews with local veterans and residents These personal accounts will be shown in the church throughout the day offering a direct link to the experiences of those who lived through the Second World War The day’s events will commence at 10 am with the raising of a VE Day flag at St Andrew’s Church Around 130 children from St Andrew’s School and Shifnal Primary School are expected to be present for this symbolic moment the church bells will join a national peel at 6.30 pm This will be followed by a parade involving the Royal British Legion stepping off from the Village Hall towards the church at the same time is also scheduled to attend the commemorations A special church service will take place at 7 pm “There will then be a church service at 7pm when the Mayor will read the proclamation and light the D Day lamp,” said Rev Thorpe “Beacons will be lit all around the country and we will remember how the street lights went on for the first time on VE day in 1945 as the blackout was lifted.” Rev Thorpe extended an invitation to the community “We hope as many Shifnal people will come together to mark this special day and remember those millions that gave so much to achieve the freedom we all enjoy today.” 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 We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use wmas.nhs.uk remember your settings and improve our services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services Shaunna Farley – Saturday 15th March 2025 – 10.20am One person has died and another three people have sustained life threatening injuries following a collision in Shifnal last night West Midlands Ambulance Service was called shortly after 11pm to a collision involving one car on Offoxey Road in Tong a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic Hazardous Area Response Team paramedics and a Critical Care Car from Midlands Air Ambulance attended the scene A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival ambulance staff discovered four occupants of the car “We found the first man being cared for by bystanders at the scene He had sustained life threatening injuries it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene “A further three male patients from the car were assessed and had sustained life-threatening injuries They received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene “Two were conveyed to Royal Stoke Hospital for further treatment and the third was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.” Copyright © 2025 West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust Lovingly crafted by Mixd A policewoman who received a shock secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis 18 years ago has thanked an organisation that has been like “family” to her Working in the RAF as a policewoman for two decades being an active runner and taking part in multiple expeditions over the years Ann Hughes has always taken on challenges that test her mental and physical health But nothing could prepare her for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2007 Ann started her career in the RAF police in 1990 with jobs including guarding nuclear weapons counterintelligence and being part of the drugs squad She did a tour in Iraq for four months and detachments in Italy and Cyprus Ann met her RAF fireman husband Mick while they were both stationed in the Shetland Islands and had their daughter Lauren Ann was medically discharged from the RAF in 2009 two years after she was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS She said: “It took a while to get my diagnosis – I was experiencing symptoms for many years before I get a lot of spasms and fatigue and can’t walk far without a crutch – I have to use a wheelchair for distances.” Ann has paid into the Fund via the Service Days Pay Giving scheme since starting her career in the air force however she never thought she’d need to use the Fund’s services Ann felt depressed and physically unwell and struggled living in married quarters I didn’t know what to do knowing I had MS – I was lost I don’t like asking for help but I’m so glad I contacted the Fund “They stepped in to help me with my mobility and adaptation needs and found a house which we now rent “They adapted the whole place and also provided me with a mobility scooter on a permanent loan I can’t tell you how much it has benefitted me The Fund has been like another family to me.” Ann said: “My daughter Lauren was only eight years old when I was diagnosed along with my husband Mick have been a huge support – it hasn’t been easy for them.” The Fund has also enabled Ann and her family to have two breaks with the Disabled Holiday Trust in Anglesey and Devon The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families This includes grants to help with financial difficulty 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 The family of a 17-year-old boy who died after a crash near Shifnal earlier this month have paid tribute The fatal crash happened on Offoxey Road in Tong, near Shifnal West Mercia Police confirmed that Jacob Holman, of Tettenhall in Wolverhampton “Everyone who knew Jacob would say he was quite a shy person when you first met him but once you knew him it was easy to see how loving and caring he was “We are very proud of the man he was becoming “Jacob had a wonderful group of friends who have given us tremendous support during this difficult time We are meeting friends of his we didn’t know he had who are all telling us stories about how much of an incredible friend he was “Just after Christmas Jacob found himself a job at a local restaurant here in Tettenhall as a pot washer before he was quickly given the opportunity to help with preparing some of the food “He was learning to make the starters and desserts We believe he had found his calling in life “He would often cook for his friends when they came round to our home – I think it’s fair to say he was very domesticated and mature for his age “Jacob was the youngest of four growing up with three sisters even though he was the prankster of the household and would spend his days winding them up at any opportunity “The local shop would always have a can of Monster and packet of strawberry laces waiting for him “Jacob enjoyed most food but his favourite was chicken wings ensuring he had a regular visit to the local pub to enjoy a kilo of them to himself This also allowed him to spend time with mum brother and friend and he will be missed by everyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing him “We are very comforted knowing he is with his dad now Two other teenage boys, Jenson Bridges, 17, and Simon Evans, 18, also died in the crash A third 17-year-old boy has life-changing injuries The family of 18-year-old Simon Evans and "would do absolutely anything for his friends" Police are continuing to investigate the collision and are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to contact DC Rich Owen on 07814773916 or email SCIUNorth@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 554i of 14 March Officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have been travelling through Bishops Wood and Brewood at around 11pm as we believe the Audi travelled along Port Lane and Kiddemore Green Road ahead of the incident The families of those involved continue to ask that their privacy is respected Don’t miss any of the latest news and breaking stories from the West Midlands. Get the latest headlines wherever you are with our free daily newsletter sent directly to your inbox War time memories will be shared with the people of Shifnal as the town marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day has recorded interviews with veterans and local people which will be shown in the church on May 8 as part of the commemorations At 6.30pm the bells of the church will ring out as part of a national peel and there will be a parade from the Village Hall to the church at 6.30 involving the Royal British Legion Shropshire’s Vice Lord Lieutenant Jenny Wynn will also be attending “There will then be a church service at 7pm when the Mayor will read the proclamation and light the D Day lamp,” said Rev Thorpe “Beacons will be lit all around the country and we will remember how the street lights went on for the first time on VE day in 1945 as the blackout was lifted “We hope as many Shifnal people will come together to mark this special day and remember those millions that gave so much to achieve the freedom we all enjoy today.” "We do not want to be a part of Telford" - that was just one of the views from Shifnal residents who have strong opposition to any plans to build more houses in the region The issue has come into sharper focus in recent days after Shropshire Council's confirmation it will look at sites to build 1,500 new homes in the 'east of the county' - potentially on green belt land - as it looks to salvage its local plan The local plan is one of the most important documents any council produces and sets out where houses and business developments can be built for every town and village within its boundaries The cash-strapped local authority's local plan process was thrown into chaos last month when inspectors voiced a series of major concerns with the proposal Shropshire Council has outlined its ambitions and said it still hopes to get the plan adopted by 'mid 2026' But, to get the plan adopted the council will be targeting areas such as Shifnal, Albrighton There was a common theme from Shifnal residents voicing their feelings about the local plan - concerns over the infrastructure to cope with fresh development and car parking sites to accompany new housing plans Local resident Paula Rushton believes there are already "enough" houses in the area there is a lack of infrastructure," she said "We have already got so many new ones and we can’t get into the doctors "Standing here in the town centre you can see the mess they have made there is now parallel parking which is unusable and the benches are on a slant Shifnal Town manager Connor Patterson says the club's first promotion to step four of the non-league pyramid will 'be a memory of a lifetime' after play-off success against 1874 Northwich First half goals from Sam Fitzgerald and Brad Bood were enough to separate the sides in their Midland League Premier Division play-off final The result takes Shifnal beyond step five for the first ever time and Patterson admits it was an emotional occasion as they secured promotion I was pretty much lost for words," he told the Shropshire Star it will be a memory of a lifetime for us all." Kick-off was delayed by around 20 minutes due to the number of supporters attempting to come through the gates - with a final attendance of 1067 - but once the game finally got under way the home fans were treated to a fast start Shifnal almost took the lead within 50 seconds when a long clearance by keeper Andy Wycherley found Fitzgerald but his first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area was superbly saved by Jack Atkinson Eden Bailey had a chance for the visitors after 11 minutes but his header from a left wing cross was comfortably saved by Wycherley Town then finally scored the opening goal in the 15th minute when Lewis Jarman’s header from a corner was handled in the box by a defender and Fitzgerald sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot There were chances of note for the rest of the half until Shifnal doubled their lead in the 44th minute Jarman won the ball in midfield and found Kyle Byrne with a ball down the left flank The hosts started the second half well and Byrne came close with an effort from distance in the 51st minute before later having a shot blocked by Atkinson Substitute Isaac Phillips then had an effort flash wide following a Kane Lewis cross before Northwich had their best period of the game They were inches away from getting a goal back in the 70th minute when John McGrath’s free-kick was headed across goal and almost met by an onrushing attacker Matt Fenton's long throw found Tom Morris but his header was turned round the near post by Wycherley Shifnal should have put the game to bed after 81 minutes when Atkinson gifted the ball to Jarman but his attempted lob was not high enough to beat the goalkeeper But in the end those first half strikes were enough to secure promotion as Northwich struggled to get back into the game Shifnal will join league champions Lichfield City in moving up to step four and Patterson has ambitions of pushing the club even further next season "I was chatting to the lads before the game and told them it was no different to any other game," he added "We stay solid and keep clean sheets and when we get a chance we're ruthless "From the start that's what the boys did and we were deserved winners on the day we want to push the next league and take ourselves to the next level take a bit of time away and we'll get back it by putting plans together for next season "I believe in these boys more than anything They've stepped over the white line week in "As a management team we can only give them instructions and details and when they go and play it's the boys that have put the graft in Severn Trent and Swim England and the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum have come together to help keep people safe this bank holiday weekend Reservoirs across the region are beautiful places for people to enjoy walks in nature stunning views and lovely places to eat and drink and while the temperatures may make it tempting to take a dip it’s important that people do not go into the water reservoirs can pose hidden dangers because the water is extremely cold and it has strong currents and machinery beneath the surface that you can’t see whilst people are encouraged to enjoy open water sites during this lovely weather please stay out of the water and stay safe The Met Office has also confirmed it’s the UK’s sunniest April since records began in 1910 and Severn Trent is well prepared to deal with periods of warm weather with reservoirs being an important part of the water network The Midlands hasn’t had a hosepipe ban in 30 years and Severn Trent is confident this will continue thanks to ongoing investment including £400m to upgrade pipes With the warm and dry weather set to continue to using water wisely to help protect it as precious resource is always encouraged said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to our sites over the bank holiday weekend but we want to make sure everyone keeps safe “We ask that nobody enters the water at all our reservoir sites as there are hidden dangers you can’t see – it's extremely cold that can easily lead to shock and drowning and it has strong currents and machinery beneath the surface We take the safety of visitors extremely seriously and we want everyone to enjoy these spaces safely so please stay out of the water and stay safe customers can have confidence in their water supply and as water is a precious resource we always encourage people to be mindful of water especially as the drier and warmer weather continues.” Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Manager at Swim England said: “Regular open water swimmers do so with safety front of mind It’s vital that anyone that is tempted to take dip by the recent warm weather only enter the water at managed venues events or lifeguarded areas where risk assessments have taken place and routes thoroughly planned to ensure everyone’s safety We want to encourage as many people as possible to swim but do so in a controlled and safe manner.” Joining the company’s efforts in keeping people safe is the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum (LRF) Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue and Shropshire Fire and Rescue – who are coming together in partnership to keep people safe and share the hidden dangers of open water Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service Water Safety Officer said: "The weather is warming up however it's important to remember it is still cold in open water There can be objects and currents that we can't see that could cause danger "Sudden immersion in the cooler water could also cause cold water shock "If you are going swimming this bank holiday and come into difficulty remember float to live and should you see anyone in danger always call 999." For more water safety information, visit shropshirefire.gov.uk/water-safety The prestigious Dyslexia Awards are set to make their grand return to Shropshire this year spotlighting the remarkable achievements of dyslexics and the dedicated individuals and organisations that support them known for its inspiring atmosphere and community spirit is scheduled to take place this autumn in Telford and individuals educators and businesses from across the county and beyond are invited to get involved is excited to announce the reopening of nominations for the much-anticipated event Elizabeth said: "Each ceremony brings new stories of extraordinary talent and perseverance that truly inspire Every Dyslexia Awards celebration evening is packed with individuals whose achievements deserve the spotlight." This year's awards will feature 10 different categories designed to recognise the diverse talents and contributions of the dyslexic community and their supporters New for 2025 is the STEMM Award celebrating the achievements of dyslexic individuals who are over the age of 18 that have made significant contributions in the fields of science The Young Entrepreneur Award continues to celebrate young dyslexics aged 16 to 21 who exhibit business acumen demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial skills and achieved success The full list of adult and youth categories includes: Amazing Artist (18+) Previous winners have gone on to make significant impacts in various fields demonstrating how dyslexic thinking can lead to innovation and success Victoria Thornton from Shrewsbury Colleges Group was recognised by judges to win the Learning Support Award The judges said they had read many wonderful supportive comments from both students and academic staff that emphasised Victoria’s commitment to supporting students to achieve their goals They added: “She clearly champions her own dyslexia which puts her students at ease and gives them confidence to do the same She is obviously very supportive and non-judgmental which opens the doors to successful learning and helps unlock potential.” Victoria encouraged as many individuals as possible educators and businesses to get involved in the 2025 awards encompasses a range of challenges primarily related to language processing who was made an MBE for her services to the dyslexic community said: “With appropriate teaching and the encouragement to follow their dreams and strengths dyslexics can and do succeed in all walks of life and professions.” The Dyslexia Awards started out as a regional awards initiative in Shropshire but its growth to become a nationally celebrated event underscores the growing awareness and advocacy for dyslexic individuals across the UK Nominations are now open and will be accepted until 30 June 2025. To nominate a deserving candidate or to find out more about the categories and the nomination process, please visit theddc.org.uk/dyslexiaawards Award winners will be announced on September 20 at a celebration event at the Mercure Telford Centre Hotel in Telford the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) held their annual West Midlands Awards and Gala Dinner in Birmingham The Ironbridge Gorge Upper Furnace Pool Restoration project won the Heritage Award delivered by WM Longreach and Balfour Beatty Living Places for Telford & Wrekin Council the Upper Furnace Pool formed part of the Ironbridge watercourse network used to power the blast furnaces of Coalbrookdale and became the most important iron production centre in the world during the industrial revolution the project team needed to consider various challenges including extensive silt accumulation in a live watercourse set below a historic railway viaduct and within a residential area the judges were impressed with the management of silt removal which provided safer working whilst restoring the local waterways The area is now a popular walking location and school children have visited the site to learn about the engineering process In the same category the Radford River Bridge Refurbishment delivered by Amey for Staffordshire County Council The judges applauded the project team’s use of approved locally-sourced stone which was shaped using milling and hydro-jetting equipment creating a high-quality finish to match the existing column geometry the ICE West Midlands annual awards were held on 1 May 2025 in Birmingham Professor Jim Hall and guest speaker was Professor Turi King Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath known for her work leading the genetic analysis for the identification of King Richard III ICE East and West Midlands Regional Director said: “Our judges had a diverse range of projects to consider from all sectors of the industry "Many entries this year also highlighted the sustainable benefits civil engineers in the region are bringing to our everyday lives and these particular projects are both a great example of that "Our annual awards are important in not only demonstrating the importance of civil engineers whose hard work and dedication can often go unnoticed but in also celebrating the positive impact that civil engineering has right across the region.” Shifnal Town will be playing in step four of non-league for the first time next season They earned their place in the next level up after a 2-0 victory over 1874 Northwich in the Midland League Premier Division play-off final Sam Fitzgerald and Brad Bood scored the goals before half-time and the hosts held on to triumph in front of 1,067 fans at the Acoustafoam Stadium And photographer Kevin Wakerley was in attendance to snap these pictures of Shifnal's memorable day Drinks will be flowing in this 17th century Grade II-listed pub in Shifnal once again The White Hart in High Street, Shifnal The historic pub had been closed and unoccupied since the Covid-19 pandemic before the historic pub was bought by Black Country Ales the Kingswinford-based brewers announced plans to transform the site while ensuring to "retain as much character of this old property as possible" It also promised that The White Hart would operate as a "real ale public house" with 12 traditional hand-pulled beers and ciders. Further, an extension of the main building was proposed to and approved by Shropshire Council’s planning committee The team behind the beloved pub said they “can’t wait” to welcome customers into the new site via the brand’s official social media channels The full Facebook post said: “Exciting News “We are absolutely delighted to announce that The White Hart in Shifnal now has an official opening date “Mark your calendars: Thursday 13th March 2025 at 12pm “We can't wait to welcome you all to experience the charm and fantastic atmosphere of this beautifully restored pub Follow us for more updates as we prepare to open the doors!” Find out more information about The White Hart in Shifnal via the brand’s official social media channels Firefighters are dealing with a van fire on a main road through a town The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the incident on the A464 Park Street, Shifnal Two crews have been sent to the scene and are continuing to deal with the incident Reports from residents have said traffic has been backing up in the area with AA reports showing delays on the route Sign up for our free newsletters today will see many intrepid mountain bikers set off from Rhiwlas Village Hall taking part in this annual event – and you could be among them helping to keep Midland Air Ambulance helicopters in the air who helps organise the event said: “I have very mixed feeling when I see an Air Ambulance helicopter land in the park in Oswestry I’m saddened to think that someone is seriously ill but exhilarated to know that a highly trained dedicated team is on hand to make the situation better You could help too by joining us for the challenge – it may change someone’s life!” Borderland Rotary Club have been giving regular donations to the service for about 30 years and there’s no sign of them stopping any time soon Visit borderland-mtb-challenge.org to find out more Shifnal Town boss Connor Patterson has been drilling his side ‘to be ruthless’ as they take on 1874 Northwich in the Midland League Premier Division play-off final the Shropshire side are favourites on Saturday (3pm) against Northwich They have already drawn against them twice in the league this season and Patterson felt that his side ‘were the better team both times’ Town defeated Brocton in the semi-final 3-2 to continue their push for promotion thanks to goals from Kyle Byrne adding to a run of nine wins from 10 games since they last drew with Northwich Patterson said: “I think it's just going to be who wants it the most on the day who's not going to let the occasion get to them “I think whoever turns up on the day and wants it that little bit more And hopefully a few more fans and stuff start coming through the gate and the club is going in the right direction of where we wanted to go “The three games that we have played against them I personally feel like we were the better team both times I feel like we should have come away with three points “Felt we had the game pretty under control for long periods and we just couldn't take chances “And that's something that I’ve been drilling into the boys lately I think we could be in for a successful day.” Shifnal finished the season four points behind champions Lichfield City their record of 22 clean sheets this season was the best in the division as they conceded only 27 total league-goals Northwich defeated third-placed Atherstone Town in their semi-final after finishing the season with the lowest goalscoring tally of the play-off teams – they scored 63 five worse than ninth-placed OJM Black Country Midland League Division One side AFC Bridgnorth have a chance at earning some silverware for the club as they take on Cradley Town in the JW Hunt Cup semi-final on May 6 (7.30pm) Manager Jack Griffiths is expecting his players to step up a level after a disappointing 0-0 performance against Gornal Athletic saw off their successful league campaign He said: “We’ve got to buck our ideas up going into the semi-final against Cradley because play anything like that against Cradley and we'll get turned over and we've got no chance of getting to Molineux we've got a bit of an end of season do this weekend and then we've got a friendly on Saturday just to keep the lads legs ticking over before the semifinal.” Despite missing out on the play-off places Midland Premier outfit Whitchurch Alport face North West Counties South side Allscott Heath in the TJ Vickers Premier Cup final on May 7 (7.45pm) Shifnal Town edged to a narrow 2-1 victory over Northwich Victoria at the Acoustafoam Stadium although Lichfield City beat local rivals Whitchurch Alport to lift the Midland Premier Division title Town took the lead from the spot in the 28th-minute when Sam Fitzgerald sent Northwich goalkeeper Zac Prior the wrong way with a calm finish to score his ninth goal in six games Victoria levelled within six minutes of falling behind after carving open the Shifnal defence before Ben Crane slotted his finish into the bottom corner Lewis Jarman continued his own hot streak in front of goal when he pounced on the rebound to force the ball over the line after Jack Rowley had initially seen his header saved to net for the fourth game on the spin Shifnal were unable to keep their title hopes alive after Lichfield secured the title with a game to spare by condemning Whitchurch Alport to a resounding defeat Alport failed to contain the long throw threat posed by Callum Rudd and it played an instrumental role in the opening two goals for Lichfield His long throw was cleared into the path of Leighton McMenemey and his powerful volley was deflected into the net by Jamie Spiers just before the half-hour mark Whitchurch had their chances with Billy West forcing Lichfield goalkeeper Brendon Bunn to parry before Ollie Holden lifted the rebound over the crossbar Callum Griffin fired a golden chance wide for Lichfield and Callum Parker failed to find the target with his header just before half-time after some good work down the left by Alport attacker Harry Bower Alport made the worst possible start to the second half when a long ball found bounced over everyone and into the path of Liam Kirton to double Lichfield's lead within the first 60 seconds of the restart Griffin put the seal on the win with a third during the final 10 minutes to mathematically end Alport's faint hopes of finishing in the play-off spots Bridgnorth scored in the final 10 minutes to rescue a 1-1 home draw against Ingles after Cameron Smith had opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half Allscott Heath climbed out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory at New Mills in their penultimate game of the season Ben Davies scored the only goal of the game just before the hour-mark as Foley Meir dropped into the bottom three following a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Abbey Hulton United Market Drayton romped to a resounding 4-1 home victory in their midtable tussle against Cammell Laird 1907 Raul Bisong bagged a first half brace before Jamie Leyland pulled one back for the visitors eight minutes after half-time Joel Reece and Ricardo Gordon both scored in second half stoppage time to guarantee maximum points relegated Shawbury United lost 1-0 at home to Stockport Georgians courtesy of Liver McFadyen's 86th-minute strike Ludlow Town twice blew a one-goa lead to draw 2-2 at Stonehouse It's a town centre pub which suffered closure during the Covid-19 pandemic but which has reopened and been given a new lease of life and a warm welcome to customers The closure of any pub can be a sad one for the community with the future of the building appearing bleak and no real indication of what will become of it There are countless pubs which have closed and never seen another pint pulled or another thirsty customer walk through the doors The White Hart in Shifnal is one pub which appeared to be going that way Grade II listed building having been closed and unoccupied since the Covid-19 pandemic It had sat dormant and empty on Shifnal High Street a sad reminder of a difficult time in modern history and seemed unlikely to serve customers again until Black Country Ales stepped in to give it a new lease of life The Kingswinford-based brewers and pub company made the White Hart its 52nd pub when it bought the building in February 2024 and began a substantial refurbishment which saw an extension added to the main building and the inside completely changed and updated to the familiar look of a Black Country Ales pub a new ground floor cellar was constructed in the alley A family-run Italian restaurant group with locations across the West Midlands has opened its latest branch in the heart of Shifnal The new Radici's restaurant was officially opened by Mayor of Shifnal Councillor Ellen Moore last Friday (November 22) The restaurant is located in a historic town centre building formerly known as Latimers and the owners are aiming to offer a warm and inviting atmosphere where residents and visitors can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine Radici's has already become popular with Shropshire residents through its Albrighton branch and the trio share a passion for celebrating traditional Italian cooking Guests can enjoy a wide selection of freshly made pastas alongside an extensive wine list featuring both Italian classics and handpicked local selections "We are incredibly excited to bring Radici's to Shifnal a town that has such a vibrant community and a rich history," said co-owner Luca Gallito and we feel it is the perfect place to continue our family's tradition of serving delicious authentic Italian food with a warm and welcoming atmosphere." The restaurant group's story began more than a decade ago when the founders decided to combine their expertise in cooking and hospitality They say the name 'Radici' - 'roots' in Italian - reflects their dedication to family values and the deep connection they feel to their culinary heritage family venture has since grown into a thriving group of restaurants in Shropshire Mario Brunetti added: "We want Radici's to be more than just a place to eat and we’re excited to be part of this wonderful town." Mayor Ellen Moore who had the pleasure of opening the new restaurant said: "It is fantastic to see investment into Shifnal and the arrival to Radici’s is testament that our town is on the up "We have had a fantastic year in Shifnal with Love Shifnal bringing a host of events and promotions to our town which was topped by a superb Christmas lights switch-on event run by Shropshire Festivals this weekend The arrival of a fabulous restaurant like Radici’s is the icing on the cake for a great Shifnal year." Shifnal Town sealed their place in the Midland Premier final with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Brocton will now lock horns with 1874 Northwich at their Acoustafoam Stadium home on Saturday for a place in step four of the non-league pyramid Saturday's dramatic semi-final saw five of six goals arrive in the first half in front of a bumper crowd of 695 The visiting Badgers finished fifth in the regular season Will Wheildon put the Staffordshire visitors ahead on 13 minutes but Sam Fitzgerald buried a penalty on 25 minutes to restore parity Shifnal kept their foot on the gas in front of a vociferous crowd It got better still a couple of minutes later as Kyle Byrne latched on to a rebound following a razor-sharp Town break to convert for a 2-1 lead There was another twist before the interval and Brocton's top scorer Reg Smith fired for 2-2 with a stunning free-kick before half hour The decisive moment in the second period arrive just shy of the midpoint of the second half A Fitzgerald corner caused havoc in the Brocton penalty area and defender Jack Rowley hammered a finish into the net Patterson's side saw out the tense finale to set up next weekend's showpiece at home to 1874 Northwich after their tight 1-0 semi-final progression on the road at Atherstone are set to emerge in the coming days but the Acoustafoam Stadium clash is set to pull in an even bigger crowd in what has been a memorable campaign for the club who have only been members of Midland and West Midlands league action since 1976/77 Taylor Wimpey is inviting residents in the Shifnal area to have their say on proposals for a new housing development The homebuilder is in the early stages of preparing plans for approximately 57 homes on land north of Holyhead Road in Shifnal with a mix of properties to suit a range of buyers 20 per cent will be classed as affordable housing in line with Shropshire Council’s existing and emerging local plan policy The provisional plans for the development include a variety of 2 as well as the creation of new green public open spaces and a play area Taylor Wimpey will hold a public consultation to seek the views of local residents and stakeholders. Details of the proposals will be available to view here People will also get the chance to speak to the project team in person during a public exhibition on Thursday Land Director at Taylor Wimpey North Midlands said: “Gathering the views of the local community is an important stage in the development process and we are keen to hear what residents living near the site think of our current proposals.” the family-run Italian restaurant group with locations in Albrighton has opened its latest branch in the heart of Shifnal which was officially opened on Friday 22 November by Mayor of Shifnal Cllr Ellen Moore is located in the historic building formerly known as Latimers and will offer a warm and inviting atmosphere where locals and visitors can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine Radici’s has established a reputation for high-quality freshly prepared Italian dishes using only the finest locally sourced ingredients The trio share a passion for celebrating traditional Italian cooking while embracing the culinary creativity of modern cuisine The Shifnal restaurant marks an exciting new chapter in the Radici’s story with a carefully curated menu that stays true to the flavours and techniques of their Italian heritage Guests can expect a wide selection of freshly made pastas delicious antipasti and mouthwatering desserts alongside an extensive wine list featuring both Italian classics and handpicked local selections Radici’s focuses on delivering a family-friendly dining experience with an emphasis on bringing people together around a shared table “We are incredibly excited to bring Radici’s to Shifnal a town that has such a vibrant community and a rich history,” said co-owner Luca Gallito and we feel it is the perfect place to continue our family’s tradition of serving delicious authentic Italian food with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.” The story of Radici’s began over a decade ago when the founders decided to combine their expertise in cooking and hospitality to create a restaurant that felt like an extension of their own homes The name “Radici” – which means “roots” in Italian – reflects their dedication to family values What began as a small family venture has since grown into a thriving group of restaurants each known for its personal touch and commitment to excellence “We want Radici’s to be more than just a place to eat – we want it to be a hub for the community and enjoy great food together,” said co-owner Mario Brunetti and we’re excited to be part of this wonderful town.” “It is fantastic to see investment into Shifnal and the arrival to Radici’s is testament that our town is on the up We have had a fantastic year in Shifnal with Love Shifnal bringing a host of events and promotions to our town which was topped by a superb Christmas Lights Switch On event run by Shropshire Festivals this weekend The arrival of a fabulous restaurant like Radici’s is the icing on the cake for a great Shifnal year.” A mayor has awarded the local barber shop with a certificate for being the 'most loved' business in the town Egerton’s of Victoria Road has been awarded a certificate by Mayor of Shifnal Ellen Moore after being nominated by its loyal customers Owner Mark Egerton took part in a Valentine’s promotion organised by the Love Shifnal that encouraged local people to give a shout out to their favourite business “We had so many nominations - it just goes to show how much people value our local shops,” said Sally Themans of Love Shifnal Mark Egerton from the barbers said that he was delighted with the recognition “I love doing what I do and I love my customers so when they take the trouble to send a testimonial it makes coming to work a pleasure,” he said Everyone who nominated a business was put into a prize draw with Adam Mclachlan winning a £50 meal voucher for Christopher’s of Shifnal for his praise of Egerton’s and Kim Roberts receiving a £25 voucher for Shifnal Balti for nominating the Compton Care charity shop Love Shifnal is providing more support for businesses at Easter with a popular bunny trail and is also holding a social media drop-in workshop at the Community Hub on Tuesday April 8 from 11am-6pm “Any business in Shifnal is welcome to come and drop by to explore ways that they can enhance their online presence,” Sally added Inquests into the deaths of three teenagers who died after a car crash have been opened Simon Evans, aged 18, Jenson Bridges and Jacob Holman, both 17, all died following the collision involving an Audi A1 on Offoxey Road, Tong, near Shifnal Another 17-year-old boy who was also in the car suffered life-changing injuries March 20) that the crash happened last Friday (March 14) Simon, a student/commis chef who lived in Perton, near Wolverhampton Jacob, a trainee chef from Tettenhall was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent but Jenson, a shop fitter from Brewood, South Staffordshire was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham said: “West Mercia Police’s investigation will continue I extend my heartfelt sympathies and sincere condolences to all three families and all those who knew the three young gentlemen.” He adjourned the inquests to July 8 this year loving and caring” in a tribute issued after his death They said he enjoyed hobbies and sports including taekwondo friendly person always with a smile on his face” “He was so family orientated and would do absolutely anything for his friends “They had an amazing friendship group of which he was the glue that held them together and he loved spending time in Cornwall with us and our friends He was kind and thoughtful to all those that met him he was a blue belt in taekwondo and he even became world champion He also loved his car and would always be tinkering with it alongside his brother.” The teenager had recently been given a promotion to sous chef at a restaurant he worked at part-time and also attended a college course studying light vehicle mechanics and all those who knew Simon would describe him as funny grandson and friend who will be sorely missed by anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him He really was a gentleman older than his years.” A Shifnal secondary school that was closed on Thursday because of issues with their school network has confirmed they will be reopen on Friday Idsall School in Shifnal announced they would be closed on Thursday due to "technical issues" The statement on Thursday morning said that the school network was "currently unavailable" meaning it was "impossible to open the school safely" the school announced that they would be back open on Friday A spokesperson for the school said: "We sincerely apologise for the need to close the school today Please rest assured that we have been working hard to ensure the school is safe and ready to reopen tomorrow." The school confirmed telephone lines were now operational but limited access to other systems and emails meant some responses may be delayed The statement concluded: "We truly appreciate your patience and continued support as we work to resolve these issues and we look forward to welcoming students back tomorrow." Police have launched an appeal for witnesses after a fatal crash in Shifnal last night The collision, involving a silver Audi A1, happened on Offoxey Road in Tong, Shifnal West Mercia Police said that one of the occupants of the vehicle, an 18-year-old man, was announced dead at the scene sustained life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital sustained life-changing injuries but is in a stable condition of the serious collision investigation unit said: “This is an incredibly sad incident and first and foremost our thoughts remain with the family of the man who died “We’re asking for the public to help us understand what happened last night “We’d like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the collision or have dashcam footage of it “We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen or have dashcam footage of the vehicle travelling on Wood Road or Boscobel Lane from Codsall towards Bishops Wood at around 11pm last night “The Audi A1 was travelling together with a red Vauxhall Corsa and a black VW Golf “Although they were not involved in any way in the collision we're hoping that this may help to jog people’s memories.” Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact DC Rich Owen on 07814773916 or SCIUNorth@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 554 of 14 March The families of those involved in the collision have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time A popular sporting event in Shropshire is set to take place this summer - but needs sponsors and volunteers to ensure it continues to be a huge success Volunteers and sponsors are needed for the Shifnal 10k race, Coming off the back of a successful run last year, organisers of the race - Shifnal residents and runners - are excited to say this year’s event has already sold-out It’s become a calendar event for the people of the town as the race starts and finishes in centre and major roads close for the day All finishers receive a finisher medal and goody bag With backing from Shifnal Town Council, the 10k race is already sponsored by a range of local businesses including Radici's in Market Place But more businesses need to get involved if the event is to reach its goals Coun Roger Cox sell-out race which raises money for charity and presents a brilliant opportunity for anybody to get involved “It’s fantastic for the local businesses and great for the community to promote what we have on offer here.” Anyone interested in volunteering will receive full training and should contact info@avtiming.com for more information Businesses or organisations who would be willing to sponsor the event should contact roger.cox@shifnaltowncouncil.gov.uk Shifnal Town boss Connor Patterson has billed Saturday's Midland Premier play-off final as the biggest game in the club's history Patterson's side qualified for Saturday's showpiece final at home to 1874 Northwich with the dramatic 3-2 success at home to Brocton last weekend - in which the hosts fought back from an early setback Shifnal will vie for promotion from regional football - be that several guises of Midland divisions - for the first time in their history with a bumper crowd expected at the Acoustafoam Stadium including the well-followed Northwich visitors is confident his troops have what it takes to come out on the right side of the huge clash "It is the biggest day of Shifnal's history go down and be remembered for a long time," Patterson said the Town boss wants to keep things as normal as possible until kick-off even the team above us (title-winners Lichfield) "On our day in a one-off game we can beat anyone But this is no different to any other game I've just asked for another green tick from the lads Northwich booked their ticket in the play-offs via a 1-0 win at Atherstone Town who finished one place above them in Midland Premier Shifnal finished second in a competitive division and just four points below title-winners Lichfield But Shifnal were 12 points better off than their visitors from Cheshire Patterson said: "They are one of the teams we haven't picked maximum points against this season at one point recently I had a midfielder at centre-back who made a third round qualifying replay of the FA Cup this term anticipate an attendance of more than 1,000 at the Acoustafoam Stadium A disabled Shropshire woman says she faces being homeless in just over a week as there are no homes suitable for people with disabilities available Jane Nicholls from Shifnal lost her mother just over a year ago Not only has the 53-year-old had to contend with the grief but she found herself having to search for a new home after her mum's house in Park Street was put on the market Now Jane has been handed an eviction notice telling her she has to be out by April 8 but despite a year of searching for properties in the area “I am 54 next month and I have lived in Shifnal all my life first with my parents then for the last 22 years it it was just me and my mum – we were each other's carer But sadly she passed away in December leaving just myself in the house,” she said “It is now being sold and I have to be out on April 8. I have spent more than a year now since my mum passed away looking but there are simply no homes in Shifnal I am disabled so need a bungalow but there is nothing I have an eviction notice so I am going to be homeless unless I find something.” Shifnal’s bowlers were the hottest property in the new Allscott Heath Winter League ending with a 12-chalk victory over title rivals Wrockwardine Wood to pip Bylet to the championship by three points But Bylet’s Joe Dicken had the consolation of winning the singles averages award with 16 wins from his 17 games Shifnal's stars were (pictured from left): Rob Roden It was not to be for Wrockwardine Wood in their bid to win the British Ladies Club Championship four times in a row The Telford club’s new-look side failed to top their qualifying group at Norbreck BC in Blackpool on Saturday and so missed out on a semi-final spot as Springbank from Manchester went on to triumph Yet the day started well for the Wrockites as they beat Bulkington (North Midlands) by 24 shots in the eight-a-side event But five winners were not enough to stave off defeat against past winners New Mill from Yorkshire by seven chalks after battling wins by Sarah Weaver (15-10) and Chelsea Gregory (15-5) And Wood’s fate was sealed when they lost by 12 against Cheshire’s Castle Sports with Weaver’s 15-9 card the best of their three winners as they headed home earlier than hoped for There was a fitting end to the Bandit Bowls winter one-day competitions as Shropshire senior team star Scott Harries ruled again The Sir John Bayley ace came out on top of just 10 entries at Sinclair on Saturday thanks to a 21-14 victory over Shifnal’s Dave James It meant that Harries ended up winning 103 for the 123 games he had played in the 17 one-dayers he entered taking first place in six of them and losing in three finals Two round robin groups of five at the Telford club produced the knockout line-up and in the semi-finals Harries raced to a 21-8 win over Terry Howard and James saw off Adrian Owens 21-14 A Shropshire town council has agreed its annual budget which includes nearly a nine per cent rise in its share of council tax Shifnal Town Council has agreed to increase its precept by 8.83 per cent The precept submission will equate to an annual figure of £159.90p for each household which will go towards paying towards the direct costs of the council Members of the town council met on February 6 to discuss and agree an annual budget and precept required to deliver services in the area The budget has now been submitted to Shropshire Council to request the precept Shifnal Town Council has decided its annual budget expenditure will be £673,615 its annual budgeted income will be £38,043 its transfer from 'council reserves' will be £58,172 and its precept submission will be £577,399 A spokesperson at Shifnal Town Council said: "The council have considered this increase in detail and are committed to continue to deliver the most cost-effective services to the community "The members are aware of the economic pressures on individuals and families at this time and are very mindful of making decisions that may impact them further "The Council have absorbed inflationary and service provision increases over the last ten years without an increase to the community purse prior to last years’ small increase of 1.2 per cent but unfortunately cannot continue to do this "Should any member of the electorate require sight of the agreed budget in detail please refer to the Shifnal Town Council website at www.shifnaltowncouncil.gov.uk or contact the office for further support." A second teenager has died after a collision near Shifnal on Friday night (March 14) West Mercia Police have announced that a 17-year-old male has died in hospital following the collision involving a silver Audi A1 on Offoxey Road in Tong One of the vehicle's occupants, an 18-year-old man, was announced dead at the scene and another 17-year-old male who sustained life-threatening injuries remains in hospital in a critical condition A third occupant of the car has also sustained life-threatening injuries The county's police force continues to appeal to anyone who may have information about the crash A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "A second teenager has sadly died following a collision near Shifnal on Friday night (March 14) "A 17-year-old male has since died in hospital following the collision which involved a silver Audi A1 on Offoxey Road in Tong "The other 17-year-old male who sustained life-threatening injuries remains hospital in a critical condition. A fourth occupant, a 17-year-old male "The families of those involved in the collision have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time." Anyone with information or dash-cam footage is being asked to contact DC Rich Owen on 07814773916 or SCIUNorth@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 554i of 14 March The Audi A1 was travelling with a red Vauxhall Corsa and a black VW Golf which were not involved in the collision previously said: "This is an incredibly sad incident "We're asking for the public to help us understand what happened last night "We’d like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the collision or have dashcam footage of it "We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen or have dashcam footage of the vehicle travelling on Wood Road or Boscobel Lane from Codsall towards Bishops Wood at around 11pm on Friday night "The Audi A1 was travelling together with a red Vauxhall Corsa and a black VW Golf "Although they were not involved in any way in the collision we're hoping that this may help to jog people’s memories." Tributes continue to grow at the site of a shocking road crash that claimed the lives of three teenagers The tragic crash happened at around 11.15pm on Friday (March 14) near Shifnal Three teenage boys died as a result of the crash while another suffered life-changing injuries Scores of tributes have since been left at the scene of the crash candles and a teddy bear all placed at the side of the road A spanner with the message 'RIP Simon' has also been attached to a tree at the scene of the crash Retailer Lidl has announced plans to open 40 new stores across the UK with locations in Shropshire high on the firm's hit list The company says it plans to spend half a billion pounds on its expansion plans for the year after publishing a list of locations it wants to build new stores New stores could also open in Bridgnorth and Ludlow according to the firm's latest property requirements brochure In Shrewsbury a store is earmarked for an unidentified location near the centre of town “This level of investment is a clear sign of our ambition," said Richard Taylor "As we enter our fourth decade in Great Britain and hurtle towards a thousand stores there are still so many parts of the country crying out for convenient access to a Lidl store That’s why we welcome the measures proposed in the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill – they recognise the urgent need to remove barriers to development and support the kind of growth we at Lidl are working towards and continued investment into local economies We’re proud to be one of the fastest-growing supermarkets in the country we’re taking another big step in our journey.” Earlier this year, the firm announced it was set to start work on a new store in Bicton Heath. Work commenced on a new premises in Telford in February This year will see the completion of the expansion of Lidl’s Belvedere Regional Distribution Centre the discounter is also set to start construction on a new distribution centre in Leeds later in the year