Firefighters returned to a former builder's yard in Telford on Sunday evening after reports of a fire involving car parts and a disused building Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Telford firefighters returned once again to the former home of Wrekin Building Supplies off Stafford Road in Oakengates Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Shropshire Star’s free newsletter Shropshire Fire and Rescue received a call reporting a fire in once of the disused buildings at around 8pm on Sunday Two fire appliances were sent to the site from Telford Central Station and reported the scene under control by 8.22pm A spokesperson from the fire service reported West Mercia Police were also at the scene It's at least the fourth time in recent days that firefighters have been mobilised to the former builder's yard On Thursday, April 24, firefighters were called to the yard to tackle a fire that involved several tyres that were "well alight" inside one of the derelict buildings fire crews returned to the scene after reports of a fire within the derelict two-storey property on the site Just two days after that, on Wednesday, April 30, firefighters tackled a pile of burning rubbish which was alight in a vacant steel framed building The police said they were aware of the incidents and had increased the number of patrols in the area A spokesperson from West Mercia Police said: "There have been a number of fires at this location recently and additional police patrols are being carried out "Donnington and Trench Safer Neighbourhood Team are working with design out crime officers and partners including the local council to secure the site.” The vacant site has been subject to two failed planning applications in recent years The first, submitted in January 2023 proposed building 30 apartments on the site but it was withdrawn in March after attracting a number of objections from local residents and Oakengates Town Council parking and the number of proposed apartments The second application, submitted in December 2023, proposed building 25 apartments but was again withdrawn the following January following similar objections Shropshire Fire and Rescue station manager attended last week's fire with two crews from Telford Central Station and was asking residents to report any "suspicious activity" to 101 Kevin Wilkin has revealed the one trait his side have shown him that makes him confident of success in this afternoon’s play-off final AFC Telford United have endured another up and down season in the Southern Central Premier League and for the second season in a row their fate will be decided by the play-offs the Bucks boss explained why one quality his side have shown time and time again this term is keeping him quietly confident ahead of their clash with Kettering Town today “I know that this team will keep digging deep and will show a resilience that won’t let it be beaten easily,” Wilkin said “It finds a way on most occasions to get through games and now we need to show that little bit extra away from home.” He added: “I don’t know if there is one thing to be honest with you but looking at how the lads have been trying to bond together on and off the pitch over a period of time now has been pleasing.” Wilkin also discussed the Bucks’ away form leading into the final which has seen them draw six consecutive games on the road since January “We know we can go and get results on the road and we know we’re going to have to be at our very best on Monday to win the game,” he said “We proved that for the sake of a minute or two we would have won that game at Kettering and now we need to go there on the day and be the team that adapts and comes away with a victory “At this stage of the season you need that little bit of fortune and if we get that hopefully we can be successful.” AFC Telford have returned to the National Northern League following a win against Kettering Town on Monday This is the moment Kevin Wilkin's men sealed their promotion with a 4-2 win in the Southern League Premier Central playoff final The Bucks trailed 1-0 and 2-1 as they feared a second consecutive Southern Premier Central play-off final defeat but Kevin Wilkin's troops showed great spirit to roar back late on and seal promotion to National League North Wonderful scenes marked full-time in front of a record attendance at Latimer Park Right-back Jahdahn Fridye-Harper bagged the crucial third goal 10 minutes from time with his first goal for the club And their place was secured when substitute Rhys Hilton rounded the keeper for four in stoppage time in front of a delirious away end who invaded the pitch to celebrate at full-time For a full match report see: https://plus.shropshirestar.com/sport/2025/05/05/play-off-final-kettering-2-afc-telford-united-4-bucks-promoted-on-magical-day/ Jubilant Telford fans had packed the away stand at Kettering Town FC to watch as their team won the play off to secure a place in the  The visitors' allocation of 600 travelling football supporters packed into the away end as their side defended in the first period in a sea of white Telford AFC fans could be heard cheering desperately as the Bucks trailed 1-0 and 2-1 as they feared a second consecutive Southern Premier Central play-off final defeat But desperation turned to joy when right-back Jahdahn Fridye-Harper bagged the crucial third goal 10 minutes from time with his first goal for the club And even more cheers erupted when Substitute Rhys Hilton rounded the keeper for four in stoppage time in front of the delirious away end The excited crown invaded the pitch to celebrate at full-time as Kevin Wilkin's troops showed great spirit to roar back late on and seal promotion to National League North Earlier on the hosts had led twice through ex-Premier League striker Nile Ranger and Wes Street but Telford struck twice back through Orrin Pendley's bundle and a wonderful Jordan Piggott finish to cap a flowing move for 2-2 Atmosphere built around a sun-kissed yet chilly Latimer as many as three hours ahead of kick-off Fans spilled out of the ground's perimeter and into fan sections outside Full time saw the jubilant crows stream out of the ground full of song A Telford-based online platform which helps shoppers track down rare items of clothing is hoping for fresh investment after launching earlier this year Telford entreprenuer Adrenna Mulligan launched clothing exchange website wantitinmywardrobe.com earlier this year after coming up with the idea in her spare time The site helps shoppers to track down both new and pre-owned items which have sold out or become rare over time allowing members to register their requirements against a database of people who have items to sell She says the platform lets people locate and share the perfect finds while shopping sustainably and reducing the amount of items sent to landfill 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.” A Telford home in need of a "full refurbishment" has hit the market with a low guide price This two-bedroom home on Maple Close in Trench has been listed with a guide price of £100,000 with D B Roberts & Partners The mid-terraced home boasts a lounge The listing says that the property requires a full refurbishment The property is for sale by a modern method of auction allowing the buyer and seller to complete within a 56-day reservation period The listing describes the home as: "In need of full refurbishment this two-bedroom mid terraced home is situated in a popular residential area and is within easy access of schools and shops Further information can be found on Rightmove A Telford day nursery has celebrated after being graded as 'outstanding' across the board by Ofsted ABC Day Nursery in Lightmoor has retained it's 'outstanding' grading after an inspection by the education watchdog on April 2 Inspectors have deemed the nursery's quality of education and leadership and management to all still be of the top standard the nursery has achieved an 'outstanding' grade at each inspection since it opened in 2012 A report published on Friday, May 2 said children "thrive" at the Telford nursery while the leadership team and staff have been described as "inspirational" Leaders are said to have a "clear vision" and high expectations of the nursery team ABC was commended for providing children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) with "exceptional support" The report added that staff use stories songs and rhymes to build children's vocabulary and introduce new words A crash has blocked the carriageway and is causing congestion on the A5 near Telford The incident at the Bishops Wood turn off on Ivetsy Bank is causing delays in both directions Emergency services are understood to be at the scene affected between Gailey and Weston Under Lizard The emergency services have been contacted for further information Joyce Hinton remembers sheltering while bombs dropped around her and caused the chimney of her house to fall through into her bedroom The 93-year-old is one of several residents at Priorslee House in Telford who shared their experiences of the war and celebrating VE Day This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War - and the care home It has been 80 years since communities came together on Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) to celebrate peace and mourn those that were lost. And, to mark the special anniversary next week on Thursday, May 8, Priorslee House will host a special garden party for its residents and their families Joyce Hilton grew up in Mill End on the outskirts of Watford before she moved to Shropshire and can still vividly remember the wartime and celebrating VE Day The 93-year-old said: "I can remember getting bombed out My mother called me into her bedroom and we would get under the bed "It was a good job I did because a bomb was near us and the chimney fell through into my bedroom and onto my bed AFC Telford United won promotion in magical style with an unforgettable 4-2 comeback play-off final victory at Kettering Town Substitute Rhys Hilton rounded the keeper for four in stoppage time in front of a delirious away end who invaded the pitch to celebrate at full-time in Northamptonshire Earlier on the hosts had led twice through ex-Premier League striker Nile Ranger and Wes York The demons of Leamington 364 days earlier were banished as Wilkin and the Bucks look forward to National North football and brighter times Each of the goals were celebrated with real emotion by members of the Bucks board in the directors' box including Shropshire-born Hollywood producer Chris Ball It has been quite the few days for the club after they prevailed from behind in a topsy-turvy semi-final at home to Halesowen last Wednesday but emotion and drama was multiplied in the final showpiece It was a first away victory since January but the dramatic victory means the Bucks end the season 18 games unbeaten and regain their National League status against the side who finished second and four points further up the Southern Premier Central after several play-off heartaches as Brackley boss A cohort of young boisterous supporters spilled out of Kettering railway station at 12.30pm The visitors' allocation of 600 travelling supporters packed into the end their side defended in the first period in a sea of white The Bucks started purposely as Dylan Allen-Hadley slipped Byron Moore through on goal and goalkeeper Dan Jezeph rushed out to narrow the angle and save Wilkin's side were the livelier of the opening stages and top scorer Matty Stenson - passed fit late after a groin concern - was unable to connect to an inviting Jimmy Armson cross The blustering May wind wreaked havoc with one or two crosses It took Richard Lavery's hosts 20 minutes to work an attack Brandon Hall fielded a fierce York strike well after a neat backheel from Ranger The Poppies gained a foothold and former Buck Sam McLintock sent a swerving dipping effort wide of the sprawling Hall's left post The home side rode early Bucks pressure and took charge by the midpoint of the first period The breakthrough came just after half hour as Kettering right-back Ben Hart made good ground down the flank and his accurate cross was inch-perfect for Ranger to volley home from close range The Bucks rallied with skipper Luke Rowe geeing the troops Piggott bobbled a 20-yard strike at Jezeph A huge opening came and went 10 minutes before the break Allen-Hadley's cross from the left was met by Stenson but he failed to keep his header down from six yards out It was a double blow for the visitors as Armson pulled up in the same move and was withdrawn for Remi Walker Armson was later spotted on crutches and his absence was felt Stenson almost fired a sensational pick-me-up but his 30-yard half-volley flew narrowly wide The sharp Bucks hitman then fired well over shortly before the interval Telford re-emerged with the bit between their teeth and drew level A Jordan Cranston free-kick was deflected behind and the left-back's corner was attacked by Stenson in a crowded box and bundled home by defender Pendley in front of the away end Moments after stewards had removed the white smokebomb from the goalmouth the home end erupted again as Kettering re-took the lead Hart's delivery caused trouble and was returned from the left flank by Jamar Loza and York was alive ahead of defenders to turn in from close range Piggott was moved into an attacking midfield role as Walker dropped deeper and the former dragged a bouncing effort well wide Wilkin's move to push Piggott paid off in some style with 20 minutes to go Stenson shone with a wonderful piece of control and skill He stabbed forward a pass with the outside of his foot that interested Piggott The former West Brom youngster rounded Jezeph with his first touch and finished with his left foot from a tight angle for bedlam behind the goal The second equaliser took the wind out of Kettering sails and Telford powered on If Piggott's second sparked wild scenes what would follow cranked up several notches Right-back Fridye-Harper picked the ball up inside his own half with no business to do what came next He charged forward and kept going until he reached the Kettering box From the right corner he sent a low strike across goal which arrowed low into the far corner for a Telford lead Bucks nerves jangled in the closing minutes but they need not have A backpass was short and a slip helped Hilton in on goal He kept his cool and slotted home and all behind the goal lost theirs on a day to remember for AFC Telford AFC Telford United (4-3-3): Hall; Fridye-Harper A Newport shop where the director was handed a court bill of nearly £5,000 after a sales assistant sold a vape to a 15-year-old during an undercover operation is now having its premises licence reviewed A public consultation period has now ended after an unnamed ‘responsible authority’ made an application to Telford & Wrekin Council to review the premises licence of Newport Premier, at 99A High Street, Newport The notice of the review remained on the Telford & Wrekin Council website on Wednesday (April 30) Premises licences are needed if businesses intend to sell alcohol or provide ‘licensable activities’ A spokesperson for the shop declined to comment Telford & Wrekin Council has been asked for more information In a press release in March 2025 the council reported that Newport Premier Ltd was taken to Telford Magistrates Court and the company’s director The court handed the maximum penalty of a £2,500 fine reduced to £1,666 for an early guilty plea alongside a £660 victim surcharge and £2,266.56 investigation costs A resident has been authorised to chop down a fast-growing tree that she says risks pushing over an historic wall on top of parked cars and passing pedestrians But Emma Jones has been told that if she needs to be rid of the Monkey Puzzle tree before the end of the bird nesting season in October she might have to call in an experienced ecologist In raising ‘no objection’ to the work being carried out planners said: “If it is necessary for work to commence during the nesting season then a pre-commencement inspection for active bird nests must be carried out “If vegetation cannot be clearly seen to be clear of bird nests then an experienced ecologist should be called in to carry out the check Only if there are no active nests present should work be allowed to commence.” or on which fledged chicks are still dependent There is a maximum fine of £5,000 per bird nest or egg and/or up to six months imprisonment for offences Mrs Jones has also been told that any trees “which contain features which have the potential to be used by roosting bats should be subject to an assessment and survey If any bats are discovered on site at any point during the tree works then work must halt immediately.” There is a maximum fine of £5,000 per incident or bat and/or up to six months imprisonment for such offences Mrs Jones has told Telford & Wrekin Council that there has already been a partial collapse in narrow Church Road and no pedestrians were passing by.” The tree is in a conservation area but there are signs that the fast-growing Monkey Puzzle tree is putting pressure on the wall again Minority stakeholder Chris Ball declared AFC Telford United's 4-2 play-off victory at Kettering Town as the best day of his life as a supporter who came on board as his consortium purchased 21 per cent of the club last year has been a lifelong supporter of his hometown club and lived through all the emotions of a remarkable 4-2 comeback victory featuring four second-half goals Ball compared the day to when Telford United fought to down Hillingdon Borough 3-2 in the FA Trophy final in May 1971 "It was unbelievable!" Ball told the Shropshire Star during an emotional post-match interview on the field after celebrating in front of fans "Especially after last year and losing at home in front of our own fans "In the first half I thought we were going to blow it all scored in front of their travelling cohort of 600 supporters to twice rally and win on a stunning occasion for the club "Our fans were just unbelievable," Ball added "We were making more noise than them all the way through and what a thrill it was "I've been a fan since the late 60s and early 70s and I've never quite experienced anything like that There was the Wembley final when we came back and won 3-2 against Hillingdon "Scoring four goals in the second half in front of the fans was unbelievable and being on pitch afterwards was the same." For Wilkin and Telford it was a return to National League North at the second time of asking after last season's 1-0 defeat against Leamington at the New Bucks Head Wilkin had endured play-off disappointment as Brackley and Telford boss but lapped up the jubilant scenes at full-time of a sold-out Latimer Park Jahdahn Friyde-Parker and Rhys Hilton netted the goals on an unforgettable afternoon watched on by 1,000 fans on a big screen at the club's New Bucks Head home in Telford It's always been squarely at odds with its new town image but Telford and its residents are surprisingly well blessed with leafy walking trails I’d like to invite you to take a walk on the wild or at least slightly wild side - on one of Telford’s many urban walking paths It’s true that Telford is predicated on car ownership many of its towns and communities spread along the A442 like the proverbial pearls on the necklace envisaged by the original Dawley New Town planners in 1965 But in among the Radburn estates and industrial parks of South Telford those same planners also plumbed in a comprehensive network of walking routes intended to get the town’s new residents from their houses to the new factories being built in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s but some at least are now surely due a revival in the epoch of active travel schemes they remain a source of easy adventure points for the mildly curious traveller Halesfield industrial estate is criss-crossed by a network of such paths constructed under an early phase of works in 1966 connecting it to the nearby housing estates via roads Take a walk up Kemberton Road from the bottom of Madeley High Street towards Halesfield and you hit the first route towards Brookside and Stirchley Kevin Wilkin paid tribute to AFC Telford United’s ‘fantastic’ supporters and expressed his delight at delivering them promotion back to the National League North The Bucks boss was visibly emotional speaking shortly after their 4-2 play-off final victory over Kettering Town almost exactly one year on from their defeat to Leamington in last season’s final And Wilkin dedicated the victory to the Telford supporters both those at Latimer Park and those following events at home on an afternoon where his side won their first away game since January “It’s nice to reward all those people behind the goal who have followed us through thick and thin,” he beamed “The club’s been through some difficult times in recent years and (the supporters) expect a lot Wilkin added: “To be able to pay all of those fans who support us up and down the country with a promotion is fantastic “I’ve not been very good at play-off games as of late so to do it like that today after we’ve all worked so hard all season – this is what we do it for “I love to see it when people are enjoying themselves and there were lots of smiling faces there today “We all need a release in our lives and a reason to smile and be happy Football provides that for a lot of people - especially me – and I’m delighted to get over the line today.” After Wednesday's semi-final victory over Halesowen Town the Bucks boss was spotted jumping into the crowd at the SEAH Stadium and to be honest I’m still paying for doing it on Wednesday,” Wilkin said “My legs aren’t feeling great and if I’d have gone in there today I probably wouldn’t have got out but I’m so pleased for those people because it costs a hell of a lot of money to follow any football club and ours are very passionate and follow us up and down the country and it’s really important that they enjoy this occasion.” Wilkin also admitted discussion of his side’s away record leading into the final had played on his mind but did not make it into his final rallying call to his players before kick-off “I didn’t need reminding of (the away form),” he joked “Even in my team talk I was trying not to mention anything like that because we’ve been on an okay run of late but we drew too many away games that’s for sure “I feel so lucky to be able to work with some really good players and some really good people who deserve a tremendous amount of credit “People have been really nice and complimentary to me but there are so many others who have put a whole lot of effort into this to allow all of this to come together.” Kevin Wilkin believes AFC Telford United have proven they have what it takes to topple Kettering Town in Monday afternoon's Southern Central Premier play-off final The Bucks travel to Northamptonshire with their last trip to Latimer Park fresh in their memories – a 1-1 draw in March where the hosts scored a dramatic 92nd-minute equaliser Despite suffering that late heartache there were still lots of positives for Telford to take on an afternoon where they dominated the then-favourites for automatic promotion and Wilkin admitted there is a confidence within his squad that they can go one better on Monday “We’ve drawn confidence from that game without a doubt and as I’ve said for a while now looking around the players we have in the group we know we’re a match for anybody at this level,” the Bucks boss said “I think we’ve proved that throughout the course of the season but those big players are going to have to come to the table now.” He continued: “It’s an away game and I’m sure there’ll be a massive following from them They’ll try and make things really difficult for us “We want to be in big games in front of big crowds on big occasions and with this group of players I know we can get through those challenges.” The Bucks boss also gave his thoughts on which side will be under the most pressure come kick-off “Both teams will feel an element of pressure without a doubt,” Wilkin began “Kettering did look as though they were going to win the league at a canter at various points throughout the season and it hasn’t quite happened for them in the end.” there were periods where we’ve had the chance to go and win the league ourselves and didn’t come up with the necessary wins “They’re close affairs and we know we’ve got to deal with the opposition and their strong home following as well as the surface which I wouldn’t say plays to our strengths “We’re not making excuses because we know exactly what to expect so we can just get on with focusing on winning the game.” And Wilkin’s final word went to the Telford supporters both the 600 set to travel to Kettering and the thousands who will follow updates from home “They’ll absolutely (make it feel like a home game) and they’ve done that for us all season,” he said “We’re lucky to travel everywhere with the strong and vocal support that we’ve got and hopefully they can be the difference for us “It’s disappointing that we can’t get more people to the game and I’m sure there will be people who have supported us home and away all season who will miss out “That’s not my headache; I’ve got to focus on getting the team absolutely right and able to do the job on Monday so we can make everyone happy.” Plans for a £4 million refurbishment of Wellington's historic Market Hall have been met with a mixture of hope and trepidation by the town's traders This week, Telford & Wrekin Council revealed early stage plans for a refurbishment of the aging Victoria-era market hall having engaged architects and contractors to work on the project in February The scheme is in its infancy, with the local authority treading carefully arounds the concerns of its existing traders as it weighs up a final design for the building. But the authority is keen to get work started while government funding was available for the scheme A meeting was held with the market's 50 or so traders to gain feedback on the plans earlier this week with most now having had the chance to see the initial plans for the regeneration which it is hoped will get underway with summer with a projected finish date of mid-2026 Whatever the scheme eventually looks like, the majority investment into fixing the fabric of the building, which Telford & Wrekin say is in a deteriorating state, will provide a much-needed boost for Wellington's economy Laine Slaven from Laine's Deli said she hoped the changes would see more customers through the doors - and a younger demographic brought in to the market "It can only be a good thing to modernise the market but also keep it as a traditional style market but it's now just about talking to store holders and seeing what they need," she said "It needs modernising but its also nice to keep the traditional market style here We've had a chartership here since 1244 - it's been open for a long long time so it would be nice if we could recognise that but also accepting that we do need to move with the times as well." Roger Davis from Quality Flowers and Cards who had been trading in the market for over 50 years said he was still waiting to properly review the plans - but added was mostly pleased with what he had seen so far "It has the potential to be really good," he said "The market is the heart of the town and it needs looking after If you look at other towns in the West Midlands their markets are struggling without investment "The council have done really well since they came in with organising events so I'm definitely hopeful - but we'll just have to wait and see what happens." Matthew Palin from Oddpals Street Food said he liked the plans despite the inevitable disruption the work could cause for some traders adding it was going to be "rough" while work was carried out "If we can change a few things I think this market has every chance of succeeding But to do that it's going to take a big investment," he said Not everyone was quite as enthusiastic for the changes Book-seller Ian Rowbotham said he was worried about the impact the renovations would have on the market's traders some of whom would be forced to relocate while work was taking place Telford & Wrekin Council say a scheme of rent reductions will be in place for traders who are forced to move but Mr Rowbotham who said he had written to the council to try to establish a hardship fund for stall-holders feared it would not be enough for traders who were struggling which could easily go on for 18 months or even two years with snags and things Generally jobs go on longer than anticipated and that's a hell of a lot of disruption for the market," he said but for a lot of the traders it won't be anywhere near enough It's all too easy seeing traders having to leave and the problems that come with that "Only time will tell whether it's a success or not." A heritage railway has celebrated the re-opening of one of its stations after a major project to rebuild the platform Telford Steam Railway welcomed visitors and supporters to the reopening of its Lawley Village station on Sunday Volunteers have worked for six years to rebuild the station's platform and install steel foundations after the earth began to "move" in 2019 - leaving trains unable to pass or stop It's unknown what caused the platform to move but Richard Owen from the steam railway said it was built on clay soil Telford Steam Railway celebrated the milestone amongst others with their open day event Music producer and lifelong railway enthusiast Pete Waterman OBE was also a special guest where the heritage railway celebrated the 100th birthday of its flagship locomotive The open day also marked 10 years since the Lawley Village station was built Richard said: "We had the station built in 2015 in 2019 the earth has moved and we don't know why "It is built on clay and the platform had actually moved forward and meant that we couldn't move trains into the platform anymore "Since then we have been completely rebuilding the platform resurfaced it and re-done the station buildings and the open day was the reopening of the platform "We now have another station where people living or closer to Lawley can join our train or get off There is a huge housing estate around the Lawley Station so it gives those residents access and somewhere to go." The steam railway is grateful for support from the Bournville Village Trust and Lawley and Overdale Parish Council who have helped fund the project and open day celebrations The open day was Telford Steam Railway's third big event of the new season that Richard said has gone "excellent" so far Visitors enjoyed a ride behind their centenarian steam locomotive No 5619 that was built in 1925 by the Great Western Railway "We're very proud of what we have achieved," Richard continued "Not only was the event the opening of the platform but our flagship engine steam locomotive was 100 years old so we had a celebration of that It is all people from the local community and it was great to show them the railway "A lot of them haven't been to us before so that is fantastic." A woman accused of murdering her husband and trying to cover it up by claiming he had committed suicide was ‘hysterical’ when paramedics arrived is on trial for the murder of her husband Kyle Pugh - a charge which she denies Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter Mr Pugh was 30 when he died as a result of compression injuries to his neck suffered at his wife’s property on Aston Drive in Newport on March 22 The defendant had called 999 and told the emergency services her husband had been discovered with a belt around his neck at her back door Paramedics were able to raise a pulse after they were called to the scene but Mr Pugh died at hospital the following day An examination of Mr Pugh’s injuries revealed that he had also suffered fractures to his nose and eye socket We use cookies on our website to give you the best experience possible, find out more here communities across the borough will be holding celebration events many supported through Telford & Wrekin Council’s £50,000 VE80 grant fund to help communities come together Further events receiving grant funding include street parties heritage days and exhibits telling the stories of local people involved in the war efforts of World War ll Some of the additional events are listed below and a full list of local events in the borough as well as national events can be found at www.telford.gov.uk/veday Wrockwardine Parish VE Day celebrations at The Village Hall  5pm-9.30pm Newport's 80th VE Celebrations - Beacon Lighting  VE Day Memorial Bench opening and refreshments Newport's 80th VE Celebrations - Street Party   10am-2pm Culturekind Chinese Community VE Day 80: From War to Peace and Unit    1pm-3.30pm High Ercall Village Hall VE Day Afternoon Celebration    2pm-5pm Commemorating Ironbridge Service Men and Women from the Second World War  9am-3pm Madeley Town Council VE Day Celebration    10am-2pm VE Day 80 Celebration - Entertainment and Street Party Wellington   10am-3pm RNA afternoon tea party to celebrate 80th anniversary VE day  2pm-5pm Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council Celebrating VE80 Day  11am-4pm Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council said: Telford & Wrekin Council will be hosting a flag raising event in Southwater Square on Thursday 8 May where the VE Day 80 flag will be paraded from the Remembrance Memorial in Telford Town Park at 8.45am to Southwater Square and flag raising at 9am Local school children will be singing at the event from 10am There will also be an exhibition of Veteran’s Hub Churches across the Borough will be ringing their bells at 6.30pm as part of Ringing Out In Celebration of Peace and at 9.30pm Southwater One will be lit up as part of the national beacon lighting This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and 80 years since communities came together on Victory in Europe Day to celebrate peace thank those that fought and look forward to the future with hope Telford & Wrekin Council launched a grant fund to help local communities and groups host their own events and activities on or around VE Day on 8 May 2025 The first group of events have been confirmed and include a wide variety of events and projects for all Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council said: “We feel that this is such an important anniversary to mark and the grant funding was set up to encourage communities and organisations to take part and to celebrate to remember and to share stories and memories passed down through the generations We will be sharing further updates as more events are confirmed and would love to hear from you if you have pictures and stories you wish to share – you can do this by emailing veday@telford.gov.uk” Telford & Wrekin Council will be hosting a flag raising event in Southwater Square on Thursday 8 May where the VE Day 80 flag will be paraded from the War Memorial in Telford Town Park at 8.45am to Southwater Square and flag raising at 9am School children from the Telford Sings project will sing ‘Hey Mister Miller’ and Thomas Telford School choir will sing I Vow to Thee My Country There will also be an exhibition of Veteran’s Hub artwork and also as part of the official Imperial War Museum call out for ‘Letters to Loved Ones’ project there will also be displays of artwork from local school children Churches across the Borough will be ringing their bells at 6.30pm as part of Ringing Out In Celebration of Peace and at 9.30pm Southwater One will be lit up as part of the national beacon lighting VE Day 80 grant recipients include to date: May Day & VE Day Celebrations – Hollinswood Local Centre Veterans Lunch Donnington Community Hub 8 May 11.30am-1pm Call 01952 382202 to book a meal Great Dawley Street Party – Street Party in red free attraction and activities with live music and entertainment Dawley High Street 10 May more information on Facebook: Great Dawley Town Council/ Special Armed Forces Community Café event and Beacon lighting Dawley House Entertainment and street party Wellington Market Square Blossom and Bloom Tea Party – Tuesday 6 May Crafts for parents and carers – Thursday 8 May Family Fish and Chip Bingo – Thursday 8 May Cake decorating for parents and carers – Friday 9 May 10-11.30am Craft Session and Tea Party Saturday 10 May Landau’s VE Day Commemoration – Victory Tribute 23 Church Street Celebration event for residents 65+ Arleston Community Centre VE Day Memorial Bench opening and refreshments Meeting Point House green space Thursday 8 May Community day and entertainment The Anstice Mounting photographs on a permanent display of the men listed on the lych-gate killed in World War II The Lych-gate Newport’s 80th VE Celebrations: Beacon Lighting Thursday 8 May 9.15pm Ceremony 9.30pm St Nicholas Church and a Street Party – Newport High Street Saturday 10 May 10am-2pm VE Day Picnic in the Park Oakengates Picnic in the Park event with live music and face painting Hartshill Park Saturday 10 May Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council – Day of activities Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Community Hub Culturekind Chinese Community VE Day 80: From War to Peace & Unity to honour the past and look towards a future of peace and unity 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 Cookies Policy 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 were called to Telford town park on Wednesday afternoon Fire, police and ambulance services were called an area of Telford town park at around 3pm on Wednesday West Mercia Police say they were called to a concern for safety in woodland near to Hinkshay Road at 3pm after a woman was found unresponsive The teams administered advanced life support at the scene and the woman was transported to the Princess Royal Hospital for further treatment where she remains in a critical condition A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said they were called to the scene at around 3.09pm They said: "Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene we found a woman in a critical condition being cared for by the fire service "Ambulance staff administered advanced life support to her at the scene which continued en route to Princess Royal Hospital where she was conveyed by land for further treatment.” West Mercia Police do not suspect any third party involvement Officers are appealing for witnesses who were in the area at the time to assist with their enquiries The woman is described as white and was wearing a black t-shirt over a blue swimming costume Detective Inspector Paul Drury said: “We are keen to establish the circumstances before emergency services arrived at the scene and would like to hear from anyone who was in the area between 2pm and 3pm who can offer information “We believe this to be an isolated incident and at this time do not suspect third party involvement.” please email Detective Sergeant Edwards at craig.edwards@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 313i of April 30 Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was found in a critical condition near Telford Town Park yesterday Officers were called to a concern for safety in woodland near Hinkshay Road at 3 pm after a woman was found unresponsive Emergency services attended the scene and the woman A brand new hospital entrance has flooded after a sudden downpour on Thursday brought flash floods Last year, a new entrance at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford was opened as part of a broader multi-million pound transformation of the hospital. The new entrance was designed to transform the ‘front door’ of the hospital better access and wayfinding for patients as well as a Costa Coffee But on Thursday (May 1) following the hottest day of the year a sudden downpour saw water flood the new facility An onlooker who took these pictures said: "It rained all of a sudden but there was no where for the water to go The pictures show several inches of water flooding the corridor Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust which runs the hospital has been approached for further information Two men have been charged with drug dealing after police raids in Telford A statement from Telford and Wrekin Police said both men were arrested on Tuesday (April 29) It said: "Two men have been charged with drugs offences following warrants in Telford yesterday "Hamid Lal, aged 23, of Wellington in Telford was charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs two counts of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs of class A was charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs." Both men were remanded in custody and were due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court today (Wednesday The force added that a man and a woman who were arrested in connection with the warrants were released on police bail as enquiries continue AFC Telford United beat Halesowen Town in a five-goal thriller to book their place in the Southern Central Premier League play-off final on Monday Matty Stenson’s goal 12 minutes from time turned out to be the winner in the clash in front of more than 3,000 fans in Shropshire Kieren Donnelly had given Halesowen the lead before goals from Dylan Allen-Hadley and Orrin Pendley on the stroke of the interval saw the Bucks lead Substitute Charlie Wragg levelled the scores with 15 minutes to go but three minutes later Stenson’s goal proved decisive The New Bucks head was bathed in sunshine for the Southern Central Premier League play-off clash Telford came into the game having not lost in the last 16 games Halesowen also came into the clash on the back of a run of matches without losing - they were 13 unbeaten There was an onslaught of chances in the opening exchanges in Shropshire and Donnelly should have put them ahead when he raced through on goal But he overhit his strike from just inside the penalty area and it flew into the stands behind the goal and it was cut out by the Halesowen defence when the goal was gaping Stenson was denied by a goal-saving challenge by Ryan Wollacott The prolific Bucks frontman looked like he would add to his tally but the defender threw his body at the ball to deny him The action continued as Donnelly missed his second golden opportunity of the night His shot was tipped onto the post by Brandon Hall The deadlock was broken midway through the first half when Donnelly found the net on the third time of asking Wollacott headed a corner back across goal and the number nine was at the back post to nod it in from close range They should have levelled when Stenson headed over Allen-Hadley bent the ball into the top corner to level the scores And then Pendley fired into the roof of the net from a set piece to see Wilkin’s side lead for the first time in the clash If the opening 10 minutes of the first half started like a tracer bullet which looked like it was harmlessly going out of play Russ Penn went to his bench in the 65th minute bringing on Wragg for Ben Cassidy There were 3,204 fans inside the Bucks Head with the game being played in a tremendous atmosphere The substitute turned out to be a masterstroke when he headed the Halesowen level out of nowhere But Penn would have been furious with his team that they could not make that lead stick and he poked the ball into the corner beyond Daniel Platt In what would have been an incredible turn of events the Halesowen keeper almost made it 3-3 with the last kick of the game when he header was brilliantly tipped over by Hall An air ambulance has been called to the scene of a crash on the A442 Eastern Primary in Telford Two vehicles were involved in a crash on the A442 Eastern Primary/Brockton Way at about 1.45pm on Sunday (March 30), a Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said The fire service said that two fire crews from Telford Central station attended and found two vehicles had been involved in a crash but that people had been able to extricate themselves from the vehicles prior to the arrival of the firefighters The AA reported slowing traffic on the A442 Brockton Way at the time of the incident According to tracking website flightradar24, an air ambulance helicopter landed in a field in Madeley West Mercia Police officers were also reportedly at the scene Emergency services have been approached for comment A joint roadside operation conducted in Wellington by Telford & Wrekin Council and West Mercia Police resulted in 27 traffic offences being reported after a number of taxis and other vehicles were stopped and inspected which also saw council licensing officers checking the condition and compliance of taxis has been hailed a success by both authorities The operation focused on ensuring vehicles were maintained to a high standard the initiative also involved the council’s road safety team and aimed to address public concerns regarding anti-social driving in the Wellington area and ignoring bus lane signage on Haybridge Road Police also seized four vehicles during the operation While a few taxis licensed by neighbouring authorities were found to have issues such as a defective tyre and drivers not displaying their badges Telford & Wrekin Council’s Deputy Leader highlighted the positive outcome for their own licensed vehicles.  “It is pleasing that no taxis licensed by us were found to have faults and is a clear demonstration of the high standards we have when it comes to taxi licensing These checks ensure that taxis meet the council’s rigorous standards and legal requirements.”  He further emphasised the importance of respecting traffic regulations stating: “Ensuring that every road user respects the traffic signage is essential to help keep traffic moving and reduce the risk of accidents.. Telford & Wrekin Council will continue to work closely with West Mercia Police and residents to ensure our roads remain safe and welcoming for everyone.” The latest operation took place on Wednesday building on the success of a similar initiative held in the same location the previous month Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a 47-year-old Hertfordshire taxi driver, Jesbir Singh Khela, whose body was discovered in a burnt-out car earlier this year. Aaron Johnson received his sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, 25 April, having pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and possession of a knife in a public place. The launch follows an onboarding process that began last month at Lomeshaye Business Park in Nelson, where hundreds of local drivers were expected to register for both the Pendle and Blackburn areas. Licensing chiefs are set to review the current tariff next week following a request from taxi firms citing rising National Insurance contributions and the increase in the living wage. Hussain further compounded his crimes by offering one of his victims £6,000 to drop her complaint, a charge to which he later pleaded guilty. Phillipe Brooks, 58, admitted to driving with 7.7 micrograms of cannabis per litre of blood in his system, exceeding the legal limit of 2mg. One driver, Tony, who has worked in the area for nearly 40 years, claims he faces a near 10-week wait after his licence expired in April. The incident reportedly occurred around 1 pm on Sunday, 27 April, in Sandgate, near the Greenbridge Roundabout. A joint operation by Police Scotland and Highland Council's trading standards team in Inverness city centre on Friday, 25 April, saw roadside checks conducted on 30 taxi and private hire vehicles. The move follows an "Unmet Demand Survey" which highlighted longer passenger wait times compared to pre-pandemic levels and continued difficulties for disabled users, particularly wheelchair users. Private hire drivers across the Uk and globally are staging a 24-hour strike today, 1 May, in an effort to demand better pay, improved working conditions and protections for gig economy workers. Operation Recordings, carried out by Chester Beat Management Team and the Special Constabulary, was established in a bid to ensure taxis were safe, correctly licensed and compliant with their regulations. Drivers fear the move is a "backdoor route" to scrapping local fare zones, ultimately pushing drivers towards more profitable urban areas and leaving rural communities behind. Smith "refused to get out of the taxi" and was "threatening to the driver and threatening to smash his face in." When police arrived, Smith continued his aggressive behaviour. Macclesfield Local Policing Unit joined forces with Cheshire East Council in an operation designed keep people safe. This move by South Staffordshire Council's licensing committee aims to bolster safety following a worrying spate of assaults on taxi drivers in the region. From Thursday 1 May, we will be introducing cash as a payment option for riders and we will be letting you decide if you want to take cash trips. The man, in his 50s, pleaded guilty at a pre-trial hearing on December 11, 2024, to racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm following the incident on May 12, 2024. Talal Bin Mumtaz Raja, from Reading, was found guilty of four offences at Reading Magistrates' Court on April 7, 2025. Drug-fuelled Ellis Gardiner pressed a knife into the face of one driver, drawing blood, and robbed another of £50 after brandishing a screwdriver at him. Police investigating shop thefts in Telford and Wrekin have appealed for the public's help Telford and Wrekin Police have released several CCTV images as officers look for people to help them with their investigations into shop thefts The incidents involved people targeting a number of shops A police spokesperson said: "Officers are appealing to identify the people pictured as they believe they could help with their enquiries into shop thefts in Telford." One image (crime reference: 22/13347/25) is from Morrisons in Wellington items worth around £70 were taken from the store Another image (crime reference: 22/16639/25) was taken at the COOP in Stirchley The next image (crime reference: 22/17905/25) was taken from H&M in Telford Shopping Centre Police say items work around £120 were taken from the store on February 25 at around 11.55am Another image (crime reference: 22/24525/25) is from Morrisons in Lawley when on March 16 between 11:20am and 12:30pm items worth over £135 were taken from the store The final image (crime reference: 22/25616/25) was taken at Asda in Malinsgate near Telford Shopping Centre Police say a number of items were taken from the store A spokesman for Telford and Wrekin Police added: "If you have any information that would help identify the five people pictured please e-mail RetailCrimeTelford@westmercia.police.uk "Alternatively, if you have information but don’t feel comfortable speaking to police, you can speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers and they cannot trace your call or IP address You can contact them online or by calling 0800 555111." Police are appealing for information after a pair of swans were found dead near a Shropshire canal in suspicious circumstances Graham Donaldson, Rural and Business Crime Officer at West Mercia Police said there were signs if injuries to the swan's neck, which were found near Newport Canal but officers cannot yet say how the two birds But he said their deaths were "suspicious" He said: "We are currently investigating the suspicious death of the two breeding swans that have nested on the Newport Canal "The swans were discovered this morning near the nest with clear visible injuries to their necks at this stage we are unable to ascertain the cause of death and are currently making enquiries in the immediate area "The swans were last seen near the nest at approximately 8pm on Wednesday He added that 11 eggs were recovered and sent to a rescue centre and were undergoing incubation If anybody saw anything or saw anyone acting suspiciously they are urged to email:  graham.donaldson@westmercia.police.uk   described the two swans as "cherished" by the community He said: "These beautiful swans were a cherished part of our local environment, admired by many who walked the canal regularly. They’ll be dearly missed by everyone who frequents our canal tow path "If you have any information that could help with the ongoing inquiries I strongly encourage you to come forward and contact the appropriate authorities Your support can make a difference in ensuring our wildlife is protected from harm in the future." Police have issued a statement after the death of a man near Newport Officers were called to Chetwynd Road in Edgmond near Newport at around 12.40pm today after reports of "concerns for safety" Emergency services attended the scene where a man in his 70s was pronounced deceased West Mercia Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious Police presence was seen in the area today and residents have been told to expect this to continue A spokesperson said: "Officers attended Chetwynd Road in Edgmond near Newport at around 12.40pm today (Sunday May 4) following a report of concern for safety "Emergency services attended the scene where a man "People may see an increase in police presence in the area as enquiries are carried out "The death is not being treated as suspicious."  Ollie Westbury and Dan Stacey gave their verdict following the 3-2 win over Halesowen Town  Electors in just one small part of Telford will be able to take part in the local elections this Thursday That’s because a by-election is being held to fill a seat vacated by Councillor Jasmine Bennett, who resigned from the Ketley Ward of Ketley Parish Council on February 18 Voters will be going to the polls across the rest of Shropshire where the unitary authority and town and parish councils are seeking to fill seats for the next four years But similar elections across the whole of Telford & Wrekin won’t be happening until 2027 In Ketley there are three candidates vying for votes The candidates are Independent Helen Barker whose address is given as in Telford & Wrekin whose address is recorded as being in Telford & Wrekin Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday There is one polling station at Ketley Community Centre At the elections in 2023 there were eight seats up for grabs in Ketley ward one by an independent and one by a Conservative Join our FREE mailing list and receive our Weekly Digest bulletin and other updates direct to your inbox Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription Content Labels Explained The bench will be officially unveiled at an event on VE Day being held between 11am and 1pm at Meeting Point House Organisers say everyone is welcome to the event which will feature free refreshments and cake on the green in front of Meeting Point House after members of the Telford & Wrekin Virtual School Band provide musical entertainment from 11am The bench and event have been funded through a grant of £1,500 from Telford & Wrekin Council with Meeting Point Trust also providing £750 said the charity was grateful to the council for supporting the initiative “As an organisation dedicated to bringing the community together we felt it was important to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day in style have done a fabulous job bringing everything together for this important event “We hope the memorial bench will act as a daily reminder of the sacrifices so many gave during World War II as well as being a source of inspiration for the future “The event on VE Day itself will be a chance to reflect and celebrate with live music from the young people of Telford & Wrekin Virtual School Band and we are delighted that Councillor Lee Carter will be in attendance to formally unveil the memorial bench “There will be free refreshments and plenty of cake so we hope lots of people will come and join us for what is sure to be a wonderful occasion.” Meeting Point House has been an integral part of the Telford community since 1985 office space for charities and a cafe serving affordable home-cooked meals and snacks For more information, please visit: www.meetingpointhouse.co.uk or call 01952 292268 Disclaimer:This article has been labelled in line with Charity Today’s content categories. For details on what each label means, please visit charitytoday.co.uk/charity-today-content-labels-explained. charitytoday.co.uk is a charity news website owned and published by UK NEWS BROADCASTING LTD. ISSN 3050-0249Registered Office: 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX 
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