Shannen Headley

A Care Quality Commission inspection found mixed results at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust. Medical care at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital improved to good, while its urgent and emergency care remained requires improvement because of staffing shortages, delayed assessments and inconsistent infection-control procedures. At Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, urgent and emergency care improved from inadequate to requires improvement, but inspectors raised concerns about corridor care, limited space, poor stroke-care audit performance and low patient-observation compliance. Both hospitals remain rated requires improvement overall, and the trust must submit an action plan addressing immediate concerns. The trust welcomed the progress while acknowledging unacceptable waiting times and the need for further investment and improvement.

Nearly £1m in National Lottery funding will support the first stage of a 10-year nature recovery project in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. The scheme aims to involve more than 200 landowners, restore rivers and fund smaller community-led initiatives involving farmers, young people and local communities. Successful development work could unlock a further £8.9m, while supporters say the project will help address biodiversity loss and climate change and deliver long-term benefits for nature and people.

Campaigners in Shrewsbury are opposing plans to build eight homes, garages and a memorial garden on the former Wellspring Apostolic Church cemetery off Belle Vue Road. More than 200 people are buried there, and opponents object to relocating 43 gravestones while leaving the remains beneath the proposed buildings, arguing that the development is disrespectful and would damage one of the area’s last green spaces. Developers say the scheme is carefully designed, will follow the Ministry of Justice’s legal requirements, and will treat any remains or monuments respectfully. They also say mature trees will be retained where possible and that the plan provides sufficient parking. Formal objections have been submitted and a public meeting attracted more than 100 residents.

Kuljit Singh Uppal, a 39-year-old father of two from Telford and chief operating officer of the School of Coding & AI, died at the scene after a car collided with a tractor on the A41 near Newport in Shropshire on 11 August. His wife, parents and colleagues paid tribute to his dedication to his family, work and helping young people. A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released on bail, while West Mercia Police continue their investigation and seek witnesses.

Residents evacuated by devastating fires in Stourbridge are beginning to return home after three days, while 19 properties across five streets have been destroyed and 18 severely damaged. Firefighters described the conditions as unprecedented and said it was a miracle nobody died. Many unaffected households have returned, but some residents face homes without electricity, gas or water and the loss of possessions. Dudley Council and community groups are providing practical help, counselling and financial assistance. Fires elsewhere in the West Midlands, including Stoke-on-Trent, Warstock and Kings Norton, also caused major damage, with arson arrests made in some cases while the cause of the Stourbridge blaze remains under investigation.

A fire that began in a Pershore garden rapidly spread through dry vegetation and strong winds, destroying three town-centre homes, forcing the evacuation of more than 30 properties and leaving hundreds without power. Six people were treated at the scene. Hereford & Worcester Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce warned that increasingly dry conditions are making small fires escalate quickly and urged people to change habits, noting that the service has attended 800 outdoor fires since May, including many caused by bonfires. An emergency alert was issued across England and Wales advising people not to light anything that could cause a fire.

A fire that started in a garden in Pershore spread rapidly through dry vegetation, fences and homes, destroying three properties, forcing the evacuation of more than 30 homes and leaving hundreds without power. Six people were treated at the scene. Hereford and Worcester Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce said unusually dry conditions are making small fires escalate quickly and urged people to change their habits, particularly by avoiding bonfires. Since May, the fire service has attended 800 open fires, 12% linked to bonfires, while an emergency alert warned people across England and Wales not to light anything that could cause a fire.

Residents evacuated by devastating fires in Stourbridge have begun returning home, although 19 properties across five streets were destroyed and another 18 severely damaged. Firefighters continue patrolling hotspots after battling several blazes during England and Wales’s hottest day of the year, while residents report losing homes, utilities and possessions. Dudley Council and community organizations are providing practical support, counselling and fundraising, with donations exceeding £81,000. Investigators are still determining the cause of the Stourbridge fire; separate fires in Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham have prompted arson arrests.

Medal ceremonies at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham were postponed after a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of fraud for allegedly being in Alexander Stadium without the required accreditation. Transport was suspended while security procedures took place, leaving thousands of spectators delayed for more than an hour after the event. Operations returned to normal in the early hours of Sunday, while police continued questioning the man and organisers said further information about the ceremonies would be released.

The Garth Care Home in Herefordshire has been upgraded from inadequate to good after Care Quality Commission inspections in June and July found significant improvements. The home, run by Wentworth Care Ltd, was previously placed in special measures for breaches involving person-centred care, safety and management. Inspectors found that staff were keeping residents safe, respecting their needs and feeling more comfortable raising concerns, although excessive water temperatures remained an issue. Sixteen people were living at the home during the inspections.

Thomas Webster, a 29-year-old man from Lapworth in Warwickshire, pleaded guilty at Coventry Magistrates' Court to 10 charges involving online material intended to stir up racial hatred, as well as additional charges involving religious hatred and hatred based on sexual orientation. He was investigated by West Midlands counterterrorism officers and is due to be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 2 September.

Residents in Water Orton and Coleshill say foul, fishy smells from HS2 construction sites are making homes unbearable, preventing them from opening windows and causing headaches and nausea. HS2 attributes the odour to lime stabilisation and the storage and movement of excavated earth, saying it poses no health risk and that it is using odour diffusers, mist cannons and an earth bund to mitigate the problem. Local MP Rachel Taylor says these measures have not made a meaningful difference, amid wider concerns about disruption from the delayed and scaled-back HS2 project.

Leamington Spa-born designer Jess O’Riley collects discarded festival tents, cleans and transforms them into wash-bags, waterproof jackets and streetwear through her Manchester-based studio, J O Studios. The work addresses a major festival-waste problem: around 250,000 tents are reportedly abandoned at events each year, sending large quantities of nylon to landfill. O’Riley aims to make sustainability accessible and appealing, while acknowledging that small businesses face pressure from large online marketplaces such as Shein and Temu.

A 36-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting a horse-mounted West Midlands Police officer and is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court. The force says officers on horseback have recently been approached and touched inappropriately, possibly in connection with a social media trend, and warns that touching mounted officers outside an emergency could constitute a criminal offence. Mounted police were reintroduced to the West Midlands in February after a 26-year absence.

Warwickshire Police have renewed their appeal for information about 48-year-old Katie Love, who disappeared from Nuneaton on 29 January. Three men have been arrested or released under investigation in connection with her disappearance, but no confirmed proof of life has been established. Despite searches, CCTV reviews and witness inquiries, police believe Love may have come to harm and are treating the case as suspected murder while remaining open to finding her alive. Crimestoppers is offering a £1,000 reward for information that leads to her being found.

Students awaiting A-level results are advised to plan ahead, stay calm, keep school and university contact details available, and discuss options with trusted people. UCAS and universities will confirm offers from 08:00 BST on 13 August 2026, while students who miss their offers may qualify for clearing until 19 October. Admissions staff stress that universities may accept applicants who narrowly miss grades and that clearing carries no stigma. Students are also encouraged to consider apprenticeships, internships and other routes alongside university, while remembering that exam results do not define their future.

Sections of the M42 in Warwickshire, along with connecting M6 and M6 Toll links, are closed from Friday night to Monday morning for HS2 construction. Crews are installing beams for a twin-box structure over the motorway and continuing work on the Water Orton viaduct. The project will use 175 beams weighing up to 92 tonnes each, lifted by a 300-tonne crane, with the staged work expected to finish in 2026.

Gurd Chahal, who grew up in rural India before moving to Birmingham, has published his debut fantasy novel Cha'nir and the Light of Nam, the first in a planned trilogy centred on a South Asian superheroine inspired by the strength of Indian women in UK communities. Influenced by Indian mythology and Western epic fantasy, he developed the story over 35 years, creating a universe intended to expand the genre with a distinct cultural perspective. Chahal hopes the saga will eventually extend into music, film and visual art, believing the timing is now right for the ideas he has carried since childhood.

Telford was not shortlisted for the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition, but local leaders expressed pride in the community effort behind the bid. Telford & Wrekin Council said the process helped highlight the town’s heritage and supported plans for its 60th anniversary in 2028. Despite disappointment, officials emphasised that ideas generated during the bid will continue to shape upcoming cultural events and celebrations.

Fans across England celebrated Jude Bellingham’s two goals that secured victory over Norway in the World Cup quarter-final, with large gatherings in Stourbridge, Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham expressing jubilation. Supporters voiced confidence ahead of England’s upcoming semi-final against Argentina. Harry Kane praised Bellingham’s decisive impact and the team’s resilience in a tough match, as England moved within one win of their first men’s World Cup final since 1966.

A man in his 60s was seriously injured after being hit by a car on Court Way in Walsall shortly after midnight. He remains in serious condition in hospital. The driver, a man in his 20s, stayed at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. Police are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage.

Ariana Rose, a London woman with a long history of fraud, was sentenced to five years in prison after stealing valuables while posing as a house sitter across several English counties. Using fake identities to bypass verification checks, she targeted wealthy homeowners and stole items worth tens of thousands of pounds. Investigators linked multiple victims to her through digital forensics, uncovering additional thefts and a decade-long pattern of fraudulent activity including illegal subletting and rental scams. A judge ordered her to pay more than £65,000 in compensation, citing the significant distress caused to her victims.

Coventry’s replacement for the cancelled Godiva Festival drew criticism from performers and visitors over low attendance, limited promotion and logistical issues with ticketing and stage placement. Singer Sachin Kanda reported minimal crowds, late booking communication and a confusing wristband system that required festival-goers to collect passes far from the performance areas. Even headline act Chip attracted fewer than expected attendees, prompting concerns about the event’s planning and execution. Coventry City Council has been asked to comment on the criticism.

Recruitment has opened for a new Chief Constable of West Midlands Police following Craig Guildford’s retirement. Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has invited eligible senior officers nationwide to apply, emphasising the importance of attracting strong candidates. Acting Chief Constable Scott Green has indicated he will apply. Applications close on 24 July, with interviews scheduled for September.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life after a 16-year-old was shot and critically injured in Birmingham’s Alum Rock area. The suspect has been remanded to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court, while police continue to investigate and appeal for witnesses or footage. Officers are maintaining a presence in the area to reassure residents.

A former doctor, Nathaniel Spencer, pleaded not guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to 45 charges involving sexual offences against 38 female patients, including children, at hospitals in Stoke-on-Trent and Dudley between 2017 and 2021. The case followed a complex Staffordshire Police investigation, and the trial is scheduled for October 2027 at Loughborough Crown Court.