Whitchurch's gnome-town heroes deliver planters to high street
Operation Gnome, as it is called, is part of work to attract more business and tourism to their "gnome-town" of Whitchurch.
BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online news coverage.
Featured Writers
Sandra Halliday
I'm an editor, journalist, analyst, and sub-editor who thrives under pressure. Covering trends, news, fashion, retail, marketing and beauty, I’ve held senior management roles as well as being involved in …
View Portfolio
Jasmin Jessen
Editor of BJTC Award's Best Online News Site 2023.Head of Production for Livewire 1350. Published by BBC East.
View Portfolio
Ruth Lucas
Local Democracy Reporter in Berkshire, City Journalism and UCL Graduate. Interested in Politics, Education and Social Affairs.
View PortfolioLatest Articles
Hillsborough Law shows 'true power belongs to ordinary people'
He said it had been a "truly remarkable collective effort", also thanking Andy Burnham MP and Ian Byrne MP "for their unwavering support throughout", as well as his fellow directors of the Hillsborough Law Now campaign "especially Pete Weatherby KC, whose relentless determination to ensure this legislation remained true to …
Inquest opens into Brody Leach river death
Brody Leach from Shrewsbury was last seen by friends at 03:54 BST on 26 June, close to the town's Porthill Bridge.
Newcastle mayor died after being 'blinded by tractor headlights'
Barry Panter, 75, died two days after the crash on 13 February 2025.
Mum's quad bike warning after son's near-fatal crash in Greece
"One of the nurses in Greece said it is like a pandemic there every year, with all these young people seriously injured on quad bikes. "
'Rapist Alexander Westwood ruined my dream of acting'
A woman raped when she was 16 by her acting tutor, who had a role on the Netflix show Sex Education, said he made her feel dirty and ruined her dream of acting. Oliwia Wudarowicz, who has waived her right to anonymity, began having acting lessons from Alexander Westwood in …
Oswestry couple turn Maryport cabin into award-nominated shed
Abi Chesterton spotted the disused cabin, "looking sorry for itself", on a dockside in Maryport, Cumbria, when on holiday in 2022.
Tears and celebrations as Shropshire river 'wiggle' restored
A section of the River Kemp, in south Shropshire, had been straightened by landowners in the 1800s, disconnecting it from its natural floodplain and reducing biodiversity.
Licensing may lose us chance to see England win - Leamington landlord
If the squad makes it through to the round of 16 after facing DR Congo later, they will play in Mexico City on 6 July at 01:00 BST.
Lollipop Crossing Patrol Appeal Article
A story I covered alongside political reporter, Dan Martin at BBC Radio Leicester. This resulted in my first ever BBC byline!
'I lost so much blood giving birth I can't work as a nurse any more'
Two years ago, Erin Cooper was 26 weeks pregnant and packing to go on holiday when she started bleeding. "I was terrified. In the back of my mind, I thought my baby was dead," she says. The intensive care nurse, from Bedfordshire, held an ambulance technician's hand the entire way …
'Our Church Pulverbatch nature project has been amazing for wildlife'
A nature recovery project has had an amazing impact on wildlife, a group of volunteers have said.
Parents say grammar test changes won’t end tutoring advantage
Changes to grammar school entry tests in Gloucestershire are unlikely to stop children receiving private tutoring, parents say.
Mum's rare condition that causes skin to blister and fall off
In 2021, soon after giving birth to her son, William - now four years old - Jennifer discovered he had inherited DEB when a bath caused the skin on his leg to tear away the day before he was set to have his baby pictures taken.
Support for Bridgnorth Pride praised amid abuse
The organiser of a town's Pride event has praised the "support" of locals after facing abuse on social media.
'Prostate cancer screening comes too late for my brother'
A man whose twin died with prostate cancer has said the news that tens of thousands more black men will be invited to screening has come "three years too late" for his brother.
Devizes woman who killed mother 'able to make rational judgments'
A woman was "capable of making rational judgements" when she strangled her elderly mother to death, a court has heard.
'Dua Lipa used our Shropshire confetti at her wedding'
Staff at a confetti company were "screaming" and "happy dancing" when they realised popstar Dua Lipa used their petal confetti at her wedding.
Starmer calls Neet report 'sobering' as number of young people out of work and education hits 12-year high
As a young jobseeker, how can you stand out? Emily Huns, head of careers and entrepreneurship at the University of Sussex, advises young people to submit "fewer high-quality, authentic applications" rather than "identical, poorly researched" ones. "[Employers] don't want an AI-generated version of job applicants," she tells the BBC. "Human-centric …
'It took me nearly a year to find a job – you don't even get a response'
Are you finding it hard to get a job? More than a MILLION young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training. These young people from Sussex told us how they've found it.
Shropshire farmer to pay extra £25K on fertiliser due to Iran war
A farmer who had to spend £25,000 more this year on fertiliser due to the war in Iran has said people in his industry are feeling "despondent."
Shropshire farmer's delight at 'surprise' rare triplet calves
Calf triplets have been born on a Shropshire farm - a one in 100,000 chance, the National Farmers' Union estimates.
Young jobseekers 'discouraged' by ghosting and AI
Young people in the South East have said being "ghosted" and rejected by employers has made them feel "lost" while seeking their first full-time jobs. UK job vacancies fell by 28,000 (3.9%) to 705,000 between February and April, the lowest in five years, latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates …
Forever Ghost FC set up in memory of Arnold car crash victim
Tyler Fairman, 26, was one of five people struck by a Vauxhall Astra in Market Place, Arnold, on 9 May. He died in hospital three days later.
Alopecia: 'He asked me if I was going to a Pitbull concert'
Mathias was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition aged 13, when she started losing her hair. For the next 17 years she kept her hair loss secret, using a series of wigs that irritated her scalp and often made her head bleed.During the Covid-19 pandemic, she found the confidence to leave …
Cows arrive in Shrewsbury for yearly conservation grazing
Twenty cows have arrived in an urban nature reserve to carry out annual conservation grazing.
Metrolink tram users warned of two weeks of works disruption
Several Metrolink tram services across Greater Manchester will see two weeks of disruption due to network upgrades from this weekend. The work will be taking place between Victoria and Rochdale between Saturday and Friday 29 May.
'I spent my teenage years caring for my sick dad - we need more support'
Beckett, from Leicestershire, lost his dad Nick in February from a suspected progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological condition which presents similar symptoms to Parkinson's.
Police officer drowned in Bristol Harbour after 'normal night out'
A police officer fell into Bristol Harbour and drowned on what his friend described as "a normal night out", an inquest has heard.
'I've helped find 1,000 caves under Nottingham but I'm not done'
The city is built on soft sandstone, making caves relatively easy to carve out, which led to many being used by private households and businesses throughout history.