shropshirestar.com

A surge on the US stock markets lifted the FTSE 100 this morning, propelling the index 62 points higher by 08:35 GMT.

Our weekly round-up of the Shropshire Star’s nostalgia pictures.

The FTSE 100 ended slightly higher after a boost from US markets took the index to 3,712.06.

Up to 15 Shrewsbury businesses have approached their MP in a desperate bid to avoid folding because of problems with their banks, it has been claimed.

A Shropshire store which has provided school clothing for generations of people across the county is set to close its doors. Ben Bentley looks back at 70 years of history at Hares in Shrewsbury

Hundreds of workers at one of Shropshire’s biggest construction firms have been officially laid off.

Giant red noses will dominate the Shropshire skyline when thousands of people across the county do something funny for money today.

To highlight some of the amazing works being carried out at York Minster and to assist in the Minster’s fundraising campaigns, Bedern Chapel, a new workshop space for York Minster Glaziers, has been opened to the public.

The parents of an Army recruit from near Oswestry who died at the controversial Deepcut barracks have accused authorities of corruption as they step up their campaign for a public inquiry.

Bernard Madoff has pleaded guilty to 11 criminal charges over the largest financial fraud in history.

The global financial crisis has seen 332 people lose their status as dollar billionaires on Forbes magazine's list of the super-rich.

Mail for addresses in Oswestry was dumped in a garden – for other postal staff to collect. A resident said he could not believe it when he saw it happening.

Ludlow campaigners look set to lose their battle to have a patch of land declared a village green after councillors were recommended to refuse the application.

A 70-year-old Shropshire man, who is practically housebound without his mobility scooter, has made a desperate plea for its return after it was stolen.

Controversial plans for a windfarm in north Shropshire took another twist today, after a neighbouring council made a U-turn and withdrew its objection to part of the scheme.

Disabled and elderly people in Mid Wales who rely on community transport schemes have been given a £1 million boost as the scheme is extended.

Supermarket chain Morrisons has announced a seven per cent rise in full-year earnings after getting "in tune" with the budget shopper's mindset.

Workers today returned to a Mid Wales factory which closed with the loss of more than 70 jobs last month.

Paul Simpson today marked his first anniversary as Shrewsbury Town manager by declaring: “We have taken massive strides – but there’s a lot I still want to do.”

Chairman Lee Carter cannot wait for AFC Telford United’s big FA Trophy semi-final to arrive – after the “worst week” of his career.

The greatest day in the history of Shropshire horse racing could be just 24 hours away – with two of the biggest prizes of the Cheltenham Festival tipped to head to the county.

A man has died after a three-car smash on a Shropshire country road today.

A 19-year-old man was airlifted to hospital with a broken leg after an accident while felling trees in a Shropshire village.

Mortgage lending slumped dramatically in January as buyers were forced to come up with record deposits to secure a loan.

Larry Chambers talks to AFC Telford blogger Joe Davies about the FA Trophy and insists: “We can still win it.”

Join our man Chris Hudson as he takes a look back at AFC Telford United’s 2-0 defeat at Vauhall Motors in the Blue Square North.

The FTSE 100 slid 35.88 points in early trading to 3,657.93, as mining groups continued to weigh on the index.

Snow Patrol enjoyed the acclaim of 12,000 Midlands fans during a hot, steamy night at Birmingham’s LG Arena.

Chris De Burgh sees red over Coldplay in an exclusive online interview.

Paul Weller, The Enemy, Kid British and Karima Francis are about to hit the road in this week’s live music round-up