shropshirestar.com

Hundreds of people braved the first big chill of winter to see X Factor finalist Treyc Cohen and stars from the Oakengates pantomime perform as a Shropshire shopping centre launched its Christmas celebrations.

The future of public toilets in Shropshire cannot be guaranteed unless they are offloaded to town and parish councils, a meeting heard.

Daniel Kawczynski and Tom Taylor, who worked closely together when the latter was chief executive of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, have teamed up again to fly the flag for British farm produce.

Shropshire rail company Wrexham & Shropshire is bucking the trend after bosses announced they would freeze some fares and limit increases on others.

One person is dead and another 10 are missing while thousands of others have been evacuated after a huge landslide hit a train in the Ironbridge Gorge. That was the mock disaster being played out in Telford.

Shrewsbury Town have swooped to sign Manchester City youngster Andrew Tutte on loan until the start of January.

Shropshire racehorse owner John Hales urged punters not to discount Neptune Collonges in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury tomorrow.

The New Saints seek a maximum return on the road when they travel to Carmarthen Town tomorrow – their second Welsh Premier trek in the space of four days.

A Shropshire man who threatened his ex-girlfriend on Facebook that he would be “the next Raoul Moat” after she ended their relationship has been jailed for 14 months.

Assistant boss Darren Read is relishing AFC Telford United’s big Blue Square Bet North showdown with “dark horses” Guiseley tomorrow.

Steven Finn continued his steep learning curve in front of 35,000 partisan supporters as England and Australia cranked up their Ashes battle at the Gabba.

Shropshire bride-to-be Zoe Taylor knows all about sharing major milestones with royal weddings.

Neil Bentley and Carlie Swain with a little corner of the internet where it’s always breakfast time.

Tracey O’Sullivan was on hand to quiz wacky comedian Bernie Clifton during the Telford Shopping Centre lights switch-on. Bernie is starring in this year’s pantomime at Telford’s Oakengates Theatre.

In Homes of the Week, we have pictures of a truly special country house in Market Drayton, on the market for a cool £4.5million.

Blog: If Kate Middleton is looking for top tips to help in her future life with Prince William, she should forget the flunkeys, the civil servants and Debrett’s best.

A round-up of this week’s Shropshire Star nostalgia pictures.

“We have to earn our right to be the morning choice.”  That quote of the week came from Christine Bleakley as she opened up for the first time about the failing show and the how hurt she has been at the Daybreak backlash.

Parking policy should be seen as a way to attract customers to the High Street and keep the heart of communities beating, not simply as a revenue raiser, it was claimed today.

Telly Talk: Now surely after being an MP (for 13 years!!), Lembit Opik would be able to spot a snake in the grass or even a slippery customer in the box. Although then again boxes, particularly those of the ballot variety, have not been too kind to him of late.

Letter: The welfare state is the most disastrous thing that has happened to the UK.

A mystery bidder has approached Severn Trent offering to buy the forestry land surrounding Lake Vyrnwy, which is being sold by the utilities company.

Owners of the Sabrina river boat in Shrewsbury today said the vessel would be offering “refined dining and entertainment” if plans are approved to extend opening hours and operate throughout the year.

Investigations into the cause of a house fire in north Shropshire in which a man died were continuing today as it emerged it was likely to have started accidentally.

Dave the Funky Money, a remote control cuddly toy, is predicted to be the must-have  of Christmas 2010 with retailers warning it will sell out long before the big day.

More than 4,000 people have joined the fight to save the last dedicated hospital ward for elderly patients with dementia in Shropshire from closure.

WPBSA Chairman Barry Hearn tells a press conference in Telford about how the game is developing ahead of next month’s 12Bet.com UK Championships in Shropshire.

Thousands of people got into the Christmas spirit as they turned out to see festive lights switched on and to sing carols in two Shropshire towns.

AN ELDERLY MAN suffered a suspected heart attack after three men conned their way into his home in Shrewsbury and stole a substantial amount of cash, detectives said today.

Several snakes died in a shed fire in Oswestry today following an electrical fault.