:00:09. > :00:12.The number of people shopping on the high street has falldn
:00:13. > :00:16.But despite the slump, the British Retail Consortitm says
:00:17. > :00:20.the number of empty shops is at its lowest for three years.
:00:21. > :00:25.Laura May McMullan has been talking to traders in Newcastle`unddr`Lyme.
:00:26. > :00:27.Last year across the West Mhdlands there were over 34,500 new
:00:28. > :00:36.Joanne Clay's bridal and party wear shop was one of them.
:00:37. > :00:41.Since opening in December hdr business has grown rapidly.
:00:42. > :00:45.About 400 dresses sold so far already.
:00:46. > :00:50.So many brides, about 50 or 60 brides now.
:00:51. > :00:53.Joanne was one of the winners of a Dragon's Den style competition
:00:54. > :00:57.offering entrepreneurs their own shop rent free for six months and
:00:58. > :01:11.Natalie Davies is close to opening her art coffee shop, and despite
:01:12. > :01:16.I haven't for a second wavered in what I have wanted to do.
:01:17. > :01:20.I've just had to keep the bdlief that one day I'm going to gdt there.
:01:21. > :01:23.Over the year ?127,000 have been spent on improving the town centre.
:01:24. > :01:32.Last year in the area nearlx 3, 00 new businesses were created.
:01:33. > :01:35.The number of empty shops in Newcastle is still higher than
:01:36. > :01:40.We have just about 14%, which for us compared to last year
:01:41. > :01:47.which was roughly about 17%, it is a massive drop for us.
:01:48. > :01:50.One of the initiatives they're about to launch here is this Lyme card.
:01:51. > :01:53.Local shops pay ?50 a year to register and then offer discounts to
:01:54. > :02:08.It's hoped it'll also encourage more businesses to start up in the town.
:02:09. > :02:10.Two Staffordshire police officers were injured after a car collided
:02:11. > :02:15.with their patrol car on thd M6 Toll road during a high speed ch`se.
:02:16. > :02:18.The officers were pursuing `n MG ZR when the crash happened
:02:19. > :02:24.A 23`year`old man was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital
:02:25. > :02:26.The two officers were also taken to hospital.
:02:27. > :02:30.Their injuries are not thought to be serious.
:02:31. > :02:32.A 14`year`old boy has been released on police bail
:02:33. > :02:35.following the discovery of ` woman's body in a Smethwick street.
:02:36. > :02:40.A murder inquiry was launchdd after the 48`year`old woman was found dead
:02:41. > :02:45.West Midlands Police said the boy had been freed on conditional
:02:46. > :02:51.One of the Midlands' best known record
:02:52. > :02:53.dealers has started selling off his entire collection of 75 thotsand
:02:54. > :03:02.Dan Reddington ran Reddington's Rare Records in Birmingham until 200 .
:03:03. > :03:05.Today collectors from all over the world descended on his Redditch
:03:06. > :03:14.Discs worth far more than a pound were hidden in the collection.
:03:15. > :03:17.There is one in here which my grandson Harvey...
:03:18. > :03:23.It is a ten inch one which goes for ?100.
:03:24. > :03:31.If somebody finds that it is a ?100 record for a pound,
:03:32. > :03:34.In League One, leaders Peterborough beat Port Vale
:03:35. > :03:37.3`1 while Walsall are still looking for their first win after
:03:38. > :03:44.Onto League Two where Shrewsbury lost 2`0 at Hartlepool
:03:45. > :03:46.while Cheltenham are still tnbeaten following a nil`nil draw
:03:47. > :03:51.In the Conference, Telford continue to struggld, beaten
:03:52. > :03:54.4`1 at home to Dover, Kidderminster were 2`1 winners over Gateshead
:03:55. > :04:02.In rugby, Moseley began the new Championship season with
:04:03. > :04:11.Here's Kaye Forster with the details.
:04:12. > :04:14.If you got some brightness today you were doing quite well.
:04:15. > :04:17.Most of us have been stuck tnder a blanket of cloud, there h`ve been
:04:18. > :04:21.It is a much better picture for us tomorrow.
:04:22. > :04:24.It will stay dry throughout the day and there will be plenty
:04:25. > :04:27.We got some showers to get rid of first.
:04:28. > :04:29.They will clear their way southwards and eastwards tonight.
:04:30. > :04:32.These guys will clear behind them and we are starting to introduce
:04:33. > :04:36.some cooler air so it will be a little bit chillier than recent
:04:37. > :04:39.nights, with ticket temperatures down to single figures.
:04:40. > :04:41.Beutiful start to the day, blue skies for many of us.
:04:42. > :04:44.A little bit of fairweather cloud building up into the afternoon
:04:45. > :04:46.but we will stay dry and sunny well into the aftdrnoon.
:04:47. > :04:51.Temperatures will peak around 20 Celsius.
:04:52. > :05:21.Good evening. It was a mixed bag to start the weekend. The satellite
:05:22. > :05:24.sequence shows cloud across northern Scotland in the
:05:25. > :05:24.sequence shows cloud across northern low pressure and associated weather
:05:25. > :05:25.fronts