CB ECHO LIMA TANGO 08 (SHROPSHIRE-ENGLAND)

Shropshire (alternatively Salop or abbreviated Shrops) is a county in the West Midlands of England.

Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties. The population of the non-metropolitan/shire county of Shropshire is 289,100 - making it the least populated two-tier governed area in the United Kingdom. With the recent Local Government White Paper's support for new unitary authorities, Shropshire County Council is proposing the abolition of Shropshire's district councils, becoming a unitary authority. [1] The borough of Telford and Wrekin, included in Shropshire for ceremonial and geographical purposes, has been a unitary authority since 1998.

The county town is Shrewsbury, although the new town of Telford is the largest town. The Ironbridge Gorge area of Shropshire is known as the birthplace of industry and there are other notable industrial sites located around the county. Ironbridge Gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale and a part of Madeley.