Stoke & Staffordshire

Latest Updates

  1. Nathan Lowe

  2. A mugshot of a woman with long black hair. She is looking into the camera and has blue, green eyes.

  3. A mugshot of a man with brown curly hair, which is partially covering his eyes, with a black beard and a grey shirt.

  4. Tyrese Shade in action for Eastleigh

  5. Elizabeth John is in the left image. She is wearing a white shift and blue jumper with a blue tie. She has earrings and her hair is tied back and she is smiling. and Ethan John. Ethan John is in the right image. He is wearing a red jumper and is looking up and smiling. He is outdoors and has a fence behind him.

  6. A large orange sculpture with a domed top is set within an open expanse of countryside - with hills and parkland in the distance behind.

  7. A group of medical staff are gathered together in hospital scrubs and are smiling at the camera.

  8. Dr Kainth is looking at the camera ans smiling. She is wearing scrubs and a stethoscope around her neck. She is wearing glasses and had dark hair tied back.

  9. Marko Marosi in his yellow goalkeeper's shirt

  10. A side view of a fire engine. There is white lettering on a black roll-down panel which says Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service.

  11. Potters' preparations 'a joy' - Johansson

    Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson in his blue shirt holding the ball in his left hand as he prepares to restart the playGetty Images

    With less than than two weeks to go, Stoke City's preparations for the new Championship season are a "joy to be part of", says goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

    The Sweden international has been getting to know the club's new arrivals this summer and says the six recruits - strikers Robert Bozenik and Divin Mubama, winger Sorba Thomas and defenders Aaron Cresswell, Ashley Phillips and Maksym Talovierov - have settled in well.

    "The new boys have fitted right in and it's got that family feel - it's a joy to come in every day," Johansson told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "You can see the new connections starting to feel and it's a nice feeling.

    "Of course it takes a bit of time but it's what you do. You speak about things - 'what do I think', 'what do I do?' - this group want to know everyone's story and when you get to know a person you can speak about everything.

    "We've got to that stage where, if I need to say something, I can say it to anyone and I think that's what you want as a football club - that openness."

    Having drawn 1-1 with Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers in a friendly at the weekend, Stoke take on another top-flight opponent, Burnley, in their final warm-up match on Saturday.

    Johansson says he is starting to "see glimpses" of the things they have been working on with boss Mark Robins in their play as they start to focus on their opening game of the new season, at home to Derby County on 9 August.

    "It's a great squad and one of the best changing rooms I've been in," he said.

    "Everybody wants the same thing."

  12. A brick-built statue depicting the head of Josiah Wedgwood in a stylised fashion. It is positioned on a grass verge.

  13. Burton Albion head coach Gary Bowyer wearing a black jacket with the Burton badge on in yellow

  14. A West Midlands Railway train with carriages painted purple on the outside and orange doors.

  15. A prison corridor, viewed through a set of metal bars. There are two men walking along the corridor away from the camera. In the foreground is a potted plant and fish tank as well as a green bin and two smaller red bins with blue lids.

  16. A woman with short blonde hair looks into the camera with a smile which shows her teeth. She wears a dark green jacket with a gold lapel bin in a square design. Behind her is a purple board with "BBC Radio CWR" written on it in white.

  17. Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton embrace after the England Sweden quarter final earlier this month. Kelly is wearing the England kit and goalkeeper Hampton is wearing green. The other players are behind them and the stadium in Switzerland can be seen in the background.

  18. Louis Price is wearing a black T-shirt and dark sunglasses. He is holding a large fish close to the camera and smiling. There is greenery and trees in the background.

  19. 'Lawal looked like Beckenbauer' - Robins

    Robins: ‘I’m pleased with where we’re at.'

    Stoke City manager Mark Robins said Bosun Lawal could feature in a number of positions during the upcoming Championship campaign after an injury-hit debut season with the side.

    The Irishman joined the Potters in August 2024 but was sidelined for much of the season with a back injury, playing just seven Championship games.

    But the versatile Lawal, who can play in defence or midfield, is keen to make a bigger impact this campaign and his performances in pre-season are certainly catching the eye of his boss.

    "There's bits and pieces where [Lawal] looks fantastic at times," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke following the 1-1 friendly draw with Premier League side Wolves on Saturday.

    "His feet are brilliant. He looked like [Franz] Beckenbauer, coming out with the ball as well.

    "He can play anywhere with the feet that he's got. They are quite soft and he's got a really good touch. He can finish, as you saw on Wednesday evening [when he scored in the 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra].

    "He's worked his socks off this pre-season and gives himself every chance. His build and his qualities make him a welcome addition to the squad."

    Listen to the full post-match interview with Mark Robins and more on BBC Sounds.

  20. A view of the bridge just before the crash site. There are four lanes, two in each direction, but no barrier between them until halfway up the slope. An overhead gantry signals which lanes go where.

  21. Two boxers stand in a boxing ring with a referee in white shirt and black bow tie between them. The boxer on the left looks up and holds his hands aloft as he is declared the winner.

  22. A man with short black hair is wearing glasses, a light green hooded jumper and a grey shirt. He is standing next to a metal barrier besides roadworks.

  23. A row of black taxis with their lights on, parked on a double yellow line on the side of the road.

  24. A sandy coloured dog looks out from behind bars in a rescue centre