Yusuf Mohammed, 24, knifed his victim, 22, in the chest and was jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A man has appeared at Stafford Crown Court today, charged with the murder of 28-year-old midwife Samantha Eastwood.

Image source, Samantha Eastwood

Michael Stirling, of Gratton Road, Bucknall, appeared via video link and was remanded into custody, to next appear at the same court in October.

The body of Ms Eastwood was discovered in rural ground near Caverswall, Staffordshire, on Saturday, eight days after she was reported missing.

Mr Stirling, 32, is the brother-in-law of Ms Eastwood's ex-fiancé John Peake.

The pilot had to be cut free from the aircraft after it came down in fields near Atherstone.

BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Tottenham made a £25m offer for former England Under-21 midfielder Jack Grealish, 22, on Tuesday and are awaiting a response from Aston Villa.(Telegraph), external

England goalkeeper Jack Butland could be forced to stay at Stoke City because signing a replacement for the 25-year-old would be difficult so close to the transfer deadline, says Potters boss Gary Rowett.(Sentinel), external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A suspected fake police car's turned out to be a genuine, unmarked police vehicle, a force has revealed.

Last month, Staffordshire Police warned motorists that a black car with flashing blue lights and a siren had approached a moped in Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent.

They said then that the driver claimed to be a police officer and that other sightings of the vehicle had been made in the city in Longton, Fenton, Hartshill and on the A50.

But now, they say their investigation's found the original report involved an off-duty officer from Leek, who stopped a moped which they say was being ridden dangerously.

BBC Radio Shropshire has been flooded with tributes after the death of presenter Vicki Archer yesterday.

The Ludlow MP Philip Dunne, external spoke of the "tragic loss of an outstanding broadcaster".

Hundreds of messages from listeners and people Vicki interviewed and worked with came in to the station on both Facebook, external and Twitter , externalafter the news yesterday.

Oswestry Town Council , externalwrote of a brilliant broadcaster who loved Shropshire, while Telford councillor Angela McClements spoke of a beautiful person inside and out.

The cause of Vicki's death is unknown.

You can share your messages with us on the BBC Radio Shropshire Facebook page., external

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are some of the top stories to feature on the Stoke-on-Trent Live website this morning:

• Man, 32, due back in court accused of murdering Samantha Eastwood, external
• 'He was amazing' - tributes to Port Vale fan, 23, as fund-raising drive launched to support his two young daughters, external
• Police reveal 'fake cop car' with flashing blue lights and siren is in fact genuine, external

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

One lane is blocked on the M6 southbound between junctions 3a to 3 due to a crash.

Highways England is warning drivers, external of long delays, while emergency services are at the scene.

BBC Midlands Today

A bus company that operates through Kidderminster has been ordered to compensate passengers after a public inquiry into the punctuality of local services.

The industry regulator decided that Diamond Buses should face a penalty of more than £9,000 because some of its buses didn't run on time.

Passengers on the Kidderminster to Areley route were highlighted as being the most effected.

Sophie Madden
BBC News

A man who was airlifted to hospital after his microlight crashed in a field in Warwickshire is not thought to have life-threatening injures, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

The middle-aged pilot suffered multiple injuries when the aircraft came down in Charity Farm in Baxterley near Atherstone just before 18:37 on Tuesday.

The ambulance service said it gave the pilot advanced trauma care before immobilising and airlifting him to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire.

Daz Hale
BBC WM

Dozens of birds have been killed by a mystery illness which experts are linking to the summer heatwave.

It’s believed that 45, mostly geese, have died in recent weeks after a bacteria developed at a pool in Smethwick.

Sandwell Council has completely fenced off the pool in Victoria Park as a result.

A man accused of the murder of a Stoke-on-Trent midwife is due to appear at Stafford Crown Court later this morning.

The body of Samantha Eastwood was found on Saturday near Caverswall, eight days after she failed to turn up for work at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Image source, Family handout

Michael Stirling of Gratton Road in Bucknall, is due to appear via video link at the court.

The 32-year-old, the brother-in-law of Ms Eastwood's ex-fiancé John Peake, is charged with the murder of the 28-year-old midwife.

Image source, PA

We shared with you the news yesterday that BBC Radio Shropshire presenter Vicki Archer has died.

You've been sharing your tributes to her on the Shropshire Facebook, external page.

Rob Fielding said: "That's terrible news she always brightened my afternoons while out on the road. So sorry, my thoughts are with the family and friends."

Image source, Vicki Archer

Shania Cole posted: "Vicki thanks for being on my afternoon airwaves for the last eight years. You truly inspired me to kick off my own radio career and I can’t thank you enough for the vast opportunity’s you gave me to visit the station myself. Thoughts are with your family."

And Linda Dixon added: "Can't believe this, loved her laugh, she always made me smile. My thoughts are with all her family, especially her children."

Express and Star

Here are some of hte stories making the headlines on the Express & Star website this morning:

• Express & Star Crime Survey results revealed: Public anger laid bare in findings, external
• Controversial plans for major freight rail hub near Wolverhampton facing inspection, external
• These Wolverhampton streets close for seven months for roadworks, external

West Midlands Ambulance Service is to take part in a project aiming to map all of the UK's public defibrillators, in a bid to save thousands of lives.

Information about the availability of the devices, which are used to help people going into cardiac arrest, is not widely known to ambulance services.

The NHS, British Heart Foundation and Microsoft are teaming up in a bid to map all of the country's public defibrillators.

BBC Sport

Having already broken the 50m breaststroke European Championships record in Tuesday's heats, Staffordshire swimmer Adam Peaty did it again, storming clear to win his semi-final in a time of 26.23secs - 0.57secs clear of his nearest rival last night.

Peaty goes for a 10th European Championship gold medal later in the 50m Breaststroke at 16:48. Follow coverage on BBC Sport.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

On Monday we brought you dashcam footage showing the moment a driver had a near miss with a child cyclist riding into the path of his oncoming car.

Robert Allen - group commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire Service - posted the footage while driving along the A38 in Bromsgrove, he posted the video on social media in the hope it would stop children being killed.

Last night he tweeted, external to say he had met with the boy and his mum and had a "very positive conversation".

Joanne Malin
BBC Midlands Today

Pest controllers in some parts of Staffordshire say they've seen a major increase in the number of wasp related call-outs across the county.

Calls have trebled to Stafford Borough Council compared with this time last year.

The hot weather has brought out the queens to trigger more nests.

The wasp season also started earlier as the warm weather resulted in an abundance of fruit, in fields and gardens.

BBC Midlands Today

The hunt continues this morning for two masked gunmen who set fire to cars at HMP Birmingham.

Image source, PA

Nine cars belonging to members of staff, which were parked in a secure car park were badly damaged after an angle grinder was used to break in to the compound.

Detectives say the motive for the attack is unclear and they're examining CCTV footage in an attempt to trace the car, which sped away from the scene.

A mum living in temporary accommodation is urging people struggling financially not to be embarrassed about seeking help.

Julie and her six-year-old daughter visited the B30 Food Bank in Birmingham for the first time yesterday.

They've spent weeks moving between short-term housing after becoming homeless.

Organisers are still appealing for more donations as parents like Julie who rely on free school meals for their children can find the summer holidays difficult.