Sophie Madden
BBC News

Customers of Thomas Cook have been rushing to book new flights and holidays after the tour operator's collapse.

Efforts are under way to bring thousands of holidaymakers back from abroad but, for people waiting to go away, they've had an anxious wait.

Heather Plant, from Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, told the BBC she was due to fly on Wednesday and "raced down" to an independent travel agent this morning.

"I’m not sure how we are going to get our money back yet, it will take a while. But we’ll get it back eventually.”

Friends Susan Winship and Louise Hancock, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, had spent 18 months planning their family holiday to Florida, and were due to fly on Saturday.

They said they would have been "devastated" if they were forced to cancel and have seen the price of flights to Tampa increase from £500 on Saturday to £1,100 today.

“I think it is shameful, organisations are profiting from people’s emergency situations and it is not very nice, really.”

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

A deadline to submit final plans to avoid a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Coventry looks unlikely to be met – with the government still yet to respond to revised submissions.

The government ordered a CAZ in Coventry in March as the city is one of 22 UK towns and cities where nitrogen dioxide levels are forecast to exceed legal limits by next year.

The city council has not received feedback on "revised modelling" it submitted in June.

It means a deadline to submit a final outline business case on plans to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide by this Friday, 27 September, now looks unlikely.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs added: “No formal deadline extension request has been made as of yet, but we will consider any request in advance of the deadline.”

BBC Weather

It will be a dry and cloudy night before heavy rain moves in in the early hours with lows of 13C (55F).

Allen Cook
BBC News

A month after a man was found stabbed to death on a street in Stoke-on-Trent, police have said they haven't charged anyone over the death.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Anas Chergat was discovered with his injuries on Josiah Wedgwood Street, Etruria, on 23 August and died after the emergency services arrived.

Staffordshire Police has today released new photos of the 26-year-old, external as they say they want to track his movements leading up to his death.

A 44-year-old man and a 29-year-old man, both from Stoke-on-Trent, have been arrested over the death and released under investigation.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Tom Kohler-Cadmore's unbeaten century puts Yorkshire in command against Warwickshire as the Tykes aim to finish third.

John Bray
BBC News

People have been coming to the Intu Potteries centre in Stoke-on-Trent today as part of the BBC's We are Stoke-on-Trent project.

We're trying to tell more stories about the city, we're also giving residents a chance to try their hand at TV presenting or using virtual reality technology:

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Joe Burn

A pothole's been filled in after penis graffiti was painted around it.

The phallic symbol was sprayed last week around a defect on the A34 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, near the Sainsbury's supermarket.

Staffordshire County Council said its highways team had filled in the hole and removed the graffiti.

A family say they're "devastated" at the death of a woman whose body was found in woodland in Tamworth.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police said she had been formally identified as 20-year-old Keeley Bunker and was discovered on Thursday night.

Her family has pleaded for privacy to "grieve privately" while thousands of pounds has been pledged for them by members of the public on a fundraising page. , external

The police force though has warned of several fake fundraising pages which have been set up as well.

Today, Wesley Streete, 19, of no fixed address, appeared before magistrates charged with her murder and was remanded into custody to next appear on Wednesday at Stafford Crown Court.

Cath Mackie
BBC News

For many years the area around Portland Street in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was synonymous with crime and drugs.

But mothers who live in the area and artists who have moved there have joined forces to change its image.

Sussex half-centurions Stiaan van Zyl & Delray Rawlins lead a recovery from 32-3 on a rain-hit day one against Worcestershire at Hove.

Police hunting for a missing woman from Oswestry say they have found a body.

The woman has not been formally identified, but officers say they believe it's Maria Duncan, 51.

Det Ch Insp Mike Nally said her body was discovered in secluded woodland near to Nant Y Caws, in Morda.

Her black Labrador has been found and is being cared for, police say.

Two people have been arrested after armed officers were called to reports of a man wielding what police believe to be an axe in Staffordshire.

Disorder was reported in Christchurch Street, Fenton at about 13:20, the force said.

A 49-year-old man was arrested in King Street for possessing an offensive weapon and a 45-year-old woman was arrested nearby on suspicion of threatening behaviour.

Both remain in custody, said Staffordshire Police.

BBC Sport

Warwickshire opener Dom Sibley has been called up for the first time to an England squad for their Tests in New Zealand this winter.

Image source, Getty Images

The 24-year-old's earned his chance at a first cap after being the only batsman to make more than 1,000 runs in Division One of the County Championship this season.

He joins Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes in the squad.

Woakes has been rested by England though for their five T20 games in New Zealand but Worcestershire seamer Pat Brown's been called up.

Prime Minister's Questions on Sunday Politics Midlands.

Shropshire Star

Some of the Shropshire Star headlines today include:

• Hundreds of food firms failing hygiene checks, external
• Armed police arrest man near Shropshire border, external
• Man charged after Welshpool stabbing, external

A man has denied murdering a man in a flat fire in Coventry.

Image source, Family handout

Malcolm Turner, 69, was found collapsed inside a maisonette in Jenner Street in August.

Richard Newing, 43, is accused of murder and also arson with intent to endanger life in relation to another blaze in Foleshill Road the same day.

Mr Newing, from Iden Road, Hillfields, appeared at Warwick Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He's next due to appear on 6 January.

BBC News Travel

Good news, the vehicle has been cleared from the M5 near Oldbury, although there may still be delays in the area.

Highways England said both lanes were now open again northbound at J2.

A body has been found after an Army bomb disposal team was called out to reports of a suspicious object at a house.

Image source, Google

They were called this afternoon to Princess Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, and several houses were evacuated nearby while checks were carried out.

Staffordshire Police said, after the checks, a man's body was found at the house and they're treating his death as unexplained, but not suspicious.

Residents have been allowed back to their homes.

Jaydon James, 16, was with friends when he was stabbed in Coventry last November.

Long queues are building on the M5 northbound, external, Highways England is warning, after a vehicle broke down at J2 near Oldbury.

One of two lanes is shut and, with traffic getting busy in the area, Highways England says there is now about 5.5 miles of congestion back to Frankley services.

It is advising drivers to allow an extra 50 minutes on to journey times and said those heading towards the M6 should plan ahead.