A dog owner says he's lucky his pet is still alive after a fire caused by his dishwasher.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Graham Cooper had put the machine on at his home in Congleton before leaving for work on 24 September.

However, 30 minutes later his neighbour called to say smoke was coming from a bedroom window.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said , externala fault in the dishwasher had started the blaze which damaged much of the kitchen.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

The 34-year-old's Pomeranian, Teddy, was fine after being rescued and Graham said he had had a lucky escape.

“It never occurred to me that such a thing could result in a fire and my dog’s life and my home being put at risk," he said.

“I’ll never leave a domestic appliance, or any other type of electrical device, on when I go out again."

Wasps' participation in Saturday's Premiership final is in doubt after three more players test positive for Covid-19.

Nuh Raheel, from the West Midlands, is accused of having "articles for terrorist purposes".

Ron Morgan, from Shrewsbury, has had to resume treatment after his charity challenge.

Shropshire Star

A few of the headlines from the Shropshire Star:

• Shrewsbury Town worker who stole £18,000 from club avoids jail, external
• Shropshire chamber calls on PM to apply five key tests over new restrictions, external
• Telford murder victim named as police confirm six arrests, external

Passengers on West Midlands Railway services via Birmingham Snow Hill are being warned of a new timetable being introduced next week.

Image source, West Midlands Railway

The operator says, external Covid-19 is making it difficult to run a normal train schedule and it has had to cancel a number of services in recent weeks.

The new timetable will have a reduced number of departures, but the firm says all trains will have as many carriages as possible with peak-time and school trains prioritised.

As one example of the changes, the new timetable will see most trains from Snow Hill to Worcester start and end at Shrub Hill station instead of Foregate Street.

BBC Radio Shropshire

Money from the government's culture fund has been described as "life-changing" by one of the groups to get some of the cash.

The Culture Recovery Fund is aimed at securing the future of museums, galleries and heritage sites.

Shropshire Festivals has been given £100,000 for events it organises across the county and there's an extra £55,000 for the Shrewsbury Food Festival, which it runs.

Beth Heath, from the group, said colleagues had been waiting nervously to see if they would get anything.

"It's just been life-changing, me and the team, as soon as I knew I told the team, they'd been worried about job losses. Just suddenly, all that angst and worry, it just means we can pay our bills and get ready for next year's festivals."

Pies, sausage rolls and electronic items have been stolen from a volunteer-run cafe.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Two masked men broke into the Hilltop Community Cafe in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, on Thursday, Staffordshire Police said., external

Most the stolen items, including computer games and DVDs, had been donated to the cafe.

Officers have released CCTV images of two men they want to speak to in connection with the break-in.

Thirty-nine people may have died in a lorry because people smugglers got "greedy", the Old Bailey hears.

Women with endometriosis have told the BBC living with it is a constant battle and puts a strain on their relationships.

Endometriosis affects one in 10 women in the UK and can cause debilitating pain, heavy periods and infertility.

A report by MPs said care for the condition across the UK needs urgent improvement and diagnosis times need to be halved.

It found an average wait for a diagnosis was eight years and that had not improved in more than a decade.

Tracey Morgan, from Shrewsbury, said before she was diagnosed she was in so much pain she felt her "life was nothing".

"Just before my last, fourth surgery I was so poorly and I was going to see a different endo specialist who is phenomenal and I said to my partner 'if he can't help me, I'm really sorry I can't live like this'."

Helen MacLaughlin, from Worcester, said the fatigue from the condition meant she couldn't work full-time.

"Relationships, friendships, some of them have strained, I've lost friends and it is a constant worry."

Nadine Dorries, minister for women's health said awareness was increasing, but there was still a long way to go.

The 113-year-old skeleton will take three days to dismantle and two months to clean, officials say.

Schools in Cheshire and Middlesbrough close after pupils show "flu-like symptoms" after skiing trips.

Warrington prop Sitaleki Akauola is banned for three games for a dangerous throw on Leeds back-rower James Harrison.

Gemma Greensmith gave birth to daughter Raelyn in a lorry cab outside her Staffordshire home.

Three teenagers have been arrested after a man was attacked in Hereford.

Image source, Google

The victim, in his 20s, was left with serious injuries after the assault on Saturday evening in High Town, West Mercia Police said.

The teenagers, two aged 16 and a 15-year-old, all from the city, have been arrested on suspicion of assault and released on bail.

BBC Radio Stoke

Calls for a short lockdown or "circuit-breaker" in England to curb the rising rate of coronavirus have left one council leader "very nervous" at the idea.

Image source, Reuters

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wants one for two to three weeks and documents have revealed government scientific advisers called for such action last month.

But Abi Brown, Conservative leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the city had managed to avoid a national lockdown in September and local firms were starting to show signs of recovery

"Stoke-on-Trent is recovering remarkably well and therefore to go to a circuit breaker would cause potentially irreparable damage to our local economy," she said.

Coventry Live

The Coventry Live headlines today include:

• Coventry's coronavirus cases rocket by more than 700 in just one week, external
• School to close for two weeks due to rising number of Covid-19 cases, external
• Biker left fighting for life after Coventry hit and run, external

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had a flurry of wildlife-themed photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

Here are three, from users Anna L in Stourbridge, Dudley, SteveC in Warwick and Step Counter in Bodenham, Herefordshire:

Image source, Anna L

Image source, SteveC

Image source, Step Counter

BBC Radio Stoke

A pottery firm said getting £246,000 from the government arts funding comes at a "vital time" as it copes with the impact of Covid-19.

Image source, Google

Moorcroft, which began as a studio in 1897 in Stoke-on-Trent, has its visitor centre and museum open to the public, but suspended factory tours due to pandemic restrictions.

Managing director Elise Adams said the money from the Cultural Recovery Fund was a welcome boost for the next few months.

"It comes at a vital time for us as historically our boost in tourism and our busiest period of the year usually commences in spring time every year so this helps support us during the winter months."

Stoke-on-Trent Live

A few of the stories making the headlines on Stoke-on-Trent Live:

• Three miles of delays on M6 after vehicle fire, external
• Closure-threatened Stoke-on-Trent barbers says sorry after staff caught without masks, external
• MPs respond to controversial proposal to close roads to rush hour traffic to cut air pollution, external