Cheshire Police's dogs will be given collar numbers to make them "part of the team", the force says.

The latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

One piece of extra good news for Red Rose fans of all cricketing codes to emerge this morning is that England have made World Cup winning wicketkeeper Jos Buttler available for Lancashire's first six matches in the T20 Blast.

Exciting news too for other counties' commercial departments too, to welcome the top box office attraction.

Buttler, who has not played since his stunning IPL century for Rajasthan Royals on 2 May - 124 off 64 balls - will play in Lancashire's first two home games at Emirates Old Trafford.

They are on back-to-back days against Derbyshire (9 June, 14:30) and Leicestershire (10 June, 18:30).

But then their next four games are all away: Worcestershire (13 June, 14:30), Derbyshire (15 June, 19:00), Durham (17 June, 19:00) and Birmingham Bears (18 June, 18:30).

Image source, Getty Images

Chester Zoo says a £100m government fund for zoos which is closing was "too difficult to apply for".

Cheshire host Cumbria at Didsbury Cricket Club in the National Counties Trophy - listen to BBC Radio Cumbria commentary.

Warrington back Greg Inglis is out for up to two months after tearing his hamstring, says head coach Steve Price.

Michael Portillo is in Crewe, a town steeped in railway history and immortalised in Victorian music hall, to investigate the making of the iconic cinema classic The Night Mail during the 1930s.

Following his Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael takes the train to Chester to discover the interwar origins of Britain’s most popular zoo. Michael learns how the work of Chester Zoo’s enlightened founder continues, and he helps to feed a young greater one-horned rhino.

Across the border in north Wales, Michael reaches the village of Gresford, the scene of one of Britain’s worst mining disasters, where 266 men lost their lives in 1934. Michael hears how it happened and how it is remembered in the community today. The Ifton Colliery Band plays Gresford - The Miners’ Hymn.

Over the River Dee, at Tata Steel in Shotton, Michael discovers a wartime boost to steel production on the site, where John Summers & Sons manufactured up to 50,000 Andersen shelters a week. The steel shelters and others designed by the company for people’s back gardens protected families from aerial bombardment by German planes.

The latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Two protesters were arrested at the Leicester drone factory protest, which has entered its fourth day.

Natalie Mottram is charged with unauthorised access to computers and perverting the course of justice.

Oliver Bel was arrested after posting on Facebook that he wanted to "go on a spree", a court hears.

The baby's arrival as the first of its kind at Chester Zoo makes it "extra special", a keeper says.

Ashley Barnes was arrested hours after Burnley FC beat Fulham, securing their top-flight status.

Dr Anushua Gupta describes saying final goodbyes to her family before being placed on life support.

Network Rail says there will be disruption until Wednesday evening due to debris on the line.

Two former soldiers succeed in getting a Cheshire Regiment memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Anthony Gelling told the court he was trying to stop his then-partner reversing their car into him.

Lucy Letby is accused of killing eight babies while working on a hospital neonatal unit.

BBC Radio Stoke

Cheshire-based Gandeys Circus has been working with the government on pilot schemes for the return of live events ahead of officially reopening.

The projects have taken place at holiday resorts and led to suggestions of new measures to help tackle the spread of Covid-19.

Image source, Getty Images

Binky Beaumont, from Gandeys, said it was great to get back to business.

“Everything is coming together,” he said.

“We have had artists flying in over the last two to three weeks who are in isolation, they have to have their Covid test, they have to be in isolation for 10 days, then they have to isolate and have daily test and temperature checks before they are allowed to start and join the rest of the cast for rehearsals, because it is such a big cast.”