Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Wednesday 18 November 2015
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Thursday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Weather: Cloudy tonight and tomorrowpublished at 17:48
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayTonight it's set to be cloudy with some clearer spells and some isolated showers. The breeze will ease overnight. Lows 8C (46F).
Then tomorrow, cloudy with some brighter spells particularly in the afternoon. Highs 10C (50F).
On Midlands Today tonight: Picking up the pieces after Storm Barneypublished at 17:43
Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands TodayWell, we were expecting it and when it got here Storm Barney hit parts of the West Midlands with a vengeance.
It left a trail of damage and destruction, as it swept from west to east across the region.
We'll be looking at the clear-up operation today and the main problems tonight - all on BBC Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One.
Plans to create thousands of new Staffordshire jobs 'on time and budget'published at 17:35
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokePlans to create 2,200 new jobs at a new business park in Meaford, Staffordshire, are moving forward councillors have been told, external, after being given £4.2m as part of the government's growth deal.
Image source, A Little Bit of StoneStaffordshire County Council today said work at the site was on time and budget.
New road layouts around the business park are already under way, which has caused congestion on the A34.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council chief's pension payout 'Monopoly money'published at 17:30
Andrew Dawkins
BBC News OnlineThere's been criticism of a £150,000 pension payment for the former Stoke-on-Trent City Council chief executive
Details over John van de Laarschot are in a private report given to councillors before they voted through redundancy.
He's already getting a £230,000 payoff for leaving his job and is entitled to his pension payout because he is over 55 and lost his job due to redundancy.
Quote MessageThe cost to the taxpayer, the cost to the city council is enormous, and to me it seems like Monopoly money that's being paid out when it actually is taxpayers' money .
Colin Griffiths, GMB Organiser in Staffordshire
Burglar uses crowbar to break into Lichfield leisure centrepublished at 17:23
Police are investigating after a man broke into a leisure centre in Lichfield, external.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryTravel: Lane blocked on M6 in Staffordshirepublished at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2015
BBC TravelOn the M6 in Staffordshire there's a lane blocked southbound between junctions 10a and 10, because of a broken down vehicle.
Video: Rambling away at Rudyard Lakepublished at 17:14
Max Mallen
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeAll this week I'm in Biddulph as it's our community of the week on BBC Radio Stoke.
I've been out with Biddulph Ramblers, external as they went around Rudyard Lake, despite the best efforts of Storm Barney.
The club told me they vary the type of walks they do and this one was on quite straightforward terrain, a relief to me.
Your pictures: Stafford put up its Christmas treepublished at 17:05
Allen Cook
BBC Local LivePreparations look to be on hand in Stafford ahead of this weekend's lights switch on - the Christmas Tree is up.
Image source, Sarah RobertsonBBC Radio Stoke's Sarah Robertson tweeted this picture - you can do the same, external with a photo of Staffordshire or Cheshire.
Or you can email or put pictures on Instagram, external (just add #bbcstoke to the description if you agree to share it with us).
Latest headlines: 'Migrant' container deaths 'suspicious'; chief exec payout criticised; and Cheshire close to devolution dealpublished at 16:58
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeStaffordshire and Cheshire's main headlines this evening include:
- Two bodies found in a container at an industrial site in Staffordshire are suspected migrants, external, police say
- There's been criticism of a £150,000 pension payment for the former Stoke-on-Trent City Council chief executive
- Cheshire could be one of the first counties in England to agree a devolution deal with the government
Travel: Accident on A53 in Endonpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2015
BBC TravelThe A53 Leek Road in Endon's blocked and there's slow traffic both ways near the Brookfield Avenue junction, because of an accident.
Football: Stoke City's Jon Walters is the 'hardest worker I've seen'published at 16:43
BBC SportStoke City striker Jon Walters' work ethic means he deserves the hero worship that has come his way in the Republic of Ireland, says team-mate Darren Randolph.
Image source, ReutersThe 32-year-old Stoke striker scored both goals as the Irish beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 to qualify for next summer's Euro 2016 finals.
As the Stoke City man struck at one end in the play-off second leg victory in Dublin, West Ham goalkeeper Randolph was keeping a clean sheet in place of the injured Potters' keeper Shay Given.
Walters 'hardest worker I've seen'
Darren Randolph says Jon Walters deserves his hero worship in the Republic of Ireland after his recent heroics.
Read MoreCheshire could be first county to agree devolution dealpublished at 16:27
Phil McCann
Political reporter, CheshireCheshire could be one of the first counties in England to agree a devolution deal with the government.
Image source, GoogleSo far ministers have only transferred powers and funding to city regions.
Three of Cheshire's four councils have submitted a bid to create 112,000 new jobs.
Stoke goes up in the air for Christmas lights switch-onpublished at 16:14
A high-wire performance will be the climax of the Christmas lights switch-on in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent tomorrow.
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End of twitter postCouncil look to improve response to antisocial behaviourpublished at 16:07
Action to tackle antisocial behaviour across Burton and East Staffordshire is set to be stepped up, external.
Image source, Burton Mail'Suspected migrants' found dead in crate of boilers in Burtonpublished at 15:54
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveTwo bodies found in a container at an industrial site in Staffordshire are suspected migrants, external, police say.
Staffordshire Police say they were discovered in a wooden crate at Ferroli in Lichfield Road, Branston yesterday morning.
Detectives say it was part of a shipment of boilers and staff investigated due to its "unpleasant smell". The deaths are being treated as suspicious.
Quote MessageWe are almost certain they were helped to conceal themselves amongst the delivery load by a third party.
Det Ch Inspector Dave Giles, Staffordshire Police
Cats die after eating antifreeze in Staffordshire claims RSPCApublished at 15:40
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeTwo cats living on the same street in a Staffordshire village have died from suspected antifreeze poisoning, the RSPCA, external says.
Image source, RSPCAThe organisation says tests showed four-year-old Wendy had eaten antifreeze which led to kidney failure.
It says two-year-old Sissi suffered similar symptoms and both died on Wednesday 11 November.
Football: Port Vale players urged to stay unbeatenpublished at 15:22
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokeThe Port Vale boss Rob Page says he's challenging his players to go on a long unbeaten run.
Image source, Getty ImagesVale go into their FA Cup replay tomorrow night at Maidenhead unbeaten in their past three games.
But Page told BBC Radio Stoke his team needs to focus on one game at a time.
Quote MessageYou can't take anything for granted, we'll respect the teams that come here and we've got to give of our best.
Rob Page, Port Vale manager
Video: Staffordshire visitor attraction gets water workpublished at 15:09
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeMaintenance work is being carried out at a lake in Staffordshire while water levels are low.
Sand banks and the dam wall are now exposed at Rudyard Lake, external.
Rudyard Lake Trust says it's business as usual and the recent rainfall will see levels steadily rise again.
Latest news: Burton bodies found in container; clear-up continues after Storm Barney; and RSPCA says cats were poisonedpublished at 14:55
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe top stories this afternoon for Staffordshire and Cheshire include
- Two people found dead at an industrial estate in Burton yesterday were inside a transportation container, police say
- Work's continuing to clear up after Storm Barney brought down dozens of Staffordshire trees and disrupted transport routes
- Two cats living on the same street in a Staffordshire village have died from suspected antifreeze poisoning, the RSPCA says
