Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Alton Towers says it is confident "lessons have been learned" after announcing its investigation had found human error caused the rollercoaster crash in June.

Speaking in September, Victoria Balch said the ride collided with empty carriage in front several times.

When the Smiler re-opens next year, it will feature an additional level of authorisation so no manual override can happen without a senior member of staff, the theme park said.  

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Staying milder this afternoon with plenty of cloud, a couple of brighter spells and showers on and off through the daytime. Highs of 9C (48F).

Then any showers will begin to fizzle out in the early hours of Wednesday morning with plenty of cloud around and a strengthening breeze. Lows of 6C (43F).

BBC Travel

There is very slow traffic on the A519 northbound in Hanchurch at the Hanchurch Lane junction, because of tree cutting.

Mike Mulroy's sent us this picture of the shed load of hay affecting the A53 Broad Street in Leek this afternoon.

Jennie Aitken
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire today include:

- Alton Towers Smiler ride crash caused by 'human error'

- Local business leaders welcome Jaguar Land Rover's plans to double the size of its Staffordshire engine plant

- A rare red-footed falcon, first spotted in Stoke-on-Trent, has been shot dead

Matt Lee
BBC Radio Stoke reporter

I've just put a call into the Health and Safety Executive (H&SE) to see when its report on the Alton Towers Smiler crash is likely to be published.

Alton Towers published the result of its own report today, external.

I'm told the report from the H&SE is "still on going" and there is no fixed date for publication which is "not imminent".

A report into the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash in June says a control system was overridden manually "without appropriate safety protocols being followed correctly".

Human error caused the crash that seriously injured five people, the Staffordshire theme park said.

Image source, Ben Richardson

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Alton Towers say the Smiler ride will be re-open in 2016 after carrying out its own investigation.

Image source, Getty Images

In a statement released this afternoon Alton Towers says: "We are confident that lessons have been learned and that appropriate action has been taken to address all the issues raised by our investigation."

We'll bring you more reaction on this story as we get it.

An investigation by the theme park Alton Towers says the crash on the Smiler ride in June happened after the safety system was manually overridden.

The company, from its own investigations, found there were no technical or mechanical problems with the ride itself.

Alton Towers says it has since improved safety measures with:

- Additional CCTV cameras 

- Additional manual reset buttons around the track 

- An "extensive" set of new safety measures

- Enhanced training

Image source, Getty Images

David Lumb
BBC News Online

Asked to explain the human error, Alton Towers spokeswoman, Liz West, said the right protocol wasn’t followed.

She said: “The ride itself was proven to be working properly at the time of the incident.

"However a ride shutdown message, a warning message in the operating cabin, was misunderstood by staff at the ride."

This led to a decision to manually restart the ride, she said, "overriding the control system without appropriate safety protocols being followed correctly".

The crash involving The Smiler rollercoaster ride at Alton Towers was down to "human error", a report by the theme park says.

Leah Washington, 17, had a leg amputated following the accident, while her boyfriend, Joe Pugh, 18, shattered both knees and suffered "extensive" hand injuries.

Vicky Balch, 20, from Leyland in Lancashire, had her right leg amputated - Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton, who she was sat next to on the front row of the ride, was treated for a collapsed lung and lower-leg injuries.

Image source, Facebook

Alton Towers says it is continuing to provide help and support to all of those affected. 

The Health and Safety Executive is continuing with its on-going investigation.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers in which four people were seriously injured was caused by human error says the resort.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue

Two women needed leg amputations after the Smiler ride crashed into an empty carriage in front of it on 2 June. 

Alton Towers said today it had finished its investigation and concluded the cause was human error, which led to a "manual override of the ride safety control system".

BBC Travel

The A53 Broad Street in Leek's partially blocked at Junction Road, because of an accident and a shed load of hay.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Local business leaders have welcomed Jaguar Land Rover's plans to double the size of its Staffordshire engine plant.

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership said it was a vote of confidence in the area.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Port Vale manager, Rob Page, says it's important to maintain their impressive home record when they host Blackpool tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Vale have only lost once at home in the league this season and have won their last three league games in a row. 

Page told BBC Radio Stoke it's important they keep that run going.

Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke

A rare red-footed falcon, first spotted in Stoke-on-Trent, has been shot dead in Cambridgeshire.

Image source, RSPB

The bird of prey had made Chatterley Whitfield its home, before touring the UK. 

It was found dead in Cambridgeshire last month and a post-mortem examination has now established the young male bird had been shot.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

As hundreds more jobs are to be created at Jaguar Land Rover's engine plant on the Staffordshire border, the chief executive, Mike Wright, explains the process.  

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Stafford borough councillors will vote this evening , externalon whether to increase their expenses allowance by 15%.

An independent panel has recommended increasing the yearly limit to £4,500 each. 

The authority says the total cost to the taxpayer would still be less than in the past, as the number of councillors has reduced by a third.

Burton Mail

Calls are being made by rotary clubs across Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands, external, including Burton, for more support in the attempt to tackle the refugee crisis in Syria.

Image source, Burton Mail

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

These are among the top stories in Staffordshire and Cheshire

- The leader of Cheshire East Council has defended contracts given to a firm run by his personal physiotherapist

- Hundreds more jobs are to be created following a £0.5bn expansion at Jaguar Land Rover's engine plant on the Staffordshire border

- Councillors in Stafford will vote this evening on a proposal to increase their expenses allowance, external by 15%