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 Monday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Friday 4 December 2015
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Monday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Watch: Mary Rhodes with Midlands Today's headlinespublished at 17:58
BBC Midlands TodayWatch: Midlands Engine for Growth fired uppublished at 17:52
The Business Secretary Sajid Javid has unveiled what's been called the Midlands Engine for Growth with talk of around 300,000 new jobs over 15 years.
Mr Javid said businesses and government must work closely to promote the region.
Media caption, Midlands Engine for Growth fired up with talk of more jobs
However, the announcement came as the government announced it was scrapping the Manufacturing Advisory Service which helps small businesses invest, and create jobs.
Some business leaders in the West Midlands have expressed their shock and dismay at the move.
Watch: Weekend weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 17:40
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands TodayWatch: School choir performs at Christmas Tree festivalpublished at 17:35
John Acres
BBC Radio StokeA Christmas Tree festival is being held in St Mary's Church, Stafford, external this week and I visited today when a choir from Berkswich Primary School was performing.
Festival changes in Lichfield with high winds forecastpublished at 17:30
This weekend's forecast of high winds has affected some of the planned events in Lichfield.
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End of twitter postWatch: Port Vale's Louis Dodds on FA Cup gamepublished at 17:25
Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke SportPort Vale's Louis Dodds has been speaking to me about their FA Cup game on Sunday, when they face Exeter City away.
Body found after report of 'sudden death' in Cheshire townpublished at 17:20
Lee Thomas
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeA body has been found at an address in Congleton.
Image source, GoogleCheshire Police, external say they were called to reports of a sudden death on Waggs Road this afternoon.
The force says it isn't believed to be suspicious, and it's in the process of informing family.
New application for Lichfield's Friarsgate scheme submittedpublished at 17:15
The planning application for Lichfield's revised Friarsgate development scheme has been submitted, external.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryFootball: Hasselbaink quit Burton for 'on the up' QPRpublished at 17:10
Owen Bradley
BBC Radio Derby SportJimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says he decided to join QPR because it's a club "on the up".
Media caption, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when he was managing Burton Albion
The now former-Burton Albion manager said: "I am happy to get the opportunity here at QPR, to lead the QPR family, be at the front of it all, put my stamp on things and take the club forward.
"This is an incredibly proud moment for me and I will give my all to represent the badge of the club."
Latest news: Police pulling out of mill blast site; former Burton boss joins club 'on the up'; cystic fibrosis girl gets birthday wishespublished at 17:05
Mike Perkins
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are some of Staffordshire and Cheshire's top stories this afternoon:
- Cheshire Police says officers are going to begin withdrawing from the site of a mill in Bosley, where four people died in an explosion in July
- Former Burton Albion boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says he decided to join QPR because it's a club "on the up"
- The mother of a girl from Cheshire who has cystic fibrosis has thanked local community for helping make some of her birthday wishes come true, external
Drivers warned of more closures on M54published at 16:59
BBC TravelPart of the M54 will be closed again over the weekend as work continues to repair cracks in the concrete.
It's affecting the eastbound carriageway between junctions 3 and 2.
The overnight closures will start at 20:00 tonight and last until Monday.
Your pictures: Chesterton lakepublished at 16:52
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveSteve Carvell's sent in this picture from Chesterton.
Image source, Steve CarvellYou can send your Staffordshire and Cheshire pictures in on email, Twitter, external or Facebook, external.
More outsiders wanted to examine NHS complaints in Staffordshirepublished at 16:42
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeAn NHS Trust in Staffordshire's trying to recruit more outside people to independently review complaints, external made against it.
Image source, GoogleThe Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust says it was the first one in the country to launch a totally independent panel to do this.
That trial started in 2014 and had people from the voluntary sector and former complainants sitting on it - now the trust wants new panellists.
Watch: A sneak preview of Soul on Trent on BBC Radio Stokepublished at 16:30
Richard Searling
Presenter, BBC Radio StokeI'm back with Soul on Trent on BBC Radio Stoke tomorrow with the best in Northern Soul and Motown.
Here's a sneak look at some of the records you can hear including top tracks from The Wheel, The Torch and The Casino.
Football: Stoke City manager wants ' to keep the momentum going'published at 16:21
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City boss Mark Hughes has been talking to the media this afternoon, looking ahead to this weekend's game with Manchester City.
Quote MessageWe're into a Capital One Cup semi-final for the first time in a long time. It's a nice sense of achievement. We want to keep the momentum going. It's a big period coming up. Last year we picked up a lot of points and it set us up nicely for the season. We want the same again.
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
More driving tests in Burton cancelled as strikes continuepublished at 16:14
Another wave of driving tests will be cancelled at the Burton Test Centre, external today as examiners continue to strike over working hours.
Image source, Burton MailYour pictures: Misty times in Kingsley, Staffordshirepublished at 16:01
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA misty morning in Kingsley, Staffordshire was photographed by Erin Smallbone who then shared it with me on Instagram.
Image source, Erin SmallboneLike Erin, you can use Instagram, external to share pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire - just add #bbcstoke to the description so I'll see.
Or you can email and use Twitter, external.
Travel: Slow on M6 near Staffordpublished at 15:59
BBC TravelTraffic is slow on the M6 southbound after junction 13 near Stafford, because of an earlier accident - all lanes have been re-opened.
Football: Preview of Port Vale's FA Cup game at Exeterpublished at 15:51
BBC SportThis Sunday Port Vale will take on Exeter City in the FA Cup.
Carl Dickinson misses out for the Vale after being sent off at Rochdale - read a full preview on the BBC Sport website.
Exeter City 2-0 Port Vale
Goals from Jordan Tillson and Ollie Watkins see League Two Exeter City knock League One Port Vale out of the FA Cup.
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