Updates on Friday 4 December 2015
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Monday
BBC Radio Stoke
Plans to bring more money and jobs into the Midlands are being revealed today.
Image source, GoogleThe business groups are getting together at Birmingham University to speak about their ambitions to boost growth, jobs and tourism in the region.
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Lawyers representing the families of the victims of a Cheshire mill explosion say they are going to carry out their own investigation into what happened.
Image source, PAFour people were killed at the Wood Treatment Ltd plant in Bosley on 17 July - the final inquest into fourth victim Jason Shingler, 38, opened and adjourned yesterday in Macclesfield.
Quote MessageWe will now be seeking to work with the authorities as we also begin our own investigations into what happened and seek to provide the necessary support for the victims.
Deirdre Healey, Irwin Mitchell lawyer representing the victims' families
Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
I want to talk about your oldest Christmas Tree decorations today.
It's because the next two days have been dubbed by some "Christmas tree weekend", external - when many are expected to buy and put up their festive tree.
So what's the oldest decoration you have? You can get involved by calling 01782 208008 until 13:00, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or email me.
Owen Bradley
BBC Radio Derby Sport
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank can be proud of what he's achieved with the Brewers.
Image source, EmpicsThe Dutchman boasts an impressive 64% win record in his 13 months at the club.
Hasselbaink has never managed in the Championship and Hoops caretaker boss Neil Warnock, a former Burton manager himself, says the Dutchman will have a fantastic opportunity at Loftus Road, despite it being a massive step-up.
Euan Duncan
BBC Local Live
Burton Albion have confirmed that manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has joined Championship side Queen's Park Rangers.
The Dutchman had been with the Brewers for 13 months, leading them to promotion from League Two. He leaves them at the top of the League One table.
A Nantwich man was one of a gang of four jailed, external for stealing almost £12,000 of alcohol from two freight trains.
Image source, Nantwich News
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Lee Thomas
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
What's being called "one of the biggest maintenance projects", external in the North West in recent years starts tonight on the M6 in Cheshire.
Image source, GoogleThe £14.5m Highways England work is a mix of bridge repairs, new barriers, drainage improvements and resurfacing.
It starts tonight between junctions 19 and 20 and, for a while early next year, it will coincide with work to turn the entire carriageway from Crewe to Knutsford into a "smart motorway".
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire and Cheshire's top stories this morning include:
- Burton Albion boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink expected to be confirmed as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers later today
- What's being called "one of the biggest maintenance projects" in the North West in recent yearsstarts on the M6 in Cheshire tonight, external
- The Mercian Regiment, which recruits from Staffordshire and Cheshire, announcestheir mascot ram has died, external
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Sad news today from the Mercian Regiment which recruits from Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
It's always fantastic to see the many places in Staffordshire and Cheshire you photograph and send in to me.
Image source, Les BrighamThis is Cauldon Canal, near Stoke Boat Club, Endon and Les Brigham took the picture.
You can get yours featured by sending them to me on email or tweeting @BBCRadioStoke, external.
A five-year-old girl was 'very, very unlucky' to catch a rare infection, external that led to her death.
Image source, The Sentinel
Nigel Cash
BBC Radio Derby Sport
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will be leaving Burton Albion with the club top of League One, having guided them to the League Two title last season.
He succeeded Gary Rowett, who left to join Birmingham City in October 2014.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's expected Brewers assistant manager David Oldfield will join Hasselbaink at Loftus Road, and it's being reported that both said their goodbyes to the Burton squad at training yesterday.
Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
If you were wondering if the Stoke City FC flag we were talking about yesterday was in space - it's been postponed.
It's on a supply ship which was due to blast off last night to the International Space Station - but bad weather's delayed the launch and NASA say they'll try again later today.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Euan Duncan
BBC Local Live
It's the news Burton Albion fans have been dreading as it's expected that Brewers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will be confirmed as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers later today.
Image source, Getty ImagesQPR beat Reading 1-0 last night and after the game, interim manager Neil Warnock revealed Hasselbaink is on his way to Loftus Road to take training today.
Quote MessageJimmy will find it tough, but there's no reason why he can't be successful.
Neil Warnock, QPR interim manager
BBC Travel
On the A5007 City Road in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent is partially blocked in both directions between the Manor Street and Standards Street junctions.
It's because of an accident involving a car and a cyclist - police are directing traffic.
Western Power Distribution said overnight that power is back on in Lichfield.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The top stories this morning include:
- Work starts tonight on the M6 in Cheshire , externalin what's being called one of the biggest maintenance projects in the North West in recent years
- Queens Park Rangers are expected to confirm Burton Albion boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as their new manager later today
- Tamper-proof screws are going to be given to people in Biddulph, external after a series of number plate thefts
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather
BBC Travel
There are emergency engineering works taking place near Longton this morning which are causing delays to trains between Stoke-on-Trent and Derby.
Get the latest from BBC Travel.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
