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 Friday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Thursday 21 January 2016
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Friday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Woman airlifted to hospital after Landrover rollpublished at 17:57
Alice Bentley
BBC Local LiveA woman's been airlifted to hospital after her Land Rover rolled over, external on a Staffordshire road.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say it happened this afternoon on Stubby Lane, Draycott-in-the-Clay.
They've closed the road at Woodlands Rise and want motorists to avoid the area - get the latest from BBC Travel.
Football: Clough says time right for Bennett to shine at Burtonpublished at 17:54
Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby SportBurton Albion manager Nigel Clough believes Mason Bennett could thrive in his loan spell with the Brewers.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 19-year-old Derby County striker is at the Pirelli Stadium for the rest of the season, having had loans with Chesterfield and Bradford.
Despite making his debut at 15 for the Rams he's only made 10 professional starts in his career.
Stone, the birthplace of Hovispublished at 17:45
The story of one of Stone’s most famous sons – the creator of Hovis bread – was told on the BBC’s Victorian Bakers this week, external.
Cheshire college considers Shropshire mergerpublished at 17:38
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeReaseheath College near Nantwich could be merging with North Shropshire College.
Image source, Reaseheath CollegeThe Cheshire college says the idea's come about in response to a government's review of post-16 education and training.
Meredydd David is Principal at Reaseheath College and says its doing well, but can't stand still.
Quote MessageThe important thing is it'll add to the strength, the critical mass, the investment capacity and the expertise both colleges have.
Meredydd David, Principal at Reaseheath College
Football: Stoke's Shaqiri resumes training after injurypublished at 17:29
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri could be in contention to feature at high fliers Leicester on Saturday.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Potters manager Mark Hughes revealed at today's press conference that his record signing had resumed training today after a recent hamstring injury.
Quote MessageWe need to check him again tomorrow and make sure there's been no reaction. I don't anticipate there will be but he's still only had one, two training sessions before a game so we'll see.
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
Video: This evening on BBC One's Midlands Todaypublished at 17:24
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayWe'll be on BBC One from 18:30 with Midlands Today and here's a look ahead to some of the stories we'll be featuring.
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End of twitter post'Couldn't ask for better treatment' - Alton Towers crash victims praise medicspublished at 17:20
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeTwo teenagers seriously injured in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have praised hospital staff in Stoke-on-Trent.
Leah Washington, 18, who had a leg amputated above the knee, returned to the Royal Stoke University Hospital with boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, to present medical staff with a £6,000 cheque.
They say they wanted to "recognise what they did".
Journey to Syria revealed by terror accused Tareena Shakilpublished at 17:13
Dominic Casciani
Home Affairs CorrespondentA British woman accused of planning to become a so-called jihadi bride has revealed the route and methods used by smugglers working for the self-styled Islamic State (IS).
Image source, West Midlands PoliceSpeaking from the witness box at her trial, Tareena Shakil told Birmingham Crown Court she had been passed through a series of safe houses in Turkey and Syria on her way to the IS "capital" Raqqa.
The 26-year-old, originally from Burton upon Trent, denies encouraging terrorism and being a member of IS - the trial continues.
Appeal lodged by homes company for houses in Uttoxeterpublished at 17:06
A developer has lodged an appeal after being turned down for outline planning permission to build 49 houses, external on greenfield land.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserNews: Syria journey revealed by terror accused; colleges consider merger; hospital donation from Alton Towers crash victimspublished at 16:58
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThis evening's main headlines include
- A Staffordshire mother, accused of taking her son to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State (IS), has told a court she feared going straight to hell if she stayed in England
- The Principal of Reaseheath College near Nantwich says they're considering merging, external with North Shropshire College
- Two of the victims of last year's rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers have been back at the Royal Stoke hospital today to hand over a fundraising cheque
Your pictures: Ducks confused by frozen Tamworth waterpublished at 16:45
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveI'm not sure these ducks were enjoying the recent cold weather in Tamworth - this picture was taken by Jeanette Wigham.
Image source, Jeanette WighamIf you've got a picture you want to share with me of Staffordshire and Cheshire, send it to me.
You can email, use Instagram, external or tweet me at @journoallen, external.
Weather video: Watch for Stoke and Staffordshire's forecast tonightpublished at 16:34
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands TodayStaffordshire and Cheshire's weather forecast is also available on the BBC website.
Football: Davis asks fans to stick with Crewepublished at 16:24
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis has called for fans to "stick with" his side as they look to avoid relegation.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Alex sit bottom of League One, seven points from safety after losing four of their last five matches.
Quote MessageWe are in another battle and we have to show resolve and fight to come through it again. I don't want relegation fights every season, it is not healthy for us. We want better than that.
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra boss
Davis asks fans to stick with Crewe
Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis calls for fans to "stick with" the League One side as they look to avoid relegation.
Read MoreTravel: B5017 closed near Marchingtonpublished at 16:14
BBC TravelThe B5017 Stubby Lane in Draycott in the Clay is closed in both directions because of an accident.
It's between the A515 and Marchington Cliff junctions.
Congleton man dies after collapsing at wheel of vanpublished at 16:11
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeA Congleton man has died after he was found collapsed at the wheel of a van in traffic.
Image source, GoogleCheshire Police , externalsay the 33-year-old was discovered on Mountbatten Way on Tuesday morning, but died later in hospital.
GCSE results in Staffordshire 'steady progress' for councilpublished at 15:52
Allen Cook
BBC Local LivePupils in Staffordshire have made "steady progress" on improving GCSE results over the past few years, according to the county council, external.
The Department of Education's released its figures today showing 56.1% of students got five good GCSEs - including English and maths - in Staffordshire's state schools.
The average for England is 57.3% but the county council says it has increased compared to 54.9% for the year before - and 54.0% in 2009-10.
Quote MessageToday’s results are an important step in making sure that pupils in Staffordshire are equipped to progress into further education, university, training or apprenticeships.
Councillor Ben Adams, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for Learning
Travel: Level crossing delays in Staffordshirepublished at 15:48
BBC TravelTrain passengers are being warned of delays between Stoke-on-Trent and Stone - get the latest from the BBC Travel website.
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End of twitter postTown clerk first person in 45 years to be granted freedom of the citypublished at 15:36
Lichfield's former town clerk Peter Young has become the first person in 45 years to be granted the freedom, external of the city.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryTerror accused Tareena Shakil 'feared going straight to hell'published at 15:20
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA Staffordshire mother, accused of taking her son to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State (IS), has told a court she feared going straight to hell if she stayed in England.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceTareena Shakil claimed conversations with a man named Fabio Pocas, whose online profile showed an armed man posing with the black flag of IS, helped to convince her to move to the country.
But the 26-year-old, originally from Burton upon Trent and more recently from Birmingham, told the jury she was ignorant of the nature of the banned group.
She denies joining IS and encouraging acts of terror via Twitter - the trial continues.
