Updates on Thursday 21 January 2016
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Friday
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The frosty weather comes across in some of the pictures we've been sent by you - this is from Eccleshall and was sent in by Dave Hall.
Image source, Dave HallYou can get your photo potentially shown here, if it is of Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Just send it to me on email, tweet me @journoallen, external or use Instagram, external.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
These are among Staffordshire and Cheshire's top stories:
- A Congleton man has died after he was found collapsed at the wheel of a van in traffic, say police
- "Overall performance is disappointing" - Stoke-on-Trent City Council say they are committed to improvement after the latest GCSE results for the city, external
- Two victims of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have praised medical staff as they presented a donation cheque to the Royal Stoke hospital
Phil Bowers
BBC Local Live
Nine people have been arrested after a burglary, external in south Staffordshire.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say it happened early on Monday morning when the people inside the Pattingham property were alerted by their dog barking.
Officers say they found keys to vehicles at the site had been stolen - the force then carried out a search with a helicopter and dogs before making the arrests.
All nine men, from the West Midlands area, have been bailed.
"Devastated" was one of the words used by the family of Fallan Kurek after they were presented with the stark details of her death, external, which happened in May last year.
Image source, Tamworth Herald
Phil McCann
Political reporter, Cheshire
NHS managers insist stroke patients in south Cheshire will get a better service when emergency care is moved from Crewe to Stoke-on-Trent.
The unit at Leighton Hospital has been deemed "unsustainable" in a report because it can't recruit, external enough senior doctors.
But concerns have been raised by stroke patients to BBC Radio Stoke about longer journey times.
Quote MessageIf we don't do this, what this will mean is that if you're a stroke patient and you go to Leighton hospital and you're admitted there on a Friday and you're seen by a stroke consultant - the likelihood is you wouldn't be seen by a stroke consultant the following day.
Tony Mayor, Deputy Divisional General Manager at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
That time of year has come round again - this weekend people in Cheshire will be marking the Battle of Nantwich, which happened in 1644.
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James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
"Overall performance is disappointing" - Stoke-on-Trent City Council say they are committed to improvement after the latest GCSE results for the city, external.
Image source, ThinkstockThe Department of Education figures for 2014-15 have come out and show fewer than half of children at secondary schools in the city are getting good GCSEs.
48.2% achieved five or more at A* to C - including English and maths. The national average for England is 57.1%.
Quote MessageAs part of the council's budget proposals for the next financial year, we are committing to contributing to a million-pound maths centre of excellence, with funding and support from partners including charitable trusts, schools and universities.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesman
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale defender Ryan Inniss says he may have to adapt his game as he recovers from a long-term injury.
Image source, Port Vale FCThe centre-half, who's on loan from Crystal Palace, is hoping for a first team return after playing 90 minutes twice for the reserves, external.
He told BBC Radio Stoke he'll have to control himself as his body gets used to competitive football again.
Quote MessageI enjoy defending, I enjoy going to hit a strong tackle but I think it's me telling myself - I need to rein it in myself, admit I'm young and I'm 20 years old and I'll adapt my game if need be.
Ryan Inniss, Port Vale defender
Proposals for more than 270 new homes on a former industrial site, external in Penkridge have been submitted to council planners for consideration.
Image source, Express and StarAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
The latest figures have come out today for school GCSE results and you can compare schools in your area on the BBC website.
Overall in Stoke-on-Trent 48.2% of children got five or more GCSEs at A* to C - including English and maths; in Staffordshire it's 56.1% and 63.2% for Cheshire East.
Schools in England are being judged on the basis of raw GCSE results for the last time, heralding the end of school league tables in their present form.
Alice Bentley
BBC Local Live
A man's been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a crash involving a pedestrian in Stafford, external this morning.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say the woman, 40, who was hit by a car near Copper Glade, suffered leg injuries.
The 32-year-old man, who's from the Stafford area, is in custody.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire and Cheshire's main headlines this afternoon include
- Fewer than half of children at secondary schools in Stoke-on-Trent are getting good GCSE results.
- A man's been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving say police, after a collision with a pedestrian in Stafford, external this morning
- Two teenagers seriously injured in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have returned to a hospital to present medical staff with a cheque
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
"You couldn't ask for better treatment than what they gave us."
Two victims of last year's Alton Towers rollercoaster crash, Leah Washington and her boyfriend Joe Pugh, both 18, have returned to the Royal Stoke University Hospital to present medical staff with a cheque.
They raised £6,000 for the hospital - the money will be shared between three wards which treated their injuries.
Human error caused the crash in June, the Staffordshire theme park has said.
You can see more on this story in Midlands Today on BBC One this lunchtime from 13:30.
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather
For Staffordshire and Cheshire you can also get the latest forecast at any time on the BBC website.
A sports club that has been in Stafford for more than 150 years could be facing closure, external after planners rejected a bid to build an artificial pitch.
Alex Homer
BBC Local Live
Car manufacturing in the UK has reached a 10-year high, with more than one-and-a-half million vehicles made here in the last year.
Nearly 80% were exported abroad, despite falling sales to China and Russia.
Jaguar Land Rover, which has an engine manufacturing plant in South Staffordshire, had a record-breaking year.
In 2015 it built just under 500,000 cars and overtook Nissan to become Britain's largest carmaker.
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Have you become a BBC Weather Watcher? If not, why not? It's great for us to get your updates from across the area and see your pictures too.
Head to the website to sign up.
Image source, Thornhill WatchAs an example of the photos we get, this was uploaded this morning by Thornhill Watch in Hednesford, Staffordshire.
Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
Today I'm asking - would you allow a son of yours to go to school in a girl's uniform?
Image source, Brighton CollegeIt's because Independent school Brighton College has scrapped its traditional uniform rules to accommodate transgender pupils.
I'd like to know your thoughts - you can get involved by calling 01782 208008 until 13:00, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or email me.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Football agent Gary Mellor has told BBC Radio Stoke he is expecting Stoke City to be patient when it comes to signing new players.
The current window closes in 10 days' time.
Although Stoke could still bring in a new face, Mellor says they'll be looking towards the summer and beyond.
Quote MessageStoke are not a club that needs to panic because they're having an exceptional season. I would only expect them to perhaps do one big signing if at all.
Gary Mellor, Football agent
Reaseheath College and North Shropshire College could soon be combining resources and expertise, external, it has emerged.
Image source, Nantwich News
