Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Tuesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Monday 8 February 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Tuesday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Reports of historical sex offences on the rise in Cheshire, says police chiefpublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeThe number of historic sexual offences being reported to Cheshire Police is increasing, according to the county's Police and Crime Commissioner.
Image source, Cheshire PCCJohn Dwyer says another 70 front-line officers will be in post , externalby 2017 as the force expands.
But speaking to BBC Radio Stoke this morning, he said the current spike in reported sexual crimes is already demanding more attention.
Quote MessageI know our dedicated rape unit for example has grown in strength because we are getting these increased numbers and it's something that we've got to address.
John Dwyer, Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner
Picture: River overflows in Stafford parkpublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe River Sow looks to have burst its banks going through Victoria Park in Stafford with all the heavy rain today.
This picture was taken by my BBC colleague Stephanie Barnard as she was going through the town this afternoon.
Watch: Coming up tonight on Midlands Today on BBC Onepublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayI'll be on BBC One from 18:30 with Midlands Today - here's a look ahead to which big stories we'll be covering tonight.
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End of X postThree men arrested for immigration offences in Stokepublished at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Phil Bowers
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThree men have been arrested by immigration officials in Stoke-on-Trent after the Home Office, external says they were found to be working in the country illegally.
Image source, GoogleI, externalt says the trio, all from Pakistan, were found at two branches of Freshways - on Waterloo Road and on Ephraim Street.
Officers say two were found to have overstayed their visit visas while the third had entered the UK without leave.
The Home Office say they're all being detained while they work to have them removed from the UK.
Stoke park starts a £6m makeoverpublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio StokeA £6m makeover of one of Stoke-on-Trent's historic parks, external has started this morning.
Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilThe scheme to improve Hanley Park was awarded £4.5m by the Heritage Lottery Fund last June.
In the first phase of work around 350 decaying trees will be removed to open up the Grade II-listed landscape. Future renovations include restoring the Victorian Pavillion, boat house and two canal bridges.
Your pictures: Staffordshire church at duskpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThis picture is of St James' Church in Audley and has been taken by Duncan Richardson who sent it in.
Image source, Duncan RichardsonOne of the perks of this job is seeing the great pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire you send in.
You can do that by email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.
Rugeley Power Station closure will close in months, bosses announcepublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Alex Homer
BBC Local LiveRugeley Power Station will close this summer, external, bosses Engie have announced, putting up to 150 jobs at risk.
Image source, GoogleConservative MP for Cannock Chase Amanda Milling has hit out at the, external "really disappointing" announcement and said she held "urgent talks" with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd MP.
Miss Milling said: "Rugeley B power station has been our last connection to our historic mining heritage, with much of the locally mined coal going to the site. Today’s announcement...[is] a major blow to the Rugeley community and, most particularly, the 150 people that work at Rugeley B.
"My top and immediate priority is to provide support for the power station’s employees and their families, ensuring these workers get all the support and assistance that they need at this very difficult time."
News: Power station set to close; historic sex offences 'increasing in Cheshire'; jail for woman who targeted elderlypublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Phil Bowers
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe top stories this afternoon for Staffordshire and Cheshire include:
- Rugeley Power Station will close this summer, external, bosses Engie have announced, putting up to 150 jobs at risk
- The number of historical sexual offences being reported to Cheshire Police is increasing, according to the county's Police and Crime Commissioner
- A woman from Crewe who's been jailed for more than three years , externalhas been described by police as someone who "systematically targeted vulnerable elderly people"
Travel: Two lanes blocked on M6 near Sandbachpublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Two lanes on the southbound M6 are blocked say police, between junctions 18 and 17.
Keep up to date with BBC Travel.
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End of X postHomes plan in Uttoxeter gets the green lightpublished at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Planning chiefs have given the green light to plans which will see 700, external new homes built in Uttoxeter.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserFlooding shuts Tamworth car park for rest of todaypublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
A car park in Tamworth will stay closed until tomorrow, the local council says, because of flooding.
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End of X postFootball: Clough happy with Burton's El Khayati coverpublished at 16:41 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby SportBurton Albion do not plan to replace top-scorer Nasser El Khayati, according to manager Nigel Clough.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe League One leaders beat Bradford 3-1 on Saturday and are four points clear of Walsall and five clear of third-placed Wigan, with a game in hand.
Clough said the sale of El Khayati, who joined Championship side QPR last month, does not mean they will make signings in the emergency loan window.
Clough happy with El Khayati cover
Burton Albion do not plan to replace striker top-scorer Nasser El Khayati, according to manager Nigel Clough.
Read MoreWatch: Cheshire girl needing double transplant closes in on finishing wish-listpublished at 16:33 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Pete Morgan
Presenter, BBC Radio StokeA young girl from south Cheshire suffering who has a serious illness says she has almost completed a 10-wish challenge, external.
Elle Grace Morris from Wrenbury has cystic fibrosis and her family has been told she urgently needs a double lung transplant.
She created a wish-list of 10 things to do before her 10th birthday - which included meeting celebrities and throwing a princess party.
Her ongoing campaign is to raise awareness of the disease and she's now filmed a music video. She came in to BBC Radio Stoke this morning to talk to us.
Download Festival renames main stage in memory of Lemmy from Motorheadpublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
BBC NewsbeatThe Download festival has renamed its main stage in memory of Lemmy from Motorhead, who died from cancer just after Christmas and was from Burlsem, Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, AFP/Getty ImagesThe band had been due to play on the Friday night of the rock festival at Donington Park and organiser Andy Copping says they're "working on a suitable tribute for the slot".
Motorists warned to be aware of ‘stag do’ on M6 Tollpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Motorists using the M6 Toll road in Cannock have been told to take extra care, external after two large stags were spotted yards away from the main carriageway over the course of the weekend.
Image source, Cannock MercuryYour pictures: Wybunbury skies from BBC Weather Watcherpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeIt's expected to be a grey day and this looks to be the case this morning in Wybunbury, Cheshire, judging by this photo from BBC Weather Watcher Sky Watcher.
Image source, Sky WatcherYou can be a BBC Weather Watcher too by heading to the website and signing up.
Watch: Weather for tonight and tomorrow for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterThe BBC website also has the latest weather forecast for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
'Smart motorway' opened in Staffordshire after £100m workpublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeThe M6 between Stafford and Cannock is now fully back up to speed after a £100m conversion, external into a "smart motorway", Highways England says.
Image source, GoogleThe agency says four permanent lanes either way between junctions 13 and 11a will help it cope with over 120,000 journeys a day.
Highways England says it has taken more than a million hours of work, 54,000 tonnes of road surface and 55 miles of cabling to transform the 10-mile stretch.
Three people rescued from their cars in Tamworthpublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2016
Firefighters were called to rescue three people from their cars , externalafter getting trapped on a road swamped by flood water.
Image source, Tamworth Herald
