Updates on Monday 15 February 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Tuesday
The A5 duel carriageway between Mile Oak at Tamworth and Weeford is set to be closed for five nights for roadworks, external, it has been announced.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldIn case you missed it at the weekend, catch up with the past political week in 60 seconds.
Includes HSBC planning to move 1,000 jobs from London to Birmingham and the M6 Toll being up for sale.
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
The mother of a disabled girl from Meir, Stoke-on-Trent says she's "heart broken" after her footballing hero Lionel Messi cancelled a planned meeting.
Lisa McLane paid £1,000 to take her daughter Hanya, 11, to Barcelona.
But, after waiting for two hours at the Nou Camp, the heart transplant survivor was told the striker wouldn't turn up.
Barcelona, external have promised to "repair the situation" and this week Hanya is meeting Stoke City's squad instead.
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
There's been plenty of sunshine around to start the week and BBC Weather Watcher Welsh Wizard uploaded this from Brereton cum Smethwick.
Image source, Welsh WizardIf you want to become a BBC Weather Watcher, you can sign up on the website - you might get your photo featured here or on regional TV.
Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today
This lunchtime we'll be looking at new research that shows how unfair our school system is to some of our most vulnerable children.
Schools in the countryside do a worse job of educating disadvantaged kids when compared to schools in inner city Birmingham according to figures from Ofsted.
Our Rural Affairs Correspondent David Gregory-Kumar has been investigating and we'll have more on BBC One from 13:30 in Midlands Today.
South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson has called the sale of the M6 Toll road a "once in a generation opportunity", external and urged the government to take the road into public ownership.
Image source, Express and Star
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
The Port Vale manager Rob Page says he believes striker Theo Robinson is improving with every game he plays.
Image source, Port Vale FCThe striker made his third start for the club in a goalless draw at home to Fleetwood, and Page says the striker is getting closer to full fitness.
Quote MessageWhen we count his pace, it's a massive plus to have in your team. We know he'll hurt defences."
Rob Page, Port Vale manager
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
More now on the news that Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking to cut heating bills by using geothermal energy, external, generated from underground wells beneath the Etruria Valley.
The energy itself comes because, in some places below the earth's surface, there are hot rocks which have heated nearby reservoirs of water.
The city council says this means that, if they find such geothermal reservoirs under the Etruria Valley, they can drill boreholes down to the site and pump the hot water back to the surface.
The authority says the heat's then "captured" and used to heat buildings while the water is recycled back into the ground with a second borehole.
Alice Bentley
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
These are some of our main stories this lunchtime for Staffordshire and Cheshire:
- Five teenagers have been arrested after armed police were called to reports of disorder and a weapon being discharged in Stoke-on-Trent
- Heating bills in Stoke-on-Trent could be cut by 10%, external, the city council claims, under plans by them to extract hot water from underground wells
- The mother of a disabled girl from Meir, Stoke-on-Trent says she's "heart broken" after her footballing hero Lionel Messi cancelled a planned meeting
Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
A teenage motorcyclist has been seriously injured after a crash with a car, external in Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, GoogleWest Midlands Ambulance Service says it happened yesterday afternoon on Meaford Drive in Blurton.
They say the biker's passenger has minor injuries while the driver of the car was unhurt.
Staffs Live
A 19th Century church is set to have a new lease of life if plans for apartments, external get the go-ahead.
Image source, Staffs Live
Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather
The BBC website also has the latest forecast for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
BBC Travel
There is slow traffic on the M6 southbound between junctions 13 and 12, because of an earlier broken down vehicle.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra are looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games when they face Rochdale tomorrow.
The Alex held high-flying Walsall to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Manager Steve Davis told BBC Radio Stoke that his players can't wait for the next game to come along.
Quote MessageWhen you are on a streak of not getting beaten, you're getting draws and wins, you want the next game to come along because the confidence is brimming."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A dog has died in a house fire , externalin Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, external say embers from a log burner caused the blaze on Glebedale Road, Fenton - and the house has been severely damaged.
It says the blaze was only discovered when the owners got home last night.
Controversial plans for a poultry farm near Abbots Bromley have been given the green light despite concerns, external over lorries using a "dangerous" junction.
Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
Here's the talking point I want your views on today - should Christians pray for secularist Richard Dawkins?
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is because, over the weekend, the Church of England defended a tweet it had sent praying for him after he had a stroke.
What's your view? You can get involved by calling 01782 208008 until 13:00, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or email me.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The top stories this morning include:
- Five teenagers have been arrested after armed police were called to reports of disorder and a weapon being discharged in Stoke-on-Trent
- Heating bills could drop by 10% in Stoke-on-Trent it's claimed, under city council plans to draw hot water, external from underground wells
- A teenage motorcyclist has been seriously injured , externalafter a crash with a car in Stoke-on-Trent
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
Five teenagers have been arrested after armed police were called to reports of disorder and a weapon being discharged in Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police also deployed its helicopter to Meir on Sunday evening.
Two people were arrested and then a further three after police received more calls about disorder, police said.
One teenager is in hospital with a suspected broken arm, and a firearm, which is thought to be a replica, is being examined.
Six people are arrested after armed police are called to reports of disorder and a weapon being discharged in Stoke-on-Trent.
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Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City's injury problems are growing as Glen Johnson and Marc Muniesa were both taken off during the side's win at Bournemouth.
Image source, Getty ImagesMuniesa was withdrawn after a hamstring injury and Johnson damaged his knee.
Manager Mark Hughes told BBC Radio Stoke that Johnson's injury is the most worrying.
Quote MessageI think Philipp Wollscheid ended up falling on Glen's leg and he's just opened his knee up a little bit. We had to take him off so the back four that we finished with didn't really look like one that played too often."
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
