Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 on Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Tuesday 16 February 2016
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Wednesday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Coming up on Midlands Today this evening: M6 scheme 'accident waiting to happen'published at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands TodayThis evening on Midlands Today, we'll be looking at the scheme on the M6 in Staffordshire that's been described as an "accident waiting to happen".
The new scheme allows motorists to use the hard shoulder throughout the day.
Other similar projects in this region have involved opening the emergency lane at peak-times only - and with reduced traffic speeds.
We'll have more on Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One.
Your pictures: Snowdrops appearing in Cheshire parkpublished at 17:41 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe warmer winter seems to have had an impact in Cheshire, from the look of this photo.
Jonathan White sent it in, saying "the snowdrop season has started at the Joey the Swan recreation ground in Wistaston".
Image source, Jonathan WhiteYou can share your pictures of the area with us on this page - send them in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external
Dealer found with mobile phone in cell at prisonpublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
A convicted drug dealer who tried to hide a mobile phone in prison has been jailed, external for an extra four months.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserGritters out across the regionpublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeWith icy weather on its way, crews across Staffordshire and Cheshire will be out later gritting the roads.
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End of twitter postFootball: Port Vale winger Matthew Kennedy eyeing loan extensionpublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokeWinger Matthew Kennedy says he hopes his parent club Cardiff City will agree to extend his loan at Port Vale, ideally until the end of the season.
Image source, Rex FeaturesKennedy, 21, joined the League One side on a month-long deal in January and is already looking to stay beyond that.
Quote MessageI've settled in quickly, and I'm playing better and better. The manager [Rob Page] is talking to Cardiff and I'd like to stay - even if it's just for another month.
Matthew Kennedy, Port Vale Winger
Cheshire firefighters to perform at New York's Ground Zero memorialpublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Jenny Coleman
Reporter, BBC Local LiveFirefighters from Cheshire will be paying tribute to their counterparts killed in the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York.
Members of the Cheshire Fire Service Choir, external, who appeared on the BBC Two show The Choir, are performing at the Ground Zero memorial in honour of those 343 firefighters who died in 2001.
They will be singing Bruce Springsteen's The Rising - which tells the story of one of them.
Watch: Tonight and tomorrow's weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Sara Blizzard
BBC WeatherYou can also get the latest weather from the BBC website for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Watch: Complaints after trees removedpublished at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio StokePeople living in a part of Newcastle-under-Lyme have complained after trees which border their gardens and a supermarket were removed.
Residents on Ashfield New Road were surprised to discover the trees next to Sainsbury's, external in the area were suddenly cut down.
Sainsbury's has apologised for what it calls a genuine mistake and for not being in touch with local people before the landscaping work was carried out.
Your pictures: A cold start to the day at Trenthampublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeThis picture's been sent in by Alan Walker, from Trentham.
We love seeing your photos of the area. Send them to us on email, Twitter, external or Instagram, external.
Image source, Alan WalkerFire service votes to increase share of council tax by 1.99%published at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokeWe have the latest on the council tax vote we mentioned earlier - the portion of council tax paid to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, external is to go up by 1.99% from April.
The organisation says it will add £1.37 a year to the bill of a typical Band D property, but will raise an extra £452,000.
The service is facing a cut in its annual government grant of nearly £1.5m.
News: Coroner says death down to neglect; more arrests over gunshot reports; fire service tax to go up by 1.99%published at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThis evening's headlines include:
- A coroner has concluded the death of a man from Burton was down to neglect by the Royal Derby hospital.
- Another two teenagers from Stoke-on-Trent have been arrested, external and another air weapon recovered in connection with disorder in Meir on Valentine's Day.
- The portion of council tax paid to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, external is to go up by 1.99% from April
Watch: Crewe player says the side need better starts in their matchespublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeThe Crewe Alexandra player Brad Inman has admitted the side were slow to start against Walsall - they drew 1-1 at the weekend.
He's been speaking to me ahead of their trip to Rochdale this evening - full commentary of the game will be on BBC Radio Stoke.
More arrests over gunshot reports in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Phil Bowers
JournalistTwo more teenagers from Stoke-on-Trent have been arrested and another air weapon has been recovered say police, in connection with disorder in Meir on Valentine's Day.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police says the two teenagers are 16.
It means a total of eight males, external have now been arrested and bailed after armed officers and a helicopter were sent to reports of a fight near the A50 on Sunday night.
Young motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after breaking leg in van collisionpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
A teenage motorcyclist was airlifted yesterday (February 15) after colliding with the side of a van , externalgoing in the opposite direction.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldHospital failings led to cancer patient's neglect deathpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local LiveA coroner has concluded the death of a man from Burton was down to neglect by the Royal Derby Hospital.
Simon Tulitt, 62, died after receiving keyhole surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his bowel.
The inquest heard medical staff failed to give him the correct antibiotics before or after his operation, despite signs of infection.
The hospital admitted a breach of duty and its medical director released a statement saying lessons will be learned from the case.
Gymnast Beth Tweddle discharged from hospital after 'Jump' injurypublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeOlympic medalist Beth Tweddle has taken to Twitter to say she is being discharged from hospital.
She spent time in an Austrian hospital after suffering a fall on Channel 4 show The Jump.
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End of twitter postWarning of snow Wednesday night in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
There's a warning we could have snow tomorrow night.
The Met Office has put out a yellow weather warning for Wednesday night, saying rain's likely to turn to sleet and snow, external - especially over higher ground.
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End of twitter post'Smart motorway' work to begin on M6published at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
Phil McCann
Political reporter, CheshireThe main work to turn the M6 in Cheshire into a so-called smart motorway will start next week.
Highways England, external is converting a 20-mile stretch from Crewe to Knutsford, starting next Friday with the carriageway from Middlewich to Knutsford.
Image source, GoogleIt will mean narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit, while the hard shoulder is turned into a running lane and variable speed signs are fitted.
Highways England says traffic will flow more freely once the work is completed.
Staffordshire's fire service set to vote on council tax sharepublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2016
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokeThe amount people in Staffordshire pay to the county's fire service could go up from April, external, with a decision expected today.
The county's fire authority, which oversees the service, will decide this afternoon whether to charge almost 2% more in council tax.
That would mean, for a typical Band D house, the amount going to the service increasing to more than £70 a year.
