Stafford fire company 'had no environmental permit'
NPower to axe 150 jobs in Burton-upon-Trent
Second arson attack in Longford
Ceramic debate led by MP Tristram Hunt in Westminster later
Updates on Tuesday 8 March 2016
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today
Road-repair lorries stuck in traffic, delays in getting access to the crash scene and poor decision-making by Highways England - they're some of the key findings of a report into the chaos that followed a fatal accident on the M6 in February.
Join us for more on Midlands Today on BBC One at 18:30.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
- The firm at the centre of a major fire in Stafford last week says its committed to complying with all of its legal obligations
- Npower says its Burton site will be closed before the end of the year but all staff will have stopped working there by the end of August
- Friends and football teammates of a Staffordshire University student killed in a road accident are to pay their own special tribute, external
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
This unusual jug, which recalls the sport of bear-baiting in Staffordshire is one of a number of items being sold by the auctioneers Christie’s, external tomorrow.
It comes from a stately home in Shropshire called Linley Hall, external and is expected to fetch up to £900.
The jug is made of stoneware and covered with fine chippings, and the head lifts off when you want to pour!
Image source, Christie's Images Ltd
BBC Radio Stoke
A Staffordshire toddler allegedly stamped to death may have bitten through her own tongue due to the force of the fatal blow, a court has been told.
Ayeeshia Jane Smith, from Burton-upon-Trent, was known to social services from birth and died aged 21 months when her heart was torn, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
A post mortem revealed a "concerning" pattern of historic injuries which went unnoticed by doctors, a jury was told.
They included an old brain bleed, spinal damage and bruising from "gripping" of her neck, the jury heard.
Her mother Kathryn Smith, 23, and her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, deny murder.
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
Investigations are underway into whether there was a permit for the amount of oil stored at a Stafford warehouse at the centre of a major fire.
Earlier, the Environment Agency, external said Global Hygiene has no environmental permit registered to the site.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire and RescueGlobal Hygiene says it is working with all relevant agencies to bring the investigation into the fire at its premises to a swift conclusion, and is committed to compliance with all of its legal obligations.
Quote MessageWe have the best interests of our customers, local businesses and people at the heart of all that we do including maintaining the highest standards of environmental care. We offer our sincere apologies to all of those affected by the incident and will take all necessary steps to understand how it occurred.
Global Hygiene, Spokesperson
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Lichfield Conservative MP Michael Fabricant, external apologised to the House of Commons this afternoon after using a slang term for a part of the male anatomy during a debate on Europe.
Whoops! Michael Fabricant MP apologises for swearing in Commons
BBC Travel
There's queuing traffic on M54 westbound between J2, A449 (Wolverhampton) and J3, A41 (Albrighton), because of an accident, which is now on the hard shoulder, BBC Travel reports.
Dave Wade
BBC Local Live
Npower says its Burton site will be closed before the end of the year but all staff will have stopped working there by the end of August.
The energy firm said 150 people will lose their jobs - the equivalent of 200 full-time positions when the Wetmore Road contact centre closes.
It's part of 2,400 job cuts in the UK by 2018.
John Acres
BBC Radio Stoke
The North Staffordshire Veterans are using a local zen retreat to help soldiers with mental health issues.
I went to have a look around Kendo Nagasaki centre in Oakamoor, Staffordshire.
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Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Nantwich Town, external's assistant manager says the players are fully prepared for one of the biggest weeks in their history.
They play the first leg of their FA Trophy semi-final on Saturday and host Colwyn Bay, external in the League Cup quarter finals tonight.
Image source, Simon J NewburyNeil Sorvel told Sport at Six last night that the players are well rested.
Quote MessageTwo of our lads haven't played now for two weeks since the Dover game and we had the last 16 of the League cup last mid-week which gave us an opportunity to rest a few but play a few who needed a game and also played a few young lads from the youth team who showed up well.
Neil Sorvel, Nantwich Town's assistant manager
Hundreds of jobs could be at risk at the Burton arm of major energy giant Npower, external after bosses announced plans to cut 2,500 jobs in the UK.
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire Police, external have arrested four people in connection with a suspected arson attack at a scrapyard in Stoke-on-Trent over the weekend.
They are two males aged 15 and 17 and two females aged 21 and 15, from the Wolverhampton, Kidsgrove, Newcastle and Middleport areas.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
This afternoon's headlines are:
- The firm at the centre of a major fire in Stafford last week is being investigated over whether it had a permit to store oil
- Friends and football teammates of a Staffordshire University student killed in a road accident are to pay their own special tribute, external
- Npower , externalhas confirmed its Burton-on-Trent site in Staffordshire is due to close at the end of this year with the loss of 150 jobs
Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
A Newcastle-under-Lyme baker's hoping her cakes can win a healthy food award.
'Twice as Nice', external makes gluten-free bread, biscuits and cakes and was set up by Laura Krippner in her kitchen in 2014.
Now her sourdough loaf and two cakes have been shortlisted at the UK 'FreeFrom' awards, external.
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Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The government should do more to help ceramics in Stoke on Trent, says Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Tristram Hunt.
Labour MP Mr Hunt is leading a Westminster debate later calling on more support for the British ceramics industry.
Staffs Live
Friends and football teammates of a Staffordshire University student killed in a road accident are to pay their own special tribute, external.
Image source, Staffs LiveLee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Unions have described the news that the energy giant, npower is to cut 2,400 jobs as a "devastating blow".
The confirmation of the cuts - almost a fifth of the workforce - came as the firm announced losses of £106 million for 2015.
Image source, PANpower, external has confirmed its Burton-upon-Trent site is due to close at the end of this year with the loss of 150 jobs. Employees of the Burton site were informed of the closure a number of weeks ago.
The company - one of the 'big six' energy suppliers - said the move was part of a two year recovery programme.
Quote MessageNpower has been in trouble for some time thanks to poor decision-making at the very top, and workers are now paying the price. The company's failure to invest properly in new systems has left it with one of the worst customer service records in the business. The news suggests that Npower's German owner isn't terribly committed to its UK operations.
Dave Prentis, General secretary of Unison
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
The firm at the centre of a major fire in Stafford last week is being investigated over whether it had a permit to store oil.
Last Wednesday's blaze at Global Hygiene on Astonfields Industrial Estate involved around 40,000 litres of oil.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue says the cause of the fire still isn't known.
Quote MessageWe can confirm that Global Hygiene has no environmental permit registered for this site, nor any exemptions with the Environment Agency. As a result of the fire the Environment Agency is in contact with the company and carrying out investigations to establish further information about the incident.
Marc Lidderth, Environment Agency spokesperson
Image source, Patrick KilgallenHit-and-run victim Gary Stockton has been warned his fractured leg will have to be broken again, external – as he faces a gruelling 14 months of physiotherapy.
