Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Wednesday 9 March 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Thursday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
This evening on Midlands Today: Flooding hits the regionpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
BBC Midlands TodayMotorists have been putting their lives at risk today, driving into deep flood water which has affected parts of the Midlands.
Media caption, Cars were abandoned at Kenilworth Ford after flood water levels rose
Heavy rain has caused widespread disruption and we'll have more on the impact across the region on Midlands Today, this evening from 18:30 on BBC One.
Tribute concert raises thousands for bereaved little girlspublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
A generous community has rallied around a bereaved family to raise thousands of pounds for two little girls who have lost , externaltheir dad.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserFootball: 'We still think the season is alive' - Crewe managerpublished at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra's manager, Steve Davis, insists their season is still very much alive.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Alex have been in the bottom four all season and, with 11 games to go, are seven points from safety.
Davis told BBC Radio Stoke his players efforts can't be faulted.
Quote MessageWe still think the season is alive and we're still here to fight until the very last kick of the ball, the last whistle - that's what we'll all do."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Your pictures: The folly at Mow Cop in Staffordshirepublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThis is Mow Cop Castle, a folly at Mow Cop and Lee Millward took this picture, saying I could feature it here.
Image source, Lee MillwardIt's just great seeing what pictures you take in Staffordshire and Cheshire, so keep sending me them.
You can do that by email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.
Watch: Tonight and tomorrow's weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayThe BBC website also has the latest weather forecast for you for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Watch: More staff move into controversial council buildingpublished at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeThe Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, external has become the latest organisation to move into Hanley's Central Business District.
It's opening a "business desk" in the One Smithfield building to provide advice on grant funding, training, exporting and starting up a business.
The news comes just days after it was announced that Staffordshire Police would be moving 300 staff in there, external and demolishing Hanley's police station.
But, as One Smithfield fills up, there's still no news on the future of Two Smithfield, , externalwhich the city council has said it wants to rent out to a private company.
Lichfield Library move to St Mary's: Covenant 'no longer exists' says councilpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Staffordshire County Council has said the historic covenant gifting Lichfield's Friary building to the public was 'superseded' two decades ago, external.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryNews: Toddler trial hears from mother; Police admit hundreds of parking tickets wrongly issued; teen pregnancy rates revealedpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire this evening include:
- The jury in the trial of a mother who denies murdering her young daughter in Staffordshire has heard how she described the child as "her angel" and the love of her life
- Hundreds of parking fines are not going to be refunded to motorists in Cheshire, external despite the police force admitting errors in issuing the notices
- Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth have the second and third highest rates of teen pregnancy in England and Wales, figures show
Football: Port Vale boss urges Northern Ireland to pick McGivernpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokePort Vale manager, Rob Page, says he thinks defender Ryan McGivern should be included in Northern Ireland's squad for this summer's UEFA European Championship 2016.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe centre-half lost his place in the Vale team to Ryan Inniss last weekend, but Page says he should be on the plane to France in June.
Quote MessageAt the start of the season he wasn't even in the 18-man squad, but he looked after himself, he trained like he played, he's a first class professional... and, when called upon, he went in and gave a good account of himself and kept the jersey."
Rob Page, Port Vale manager
Cheshire drivers wrongly issued with around 1,600 parking ticketspublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeHundreds of parking fines are not going to be refunded to motorists in Cheshire, external despite the police force admitting errors in issuing the notices.
Cheshire Police said around 1,600 tickets issued by some police community support officers (PCSO) were not valid.
The force says a number of PCSOs who joined the force before 2006 and after 2010 were not granted powers to issue parking tickets.
But the force says it does not plan to reimburse drivers who've paid fines as it believes by paying "motorists have admitted their liability for the parking violation".
Travel: Crash on A500 in Hanfordpublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
BBC TravelThe A500 D Road in Hanford is partially blocked at the Hanford Interchange because of an accident on the roundabout.
Arson investigations after two car fires in Crewepublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeTwo car fires in Crewe in the early hours of this morning are being treated as arson by police.
Image source, GoogleCheshire Police say the first was on Ludford Street and fire crews were then sent to a second one on nearby Furber Street, external.
Investigators say the fires were in danger of spreading to nearby cars and houses.
Premier League to cap cost of tickets for away fans at £30published at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City say they are, external "delighted" to have joined Premier League clubs in voting in plans to cap away tickets at £30 for the next three seasons.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe cost of watching football has been a hot topic of debate, with supporters at Liverpool organising a high-profile protest over proposed increases in season ticket prices.
Now the top flight's 20 clubs have "unanimously agreed" more should be done to help away fans.
The £30 away ticket cap will be introduced from next season.
Staffordshire waste site reopens after break-inpublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
A household waste recycling centre in Wombourne has reopened after an earlier break-in, the county council says.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on TwitterThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip twitter postThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of twitter postAyeeshia Jane Smith trial: Mother calls toddler the 'love of her life'published at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands TodayThe jury in the trial of a mother accused of murdering her young daughter in Staffordshire has heard how she described the child as "her angel" and the love of her life.
Kathryn Smith, 23, of Sandfield Road, Nottingham, denies murdering 21-month-old Ayeeshia in Burton nearly two years ago. Her former partner, Matthew Rigby, 22, of Sloan Drive, Nottingham, denies the same charge. They have also both pleaded not guilty to allowing or causing a child's death and child cruelty.
Birmingham Crown Court heard police interview transcripts today in which Ms Smith told officers: "She was the love of my life. She'd lie with me, stroke my hair. It's something I'll never get back. She was an angel."
The trial continues.
Npower job losses: MP says skilled workforce should find new jobspublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Euan Duncan
BBC Local LiveWe brought you news of job losses in Burton yesterday and now the town's MP, Andrew Griffiths, says he's confident the workers losing their jobs at Npower will find new work.
The energy company is closing its Burton contact centre with the loss of 150 posts.
Image source, Getty ImagesMr Griffiths says he's sure the well-trained workforce will soon find other jobs.
Hunt for thug who punched young women in Nantwichpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Police are hunting for a man who allegedly punched two young women in the face, external after boasting "I’m not scared to hit girls".
Water leak forces Stoke-on-Trent cinema closurepublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeThe new Cineworld building in Hanley has been closed due to water leak.
A statement on the firm's website is asking people to bear with them, external as they attempt to restore services, following what it calls an "emergency situation".
The cinema opened just before Christmas at the new intu Potteries leisure development.
News: Teen pregnancy rates revealed; protest over benefit sanctions; Premier League ticket prices cappedpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are among the main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire
- Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth have the second and third highest rates of teen pregnancy in England and Wales, figures show
- A protest has taken place in Stoke-on-Trent this afternoon to raise awareness about benefit sanctions, external
- Stoke City say they are, external "delighted" to have joined Premier League clubs in voting in plans to cap away tickets at £30 for the next three seasons
