Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

There are calls for a former Stoke-on-Trent golf course to be turned into a nature reserve.

The Goldenhill course has been shut since 2011, but now the city council says it has found a company to take it on. 

More than 500 people have signed a petition to stop that happening, external - we've asked the authority to comment on the petition and are waiting for their response.

Charlotte Foster
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

A protest has taken place in Stoke-on-Trent this afternoon to raise awareness about benefit sanctions, external.

Unite Community and the PCS union led the demonstration outside the job centre in Hanley. Under the sanctions regime, claimants have payments stopped if they fail to turn up to job centre appointments.

The unions say many claimants lack the knowledge or confidence to appeal against applied sanctions. 

The Department for Work and Pensions says sanctions are only ever used as a last resort and financial support through hardship payments are available.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's been a wet start to the day and BBC Weather Watcher young ted took this photo in Madeley.

Image source, young ted

You can be one of our BBC Weather Watchers and see your pictures potentially featured on our live page - just head to the website and sign up.

Burton Mail

Police were called to a Burton school after an argument between two parents picking up children spiraled into a fight, external right in front of dozens of youngsters.

Image source, Burton Mail

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth have the second and third highest rates of teen pregnancy in England and Wales, figures show.

Image source, PA

Overall the number of teenage girls getting pregnant is continuing to fall. There were about 23 pregnancies per 1,000 15 to 17-year-old girls in 2014, compared to a high of 55 in 1971, the Office of National Statistics said, external.

For Stoke-on-Trent there were around 42 pregnancies per 1,000 in 2014, down from almost 44 in 2013 - for Tamworth the rate per 1,000 15 to 17-year-old girls fell from 44 in 2013 to 42 in 2014.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

This gorgeous looking sunset was photographed in Leek by Dawn Garrett who shared it with us on Instagram.

Image source, Dawn Garrett

I love featuring your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire so please keep sending them in.

You can do that on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City's chief executive, Tony Scholes, says they're still considering filling in one of the corners of the Britannia Stadium. 

Image source, Getty Images

Scholes told BBC Radio Stoke increasing the capacity of their ground by filling a corner with more seats is something they're thinking about.

BBC Midlands Today

The third strike by junior doctors will be one of our big stories this lunchtime on Midlands Today. 

Image source, Getty Images

Already dozens of operations and thousands of hospital appointments have been cancelled in the region. 

We'll have more on the impact and the reasons for the strike on Midlands Today on BBC One from 13:30.

Tamworth Herald

A pedestrian is "lucky to be alive" after he miraculously jumped out of the way of a car which smashed through the window, external of a Coleshill bakery, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Image source, Tamworth Herald

Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman's been taken to hospital after a fire in an outbuilding in Macclesfield, external. 

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Three fire crews from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Clarke Lane, Kerridge, yesterday evening. 

They say the woman was taken to hospital "for a precautionary check" and they're investigating what caused the fire.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main stories for Staffordshire and Cheshire this afternoon include:

- An increase in awareness is why the NSPCC thinks there's been a rise in the number of child sex offences reported to Staffordshire, external Police

- Junior doctors in Staffordshire have joined a 48-hour national strike by their colleagues in a contract row with the government.

- The Cheshire-based music producer, Pete Waterman, has told BBC Radio Stoke this morning that record producer Sir George Martin "really was a gentleman"

Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

More than 100,000 dogs across the region still need to be micro-chipped before a new law comes in next month. 

Anyone failing to comply with the legislation could be fined up to £500. 

But a kennel owner from Staffordshire says the system is flawed. 

Half of the stray dogs seen by George McMaster, from Swan Pit Kennels, are micro-chipped, but their owners details aren't up-to-date.  

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

More than three child sex offences a day, external were reported to Staffordshire Police in the past year, according to the NSPCC.  

Image source, Thinkstock

Figures from the force, via a Freedom of Information request, show that's a rise of almost a quarter on the previous year. 

Of the offences, 75 were against under-fours while more than 500 reported cases involved 13-15-year-olds. 

Staffordshire Police, external says the county's figures mirror a national rise and more cases are coming to light because of its work to uncover them; and its priority remains to safeguard victims.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

The BBC website also has the latest weather forecast for Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

I've been to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where junior doctors have joined a 48-hour national strike by their colleagues in a contract row with the government.

The walkout started at 08:00 and will last 48 hours, the longest one so far - but medics are once again providing emergency cover in hospitals.

The strike comes after ministers announced last month they would impose the new contract.

NHS bosses have warned the strike was going to be "difficult" for the health service, as the series of walkouts was beginning to take its toll.

BBC Travel

Flooding has closed Burntwood Road in Hammerwich at the Stockhay Lane junction.

Express and Star

A barn owl has died after being gunned down by a shotgun, external, causing outrage from an animal welfare charity.  

Image source, Express and Star

BBC Radio Stoke

A flooding alert has been put out this morning by the Environment Agency for the River Anker between Nuneaton and Tamworth, external.

Such warnings mean flooding is possible in the area with heavy rain forecast today.

Image source, Google

Nigel Cash
BBC Radio Derby Sport

Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough has been talking to BBC Radio Derby, following his side's 2-0 loss at Bradford in League One.

Pete Morgan
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

The Cheshire-based music producer Pete Waterman has told BBC Radio Stoke this morning that record producer Sir George Martin "really was a gentleman".

Image source, Getty Images

Sir George, known as the "fifth Beatle", has died aged 90.

His family thanked "everyone for their thoughts, prayers and messages of support" after his death at home on Tuesday, his manager said.