Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Friday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Thursday 10 March 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Watch: What's coming up this evening on BBC Midlands Todaypublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayHere's a look ahead to the main stories we're featuring this evening on Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.
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End of twitter postTamworth 'has third highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the UK'published at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
According to data , externalfrom the Office for National Statistics, there were 42 pregnancies for every 1,000 girls under-18 in Tamworth in 2014.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldFootball: Crewe striker 'bittersweet' over international gamespublished at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra striker, Marcus Haber, says he will have mixed feelings when he heads off on international duty with Canada next week, external.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe striker will miss the two games over Easter.
But he says representing his country is the highlight of any player's career.
Quote MessageIt's slightly bittersweet because it is tough to leave the team at a time like this but having the chance to play in a World Cup is massive for myself."
Marcus Haber, Crewe Alexandra striker
Lottery grant to restore historic orangerypublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
John Acres
BBC Radio StokeOne of Staffordshire's Grade II listed buildings is set to get a new lease of life after years of neglect.
Ingestre Orangery in Stafford, external has been awarded nearly £50,000 of lottery money to help restore it.
It was built in the late 18th Century but the Friends of Ingestre Orangery say it is not in good repair and not in use.
Viola Beach crash investigator clarifies commentspublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Phil Pearson
BBC NewsSwedish police say they do not believe the Cheshire indie band Viola Beach crash driver "intended to kill himself or the band".
The lead investigator was seeking to clarify earlier comments by a colleague that suggested some of the driver's actions were deliberate.
Band members Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Jack Dakin and Tomas Lowe died, along with manager Craig Tarry, who was 33, near Stockholm on 13 February.
Lars Berglund said the driver's "only intention was to avoid a crash".
Watch: Why railway work is being carried out in Stafford over Easterpublished at 17:21 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Train passengers in Staffordshire and Cheshire have been warned that the railway work will affect many journeys over the Easter period.
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End of twitter postChief constable criticises watchdog's investigationpublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe chief constable of the Staffordshire force has criticised the police watchdog for the way it managed an investigation into her handling of a murder case in 2002.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceAlleged drug dealer Kevin Nunes was shot dead in Staffordshire but five men jailed for his murder were freed on appeal after it emerged concerns over the credibility of witnesses weren't disclosed to the defence.
Jane Sawyers is one of four senior police officers who today have been told by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) they will not face misconduct hearings , externalover their handling of the investigation.
Quote MessageIt was right that my actions were thoroughly investigated. However the management of this investigation by the IPCC, or lack of it, resulted in a lengthy, costly and disproportionate investigation from which there are no winners."
Jane Sawyers, Staffordshire Police chief constable
Thug jailed for biting off part stranger’s ear in random road attackpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Staffs Live
A Fenton man who chased down a complete stranger and bit off part of his ear has been jailed for nine years, external.
Image source, Staffs LiveStoke-on-Trent shopping centre jewellery raid 'pre-planned'published at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe man leading Staffordshire Police's investigation into a jewellery raid at a Stoke-on-Trent shopping centre has told BBC Radio Stoke he doesn't think the site is an easy target.
A "large quantity" of high value watches and jewellery have been stolen by the gang who targeted the Beaverbrooks store this morning at the Intu Potteries centre in Hanley.
A fire was also started at the main entrance to the centre and officers said the offenders fled the scene "within minutes".
Quote MessageThey do provide 24/7 security. This clearly, in my opinion, is an isolated incident, which clearly has been pre-planned."
Det Ch Insp Ricky Fields, Staffordshire Police
Ayeeshia Jane Smith: Stepfather 'never raised a hand' to herpublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News OnlineA stepfather jointly accused of murdering a 21-month-old girl in Staffordshire told police he "never raised a hand" to her, a court heard.
Ayeeshia Jane Smith died at her home in Burton-upon-Trent when her heart was torn by a forceful stamp, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
Her stepfather, Matthew Rigby, suggested her ruptured heart and broken ribs may have been sustained during his attempts at CPR.
Ayeeshia's mother, Kathryn Smith, 23, and her partner Mr Rigby, 22, both from Nottingham, deny murder. They have also pleaded not guilty to allowing or causing a child's death and child cruelty.
The trial continues.
Increase in ambulance call outspublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Caroline Gall
BBC News OnlineThe region's ambulance eervice, external says its resources are being strained by an increased number of calls.
In the first week of March, it had more than 22,000 999 calls, and dealt with nearly 2,000 jobs - that's a 10% increase on last year.
Image source, Matt CardyQuote MessageAll those patients that we've seen an increase in are going to hospital, so they're suffering the same pressures."
Barry McKinnon, West Midlands Ambulance Service
Travel: Van crash on M6 northbound in Cheshirepublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
BBC TravelThere's queuing traffic on the M6 northbound between junctions 18 and 19 in Cheshire, because of an accident involving a van.
It's in the roadworks area and congestion is back to junction 17.
Watch: Tonight and tomorrow's weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayYou can also get the latest weather at any time for Staffordshire and Cheshire from the BBC website.
Drive to combat air pollution on Staffordshire roadspublished at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Lichfield District Council has joined seven councils in Staffordshire to work with local commercial fleet operators in a new scheme geared to improving air quality on roads, external - specifically the busy A5.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryMan's skull fractured in Crewe attackpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeA man has a fractured skull and concussion after an attack i, externaln the street in Crewe, police say.
Image source, GoogleIt happened in the early hours of Saturday morning say Cheshire Police, as he was stood outside the Last Orders pub on Mill Street.
The 25-year-old victim, who's from Crewe, is still in hospital and officers say he doesn't know who the attacker was.
Your pictures: 'Romantic' pigeons in Staffordshirepublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveIt may not quite be Valentine's Day but these two pigeons nuzzling up to each other were photographed by Vickie Whitaker in Chesterton.
Image source, Vickie WhitakerTo send your picture in of Staffordshire or Cheshire, you can put it in an email, tweet it to @BBCRadioStoke, external or put it on Instagram, external.
Football: Port Vale 'similar' to Leicester - Doddspublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Jay Freeman
BBC Sport OnlinePort Vale midfielder, Louis Dodds, says their attitude is similar to Leicester City's Premier League title challenge.
Image source, Rex FeaturesVale have lost just two of their last 10 matches and are ninth in League One, three points outside the play-offs.
Quote MessageAll we're trying to do is win the next game and hopefully that'll stand us in good stead. It is similar to what Leicester are doing. They're not talking about winning the Premier League, they're just going about their business."
Louis Dodds, Port Vale striker
No misconduct hearing for senior officers over murder casepublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Four senior officers will not face misconduct hearings over their handling of a Staffordshire Police investigation into the fatal shooting of an alleged drug dealer, a police watchdog has ruled, external.
Kevin Nunes was shot dead in south Staffordshire in September 2002 but five men jailed for his murder were freed on appeal.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceThe Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) "found no evidence of a cover up or of wilful omission by any of the four senior officers."
The watchdog did find there had been "serious failings at Staffordshire Police" following the murder of Mr Nunes and the 2008 conviction of five defendants for that murder. The IPCC also said while it could rule on conduct, it was unable, as an institution, to make findings "about potential performance issues" of senior officers.
Your pictures: Soggy Staffordshire field and blooming daffodilspublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2016
Our BBC Weather Watchers send us daily pictures of how the area is looking - user de Ferrers sent this photo of a soggy field in Horninglow, Staffordshire.
Image source, de FerrersAnd these colourful daffodils were spotted and snapped in Hednesford by Thornhill Watch.
Become one of our many BBC Weather Watchers by heading to the website and signing up.
Image source, Thornhill Watch
