Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Monday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

BBC Midlands Today

This evening on Midlands Today, the man who is a pride of the Potteries, Neil "Nello" Baldwin will be featuring. 

There are some big events planned for him as he turns 70 on Tuesday, and you'll see why today also proved a special day for him, on BBC One from 18:30.

Roger Harrabin
BBC environment analyst

Planting trees around rivers could reduce the height of flooding in towns by up to 20%, new research suggests.  

Image source, Environment Agency

A study for the Environment Agency concludes that trees round a feeder stream can slow the rush of rainwater and save properties from flooding.

But it warns that natural flood prevention methods do not always work. And it urges a strategic approach because foresting a whole catchment would be counter-productive.

Parts of Staffordshire including around Stafford, Burton, Tamworth, Tean and the Churnet Valley are regularly affected when there is heavy rain.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

The latest weather for Staffordshire and Cheshire can be found on the BBC website.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

This weekend on Sunday Politics Midlands, we're looking at the threat facing Staffordshire's china from China's china.

Chinese dumping has dealt a hefty blow to what remains of the UK’s steel industry. Could there be about to be a repeat of that in the ceramics industry?

It's a hot topic in the potteries and we'll be examining the issues this Sunday on BBC One from 11:00.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Over enthusiastic recyclers are costing Staffordshire Moorlands District Council thousands , externalof pounds a week, the authority says. 

The council says people are putting too many items into their bins that can't be processed, which are having to be sifted out, for which it's being charged up to £4000 a week.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke defender Philipp Wollscheid says he is hopeful of being recalled to the Germany squad for this summer's European Championship. 

Image source, Getty Images

Wollscheid last appeared for the World Cup holders in 2013, but he's hoping his performances for Stoke this season have caught the eye. 

James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

These plans by United Utilities and Severn Trent for a combined headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent , externalwould see them, subject to approval, becoming the first private firms to move into the Smithfield buildings. 

There are two buildings on the site - One Smithfield and Two Smithfield - and so far the city council, Staffordshire Police and the chambers of commerce have announce plans to have staff on the site. 

This though would represent the first private company to move in and is already being called a "major achievement" by the city council.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main headlines this evening include

- A driver has been jailed today for more than seven years after admitting killing, external a man in Newcastle-under-Lyme by running him over

- Two major water companies are going to be based in a new combined headquarters, external in Stoke-on-Trent, according to the city council

- About £400,000 of watches were stolen, external during yesterday's early morning raid on a jewellers in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent 

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Earlier we told you how a BBC investigation discovered there was one police charge for every five complaints of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Staffordshire.  

Supt Tim Martin, head of Staffordshire Police’s Public Protection Investigation Team, has been speaking about the figures. 

He said: "The figures in the FOI response show the numbers of crimes with a CSE marker (which can cover a number of offences) and the number of people charged in a specific time period. But CSE offenders are often charged with more than one offence which may mean that the proportion of people arrested per offence differs."

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A fire at a high-rise block of flats in Stoke-on-Trent, external has been put out by fire crews this afternoon.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say the fire was on the ninth floor of the Honeywall block and two people needed treatment after breathing in smoke. 

They say the fire was beside a sofa.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man's been jailed today for more than seven years after admitting killing, external a man in Newcastle-under-Lyme by running him over. 

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police say Muhammed Gulam Ali, 37, of Gilman Street, had previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Matthew Hancock, and the grievous bodily harm of his friend, Brent Clayton, as they walked along Market Lane. 

The force say Ali was driving down the alleyway in June 2015 in his 4x4-type car and revved his engine to try to get them to move - it shot forward, running both of them over.

Brent Clayton suffered serious injuries and Matthew Bone died at the scene - a judge today jailed Ali for seven years and six months.

Phil Bowers
BBC Local Live

Two major water companies are going to be based in a new combined headquarters, external in Stoke-on-Trent, according to the city council.

The authority says staff from United Utilities and Severn Trent will be moving into the city council's Smithfield site, subject to approval by the competition and markets authority. 

Severn Trent are currently based in Coventry and United Utilities in Warrington.  

Alice Bentley
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A couple who've been following Nantwich Town for nearly a hundred years between them say their club can make it to Wembley.

Nantwich host FC Halifax tomorrow in the first leg of the FA Trophy semi-final, which the club say is the biggest game in their history. 

Albert and Olga Pye met through the Dabbers, when he asked her to help with the bingo there.

North West Today

False teeth, toys and a whole cake are just some of the items people have admitted to flushing down their toilets in the North West. 

United Utilities, which supplies Cheshire, says each year it tackles 25,000 blockages costing around £10m, external, so it is launching an awareness campaign.

The firm says by far the biggest culprits are wipes and food waste.

Alice Bentley
BBC Local Live

Today has proved to be an early happy birthday for Neil "Nello" Baldwin.

We told you earlier that celebrations are planned this weekend for the former Stoke City kit man and mascot, who turns 70 on Tuesday.

Today he was given some early birthday presents by the club and another former employer, Keele University, ahead of the special dinner in his honour on Sunday.

Lichfield Mercury

There are "no current plans" to resettle Syrian refugees in Lichfield or Burntwood, external this year, the Mercury can reveal.

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

It was a foggy start today but Duncan Richardson in Audley says he got this snap of the sun above the fog this morning.

Image source, Duncan Richardson

If you've got a picture to share of the area, send it in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.

BBC News England

Five areas in the West Midlands are statistically among the highest in the UK for teenage pregnancy, including Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth. 

Not a single town or city in the south of England appears at the top of the list.   

Image source, SPL

The BBC approached some experts to try to explain the region's position in the table and you can read their suggestions and more on the BBC website.

BBC Sport

Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross returned to full training this week and could play following a back injury.  

Image source, Getty Images

Glenn Whelan is expected to make his 300th appearance for the club.  

You can read a full preview of the game on the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio Stoke will have live commentary on the match.