Summary

  • Updates on Tuesday 15 March 2016

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Wednesday

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. Football: Setback for Stoke City's Shawcross

    Dan Wheeler
    BBC Sport

    The Stoke City captain, Ryan Shawcross, is a doubt for Saturday's trip to Watford.  

    Ryan Shawcross with a trainer during a Stoke City gameGetty Images

    After six weeks out with a back injury, the 28-year-old returned to action against the Saints, only to suffer another setback late in the game.  

    He got knocked off balance and that's when all the pressure went through one side of his back. We're hopeful it's just a jarring and there's no damage. There's nothing you can do about it - it's just how Ryan's luck has gone of late."

    Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager

  2. News: Arrest after woman stabbed in home; police name fatal bike crash victim; thousands spent on tackling Crewe fly-tipping

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Staffordshire and Cheshire headlines this afternoon include:

    - A man has been arrested in Staffordshire after a woman was stabbed several times in her home in Sutton Coldfield last night

    - A Crewe man who died after he was hit by a motorbike on Friday morning has been named by police

    - To try to stop fly-tipping in Crewe, Cheshire East Council says it's spending £75,000 over three years  

  3. Viola Beach tribute concert line up revealed

    Rachael Connors
    Reporter, BBC News Online

    The Coral, Liam Fray and the Kooks will perform at a tribute concert being held for the Cheshire band Viola Beach and their manager, who died in a car crash in Sweden.  

    Viola Beach@jholsson/PA Wire

    Kris Leonard, River Reeves, and Jack Dakin, all 20, Tomas Lowe, 27, and their manager Craig Tarry, 33, died near Stockholm on 13 February.

    The concert, being held in their hometown of Warrington, has sold out.

    BBC Radio 1 DJ Phil Taggart will host the event at Parr Hall on 2 April.

  5. Football: We can still survive - Crewe boss

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis says they can still survive in League One, as long as they beat the teams around them.

    Blackpool, the next "struggler" that Crewe have to faceGetty Images

    The Alex still have to face fellow strugglers Blackpool, Oldham, Doncaster and Colchester and Davis says they're in with a chance.

    The teams are around us and beating those teams around you makes a significant difference - six-pointers right the way through, from now until the end of the season.

    Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager

  6. Thousands to be spent tackling Crewe fly-tipping

    Lamont Howie
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    To try to stop fly-tipping in Crewe, Cheshire East Council says it's spending £75,000 over three years.

    Example of fly-tipping in Crewe

    The authority says it'll be employing two wardens to challenge people who dump rubbish.

  7. Your pictures: Blue skies over Staffordshire and Cheshire from BBC Weather Watchers

    BBC Weather Watchers

    A BBC webpage that's well worth checking out is Weather Watchers - and you can join in.

    These are a couple of the great pictures that have been uploaded from our area - firstly from Chutney in Flash.

    Dog on rocks in Peak District in FlashChutney

    The blue sky's also been reflected in this picture from Murky Dismal in Macclesfield.

    Clouds in blue sky over MacclesfieldMurky Dismal

  8. News: Call for tougher laws on car mobile phone use; anger over 125% rise in council tax share; key stage for new Remembrance Centre

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    This afternoon's main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire include

    - A Staffordshire mum whose daughter was killed by a lorry driver has told the BBC the use of mobile phones behind the wheel needs to become more socially unacceptable

    - People living in three Staffordshire villages have told BBC Radio Stoke they're angry their parish council has increased its rates by 125% without any warning

    - A ceremony is taking place today to put the highest stone in the roof of the Remembrance Centre being built at Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum

  10. Football: Port Vale boss says new players 'not a priority'

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Port Vale manager Rob Page says he's not looking to strengthen his squad ahead of the end of season run-in. 

    JJ HooperPort Vale FC

    Vale are currently three points and three places outside the League One playoffs. 

    Page told BBC Radio Stoke that bringing in a new player isn't top of his agenda. 

    It's not a priority of mine. I've got players like JJ (Hooper) that can come off the bench and make a massive impact.

    Rob Page, Port Vale manager

  11. Rail works to hit West Midlands commuters after Easter

    Clare Lissaman
    BBC News Online

    Major rail works over Easter will continue to cause disruption to some West Midlands commuters returning to work after the holidays, Network Rail has warned.  

    Work being carried out at Norton BridgeNetwork Rail

    Work to replace a major junction between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will continue until Wednesday 30 March.

    A Network Rail spokeswoman said engineers needed the extra days to complete the "big piece of work".

    Easter rail passengers will also be affected by a £250m upgrade of the line between Stafford and Crewe.  

  12. Man arrested in Staffordshire after woman stabbed 'several times'

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC Local Live

    A man has been arrested in Staffordshire after a woman was stabbed several times in her home in Sutton Coldfield last night. 

    West Midlands Police say the 59-year-old victim is in a critical condition after the attack in Blaydon Avenue. 

    The force says a 31-year-old man, who is said to be known to the victim, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

  13. On BBC Midlands Today this lunchtime: Economic impact of the Cheltenham Festival

    BBC Midlands Today

    It's one of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar and today the Cheltenham Festival gets under way. 

    Man in front of betting lists

    Hundreds of thousands of people are expected at the four-day event and we'll be looking at the impact it has on the local economy. 

    Catch BBC Midlands Today this lunchtime from 13:30.

  15. Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's afternoon weather forecast

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    You can also get Staffordshire and Cheshire's latest weather forecast at any time from the BBC website.

  16. Halfway stage for new National Memorial Arboretum Remembrance Centre

    Jodie Looker
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A ceremony's taking place today to put the highest stone in the roof of the Remembrance Centre which is being built at Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum.

    The Remembrance Centre siteNational Memorial Arboretum

    The arboretum says the topping-out process marks the halfway point in the creation of the £16m centre.

    Developers expect the site to host 500,000 visitors a year once it's completed in around six months' time.

  17. Your pictures: Stunning Staffordshire sunset

    John Bray
    BBC Midlands Today

    Last night saw a stunning sunset across the region and many of you got your cameras out and snapped away.

    This one's from Lichfield and was taken by Kieren Boardman. There are many more on the BBC Midlands Today Facebook page.

    Sunset in LichfieldKieren Boardman

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

  18. Football: Stoke boss hails 'positive impact' of Shaqiri

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City's manager Mark Hughes says he's been pleased with how Xherdan Shaqiri has settled into English football this season.  

    Xherdan Shaqiri celebratesGetty Images

    Shaqiri has scored three goals since joining the Potters from Inter Milan for £12.5m in the summer. 

    Hughes told BBC Radio Stoke he'll be missed if he can't play in Saturday's game, due to a thigh injury.

    We're really pleased with how he's coming in to Premier League games and having a positive impact every time he played, so if he has to miss games, hopefully he'll be able to pick up very quickly from where he left off when he comes back

    Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager

  19. Recycling problems for residents in Tamworth

    Some people in Tamworth will not have their recycling collected today, the local council says.

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  20. News: Call for car mobile phone use to be 'socially unacceptable'; council defends 125% tax rise; WW2 mortar detonated in Cheshire

    Jodie Looker
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    These are among the main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire:

    - A Staffordshire mum whose daughter was killed by a Birmingham lorry driver says the use of handheld mobile phones while driving needs to become more socially unacceptable

    - A Staffordshire parish council's had to defend increasing its share of council tax by 125%, angering villagers who've spoken to BBC Radio Stoke

    - An unexploded World War Two mortar has been safely blown up in Cheshire this morning, according to police