BBC Radio Derby

A young woman jointly accused of murdering her one-year-old daughter in Staffordshire told a health visitor she was "a crap mother", a court has heard.

An "upset" Kathryn Smith made the comment having had an abortion and after contact from social services to raise the prospect of taking her daughter Ayeeshia Jane Smith into care.

The 21-month-old girl died at her home in Burton in May 2014.

At Birmingham Crown Court Ms Smith, 23, and her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, both from Nottingham, deny murder, allowing or causing a child's death and child cruelty. 

The trial continues.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire

- A man's needed hospital treatment after suffering a "vicious and unprovoked attack", external in Burton, police say

- West Midlands unemployment fell to 150,000 between November and January, down 3,000 from the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics says

- A lorry travelled the wrong way on the M6 Toll motorway and performed three u-turns before being stopped by police

BBC Travel

A lane is blocked on the M6 southbound in Staffordshire between junctions 10a and 10, because of a broken down vehicle.

Alice Bentley
BBC Local Live

We told you earlier about the phone shop sign in Stafford that names the store as "Fone Gaint".

Well it's not the only case of spelling errors in the local area in the past few months - remember when this misspelt road marking in Stafford was put down to "a contractor having a bad day"?  

And last month, markings for a disabled parking bay on a Crewe road - which were spelt incorrectly - were corrected by Cheshire East Council, external.

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

People living in Stafford won't have their bins emptied if they put the wrong type of waste in them, external, the local council warns.

Image source, Stafford Borough Council

The authority says the new rule comes after it was forced to pay £3,000 for a lorry-load of recycling which was "contaminated". 

The 18-tonne batch included objects such as soiled nappies. The council says a warning letter will soon be sent to people living in the borough.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis says, despite the team's position in the table, he's enjoying the challenge of trying to keep them in League One. 

Image source, Getty Images

The Alex currently need seven points to get out of the relegation zone, and face fellow strugglers Blackpool on Saturday.

Davis told BBC Radio Stoke his players have to try and stay calm and enjoy it.

Phil Bowers
BBC Local Live

A man's needed hospital treatment after suffering a "vicious and unprovoked attack", external in Burton, according to police. 

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say the 52-year-old victim was on Wetmore Road on Sunday night when he heard a banging noise near Wetmore Road Surgery. 

Officers say he called 999 after three men came up to him - they then stole his phone and assaulted him on a car park at the back of Severn Drive, dragging him to the floor and kicking him in the face.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The Chancellor George Osborne has finished delivering his Budget statement today to MPs.

Our BBC colleagues are continuing to bring you updates with reaction and expert analysis to - get the latest by visiting their BBC Budget 2016 Live page.

Uttoxeter Advertiser

A lifelong Burton Albion fan has spoken of his horror after a brutal attack by three men, external left him temporarily blinded.

Image source, Uttoxeter Advertiser

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A number of you have been have your say on the BBC Midlands Today Facebook page, external about the misspelt shop sign in Stafford.

A couple of people - including Larry Clayton, external - have suggested it's a "clever piece of marketing" - we did try to put that to the shop staff and management but they refused to comment at the time and we're waiting to see if they come back to us.

Tony Briggs said, external: "A daming indictment of our educational system" while Katherine Edge said, external: "Hopefully it will be removed soon".

And talking of misspelling, Shaun Harrison posted, external: " Love it when people paint on their garage doors..."NO PARKINK".

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

This lunchtime all eyes have been on George Osborne as he delivered his Budget to MPs. 

Image source, PA

I'm in Westminster for Midlands Today and will be looking at what impact the chancellor's announcements could and will have on the region. 

Tune in on BBC One from 13:30 to get the latest.

BBC News England

A lorry travelled the wrong way on the M6 Toll motorway and performed three u-turns before being stopped by police.  

Image source, CMPG

Motorists called 999 after spotting the HGV driving north on the southbound carriageway at 01:30 GMT.

The vehicle performed three u-turns including one at the toll booths before it was stopped on the slip road, the Central Motorway Police Group, external said.

The incident happened between junction T4, Shenstone, and Weeford Plaza. The driver has been arrested.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire this lunchtime include:

- West Midlands unemployment fell to 150,000 between November and January, down 3,000 from the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics says  

- A lorry travelled the wrong way on the M6 Toll motorway and performed three u-turns before being stopped by police  

- Shoppers in Stafford have told BBC Radio Stoke they have been left confused by a spelling mistake in a new shop sign  

Tamworth Herald

A Tamworth woman has been left devastated after her dog was run over by a driver, external - who then failed to stop.

Image source, Tamworth Herald

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You are sending in some cracking pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire.

This one is from Phil Dilks who says it is the "top of the cloud in Bosley, Congleton".

Image source, Phil Dilks

And this photo was sent in via the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page , externalby Penny Sargeant who says it was taken in Prestwood, near Denstone, Uttoxeter.

There are other ways you can share pictures of the area with me - email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.

Image source, Penny Sargeant

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

You can also find the latest weather forecasts for the area on the BBC website.

James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

UK unemployment fell to 1.68 million between November and January, down 28,000 from the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics says.  

Image source, BBC/Office of National Statistics

Locally, in the same period in the West Midlands it fell by 3,000 to 150,000 people.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in February in Staffordshire was 08.% which equates to 4,134 people, compared to 5,803 in February 2015.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City's goalkeeper Jack Butland says the number of internationals in their squad shows how far the club has come. 

Image source, Getty Images

He's hoping to be chosen for England's upcoming friendlies against Germany and Holland. 

Butland says it'll be great to have so many Stoke players involved in this summer's UEFA European Championship.

BBC Politics

The BBC wants to know how today's budget will affect you? Get in touch with your thoughts on via email at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Your views may be featured on the BBC Budget 2016 live webpage and you can follow coverage throughout today there.

Image source, Reuters

Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

Today I want to know from you - what's the scariest thing that's happened to you?

It's because my guest today is Jackie Griffiths, from Cheddleton, who worked for British Airways and was part of a plane and cabin crew held hostage in Kuwait during the Gulf War.

So I want to know when you've been caught up in something scary - you can get involved by calling 01782 208008 until 13:00, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or email me.