Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 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 17 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 17 March 2016
Watch: Coming up on BBC Midlands Todaypublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayI'll be on BBC One from 18:30 with BBC Midlands Today - here's a look ahead to the big stories we'll be covering this evening.
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End of twitter postFootball: AFC Wimbledon sign Burton's Charlespublished at 17:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Rob Stevens
BBC SportAFC Wimbledon have signed Burton Albion centre-back Darius Charles on loan until the end of the season.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 28-year-old has not featured for the Brewers this season, having moved to the Pirelli Stadium last summer following five years at Stevenage.
Quote MessageWe've been looking for a long time for a centre-back, one with experience, one with knowledge.
Neal Ardley, AFC Wimbledon manager
Woman prosecuted after letting her dog foul grounds of leisure centrepublished at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
A woman from Chasetown has been ordered to pay £700 after she was seen not clearing up after her dog , externalwhen she walked it in Burntwood.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryOrigins of bin row 'fluff' a 'mystery'published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio StokeMore now on Pearl from Cheddleton, who's been warned by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council , externalafter putting "fluff" in her recycling bin.
She told me that "I really don't know what it was, no idea" and in their letter to her, the authority only said "the incorrect items we saw were fluff".
I've since then spoken to Rebecca Dodd from the district council and she told me "the fluff may well have been dog hair or something like that which would be acceptable in either of the other two bins but unfortunately in this instance just not in the grey bin."
She also said: "When we do an assessment on the top of the bin, if we see something that is incorrect, we can only assume that the whole bin may contain incorrect items".
Your pictures: Spring brings flowering plants and lambs to the areapublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveSome nice pictures have been sent in to me showing spring coming to Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Lynn Wilkinson says it has arrived in her garden in the village of Little Haywood in this photo.
Image source, Lynn WilkinsonAnd these newly born lambs were photographed in the Peak District by Villager Jim.
If you've got a picture showing the impact of spring in Staffordshire or Cheshire you can share it with me on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.
Image source, Villager JimPicture: Entertaining with TV magician Paul Danielspublished at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio StokeI've been speaking today to the Newcastle-under-Lyme magician Andrew Van Buren about his memories of working with Paul Daniels, who's died aged 77.
Image source, Andrew Van BurenAndrew has kindly shared with me a picture of him with Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee when he was the entertainer at the couple's wedding vow renewal.
Football: Crewe boss Steve Davis backing striker to come good after injurypublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeStriker Lauri Dalla Valle can still have a major impact in Crewe Alexandra's attempt to avoid relegation from League One, says boss Steve Davis.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Finn, 24, is set to return to action after four months out through injury, having successfully come through an under-21 game this week.
Quote MessageAs a kid, he's been prolific wherever he's been and I think he can score at any level. He perseveres and keeps getting into positions, it's good to have him back."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Travel: A500 lane blocked by break down in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
BBC TravelA lane is blocked on the A500 D Road westbound in Hanchurch between the Hanford Interchange and Stoke-on-Trent, because of a broken down lorry.
Couple threatened with firearm in Staffordshire burglarypublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeAn elderly couple have been threatened with a gun in a burglary in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Image source, GoogleIt happened last Thursday night at a caravan site on Cemetery Road, Silverdale when the pair were woken by four people in balaclavas.
Officers say the elderly woman's hand was stamped on before the burglars stole cash.
News: Toddler murder trial hears social care concerns; burglars attack homeowners; woman puzzled by 'fluff' bin warningpublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire this evening:
- Social workers discussed taking a toddler into care when it emerged the stepfather had reportedly threatened to set fire to the family flat, a murder trial hears
- Homeowners have been threatened and attacked with blunt instruments , externalduring burglaries in Stoke-on-Trent and the Moorlands
- A woman from the Staffordshire Moorlands has been warned by her local council because it says there was "fluff" in her recycling bin
Councillor says sorry for e-cigarette use and 'lefty idiot' outburstpublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokeA former Stoke-on-Trent UKIP councillor has been forced to apologise , externalfor smoking an e-cigarette in the council chamber, which caused a social media outburst.
Image source, Getty ImagesCouncillor Rich Broughan, external told me he referred to the man who complained about his e-cigarette, which are banned in the chamber, as "some lefty idiot" on social media last September.
He insists he didn't know the complainant was trade union officer Steve Jones, who later complained again about his outburst.
Mr Jones agreed to accept a public apology made in the council chamber. Today Councillor Broughan said sorry for any offence caused and that his comments were simply expressing his frustration.
Woman gets council warning over 'fluff' in recycling binpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio StokeA woman from the Staffordshire Moorlands has been warned by her local council because it says there was "fluff" in her recycling bin.
Pearl from Cheddleton, who didn't want to give her surname, received the letter from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council , externalearlier this month, telling her she wouldn't have her bin emptied if it happened again.
The authority said in its letter that "it is important that only food, drink or cleaning product containers are placed in your grey bin".
Quote MessageI know they have to do their job but I found it really annoying because I'm really so careful with what we put in the bin, I'm always checking the list and if in doubt I always ring the council to check on it."
Pearl
Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather for tonight and tomorrowpublished at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands TodayYou can also get Staffordshire and Cheshire's latest weather from the BBC website.
Residents attacked with blunt instruments in two Stoke burglariespublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Alice Bentley
BBC Local LiveHomeowners have been threatened and attacked with blunt instruments , externalduring burglaries in Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police believe the two break-ins - one in Grindley Lane, Blythe Bridge (pictured), the other on Chesham Grove, Meir Heath - were carried out by the same men.
Officers say the burglaries happened within the space of two days earlier this month - in both cases jewellery was stolen.
Uncertainty over sale of Tamworth's iconic Moat Housepublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
A question mark hangs over the future of Tamworth's iconic Moat House, external - just a month after plans were revealed to restore it to its former glory.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldWatch: Safety a key issue for Alton Towers as park prepares to re-openpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands TodayBosses at Alton Towers say they're determined to rebuild their visitors' trust as they prepare to open for the new season.
The Staffordshire theme park was temporarily closed last year after its flagship ride, The Smiler, crashed, leaving five people seriously injured.
Visitor numbers plummeted following the crash amid concerns over ride safety.
This weekend the park reopens and I have been given exclusive behind-the-scenes access as safety checks are carried out.
BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Sunset in Brewood and colourful Jodrell Bankpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
The great pictures just keep on coming from our BBC Weather Watchers who take photos across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
This sunset in Brewood was uploaded by Andy-Baz.
Image source, Andy-BazAnd this from Jodrell Bank was taken by user Annie Jodrell.
You can be a BBC Weather Watcher by heading to our website and signing up.
Image source, Annie JodrellAyeeshia Jane Smith murder trial: Social workers 'discussed taking toddler into care'published at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveSocial workers discussed taking a toddler into care when it emerged the stepfather had reportedly threatened to set fire to the family flat, less than a month before the child died in Burton, Staffordshire, a court's heard.
A jury at Birmingham Crown Court was told that, despite concerns about domestic abuse, it was decided 21-month-old Ayeeshia Jane Smith would stay with her mother Kathryn Smith while they investigated further.
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.
News: Homeowners attacked in burglaries; Alton Towers 'determined to rebuild trust'; children want arsonist apologypublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire this afternoon include
- Homeowners have been threatened and attacked with blunt instruments , externalduring burglaries in Stoke-on-Trent and the Moorlands
- Bosses at Alton Towers say they're determined to rebuild their visitors' trust after the Smiler crash, as they prepare to open for the new season
- Nursery children in Burton say they want the arsonist who set fire to their playground to apologise
