Summary

  • Updates on Thursday 17 March 2016

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

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. Unexploded bomb found in Staffordshire

    An unexploded bomb's been found in Chasetown today say Staffordshire Police and it's been destroyed in a "controlled explosion" by bomb disposal experts.

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  2. Football: Stoke's Butland called up for England warm-up games

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland has been named in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the Euro 2016 warm-up games against Germany and the Netherlands.

    Jack ButlandGetty Images

    The Potter's man will be looking to add to his three caps so far for the senior team.

    Roy Hodgson's team travel to Berlin to face world champions Germany on Saturday, 26 March, then host the Dutch at Wembley on Tuesday, 29 March.  

  4. Watch: Crucifixion sculptures at Chester Cathedral

    North West Today

    Three steel sculptures, each 6m high, are being installed in Chester Cathedral.  

    The works by Turner prize nominee David Mach are made from steel girders and thousands of wire coat hangers. 

    Called Golgotha the sculptures represent the crucifixion. They will be on display until the beginning of May.                       

  5. Football: Port Vale boss wants big crowd for Burton game

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Port Vale's manager Rob Page is urging the club's supporters to pack the park for this Saturday's game against League One leaders Burton Albion.

    Rob PageGetty Images

    Vale have lost just once at home in the league all season and Page says having a large crowd can have a huge impact.

    When the chips are down a little bit and you need to dig in, they can make a big impact. It'll be great for them to come through the door on Saturday."

    Rob Page, Port Vale manager

  6. Council-run countryside beauty spots could be taken over by other organisations

    Leek Post and Times

    A dozen council-run beauty spots could be taken over by an outside organisation to help save money.

  7. News: Charity wants more respect for homeless; children want arsonist apology; meteor sighted in Stafford

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The main headlines this afternoon include:

    - The founder of a homeless charity in Stoke-on-Trent says homeless people who were evicted by police from a council bike shelter should have been treated with more respect

    - Nursery children in Burton say they want the arsonist who set fire to their playground to apologise

    - A bright meteor has been sighted in the early hours above Stafford

  8. Dozens of electricity theft court cases in Staffordshire and Cheshire

    Laurence Cawley
    BBC News

    More than 50 people have been prosecuted in the last year for electricity theft in Staffordshire, according to the latest figures.

    meter tampering

    Of the 1,582 cases in England and Wales that went to court in 2014-15, there were 51 prosecutions in the county. In Cheshire in the same period there were 35.

    BBC News has been examining the variation across the countries - one electrician, who admitted rigging meters, told the BBC poverty was the main reason people sought his services.

    Police said the regional variation in prosecutions reflected enforcement effort rather than actual thefts.  

  9. Festival pays tribute to Viola Beach

    BBC Newsbeat

    Cheshire band Viola Beach have been remembered at SXSW festival in Texas.

    Viola BeachPA

    The group, who died last month, were meant to be playing as part of the line-up for the BBC Introducing showcase in the city of Austin.

    The four members of the group, plus their manager, were killed when their car fell from a bridge in Stockholm.

    At the venue they were due to play, Latitude 30, a video montage of the band was broadcast.

  10. Watch: Bus operator criticised over cancelling Stafford service

    Bob Hockenhull
    BBC Midlands Today

    The bus company, Arriva, is being urged to reconsider cancelling one of its routes in Stafford.

    It's after it resulted in dozens of elderly people having to make a half-mile trip to the nearest stop. 

    There are a hundred sheltered housing flats in the area around St Leonard's Avenue, which means some people are now struggling to get out and about. 

    Arriva says low passenger numbers meant the route didn't make commercial sense but it is working with Staffordshire County Council to try and find an alternative. 

  11. Coming up this lunchtime on BBC Midlands Today: Safety changes at Alton Towers

    BBC Midlands Today

    This lunchtime on Midlands Today we'll be reporting from Alton Towers as the theme park prepares to reopen its Smiler ride. 

    Smiler ridePA

    It's several months since the crash on the ride which left five people seriously injured. 

    We'll be hearing what safety improvements the park's made across the site since then - on BBC One from 13:30.

  13. M6 Toll 'wrong way' lorry driver charged

    BBC Radio Stoke

    A lorry driver accused of travelling the wrong way on the M6 Toll and performing three u-turns has been charged with dangerous driving.  

    Lorry on hard shoulderCentral Motorway Police Group

    Central Motorway Policing Group were called to the motorway after drivers called 999 reporting a lorry going in the wrong direction.

    It happened between junction T4 and Weeford Plaza, near Lichfield.

  14. Play equipment repaired after Cannock arson

    Play equipment's being repaired after an arson attack in Cannock, according to the local council. 

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  15. 'Bad guy' arsonist needs to apologise

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    Nursery children in Burton say they want the arsonist who set fire to their playground to apologise.  

    NurseryGoogle

    Two play sheds and all the toys inside were destroyed on Monday night at Lansdowne Nursery and Infant School in an incident that police have described as an "act of mindless damage".  

    The letter addressed "to the bad guy" tells of the children's heartbreak over their wrecked toys.  

    We'd like them to say sorry. Please give our toys back. If they said sorry, I'll give them a present. I would. That's what they've got to do."

    Pupil at Lansdowne Nursery and Infant School

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

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    The BBC website also has the latest forecast for Staffordshire and Cheshire.

  17. Football: Stoke looking to take advantage of Watford's FA Cup success

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City's manager Mark Hughes says he is hoping Watford's FA Cup success can work in the Potter's favour this weekend.

    Watford players celebrating their FA Cup victoryGetty Images

    Hughes says the fact that Watford are in the last four of the competition could help Stoke out.

    I like to think they'd be celebrating getting to a Wembley final a little bit too readily and we'll be able to take advantage of that."

    Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager

  19. 'Green flash' meteor sighting report in Staffordshire

    BBC News England

    A bright meteor has been sighted in the early hours above Britain.

    Witnesses have described the object as a green flash moving south to north for a few seconds, leaving a magnesium-white trail.

    Sightings have been reported in locations including Stafford, London, Hampshire and on the east coast of England at about at 03:16.

    Its colour has prompted people on Twitter to describe it as the St Patrick's Day meteor.

  20. Travel: Crash on A5 near Lichfield

    BBC Travel

    There's been an accident on the A5 in Muckley Corner near Muckley Corner Island.