Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Tuesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Monday 21 March 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Tuesday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Watch: Tonight and tomorrow's Stoke and Staffordshire weather forecastpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterStaffordshire and Cheshire's latest forecast can also be found at any time on the BBC website.
On BBC Midlands Today tonight: Flu puts pressure on county's hospitalspublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
BBC Midlands TodayHospitals in Staffordshire are facing what's being described as "unprecedented pressure" due to an outbreak of flu across the county.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says critical care beds at its site in Stoke-on-Trent are at full capacity.
We'll have more on Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.
Council leader pledges to keep homeless centre open 'if we can'published at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio StokeThe leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council , externalsays he doesn't want a Hanley homeless shelter to close.
Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilThe authority has been funding the Lou Macari Centre, external as a two-month trial but the funding is due to run out.
Dozens of people are being fed every night, according to outreach workers in the city.
Quote MessageI want to make it plain to everybody that we are a caring council and we're doing everything we possibly can. If we can do it and keep it open, we will."
Councillor Dave Conway, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Stafford train journeys affected by upgradespublished at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Train journeys in Stafford will be affected over the bank holiday weekend due to upgrades, external being carried out as part of a £40bn project.
Football: Good and bad news for Stoke's Dutch duopublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has been called up by the Netherlands for their friendlies against France and England.
Image source, Getty ImagesHowever it's bad news for defender Erik Pieters - he's pulled out of the Dutch squad because of a calf problem.
Your pictures: Stunning sunsets in Macclesfield and Staffordpublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Alice Bentley
BBC Local LiveA gorgeous sunset in Macclesfield in this picture, taken yesterday evening by James Knowles, who tweeted it to @BBCRadioStoke, external.
Image source, James KnowlesAnd more of the sun in this photo which was taken in Moss Pit, Stafford by Wingy.
Want to have your picture of the area featured? Send it in and I'll try to showcase as many as I can - do it on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.
Image source, WingySearch at Burntwood building site where unexploded devices foundpublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Daz Hale
BBC WMA search of a building site in Burntwood is taking place after two unexploded bombs, external were found there.
Image source, GoogleBarrett Wimpey has confirmed all digging on the site, where 370 homes are being built near the rugby club, has now been suspended after we featured the story last Friday.
Neighbouring resident John Hayward said he was pleased action was being taken.
Watch: Stoke container sending education help to Kashmirpublished at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
John Acres
BBC Radio StokeA 40-foot container full of furniture is heading from Stoke-on-Trent to Kashmir.
It's loaded with items for schools in the region, organised by the Andrhal Welfare Trust, external in Longton.
They say the aim is to provide education to children in the area and have helped a hundred schools so far. The load includes chairs, tables, whiteboards, printers and photocopiers.
Village roads could be named after 'local heroes'published at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveSeveral roads in a Staffordshire village could be named , externalafter "local heroes" under council plans.
Image source, Lichfield District CouncilLichfield District Council's trying to find the relatives of 10 Wigginton men to get permission for the routes to get the honour.
They say they're doing it after Wigginton and Hopwas Parish Council recently proposed names for the streets in the Land at Browns Lane development.
Last year, the same authority got permission for roads in Chasetown to be named after World War Two soldiers.
Watch: Living on the streets of Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands TodayA homeless couple from Stoke-on-Trent have been describing their lives on the streets.
Simon and Michaela were filmed amid fears an 18-bed hostel, named after the former Stoke City manager Lou Macari, may close
The centre was set up as a two-month trial in February.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council said there is a "clear need" for the hostel but at the moment it is not in a position to talk about its future.
Michaela said the hostel was very good but it was hard to get into because it was so full.
News: Homeless centre council pledge; flu cancels hospital operations; funds raised by Alton Towers victimspublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire this evening include:
- The leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council , externalsays he doesn't want a Hanley homeless shelter to close
- Hospital operations have been cancelled in Staffordshire due to an outbreak of flu
- Two teenagers seriously hurt in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have raised thousands of pounds to help the emergency services , externalin Staffordshire
Travel: Break down blocks M6 lane near Middlewichpublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
BBC TravelThere's a lane blocked on the M6 northbound between junctions 18 and 19 because of a broken down vehicle in the roadworks area.
Football: Udoh makes switch from Ilkeston to Crewepublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra have completed the signing of the Ilkeston striker Daniel Udoh., external
Image source, crewealex.netThe 19-year-old has signed a two-year contract at the Alexandra Stadium.
Rotary Club members plant hedge along Waterlode in Nantwichpublished at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Rotary Club members in Nantwich put their backs into a project to plant a hedge, external along Waterlode.
Image source, Nantwich NewsShakespeare on Tour: The big attraction in Cheshirepublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
BBC Radio StokeDid you know a Cheshire town proved to be a big attraction for Shakespeare's players between 1614 and 1633?
Image source, Paul MacLean and REEDThat's just one of the 200 stories which BBC Local Radio stations are starting to broadcast from this week.
Shakespeare on Tour has uncovered surprising stories about where the bard's plays were performed and some of the iconic moments of his life and the life of his plays.
Football: Crewe Alexandra's Easter games 'will determine their fate'published at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Ged Scott
BBC SportCrewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis predicts that the relegation-threatened League One club's fate could largely be determined over the Easter weekend.
Image source, EmpicsThe Alex are now eight points adrift of safety with nine games of the season to play, having won just once in 17.
They now visit Sheffield United on Good Friday before entertaining Bradford City on Easter Monday.
Your pictures: Swan feeding and the setting Stoke sunpublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveIt's great getting to see your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire and one way people are sharing them with me is Instagram, external.
Kath Dawson from Stone sent me this one of a swan on the local canal.
Image source, Kath DawsonWhile Sharon Chell tagged BBC Stoke in her photo of the sunset last night in Stoke-on-Trent.
If you use Instagram , externalyou can do the same by just adding #bbcstoke to your photo's description if you agree to share the picture with me.
Image source, Sharon ChellTwo Alton Towers victims present cheques to emergency servicespublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeTwo teenagers seriously hurt in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have raised thousands of pounds to help the emergency services , externalin Staffordshire.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue ServiceStaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say Leah Washington, who had a leg amputated above the knee, and Joe Pugh presented two cheques totalling over £14,000.
They say the money will go towards the Staffordshire Safer Communities CIC and the Midlands Air Ambulance charity.
Human error caused the crash in June, the Staffordshire theme park has said. The Smiler rollercoaster reopened over the weekend.
Quote MessageThis is another way of saying thank-you. We wanted to show how much we appreciated what they did for us on that day.
Leah Washington
Football: Defender wants Port Vale fans to 'give us another chance'published at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokePort Vale defender Ben Purkiss is urging the club's supporters to keep backing the team as they push for the play-offs.
Image source, Getty ImagesVale remain three points off League One's top six after losing 4-0 at home to leaders Burton on Saturday.
Purkiss told BBC Radio Stoke that thankfully Saturday's result isn't the norm.
Quote MessageNormally, we are quite good at home, we actually play quite good football at home too so hopefully they (the fans) will give us another chance."
Ben Purkiss, Port Vale defender
