Summary

  • Updates on Monday 21 March 2016

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

  1. Ayeeshia Jane Smith murder trial: Stepfather 'last person to see her'published at 15:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A mother jointly accused of stamping her toddler to death in Staffordshire has told a court the child's stepfather was the last person to see her before she had a fatal collapse.

    Kathryn Smith said her then partner Matthew Rigby, 22, joined her in the kitchen "a couple of moments" after she had left him and daughter Ayeeshia Jane Smith in the bedroom in Burton-upon-Trent, on 1 May 2014. 

    Ayeeshia Jane Smith

    The 23-year-old told a jury that a few moments later they both heard her child "gasp" and she, along with Rigby, ran to the child's room to find the 21-month-old lying on her side in the cot, pale, lips bubbling and "staring out of the window". 

    Ms Smith and Mr Rigby, both from Nottingham, deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty. 

    The trial continues.

  2. News: Hospital operations cancelled in flu outbreak; 'shared space' scheme scrapped; Alton Towers victims raise thousandspublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Chris King
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The main headlines at Staffordshire and Cheshire this afternoon

    - Dozens of hospital operations have been cancelled today in Staffordshire due to severe pressure on beds caused by a flu outbreak

    - Plans to create a 'shared space' in Congleton by removing kerbs between pavements and the road have been scrapped

    - Two teenagers seriously hurt in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have raised thousands of pounds to help the emergency services , externalin Staffordshire  

  3. Convicted sex offenders taken off registerpublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Joe Nimmo
    BBC News Online

    Almost 30 convicted sex offenders have been removed from the register in Staffordshire and Cheshire in the past four years, the BBC has learned.

    Since 2012, across the country, at least 170 rapists and 157 child abusers were told they no longer had to register with the police.  

    Bonnet of police cars

    More than 50% of applications - allowed under a 2010 Supreme Court ruling - were successful, a Freedom of Information request revealed.  

    Figures showed Staffordshire Police, external approved 45.95% of requests, while neighbouring Cheshire Police approved 42.31%.

    The Home Office has issued guidance, external stating offenders should only be removed if it is no longer necessary for them to be registered to protect the public from sexual harm.  

  4. Watch: Video tour of Stoke-on-Trent homeless centrepublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    James Bovill
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    We're hearing today about the uncertain future facing the Lou Macari homeless centre in Stoke-on-Trent, external as its two-month trial ends in a matter of days.

    Back when the place opened last month, I took a look around the site which has 18 beds for rough sleepers. 

  5. Operations cancelled as flu outbreak hits hospitalspublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Dozens of hospital operations have been cancelled today in Staffordshire due to severe pressure on beds caused by a flu outbreak.

    Royal Stoke University Hospital

    The University Hospitals of North Midlands, external say critical care beds at both its sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford are at full capacity. 

    It has asking surrounding hospitals to admit some of its patients to help cope with what it calls unprecedented pressures. 

    Quote Message

    Our surgeons have and will continue to be in touch with their patients, and will do everything they can to reschedule appointments as quickly as possible."

    Dr John Oxtoby, Medical Director, University Hospitals of North Midlands

  6. Watch: First stage of Stafford's £70m Riverside development openspublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    John Acres
    BBC Radio Stoke

    Stafford's new 1,000-space Waterfront multi-storey car park has opened to the public, external this morning.

    It's the first stage of the £70m Riverside retail and leisure scheme in the town which will also feature a six screen cinema. 

    The car park overlooks the new development and the first shops in the project are set to open this summer.

  7. Cheshire town's planned 'shared space' scrappedpublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Phil McCann
    Political reporter, Cheshire

    Plans to create a 'shared space' in Congleton by removing kerbs between pavements and the road have been scrapped.

    Artists impression of how the street could lookImage source, Cheshire East Council

    It's after a national report last year labelled them "dangerous", especially for the visually impaired. 

    Plans to regenerate the town centre, external, costing £1m, will still go ahead, but new kerbs will now be included instead. 

  8. Coming up on Midlands Today this lunchtime: Homeless centre's futurepublished at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Laura Mcmullan
    Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

    This lunchtime on Midlands Today we'll have more on the uncertain future of a homeless hostel in Stoke-on-Trent. 

    Homeless man getting food from volunteer

    There are fears the Lou Macari centre could shut next week after a two-month trial.

    I've been to meet people living on the streets and find out more about the concerns - watch my report on Midlands Today from 13:30 on BBC One.

  9. Football: 'We're all frustrated' - Crewe boss replies to angry fanspublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Crewe Alexandra's manager Steve Davis says he will pick himself up after some supporters were calling for his resignation at the weekend.

    Steve DavisImage source, Getty Images

    The Alex have won just one of the last 17 games and find themselves eight points away from safety with nine games of the season to play.

    Davis told BBC Radio Stoke he's adamant the fight is not over. 

    Quote Message

    I pick myself up, I think you've got to as a manager. Listen, it's nothing I've not heard before from certain parts of the crowd and we're all frustrated, we all feel the same, it hurts us all."

    Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager

  10. News: Homeless pledge in Stoke-on-Trent; sex offenders taken off register; storage fire treated as arsonpublished at 12:32

    Chris King
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    This afternoon's top stories include

    - Stoke-on-Trent City Council's told BBC Radio Stoke it is looking at ways to continue helping homeless people amid concerns over one centre's future

    - Almost 30 convicted sex offenders have been removed from the register in Staffordshire and Cheshire in the past four years, the BBC has learned

     - A large fire at a storage facility in Longport, external, Stoke-on-Trent is believed to have been started deliberately, according to the fire service

  11. Man who travelled to rape girl, 12, in hotel room 'faces long jail termpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Tamworth Herald

    A man who travelled from Liverpool to have sex in a hotel room with a 12-year-old girl, external from North Warwickshire, who he had befriended through social media sites, is facing a long jail term.

    Warwick Crown CourtImage source, Tamworth Herald
  12. Storage site fire being treated as arsonpublished at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Jodie Looker
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A large fire at a storage facility in Longport, Stoke-on-Trent is believed to have been started deliberately, according to the fire service.  

    Westport Lake RoadImage source, Google

    Crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Future Storage on Westport Lake Road on Saturday morning, external

    There's also concern from the fire service that water, contaminated with chemical material being stored there, leaked into the Trent and Mersey Canal.  

  13. Watch: This afternoon's Stoke and Staffordshire weather forecastpublished at 11:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

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

  14. BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Orange clouds in Cannock and Madeley daffodilspublished at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    BBC Weather Watchers

    There are some lovely pictures sent in over the weekend from our BBC Weather Watchers.

    This one's from Cannock and was uploaded by John K.

    CannockImage source, John K

    And Young Ted found these daffodils to photograph in the Madeley area.

    Want to have the chance to have your photo of the weather featured here? Head to the BBC Weather Watcher website and sign up.

    Daffodils in MadeleyImage source, Young Ted
  15. Travel: Overturned lorry on A525 in Keelepublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    BBC Travel

    The A525 Keele Road in Keele is shut both ways because of an overturned lorry.

    It's between the Leycett Lane and the B5044 Pepper Street junctions - a diversion is in operation.

  16. Domestic abuse victims in Staffordshire to get video-link helppublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    James Bovill
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Domestic abuse victims in Staffordshire will be able to give evidence via video-link rather than in court or police stations, under new plans unveiled today. 

    North Staffordshire Justice Centre

    A pilot begins in May in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle under Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands for cases going through magistrate courts.

    It's being funded with £20,000 from the Ministry of Justice.

  17. Have your say on BBC Radio Stoke today: Teachers being unfairpublished at 10:43 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2016

    Perry Spiller
    Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Today I want to know when has a teacher been unfair to you?

    Barry Hines in 1984

    It follows the sad news over the weekend that Barry Hines, the Yorkshire author who wrote the novel on which Ken Loach's film Kes was based, has died aged 76.

    If you've seen the film, you'll remember the famous scene of the PE teacher, Mr Sugden, retaking his penalty.

    So when has a teacher been unfair to you? You can get involved by calling 01782 208008 until 13:00, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or email me.