Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Wednesday 23 March 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Thursday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Watch: Coming up on BBC Midlands Todaypublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayThe world's biggest passenger plane and (possibly) Britain's busiest vicar on the show tonight.
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End of twitter postJoy for Hednesford resident after winning parking ticket battlepublished at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
A man who fought a parking charge given to his niece in Hednesford believes others should be aware of the issue of bad signage, external at a notorious car park in the town.
Image source, Cannock MercuryPlan to get more children to visit Peak Districtpublished at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeAll schoolchildren are to be given the chance to visit England's national parks, external, which include the Peak District, under government plans.
Ministers say they want all schools to engage with national parks and include them in the curriculum.
Quote MessageNational Parks already welcome over 90 million visitors every year and make a major contribution to our vibrant rural economy - but too many children in our country are not aware of these natural wonders."
Elizabeth Truss, Environment Secretary
Missing children failed by police, inspectors saypublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeChildren in England and Wales who go missing are being left at risk of serious harm because of "unacceptable inconsistencies" in the way police respond, the police watchdog has said.
Image source, Getty ImagesNearly 67,000 children reportedly went missing once or more last year.
Some forces wrongly recorded children as "absent", and saw those who went missing repeatedly as "time-wasters", HM Inspectorate of Constabulary found, external.
Inspectors also said good work was taking place and highlighted Cheshire Police for their work on having a consistent approach to reporting.
The National Police Chiefs' Council said improvements would be made.
Sports clubs turfed off historic Staffordshire estatepublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeFootball and cricket players are warning they could have nowhere to hold matches later this year after several teams were given notice to leave pitches at the Shugborough Estate., external
The historic estate's owner, The National Trust, is taking over its management this autumn and says it plans to provide sports activities which have a "minimal impact" on the historic parkland.
The clubs say they have written to Stafford's MP, Jeremy Lefroy, to ask for help in their search to find new playing fields.
Football: Crewe boss ready to pick new teenage signingpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra's new signing Daniel Udoh will be given his chance in the first team this season if he can prove himself in training, according to his manager.
Image source, Worcester City FCThe 19-year-old striker has been signed from non-league side Ilkeston on a two-year contract.
Crewe's manager Steve Davis says he'll have no hesitation in picking him if he impresses.
Quote MessageHe might be one that just goes straight in and does very well, he might need a little bit longer to adapt because he's been used to part-time football and he needs a little bit more in terms of the training intensity and the fitness."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Your pictures: Staffordshire's wildlifepublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA couple of stunning wildlife pictures for you now, sent in by people in Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Firstly this robin was photographed in Stafford by Wingy who tweeted it to @BBCRadioStoke, external.
Image source, WingyAnd this stunning photo of deer was taken by Chris Hollingworth in Whitmore Heath, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Image source, Chris HolingworthA34 in Stone to be closed overnight for two weekspublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
A stretch of the A34 will be closed overnight in Stone for two weeks in April , externalto allow surfacing work to be carried out as part of the Meaford development.
News: Death trial mum 'spent benefits on weed'; ex-PC jailed over fatal crash; Stoke Labour MP on 'hostile' listpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe top stories for Staffordshire and Cheshire this evening include:
- A woman accused of fatally stamping on her daughter in Staffordshire used the money she received in benefits to fund her cannabis habit, a court hears
- A former police officer has been jailed for killing a mother and her 14-year-old daughter who died in a five-car crash in Staffordshire
- The Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Tristram Hunt has appeared on a leaked list of 19 Labour MPs, external apparently most "hostile" to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn
Former police officer 'completely reckless'published at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Andy Giddings
BBC Local LiveStaffordshire Police have described a former West Mercia officer who caused the deaths of a mother and daughter by dangerous driving as "completely reckless", external.
Vinod Dahiya from Telford was jailed this afternoon after pleading guilty to the offences.
Sgt Ian Tanner from the Staffordshire force said he hoped today's plea and sentence brought some comfort to the family of the victims, who came from Market Drayton.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceWest Mercia Police said it wouldn't comment on the case other than to say "our thoughts are with the victims' families at this sad time".
Watch: Thinking big garden dreams in a £1 housepublished at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIveThe BBC Two show Big Dreams Small Spaces has visited Stoke-on-Trent.
The aim of the programme is to help people create the garden of their dreams.
I went to see the results at Anna and Andrew's home in Hanley, which they bought for £1.
Modern slavery victims rescued in Staffordshirepublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokeThirteen victims of modern slavery, external have been rescued by Staffordshire Police since the start of this year, according to new figures.
The force says modern slavery covers all sorts of abuse including forced labour, human trafficking and sexual abuse.
It says officers are being given more training to spot the signs of slavery, better understand the law around it and how and where victims should be referred to for help and protection.
V Festival line-ups finalisedpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Andy Giddings
BBC Local LiveThe V Festival has announced which acts will be performing on which night this summer.
Rihanna will headline the event at Weston Park on Saturday night and Justin Bieber will be the main attraction on the Sunday.
Image source, Getty ImagesKaiser Chiefs, David Guetta and Little Mix will also be appearing on Saturday 20 August and Faithless, Bastille and Jess Glynne will be there the following day.
The V Festival is split across two sites, with the acts playing at Weston Park and Chelmsford on alternate nights.
Watch: The weather forecast for tonight for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayThe BBC website also has the latest forecast, available at anytime, for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Football: Stoke's Walters out for Irelandpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City striker Jon Walters will miss the Republic of Ireland's friendlies this week with a hamstring injury.
Image source, Getty ImagesHis club say the 31-year-old hasn't overcome a minor hamstring injury, external but is hoping to be fit for the Republic's match with Slovakia next week.
Terror at the terminal as group including Burton man stranded in Brussels attackpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
A 25-year-old Burton man has been left stranded in Brussels following two terrorist attacks, external which killed more than 30 people.
Image source, Burton MailJunior doctors to stage A&E walk-outpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
BBC News EnglandJunior doctors in England are escalating their strike action next month to include a walk-out of A&E.
Image source, PAIt will be the first time ever doctors have refused to provide emergency cover - the previous three walkouts in this row have not affected A&E.
The British Medical Association said it had been left with "no choice" in its fight against government plans to impose a new contract.
Previous strikes have seen hundreds of appointments and operations postponed at local hospitals.
Ayeeshia Jane Smith murder trial: Mother 'spent benefits on cannabis'published at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA woman accused of fatally stamping on her daughter in Staffordshire was spending her benefits to fund a £30-a-week cannabis habit, a court has heard.
Birmingham Crown Court heard Kathryn Smith refer to around "£52" income support she got each week as "my money" and said the drugs were paid for out of that cash.
She said she was using cannabis around the time of the death of 21-month-old Ayeeshia Jane Smith at the family flat in Burton-upon-Trent in 2014.
Ms Smith, 23, from Sandfield Road, Nottingham, and Matthew Rigby, 22, of Sloan Drive, Nottingham, both deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty.
The trial continues.
News: Ex-PC jailed over death crash; toddler trial hears 'benefits spent on cannabis'; thousands of cases of animal crueltypublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are among the main headlines this afternoon for Staffordshire and Cheshire:
- A former police officer has been jailed for killing a mother and her 14-year-old daughter who died in a five-car crash in Staffordshire
- A woman accused of fatally stamping on her daughter in Staffordshire was spending her benefits to fund a £30-a-week cannabis habit, a court has heard - she denies the charges and the trial continues
- There were more than 6,000 cases of animal cruelty, external in Staffordshire and Cheshire last year, according to the RSPCA
