Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Tuesday 29 March 2016
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Wednesday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Watch: Baby meerkats explore outside for first timepublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio StokeThree meerkat pups, which were born at Chester Zoo, external nine weeks ago, have just emerged from their burrow for the first time, the zoo says.
A spokesperson says at the moment it's unclear whether the pups are male or female, but they'll have a health check-up next month - after which they'll be named.
Football: Crewe Alexandra boss refuses to accept relegation is inevitablepublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Dan Wheeler
BBC SportCrewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says he will never give up hope that they can still avoid relegation from League One despite their precarious position.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Railwaymen are 11 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table with seven games remaining.
Quote MessageI'll always be an optimist who believes you can always achieve things. If I said 'that's it, we're down', you'd question my mentality.
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Police step up investigation into Burton hit and runpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Attempts to find a hit and run driver are being ramped up by police, external as the investigation into the incident moves into its third day.
Image source, Burton MailLibraries: The decline of a profession?published at 17:42 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Peter Sherlock
Data unitLibrarians are custodians to a world of information and ideas, performing an important democratic role, their supporters argue.
But with 8,000 jobs in UK libraries disappearing in six years, is that status under threat?
Image source, ThinkstockIn 2010 the Chancellor George Osborne unveiled the biggest UK spending cuts for decades. Since then, libraries have seen an influx of volunteer staff in areas including Staffordshire and Cheshire - with a quarter of paid jobs disappearing in the same time.
I've been looking at whether the role of a librarian is now under threat and you can read the full story on the BBC website here.
BBC Midlands Today this evening: £250m to ease a railway bottleneckpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands TodayThis evening - it's been one of the biggest railway engineering projects in the country, external, costing £250m.
The new Norton Bridge near Stafford will ease a major bottleneck on the West Coast Main Line.
I'll be looking at how big a job this was for Network Rail and what the benefits should be for passengers - all on BBC Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One.
Police name man after fatal Staffordshire A51 crashpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeA man who died in a crash in Staffordshire at the weekend has today been named, external by police.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say Frank Woodcock, 62, of Pipe Gate, Woore, was driving a green Ford Transit when it collided with a Ford Focus on the A51 in Stableford.
Officers said he died at the scene - a man and a woman in the car were shaken but unhurt.
Watch: Many high street pharmacies in Staffordshire 'face closure'published at 17:24 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokePharmacists in north Staffordshire say nearly a third of high street dispensaries could close as part of government proposals, external.
The Department of Health says there are more pharmacies than necessary and is looking at moving some of them into GP practices, care homes and online to give patients more choice.
Raj Morjaria, who runs six pharmacies in Stoke-on-Trent, is one of the local pharmacists who says he is concerned about the future for patients.
Heritage group wins vote for Staffordshire flagpublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Jack Walker
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeStaffordshire has a new flag, designed by the Staffordshire Heritage group, after their entry won a public vote. , external
Image source, Staffordshire Heritage GroupThe County Council withdrew its design, which has a lion on it, from the poll on the Flag Institute's website.
The charity says overall there were 777 valid votes - the heritage group's flag got 566 to 211 for the council's.
Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather for tonight and tomorrowpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterStaffordshire and Cheshire's latest weather can also be found on the BBC website.
News: Murder accused denies hurting toddler; first Syrian refugees resettled in Staffordshire; Butland out for seasonpublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke- A man accused of the murder of a 21-month-old child in Burton has told a court today: "I would never hurt her"
- Ten refugees from Syria, the first to be resettled in Staffordshire, have arrived in the area, the county council says
- Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland has confirmed he will miss Euro 2016 after fracturing his ankle in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Germany in Berlin
Ayeeshia Jane Smith murder trial: Ex-partner carried out CPR 'while mother got cannabis'published at 16:53 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
BBC Radio StokeA man accused of murdering toddler Ayeeshia Jane Smith in Burton in May 2014 has told a court he carried out CPR on the child in February of the same year while her mother was out getting cannabis.
Matthew Rigby claimed he was about to take a shower when he heard a noise from the 21-month-old and found her turning "blue". Brimingham Crown Court heard the little girl made a full recovery after a spell in hospital.
Both Mr Rigby, 22, of Sloan Drive, Nottingham and Ayeeshia's mother, Kathryn Smith, 23, of Sandfield Road, Nottingham, deny murder, allowing or causing a child's death and child cruelty.
The trial continues.
Football: Play-offs 'tough ask' for Port Valepublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokeThe Port Vale manager Rob Page has admitted that it will be a tough ask for his side to reach the League One play-offs this season.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Vale lost 1-0 at home to Barnsley yesterday.
Page told BBC Radio Stoke that while the play-offs may be out of reach, his side will do their best to finish on a high.
Quote MessageIt is a long shot? Yes, of course it is, we're realistic. The attitude of the players is we're professionals, let's get on with preparing for this next game, bring it on, let's get out and let's have a look at what we've got for the rest of the season.
Rob Page, Port Vale manager
Fire officers rescue man stuck up tree in Burntwoodpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
A man has been rescued in Burntwood this morning after he became stuck in a tree, external eight metres above the ground.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryBBC Weather Watcher photos: From a Brereton lake to Trentham flowerspublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
We get some fantastic pictures through from our BBC Weather Watchers every day.
This one's from Welsh Wizard in Brereton cum Smethwick, Cheshire.
Image source, Welsh WizardMeanwhile, BBC Weather Watcher Gill uploaded this picture taken in Trentham.
If you want to see your photos potentially featured here and on the regional news updates, head to the website and sign up.
Image source, GillFirst Syria refugees resettle in Staffordshirepublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokeTen refugees from Syria, the first to be resettled in Staffordshire, have arrived in the area, the county council says.
Image source, APThe announcement comes months after David Cameron told MPs the UK would accept up to 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years.
Staffordshire County Council , externalsays the group, a family of four and a family of six, are settling into new homes. The authority says it's preparing for more arrivals over the coming weeks.
Football: Tough weekend for Burton and Cloughpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Nigel Cash
BBC Radio Derby SportBurton Albion's lead at the top of League One has been cut to just one point after a difficult Easter.
Nigel Clough's team took just a single point from a possible six.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Brewers lost 2-0 at Millwall last night. The loss follows a goalless draw with Oldham on Saturday.
Wigan are now hot on their heels at the top of the table.
Football: Stoke goalkeeper to miss Euro 2016published at 15:39 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
BBC SportStoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland has confirmed he will miss Euro 2016 after fracturing his ankle in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Germany in Berlin.
Image source, Getty ImagesButland, 23, will have an operation on Tuesday after hurting himself moments before conceding Germany's opener.
The player was in tears as he was taken off on a stretcher and England manager Roy Hodgson described the injury as a "devastating blow" for the squad.
Quote MessageI don't think [the European Championships] are going to be an option for me now to be honest because I won't be able to play again between now and the end of the season.
Jack Butland, Stoke City goalkeeper
Man dies in Staffordshire after being hit by trainpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeA man's died after being hit by a train at Penkridge railway station, police say.
Image source, GoogleBritish Transport Police, external says there don't look to be any suspicious circumstances around his death.
The force says the man's identity is yet to be confirmed and it will put together a full report for the Coroner.
News: Murder accused denies hurting toddler; man dies at railway stationpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 29 March 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe main headlines this afternoon include:
- A man's died after being hit by a train at Penkridge railway station, police say
- A man accused of the murder of a 21-month-old child in Burton has told a court today: "I would never hurt her"
- Train journeys through part of Staffordshire could be faster in the future, external and there could be more of them, according to Network Rail
