Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 6 April 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 6 April 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Thursday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Dozens of cannabis plants found in police raidpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio StokeMore than 75 cannabis plants have been found , externalin a police raid at a house in Cannock.
Staffordshire Police say they were discovered at Hallcourt Close yesterday morning in "varying stages of growth".
Image source, GoogleThe force says it's investigating after getting information from the local community.
According to the officers the electricity at the site had been bypassed and "posed a significant risk of causing an electrical fire".
This evening on BBC Midlands Today: House destroyed by explosion and stopping bee declinepublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayAn explosion which destroyed a house in Birmingham, the impact of the latest junior doctors strike and what's being done to stop the decline of bees.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceThose are all stories we'll be covering on BBC Midlands Today this evening from 18:30 on BBC One.
Football: Crewe 'going down with a whimper' says Foxpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra's David Fox has told BBC Radio Stoke the players were hurt by their manager's comments after the game at Peterborough.
Image source, EmpicsSteve Davis questioned their attitude and commitment following a 3-0 defeat.
Fox says they're determined to bounce back against Port Vale on Saturday.
Quote MessageYou've got to take it on the chin, you've got to move on, you've got to try and put it right. I think one thing at the minute is we're going down with a whimper and that hurts the most."
David Fox, Crewe Alexandra manager
Your pictures: Stunning Stoke sunset and a frosty Biddulph Grangepublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveMore great pictures now of Staffordshire.
This amazing sunset was taken by Paul Middlaton in Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, Paul MiddlatonWhile this one of the recent frosty weather hitting Biddulph Grange Country Park has come from Mark Sandbach.
Have you got a picture to share? You can send it in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or put it on Instagram and tag it #bbcstoke, external.
Image source, Mark SandbachMan rescued from Staffordshire firepublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeA man's been rescued from fire at a flat , externalin Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says its crews were called to Ford Street, Silverdale, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
They forced their way in and rescued the man from his kitchen which was full of smoke.
He was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for treatment after breathing in the smoke.
JCB pays tribute to Andrew Cooper who died on Rocester roadpublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Bosses at JCB have paid tribute to an "extremely popular" 39-year-old who was killed after his car collided with a tree , externalin Rocester.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserRugeley staff offered permanent positions by Amazonpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeAmazon, external says more than 200 people who had seasonal roles at their base in Staffordshire over Christmas are going to be offered full-time positions.
Image source, GoogleIt'll mean that the online retailer will have a total of 1,200 staff working at its processing base in Rugeley.
Amazon says the jobs are part of its plans to create 2,500 permanent jobs in the UK this year.
Warning after youngster dies in blinds 'tragedy'published at 17:12 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
BBC Radio StokeThe parents of a 16-month-old girl who was strangled by a window blind cord in Stoke-on-Trent say they are speaking out to try to stop another tragedy.
Bronwyn Taylor was playing at her grandparents' house when she became tangled in the metal cords and stopped breathing.
She was pronounced dead at the Royal Stoke University Hospital on Saturday afternoon.
Quote MessageYou hear about stuff happening like that but you think in the house you're safe."
Matthew Taylor, Bronwyn's father
M6 tanker fire: One lane still shut northboundpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Rebecca Bradshaw
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeA transport firm says it's going to hold a detailed investigation to find out why one of its tankers burst into flames on the M6, external near Crewe.
Image source, North West Motorway PoliceThe Hoyer tanker, external was carrying diesel when it broke down on the northbound side at junction 16 this afternoon - the company says it subsequently suffered damage to the back of the vehicle but "no other third party was involved".
The fire caused the whole of the M6 to be shut at one time while emergency services put the blaze out - no-one was hurt and Highways England say most of the lanes have now been reopened.
News: Tanker fire shuts motorway for hours; 200 permanent jobs at Amazon base; animal remains found 'dumped' in bagspublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Jack Dowling
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are among the top stories for Staffordshire and Cheshire this evening:
- A transport firm says it's going to hold a detailed investigation to find out why one of its tankers burst into flames on the M6, external near Crewe
- Amazon, external says more than 200 people who had seasonal roles at their base in Staffordshire over Christmas are going to be offered full-time positions
- The remains of five foxes and a badger have been found dumped in plastic bags in Staffordshire say police
Foxes and badger found 'dumped' in bags in Staffordshirepublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe remains of five foxes and a badger have been found dumped in plastic bags in Staffordshire say police.
Image source, Staffordshire Rural WatchStaffordshire Police say they were called this morning to reports of several dead wild animals being found, external on Hilton Lane, Essington.
The badger's being sent for a post-mortem examination to try to find out how it died.
Football: Shawcross and Shaqiri could play for Stoke against Liverpoolpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Lee Blakeman
BBC Radio Stoke SportThe Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross may return from injury in the club's game at Liverpool this Sunday.
Image source, Getty ImagesThat's what the Potters assistant manager Mark Bowen told BBC Radio Stoke this afternoon - he also said Xherdan Shaqiri could be back in the squad for this weekend's match.
However, he said midfielder Glenn Whelan is a "major doubt".
Vandal attack on charity which supports sex abuse victimspublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeA Stoke-on-Trent charity's appealing for donations after they say vandals threw a brick through a window of their building.
Image source, GoogleA spokesperson for Savana, external, which is based on Etruria Road, says it resulted in damage to furniture in their children's therapy room, which is used to helps the victims of sexual abuse.
Staffordshire Police say they're investigating after the incident, which they say happened at some time on Friday night.
Good Samaritan leaves elderly couple in tears with extraordinary gesturepublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Middlewich Guardian
An elderly couple were taken by surprise by an extraordinary gesture of kindness, external by a stranger in Middlewich in their hour of need.
Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather for tonight and tomorrowpublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Sara Thornton
BBC WeatherYou can also get the latest weather forecast at any time for Staffordshire and Cheshire from the BBC website.
First day of new state pension systempublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Kevin Peachey
Online personal finance reporterAn overhauled state pension - being paid to new, rather than existing pensioners - has begun, with some set to gain while others lose out.
Image source, PAThe government's long-term aim is simplification, stripping away extras such as the second state pension.
It will also become cheaper, in time, for the government with many of those in their 20s and 30s receiving less than they would under the old system.
Read more, including whether you are a winner or a loser under the new system.
M6 tanker fire: Transport firm say driver unhurtpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveWe've heard from transport firm Hoyer , externalwho own the tanker involved in today's fire on the M6 north at junction 16 and they say their driver is not hurt.
Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue ServiceCheshire Fire and Rescue Service have also released this picture showing the blaze appears to be out although the motorway remains shut, as they tackle a diesel leak from it, external.
Football: Burton winger nominated for monthly awardpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Owen Bradley
BBC Radio Derby SportBurton Albion winger Mark Duffy has been nominated for the League One player of the month award for March., external
Duffy scored both goals as the Brewers beat Fleetwood Town and grabbed another in the 4-0 win at Port Vale.
Image source, EmpicsThe other contenders are Bradford defender Nathan Clarke, Wigan striker Will Grigg and Shrewsbury midfielder Sullay Kaikai, with the winner to be announced on Friday.
M6 tanker fire: Diesel leaked on to carriagewaypublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 6 April 2016
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIveA large amount of diesel's leaked on to the northbound carriageway, external of the M6, says the fire service, which is tackling a tanker fire.
Image source, North West Motorway PoliceCheshire Fire and Rescue Service say the leak is from one of the vehicle's six compartments so they've covered the area in a "foam blanket" and are blocking drains.
Highways England says the northbound side of the M6 remains closed at junction 16.
