Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Friday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Thursday 21 April 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Watch: Tonight and tomorrow's weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 17:59 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayThe BBC website also has the latest weather forecast for any part of Staffordshire or Cheshire.
Football: No Shaqiri for Stoke for their Manchester City matchpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City will be without Xherdan Shaqiri for the lunchtime kick-off at Manchester City on Saturday according to manager Mark Hughes, who's spoken at his regular press conference.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe winger was replaced at half-time with an slight hamstring injury against Tottenham who went on to win 4-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Monday night.
Shay Given is set to retain his place in goal against his former club but Glen Johnson, Jon Walters and Marc Wilson also miss out.
Ten things no-one tells you before running the London Marathonpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC NewsbeatMany people from the region will be among the 38,000 people running the 36th London Marathon this Sunday.
Image source, Getty ImagesFor many, it will be their first time so, to get you prepared, BBC Newsbeat's drawn up the 10 things which every London Marathon virgin will want to know.
On Midlands Today this evening: Spiritual leader jailed for fraudpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands TodayTonight on BBC Midlands Today - a spiritual leader from Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for 14 years for money laundering and mortgage and tax fraud.
Image source, GoogleThere were dramatic scenes in court as others involved were also given prison terms today and I'll have the full story on BBC One from 18:30.
Tamworth backpack campaign will help world's poorest childrenpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Tamworth schools, churches and community groups are being urged to throw their weight behind a project which will help, external provide a brighter future for some of the world's poorest children.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldYour pictures: Stunning Tamworth wildlife photopublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThis gorgeous bird was photographed in Tamworth by Clive Fisher who shared it with us.
Image source, Clive FisherIt's great to get your pictures so keep sending them by email, tweet them to @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.
CS gas confirmed as substance in Stafford canister incidentpublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokePolice have confirmed it was CS gas that was released at a McDonald's in Stafford on Monday night, leading to two teenagers needing hospital treatment.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance ServiceTwo men have been charged by Staffordshire Police, external in connection with the Eccleshall Road incident.
Police move to cut tensions after 'holy man' sentencingpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveWe're heard from Staffordshire Police, external this afternoon following the sentencing of self-styled holy man and healer Mehboob Akhtar from Stoke-on-Trent and 9 of his inner circle for their involvement in fraud.
In a statement, Ch Supt Martin Evans said they welcomed the sentences and added that they were aware of "some tension at Birmingham Crown Court".
He added that their officers were working with communities and other agencies to cut any tensions following the sentencing.
News: Self-styled holy man jailed for fraud; boy named after car hit; Stoke City rename and expand stadiumpublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire this evening include:
- A self-styled holy man and healer from Stoke-on-Trent has been sentenced to 14 years in prison
- A seven-year-old boy who died in hospital five days after he was hit by a car in Stoke-on-Trent has been named by police
- Stoke City Football Club have announced they are to rename and expand the Britannia Stadium
Football: Crewe's Saunders has burden to carry - Collinspublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Dan Wheeler
BBC SportStriker Callum Saunders has a big burden to carry being the son of a famous father but has the talent to forge a successful career, says Crewe Alexandra assistant boss James Collins.
Image source, EmpicsSaunders, 20, is the son of former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Wales striker Dean and signed his first professional deal at Crewe last summer.
Quote MessageHe's a late developer. But he threatens the back four and gives us a threat - he's a goalscorer.
James Collins, Crewe Alexandra assistant boss
Police name 'much loved' boy who died after being hit by carpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, JournalistA seven-year-old boy who died in hospital five days after he was hit by a car in Stoke-on-Trent has been named by police.
Staffordshire Police say Kayden Dunn was from Fitzherbert Road in Sneyd Green, external.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceIn a statement, his mother Tonie and the rest of his family said he was "much loved".
The collision took place on Repington Road, near its junction with Bagot Grove, in the Sneyd Green area of the city at about 17:00 on 14 April.
Family of self-styled holy man also jailed for their part in fraudpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands TodayMore now on the sentencing that's been going on at Birmingham Crown Court this afternoon.
Already self-styled holy man Mehboob Akhtar aka Saint Pandariman, 60, of Farman Close has been jailed for 14 years after being convicted of 11 counts.
Since then, his co-accused, including his wife, daughter and niece, were imprisoned for between one and 11 years for their part in the mortgage fraud, money laundering and tax fraud that took place between 2003 and 2012.
There were shouts and screams from the public gallery as the defendants were taken down following sentencing, including shouts of "no justice".
Plea to help tackle antisocial behaviour near village greenpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
A Barlaston resident has asked the parish council for help to stop antisocial behaviour at the village green's car park, external.
Watch: Cheshire campaigners want to change village addressespublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokePeople living in a Cheshire village could soon have a change of address.
Campaigners want Royal Mail , externalto recognise Wistaston as not being part of Crewe in their postal address system - at the moment the town's name appears on much of the village's post, especially official mail, such as bills.
Now postal bosses are launching a consultation on the idea.
Watch: The Staffordshire hole that cost £2mpublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Kevin Reide
Midlands TodayA large sink hole that appeared in a B&B car park in north Staffordshire has been repaired at a cost of more than £2m.
The 40m-deep (130ft) sinkhole appeared next to The Laurels, in Oakamoor, in April 2014.
The repair work, the cost of which was mainly met by insurers, has been extensive.
Watch: Uttoxeter's Adam Peaty 'relieved' to have made Rio squadpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
John Bray
BBC Midlands TodayUttoxeter's world champion Adam Peaty says he's "relieved" to have made the GB swimming squad for the Rio 2016 Games and a gold medal is his motivation.
Loved ones gather to say farewell to JCB worker after Rocester crashpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Family and friends gathered to say goodbye to devoted family man, external Andrew Cooper.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserCall for smoking ban at Stoke-on-Trent hospitalpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio StokeA mother who says she suffered from second-hand smoke at Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital , externalfor 10 days says she wants it banned from the grounds completely.
Victoria Bentham told BBC Radio Stoke she had to keep the windows closed as smoke drifted in from people that gathered by the ward's entrance.
The head of midwifery at the Royal Stoke University Hospital says they're trying to get smoking banned on site.
Self-styled holy man and healer jailed for 14 years for fraudpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands TodayA self-styled holy man and healer from Stoke-on-Trent has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Mehboob Akhtar aka Saint Pandariman, 60, of Farman Close, was convicted of 11 counts including five of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Image source, GoogleNine of his inner circle, including his wife and daughter, are still to be sentenced for their part in the mortgage fraud, money laundering and tax fraud that took place between 2003 and 2012.
Summing up at Birmingham Crown Court, the judge said Pandariman had "let down his followers", adding "your role as a spiritual guide provided cover and you financed your activities through donations obtained in part because of your spiritual role".
