Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

A man from Staffordshire says an operation to amputate his leg has been postponed because of this week's strike by junior doctors. 

David Leech from Rugeley has written to his local MP, Michael Fabricant, saying he blames the "intransigence of the government". 

He says his operation's been rescheduled for next month but fears it could be delayed again by more walkouts. 

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the government will not back down on imposing the new contract at the heart of the dispute.

Audlem Online

A grant of £1,000 has been made by Cheshire East Council to the Audlem Music , external& Arts Festival.  

Image source, Audlem Online

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale's assistant manager Paul Bodin says it's still hard to say whether they'll be able to keep most of this year's squad together. 

Image source, Port Vale FC

The club has only nine players under contract for next season and chairman Norman Smurthwaite says the budget could be cut by up to £800,000.

Bodin told BBC Radio Stoke he's still not sure what will happen.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A sunrise in Barlaston, Staffordshire, and sunny fields in Sandbach - just two of the photos uploaded in the last few hours by our team of BBC Weather Watchers.

If you'd like to join their growing number, head to the website to sign up.

Image source, Jon

Image source, Daveduck

BBC Midlands Today

A shortage of skilled builders is holding up work and pushing up prices according to the Midlands construction industry.   

Wages rose by six percent last year, ahead of the national average of two percent. 

Paul Morrissey (in video) from Staffordshire building firm Cameron Homes says it is looking at the issue by hiring more apprentices and has linked up with a new skills centre in Birmingham to recruit staff.  

Phil McCann
Political reporter, Cheshire

The future of Sandbach as a market town could be under threat if plans to make big changes to the indoor market go ahead, external, according to traders who are against the proposals. 

Glass offices could be installed in the Victorian market hall, while stalls could be removed altogether or replaced with temporary tables. 

But the town council, external insists the venue is losing money and needs revitalising.

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

Junior doctors at hospitals across the Midlands have joined an all-out strike, and for the first time in the history of the NHS, will not be providing emergency care.  

More than 300 operations and 3,000 out-patient appointments have been cancelled across the region as a result. 

We'll be looking at who's been affected and how our hospitals are coping from 13:30 on BBC One in Midlands Today.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A man has appeared before magistrates accused of murdering a woman found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire.  

Fay Daniels, 30, was found at a property on Victoria Street, in Chesterton, at about 15:30 on Sunday. She had suffered stab wounds, police said.

Phillip Barlow, 36, of the same address was charged with murder on Monday.

He was remanded in custody by North Staffordshire magistrates to appear at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The top stories this afternoon include:

- Ninety-six football fans, including a Stoke-on-Trent teenager, who died as a result of a crush in the Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed, the inquests have concluded

- A man has appeared before magistrates accused of murdering a woman found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire

- Hundreds of operations and appointments have been cancelled in Staffordshire and Cheshire because of the junior doctors' strike

Lichfield Mercury

Lichfield Cathedral School pupils are raising funds for vital equipment for the Oncology Ward, external of Birmingham Children's Hospital in honour of one of their school mates.

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather

If you want a weather update at any other time for your part of Staffordshire or Cheshire, head to the BBC website.

Nafeesa Shan
Reporter, BBC News Online

Ninety-six football fans who died as a result of a crush in the Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed, the inquests have concluded.  

The jury also found police failures led to the deaths in 1989.  

Among the 96 who died was Paul Murray, 14, from Stoke-on-Trent - he was at the match as a birthday present.

Live reporting from the Hillsborough Inquests

James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A homeless hostel in Stoke-on-Trent which was facing closure could be given more funding to stay open, external

The city council is expected this afternoon to recommend that the Lou Macari Centre stays open for a further three months. 

Named after the former Stoke City manager, the authority says it has already helped more than a hundred people. 

Further funding of £195,000 is expected to be given the go-ahead.

John Acres
BBC Radio Stoke

More than a thousand appointments have been cancelled across Staffordshire and Cheshire today because of the junior doctors' strike.

In their latest figures, the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says it's made 931 cancellations. 

The total for today and tomorrow for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is 342.

An update to our earlier report - National Rail Enquiries says the earlier signalling issue at Stafford has now been fixed. 

Crewe Chronicle

The main swimming pool at the new Crewe Lifestyle Centre will be closed for the next few days because of a problem, external with the lift mechanism.  

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Former Stoke City defender Denis Smith says he thinks there needs to be a number of changes made to the playing staff this summer.

Image source, Getty Images

The Potters have lost their last three games, conceding four goals in each match. 

Smith told BBC Radio Stoke that decisions needed to be made so it didn't continue into next season.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

It's just great to see the range of pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire you send us.

Take this one, from Villager Jim, of lambs in the Peak District.

Image source, Villager Jim

Rachel Neill took this next photo of a bird about to take flight in Tamworth.

You can share your photos with me by sending them in on email,tweeting @BBCRadioStoke, external or adding them to Instagram, external with #bbcstoke in the description.

Image source, Rachel Neill

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main headlines this morning include:

- More than a thousand appointments have been cancelled across Staffordshire and Cheshire today because of the junior doctors' strike

- A man is due to appear in court today charged with the murder of a woman , externalfrom Newcastle-under-Lyme

- A homeless hostel in Stoke-on-Trent which was facing closure could be given more funding to stay open, external

The Sentinel

A man is due to appear in court this morning charged with the murder of a woman, external.

Image source, The Sentinel