Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Live updates for Stoke and Staffordshire 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 27 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 27 April 2016
PCC elections: Hopes for less embarrassing turnoutpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Patrick Burns
Political editor, MidlandsWith a turnout of just 11.6%, the first election for Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner was the lowest of any in England.
Across the board, organisers of next month's PCC elections in England will be hoping to improve on November 2012's turnout.
Ministers hoped to introduce a greater level of democracy in monitoring police forces, yet six in seven voters were completely unmoved.
The first Thursday in May looks a much better bet for a less embarrassing turnout - it's when people expect elections.
Candidates standing for Staffordshire PCC:
George Adamson (Labour)
Natalie Devaney (Independent)
Matthew Ellis (Conservative)
Watch: Weather forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayThere's still a cold element to this evenings weather I'm afraid.
Minimum temperatures overnight of 1C (34F).
Affelay to 'come back stronger'published at 17:24 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City, external defender Mac Muniesa says teammate Ibrahim Afellay will come back stronger from his recent knee injury.
The Dutch international, 30, damaged his cruciate ligament in training last week.
The midfielder joined for free from Barcelona last year. He may be out until Christmas.
Image source, Clint Hughes / StringerQuote MessageIt's really sad, I saw him crying the other day because he's done his knee again. When you come back [from injury] you're hungry to help the team, and I know he will be like that."
Marc Muniesa, Defender, Stoke City
Headlines: UHNM 'coped really well' during strike; mediators could help in allotment row; two threatened at knife-pointpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeSome of the headlines we're talking about today have been:
- The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has "coped really well" during the doctors' strike, according to its medical director
- Mediators could be brought in in a row over who owns allotments in Crewe
- Two women were threatened at knife-point at an off licence in Stoke-on-Trent
Man loses four stone in city health drivepublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Obesity levels in Stoke-on-Trent are rising, despite the city council investing £7m in recent years on a health and lifestyle programme.
Thousands of people have dropped out of the council's LifeStyle campaign over the last seven years.
However, Andrew Canes (featured below) said it had helped him lose four stone in just three months.
UHNM 'coped really well' during strikepublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio StokeThe University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust "coped really well" during the junior doctors' strike, according to its medical director.
Dr John Oxtoby told BBC Radio Stoke that efforts from consultants, nurses and those junior doctors not striking, meant just 90 non-emergency procedures were cancelled.
Image source, Christopher Furlong / Getty ImagesThe two-day strike is the latest in the dispute between the British Medical Association members and the government over a new contract.
Bogus advertising seller targets care home near Stonepublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Business owners are being warned about bogus advertising sellers after a care home near Stone received a suspicious phone call, external.
Mediators could help in allotment rowpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Phil McCann
Political reporter, CheshireMediators could be brought in in a row over who owns allotments in Crewe.
The town council says the dispute has already cost taxpayers thousands of pounds.
Tamworth restaurant plans turned downpublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Plans for a "high-quality" development that would have brought two restaurants to the outskirts of Tamworth town centre have been refused - after its modern design was criticised, external.
Headlines: Two women threatened at knife-point; passers-by stop attack in Meir; reports of mini tornadopublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke- Two women are threatened at knife-point at an off licence in Stoke-on-Trent
- A man's been punched to the ground and kicked in the head in an attack in Stoke-on-Trent
- There were reports of a "mini-tornado" in Wolstanton yesterday evening - high winds knocked over walls and damaged buildings
Preparations continue for Staffordshire Day eventpublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio StokePreparations for Staffordshire Day celebrations at Rudyard Lake are nearing completion as the big day draws near.
Performer Bullzini will be crossing a high wire over the lake on Sunday in one of a number of events designed to turn the area into a picturesque 19th Century holiday destination.
'One-off' market to encourage shoppers in townpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeStafford is playing host to a "one-off" market today to try and increase the number of shoppers on the high street.
I visited this morning, as the stall holders were setting up, and was amazed by the variety on offer in the 50-odd stalls.
It's been organised by the group behind Walsall's popular Bescot market, and if it's a success they hope it will become a regular event.
Travel: Lane closed on M6 in Cheshirepublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
BBC TravelThere's congestion on the M6 southbound in Cheshire due to a broken down vehicle.
One lane is closed near J18 for the A54 (Sandbach).
Passers-by stop attack in Meirpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeA man's been punched to the ground and kicked in the head in Stoke-on-Trent - and the attack only stopped when locals came to his aid.
Staffordshire Police say it happened, external just before 19:00 on Monday night when a car of young men pulled up behind the 19-year- old as he was walking along Ryder Road in Meir.
Village pubs join forces to tackle yobspublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
An action group has been set up to tackle yobbish behaviour in pubs around Penkridge., external
Image source, GoogleBBC Weather Watchers: Four seasons in one daypublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
What a crazy 24 hours of weather. It seems like we've had all four seasons in the last day.
Our BBC Weather Watchers have been in fine form sending in some brilliant photos.
Two women threatened at knife-pointpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeTwo women were threatened at knife-point at an off licence in Stoke-on-Trent last night.
The robbery happened at around 21:45 at Bargain Booze in Blurton Road. A masked man held a knife and demanded cash from the till, while an accomplice held the door open for their escape.
Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses, the armed suspect is described as white, tall and of medium build.
Image source, GoogleHeadlines: Reports of mini tornado; 30 cases of revenge porn; junior doctors strikepublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeOur top stories across Stoke and Staffordshire include:
- Walls, roofs and even cars were badly damaged by high winds in Wolstanton yesterday afternoon
- Staffordshire Police have investigated 33 cases of so called revenge pornography over the past year, BBC figures show
- The second day of a junior doctors' strike is under way
'Tornado' damage highly localisedpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 27 April 2016
Walls, roofs and even cars were badly damaged in Wolstanton yesterday afternoon.
The damage seemed to be highly localised - with some people reporting sightings of mini tornadoes.
The Met Office says the conditions were right for tornadoes, but it could neither confirm nor deny whether they formed.
