Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main headlines this afternoon:

- Stoke-on-Trent MP Tristram Hunt has attacked Labour colleague Ken Livingstone for his defence of an MP accused of making "anti-Semitic" comments

- A man accused of murdering a woman, found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire over the weekend, has appeared in court this morning

- A man who lost four stone (25kg) through a Stoke-on-Trent City Council scheme to tackle obesity says it is  "worth every penny"

BBC News UK

In case you wondered what was going on on Twitter today: Happy Ed Balls Day! Who knew that five years ago, a Twitter fail would still be remembered. So what is it all about?

Image source, Edballsmp/Twitter

On 28 April 2011 Ed Balls, who was shadow chancellor at the time, was urged by his aide to search Twitter for articles mentioning his name, but instead of doing a search he tweeted his own name in error.

So on 28 April, Twitter rejoices in the madness and celebrates Ed Balls.

At the time of writing, the hashtag #EdBallsDay has been the top trend in the UK and has been used more than 10,000 times.

Uttoxeter Advertiser

A convict caught bringing a mobile phone and suspected drugs into a prison, external near Uttoxeter has been jailed for a further year.

Image source, Uttoxeter Advertiser

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

There's a wintry theme to today's BBC Weather Watchers photos we've picked out - starting with this one from EiEi in Leek

Image source, EiEi

Then this snowy picture was uploaded by user Absolute Shower in Alstonefield, Staffordshire.

You can become a BBC Weather Watcher by signing up on the website.

Image source, Absolute Shower

Victoria Lindrea
BBC Entertainment and Arts reporter

Staff joining the BBC will be asked about their socio-economic background, as part of a bid to increase diversity at the corporation.

Candidates will be asked if they were entitled to free school meals, and if their parents attended university.

Image source, PA

Anonymised job applications will also be extended for core roles.

The plans come after the BBC faced pressure from ministers to increase numbers of staff from under-represented backgrounds.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale striker Theo Robinson says he believes their strong end to the season will give the team something to build on in the next one.

Image source, Port Vale FC

At one stage the Vale were play-off contenders but look to have fallen just short of a place in the top six. 

However after winning their last three games, Robinson says promotion is a serious target for the next campaign. 

Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

A man who lost four stone through a Stoke-on-Trent City Council scheme to tackle obesity says it is  "worth every penny".

That's despite figures showing only a quarter of the 17,500 people who signed up to the authority's Lifestyle Programme over seven years lost weight.

However results are "not as bad as it appears", the council claims.

Andrew Canes lost four stone (25kg) in three months through the fitness programme.

BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime we'll look at how Birmingham is to join London, New York and other major cities by staging it's own marathon.

And we'll feature the Midlands clergyman who is risking the wrath of God by staging the screening of a film originally branded blasphemous and anti-Christian. 

All those stories and more on BBC One from 13:30.

People in Cheshire are being warned there could be snow in the county tomorrow,, external in a yellow weather alert from the Met Office.

The yellow weather warning runs from 05:00 tomorrow morning until 10:00 later that day.

BBC News UK

Stoke-on-Trent MP Tristram Hunt has attacked Labour colleague Ken Livingstone for his defence of an MP accused of making "anti-Semitic" comments.

Mr Livingstone said Bradford MP Naz Shah's comments were not anti-Semitic.  

Image source, PA

Tristram Hunt said on Twitter, external: "Ken Livingstone's comments this morning were despicable - he should be suspended from the Party immediately." 

Ms Shah apologised to the House of Commons for posting message on Facebook before she became an MP about Israel.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This afternoon's main stories include:

- A man accused of murdering a woman, found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire over the weekend, has appeared in court this morning

- The Stoke-on-Trent Labour MP Tristram Hunt has rounded on Ken Livingstone after he defended an MP suspended over "anti-Semitic" comments on social media

- Police in Staffordshire used Tasers twice as many times as their colleagues in Cheshire last year, new figures reveal

Express and Star

Dozens of workers from the ill-fated Rugeley Power Station are expected to apply for 40 new jobs being created at a nearby energy plant, external.  

Image source, Express and Star

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A man accused of murdering a woman, found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire over the weekend, has appeared in court this morning.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Fay Daniels, 30, from Victoria Street was found at a property on Victoria Street, in Chesterton, at about 15:30 on Sunday. 

Phillip Barlow, 36, also from Victoria Street, will next appear at Stafford Crown Court next month when he's expected to enter a plea.

BBC Travel

There's been an accident on Main Street in Hollington, Staffordshire, near to the Paradise Nurseries junction.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

You can also get a latest weather forecast at any time from the BBC Weather website.

James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A mother from Stoke-on-Trent who complained about nuisance neighbours says a council scheme set up to tackle the problem, external did nothing to help.

The Selective Licensing Scheme was set up in 2011 to crack down on irresponsible private landlords and anti-social tenants in four areas of the city. 

But Lois Courtney says, even though two sets of neighbours were abusive, the authority didn't intervene. 

The city council says landlords in a selective licensing area, found to be in breach of their licence conditions, could be prosecuted.  

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

Police in Staffordshire used Tasers twice as many times as their colleagues in Cheshire last year. 

Image source, PA

Figures from the Home Office show, external they were deployed 140 times in Cheshire last year - but only actually fired in 10% of those cases. 

In Staffordshire they were pulled on 285 occasions and fired 34 times. 

In comparison to 2015, Taser usage in Staffordshire has fallen by nearly a quarter compared with 390 times they were deployed in 2014, external.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

I think these deer might have spotted Villager Jim - he shared this great photo he took in the Peak District and it's a fantastic wildlife shot.

Image source, Villager Jim

Meanwhile this lovely picture of a sunrise has come from Duncan Richardson who took it in north Staffordshire.

I think it's great when you send in a photo so if you have one to share you can do that on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.

Image source, Duncan Richardson

Staffordshire Newsletter

A new £3.1m renal unit has been officially opened at Stafford's County Hospital., external

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

These are among our top stories this morning:

- Domestic violence offences in Stoke-on-Trent are at their highest for five years, according to figures from Staffordshire Police, external

- A mother from Stoke-on-Trent, who complained about nuisance neighbours, says a council scheme set up to tackle the problem, external did nothing to help 

- Staffordshire University and Staffordshire Police are launching a new partnership today to give students an insight into the world of forensics, external