Fire chief says A50 crash victims 'lucky to be alive'published at 11:20 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
A fire chief has said that those involved in a crash that led to a huge fire on the A50 are lucky to be alive., external
Image source, Burton MailSummary
Updates on Thursday 5 May 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
Fire chief says A50 crash victims 'lucky to be alive'published at 11:20 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Image source, Burton MailWatch: Shopping deal aims to protect part of Stafford 'from neglect'published at 11:08 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeNew shop owners in Stafford will be freed from paying business rates, external in an attempt to protect part of the town from neglect.
A deal was agreed by borough councillors last night as part of a pledge to help retailers once the new £70m Riverside development opens in the summer.
The deal, which equates to a saving of £10,000, will allow all new shops to benefit from business rate relief, except for charity shops, off-licences and bookmakers.
Watch: Hundreds gather for a red carpet screening of Peaky Blinderspublished at 10:54 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayHundreds of fans of the Birmingham-based gangster drama Peaky Blinders turned out for a special screening of the new series in the city.
Stars including Cillian Murphy, who plays lead character Tommy Shelby, attended the red carpet event at the Everyman Cinema.
Football: Crouch gets Savage backing for Stoke City rolepublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeThe BBC football pundit Robbie Savage says veteran striker Peter Crouch still has an important role to play in the Stoke City team.
Image source, Getty ImagesCrouch started only his eighth game of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
Savage told BBC Radio Stoke that Crouch gives Stoke a different option.
Quote MessageTo have Peter Crouch around a football club, as a football player but also as a character, can only be positive and if you need Peter Crouch to come on with 20 minutes to go, as a different option, he's almost a perfect replacement."
Robbie Savage, BBC football pundit
Have your say on BBC Radio Stoke today: Best age to have childrenpublished at 10:28 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio StokeToday I want to know what you think is the best age to have children?
Image source, APThis is prompted by the news that Janet Jackson, who's 49, has revealed she's pregnant , external- and it's not just women I'm talking about - Des O'Connor became a dad in his seventies for instance.
So what do you think about becoming a mum and dad later in life and is there a "best age"? You can get involved by calling 01782 208008 until 13:00, tweet @BBCRadioStoke , externalor email me.
Latest: Moves to protect shopping future in Stafford; polls open in council and PCC elections; veteran gets Russian WW2 medalpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are among this morning's top stories in Staffordshire and Cheshire
- A deal aimed at saving businesses in Stafford thousands of pounds, external has been agreed by the borough council
- Voting has begun in elections being held Staffordshire
- The Russian embassy has hand-delivered a military medal to a Staffordshire veteran, 70 years after World War Two
Local centre shutting this afternoon in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
One of the local centres in Stoke-on-Trent is shutting this afternoon for work to be done, the city council says.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on TwitterThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip twitter postThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of twitter postJunior doctors' dispute: Proposal aimed at breaking deadlockpublished at 09:43 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Hugh Pym
BBC News Health EditorA proposal aimed at breaking the deadlock in the junior doctors' dispute through fresh talks has been made by 22 medical colleges and faculties.
They want planning for the imposition of new junior doctors' contracts in England to be postponed for five days.
Image source, PAIn return, the British Medical Association is asked to suspend for five days any new threats of strikes.
The BMA said it was prepared to agree, but the government said it was too late to suspend bringing the contracts in.
However, the "door remains open" for talks, the Department of Health said.
Travel: Lane shut on M6 near Cannockpublished at 09:33 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
BBC TravelA lane is closed on the M6 southbound at junction 11a, the M6 Toll turn off, because of a broken down vehicle.
'Hero' JCB worker helped deliver baby Jaxson, 11 weeks earlypublished at 09:17 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Parents Dan and Stacey Moore have hailed a "hero" volunteer medic – after the JCB worker helped to deliver their son 11 weeks early, external.
Image source, The SentinelLatest: Moves to protect shopping future in Stafford; polls open in council and PCC elections; veteran honoured by Russiapublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThis morning's headlines include:
- New shop owners in Stafford will be freed from paying business rates, external in an attempt to protect part of the county town from neglect
- Voting has begun in elections being held Staffordshire
- The Russian embassy has hand-delivered a military medal to a Staffordshire veteran, 70 years after World War Two
Polls open in council and PCC elections in Staffordshirepublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Caroline Gall
BBC News OnlineVoting has begun in elections being held in Staffordshire.
Seats on Cannock Chase, Newcastle under Lyme and Tamworth councils are being contested. At the same time, a new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Staffordshire Police will be elected.
Five candidates are standing to oversee policing in the county.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 and will close at 22:00.
Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather for todaypublished at 08:25 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC WeatherYou can also get a latest weather forecast at any time from the BBC website.
Travel: Heavy traffic on A500 in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 08:11 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
BBC TravelOn the A500 in Stoke-on-Trent there is heavy traffic on the D Road southbound between the Hanford Interchange and the M6 junction.
There's also heavy traffic northbound on the A500 between the Audley turn-off and Crewe.
Good morning - join us for today's live coverage for Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 5 May 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveWell it looks like being another belter of a day on the weather front this morning with blue skies already over Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
To find out what the weather has in store for the rest of today, Alexandra Hamilton will have her video weather forecast for Stoke and Staffordshire in a few minutes.
As ever it's a treat when you get in touch, so send comments and your pictures of the area in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram for photos, external.
