BBC News Education

Children in care should not be prosecuted for minor offences, a report looking at their over-representation in the criminal justice system says.

The review for the Prison Reform Trust, external calls on the government to draw up new procedures to protect these children from criminalisation.

Image source, Thinkstock

Lord Laming's report says half of children in custody in England and Wales have, at some time, been in care.

The government said the safety and well-being of children was "paramount".

Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This afternoon's headlines include:

- A teenage girl is charged with assault, external, after an incident involving a 14-year-old boy from Nantwich

- A suspected "Taser-style device" has been recovered by police, external after a fight in Stafford  

- Tigers, lions, camels and black widow spiders are among the wild animals being kept legally on private property in Staffordshire, figures have revealed

James Watt
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

Staff from Cholmondeley Castle Gardens have put together a garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  

The team there have recreated the castle's Temple Garden at the London event.

Lyle Jackson
BBC Sport

Republic of Ireland defender Marc Wilson has been ruled out of Euro 2016 in France after failing to recover from a knee injury in time.

The 28-year-old Stoke City man, who can also play in midfield, was injured in an FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace in January.

Image source, Inpho

Manager Martin O'Neill said on Monday the 24-cap player had suffered a setback and would not make the squad.

Cannock Mercury

The iconic sight of the Rugeley cooling towers will be no more within three years, external it has been confirmed.    

Image source, Cannock Mercury

BBC Travel

A lane is blocked on the M6 southbound in Cheshire between junctions 19 and 18 because of two broken-down vehicles.

It's in the roadworks area and congestion is back to junction 20.

BBC News Health

The number of people caring for someone with cancer in the UK has risen to almost 1.5 million, new figures show.

According to one leading charity, this is an increase of almost a third in the past five years.

Image source, SPL

Family and friends are now spending an average of 17.5 hours a week looking after a loved one who is affected, said Macmillan Cancer Support, external.

One in five of those surveyed care for someone with cancer for more than 35 hours a week.

Gary Andrews
Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

Green fingered gardeners from Staffordshire and Cheshire are hoping for success at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Judging takes place today at the prestigious event - here's some pictures from the BBC Radio Stoke team who are at the show with more photos on the Facebook page, external.

Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A teenage girl's been charged with assault, external, after an incident involving a 14-year-old boy from Nantwich.

Cheshire Police say the 15-year-old from Crewe, who can't be named for legal reasons, was arrested following the attack in a field off Wall Lane in Nantwich on Saturday 30 April. 

Image source, Google

She's been charged with assault by beating and affray and released on bail.

Tamworth Herald

A Tamworth charity has received a welcome cash boost of £30,000 to help provide a new community centre for the town., external

Image source, Tamworth Herald

Sarah Falkland
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime - a Midlands gardener is presenting the first ever display of Hepaticas at this week's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The woodland flower normally blooms in late February but John Massey has managed to get hundreds of them looking their best for the judges in May. 

I'll have more on BBC One from 13:30.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport

Staffordshire have booked a home tie in the quarter-finals of the Minor Counties Cricket Association Knock-out Trophy after completing their Group Two campaign with a fourth straight victory.

In the last of their four qualifying games, they beat neighbours Shropshire by eight wickets at Leek to book a home tie with Norfolk at Longton on 12 June.

The game was over just after lunch, leg spinner Matthew Parkinson taking 4-13 as Shropshire were rolled for just 78.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Kelsall then made an unbeaten 41 as Staffordshire reached their target on 79-2 in the 22nd over.

Twice former winners (in 1991 and 1993), Staffs now have the chance to avenge their 104-run defeat by Norfolk at Chester-le-Street's Riverside the last time they got to the final in 2009.

Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This afternoon's top stories include:

- A teenage girl is charged with assault, external, after an incident involving a 14-year-old boy from Nantwich  

- Cleaners are moving into a Staffordshire primary school to try to eradicate traces of Norovirus which affected 103 children and eight staff  

- Tigers, lions, camels and black widow spiders are among the wild animals being kept legally on private property in Staffordshire, figures have revealed

BBC News UK

Tigers, lions, camels and black widow spiders are among the wild animals being kept legally on private property in Staffordshire, figures have revealed.

Across the UK, more than 100 councils have issued licences to people who keep undomesticated animals at home, a freedom of information request by the Press Association news agency found.

Image source, PA

Animal welfare experts have expressed concern at the findings.  

In this area:

- Cannock Chase Council has issued licences for three tigers and two lions

- Stafford Borough Council did the same for six camels

- Stoke-on-Trent City Council issued licences for two dwarf caiman, 30 elapids, vipers or colubrids and six black widow spiders

John Bray
BBC Midlands Today

We've also had some great pictures come in from Mark Ollier from the weekend's Scooter Fest event in Leek., external

Here's a sample - there are plenty more on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page, external.

Image source, Mark Ollier

Image source, Mark Ollier

Daniel Wainwright
Data unit - English regions

Rules on the amount hospitals can pay agency staff are being flouted more than 50,000 times a week, figures show. 

Image source, Thinkstock

The government introduced a cap on sums paid to locum workers, but it can be breached by NHS bosses if they consider there is "significant risk" to patient safety.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said it exposed "poor workforce planning" but said trusts had put safety first.

NHS Improvement said the cap had saved £300m.

BBC Travel

There's been an accident on Bryans Lane in Rugeley at the Leathermill Lane junction.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

If you want to get your latest weather forecast at any other time, you can get one from the BBC website.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City will have to remain patient over Marko Arnautovic's future, according to chief executive Tony Scholes, as potential buyers decide whether to trigger a £12.5m release clause in his contract. 

Image source, Getty Images

The Austrian finished top-scorer for the The Potters last term with 12 goals. 

Scholes told BBC Radio Stoke any decision to extend his stay is with the player.

A railway bridge that was closed for work to be carried out by Network Rail has reopened, Cheshire East Council tweets.