Stoke-on-Trent Live

Some stories from the Stoke Sentinel that are making headlines today include:

• Family of schoolgirl, 12, claim her death at Royal Stoke could have been prevented, external
• Mr Kipling bakery workers test positive for coronavirus, external
• Covid cops called to sports club find revellers enjoying wine and mince pies, external

BBC Radio Stoke

A teenage pedestrian has suffered possibly life-changing injuries in a suspected hit-and-run crash.

The 15-year-old boy was on Baths Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday evening when it happened, Staffordshire Police said. , external

The victim was hit by a silver Ford Fiesta and suffered a fractured skull, a broken thigh bone and a shoulder injury.

Officers believe the driver and at least three passengers left the scene shortly afterwards.

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had some great views from across the West Midlands this morning from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Tillymint in Rugby, Warwickshire, Videoman in Leek, Staffordshire and Snapper Simon in Church Stretton, Shropshire:

Image source, Tillymint

Image source, Videoman

Image source, Snapper Simon

The woman, in her 40s, is being treated in hospital along with the girl.

A woman has been arrested after a young girl was hurt at an address in Staffordshire this morning.

Police said, external they were called to Warren Road, Chell, Stoke-on-Trent, at about 07:30.

The girl is being treated in hospital for her injuries.

The woman, in her 40s, is also being treated in hospital.

BBC Radio Stoke

Families struggling to feed their children in Stoke-on-Trent this half term are being urged to contact a local charity.

Image source, The School Food Plan

The Alice Charity is delivering bags of food to provide meals for the week to youngsters who need them.

Ministers continue to say they will not fund free school meals for vulnerable children in England over the holidays, as half term begins for many.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended the government's refusal to budge, saying it had increased Universal Credit and allocated £63m to local authorities.

But Steph Talbot from the charity said: "It is well and good people saying money is allocated to councils and all the rest of it but these kids need feeding today."

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's headlines today include:

• Fourteen coronavirus patients die at Royal Stoke and 698 cases confirmed in one week as infection rate soars, external
• Staffordshire family locked in 'neighbour dispute' tell of 'months of absolute hell', external
• Gang of up to 20 kids ignore rule of six to run amok in tier 2 town, external

BBC Entertainment and Arts

Tributes have been paid to Frank Bough, one of the most familiar faces on BBC television from the 1960s to 1980s, who has died at the age of 87.

Bough was born in Stoke-on-Trent and his family later moved to Oswestry, Shropshire, where he attended the local grammar school.

He joined the BBC as a reporter and went on to present some of the corporation's most popular shows, including Grandstand and Breakfast Time.

But his career was brought to an abrupt end by scandal.

BBC Midlands Today's Nick Owen, who went up against Bough in Britain's breakfast TV battle on ITV's TV-AM in the 1980s, remembered him, external as "the ultimate broadcaster who combined news and sport brilliantly".

Astrologer Russell Grant, a regular on Breakfast Time, said, external Bough was "a great man to work with" and was "always there for advice and support".

A trolley of post was stolen from the worker in Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, on Saturday morning.

A Harry Pickering free-kick sees Crewe Alexandra end Doncaster's good form with victory at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Burton and AFC Wimbledon have to settle for a point apiece in a rain-soaked affair at the Pirelli Stadium.

Port Vale survive a second-half rally from Oldham as they register a deserved victory in their League Two clash.

Stoke City hold off a late Brentford rally to extend their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

The Duchess of Cambridge's exhibition features images of life during the coronavirus lockdown.

Households in the two cities can no longer mix indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

Hundreds of runners across the UK will take part in the 5k charity challenge in memory of Moira Jones.

A man has been arrested after a planned illegal rave this weekend, Staffordshire Police said.

The 21-year-old, from Stafford, was held on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance, and remains in custody.

Image source, Getty Images

Supt Carl Ratcliffe said officers were cracking down on illegal events.

"We will intervene in incidents and seek to prosecute anyone who has organised or is taking part in any illegal raves in order to keep individuals and the wider community as safe as possible," he said.

Stoke's decision to ask for tier two restrictions was not a "unilateral decision" by the city council, the West Midlands Mayor has said.

Andy Street said it was "much more complicated than that" and added "I am absolutely certain there was a dialogue on this" in the week leading up to the announcement.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke-on-Trent City Council announced yesterday that it had gone to the government and asked to be upgraded to a "high" risk area, to slow the accelerating rate of infection.

But Department of Health regional convenor Clive Wright said: "We had been working with that local authority for about a week before."

He said the council had "expressed an interest" in the status change and the Department of Health was "able to help them accelerate that process".

Mr Wright said also said: "Some councils may want to go early as a preventative measure. Others have very good reasons to protect their local economies."

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

A man who is trialling a Covid-19 vaccine says he saw it as an "opportunity to swipe back" at the virus after the toll it's taken on his business, as well as "something to mark the occasion" for his approaching 60th birthday.

Ian Bradford is the owner of Lymestone Brewery in Stone and said his business had been hit hard by the pandemic.

He signed up to trial a vaccine, but does not know if he was given that or a placebo on Sunday.

"I suppose there's a bit of a risk," he said.

"I'm assured there has been no long-term issues with other people who have taken part in the trial but I suppose it has to be stressed we are rushing through this medical research but I'm comfortable with the risk."

He will continue to see medical experts for the trial over the next 13 months.

Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry will be moving up to tier two, or "high alert", from midnight tonight as coronavirus cases increase in the areas.

The move bans all social mixing between households indoors - be that in homes, pubs or restaurants.

There are exemptions for things like childcare and you're also still allowed to meet up with people in your support bubble.

Mixing outdoors is still allowed, but this will be limited to groups of no more than six people.

To find out the rules where you live, use our postcode look-up tool.