Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three stories from Stoke-on-Trent Live today:

• Warning to parents as 'suspicious man tries to walk off with baby, external
• Pyjama-wearing driver smashes car into house, external
• Stoke-on-Trent firm offers private coronavirus tests for '£250', external

Private coronavirus tests are being offered in Stoke-on-Trent for as much as £250, but the city council is advising people not to use them.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones from the local authority said the quality of private tests were unknown, the results won’t feed back into the national system and they won’t be picked up for test and trace.

Image source, Getty Images

The rise in the price of private tests comes as some people have been struggling to book slots at testing sites at Stoke City's ground, Fenton Manor and Ryecroft, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

An American Football coach from Sandbach believes the coronavirus pandemic has "been really positive and it's made me think outside of the box".

Phoebe Schecter used to work with the Buffalo Bills and is one of only three women to become a coach with a professional men's team in the US.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Schechter, who is now back working in the UK, said the biggest problem was motivating British players, who don't have any fixtures until 2021.

Stoke-on-Trent has been given an extra £820,000 by the government to support rough sleepers through the coronavirus pandemic.

The city council has been supporting 290 people and has moved 123 into long-term accommodation.

Image source, Getty Images

Many have been staying in hotels, but others have been staying in small apartments installed at a Hanley warehouse.

The council leader, Abi Brown, said finding funding for these projects had been a "big concern" for her.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three stories from the Stoke Sentinel's website today:

• 'Baby snatch gang try to rip tot out of pram', external
• Barber says 'coronavirus is not real', external
• Up to 15 Tesco staff in self-isolation, external

The Archdeacon of Stoke-on-Trent, The Venerable Matthew Parker, is to become the next Bishop of Stafford.

The 57-year-old will succeed the Right Revd Geoff Annas, who retired last year.

Image source, Diocese of Lichfield

A model air show which was due to take place at Weston Park in Staffordshire next month has been cancelled because of the new coronavirus restrictions.

The event was originally due to take place in June and was moved to 17-18 October because of the restrictions earlier this year.

Image source, Weston Park Model Air Show

The organisers said it was not possible to safely host the event this year, but people can use their tickets to go to next June's event instead.

Ninth tier Hanley Town reach the FA Cup second qualifying round for the first time in their history thanks to a goal from a former Premier League striker.

Wedding planners and photographers react to the latest blow to their industry.

BBC Radio Stoke

Performances at the Regent Theatre and the Victoria Hall in Hanley have been suspended until 27 November.

The Ambassador Theatre Group, which runs the venues, said the decision was made due to the ongoing social distancing restrictions.

Image source, Google

The group said it's also having to look at staff contracts, because of the government's decision not to continue with its Job Retention Scheme.

Police, firefighters, and highways officers are at the scene of a gas leak in Stoke-on-Trent.

Diversions are in place and there is a warning of congestion around the area in Church Street.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three stories from the Stoke Sentinel's website:

• Motorcyclist seriously injured in crash on A500, external
• Pub closed as vigilante sting sees suspect quizzed over 'child-sex' crime, external
• Salesman mugged by gang who saw him win £100, external

Stoke City Council leader Abi Brown says residents are "really struggling" to book limited tests.

A motorcyclist has been seriously injured after a crash on the A500 in Staffordshire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called at 09:24 to a stretch of the road near the A5271 junction. close to Newcastle-under-Lyme.

It described the man's injuries as "potentially life-changing".

Lee Tatton, who was in a series about officers responding to emergencies, admitted five offences.

Twenty-nine people failed to turn up for coronavirus tests which they'd booked at Stoke-on-Trent's Fenton Manor centre yesterday.

The city council said it was "so disappointing" and that while it had been able to fill some of the slots, some were left unused.

Image source, Getty Images

Last week 70 of the first 500 booking slots in Stoke-on-Trent were no-shows.

Fenton Manor sports complex is among four venues being used to help boost national capacity.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

Five towns in the West Midlands are set to get more than £8m of government cash to help them make the most of their heritage.

The funding from Historic England will be used to encourage visitors and help local businesses to improve footfall during these tough times on the high street.

Image source, Google

Towns in line for funding:

• Brierley Hill
• Leominster
• Oswestry
• Stoke town
• Wednesbury

In Leominster (pictured above), the cash will be used to restore shop fronts and buildings, and create a heritage app.

There's also a chance to get match funding to improve the town's roads, pavements and public areas.

BBC Radio Stoke

A secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent says it will remain closed today, because of an increased number of staff absences.

Image source, Google

A second year 11 pupil at Discovery Academy in Bentilee tested postive for Covid-19 last week.

A message on the school's Facebook page, external said it had taken the "precautionary measure" while staffing levels were being reassessed.

Bristol City maintain their winning start to the new Championship season with victory at Stoke.