Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman's in a "very serious condition" in hospital, police say, after being attacked in Burntwood. , external

Image source, Rich Bailey

Staffordshire Police say the 53-year-old victim, who's from the area, was lying unconscious on the pavement when they arrived last night on High Street, Chasetown. 

They say they've arrested a 20-year-old man who was at the scene at the time.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

JCB's factory on Leek Road in Cheadle has been evacuated because of a fire. 

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say two crews are currently in attendance and are said to have the fire, which started on some piping, under control.

Uttoxeter Advertiser

A Marchington prisoner died in hospital just hours after complaining of chest pains, external in his cell, his inquest hears.  

Image source, Uttoxeter Advertiser

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A man's body has been found on Cannock Chase and is being treated as unexplained by police. , external

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say the 67-year-old was found on Tuesday afternoon in woodland near to the Ansons Bank car park, Camp Road, Brocton. 

They say he's yet to be formally identified and officers are trying to work out his last movements before his death.

BBC Travel

Two vehicles have crashed on the A34 London Road in Stoke-on-Trent, partially blocking it northbound.

It's between the junctions of The Avenue and Occupation Street.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man from Stafford has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to 13 sexual offences. , external

Martyn Talbot, 37, from The Drive, Doxey admitted the charges at Stafford Crown Court.

They included rape of a child under 13, three counts of making indecent photographs of children and seven counts of committing an act outraging public decency. 

Staffordshire Police say he was first arrested in August 2015 after what they've called an incident at the Asda on Lammascote Road, Stafford. 

He was sentenced yesterday at Stafford Crown Court to 13 years in prison and one year on extended licence, made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News

Firms moving into the new Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone along the A500 have told BBC Radio Stoke it had no bearing on their decision to relocate. 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it wants to create 9,000 new jobs on the brownfield land by offering business rate discounts to new firms. 

Image source, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

But just 250 new jobs have been earmarked since enterprise zone status was granted last year.

In one instance, safety barrier maker Q-Railing wants to move from Etruria to the zone in Tunstall but told me it was the location, not tax breaks, that influenced their decision. 

Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

The RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, external opens to the public today. 

Thousands are expected to visit the event between now and Sunday after RHS members got to see the show yesterday.    

Tom Rostance
BBC Sport

Stoke City have made a bid in the region of £13m for Liverpool's Wales midfielder Joe Allen.

The 26-year-old, who has one year remaining on his contract, is also a target for the Potters' Premier League rivals Swansea City, whom he left to move to Anfield in 2012.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite starting only eight league games last season, Allen was named in the Euro 2016 team of the tournament., external

Allen, who is on holiday, wants his future resolved this summer.

BBC Travel

A lane is shut on the A50 eastbound between the Blythe Bridge roundabout and Uttoxeter because of an accident. 

Stoke make an offer worth £20m to Premier League rivals West Brom for striker Saido Berahino.

Sarah Robertson
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A man's been attacked in a Stoke-on-Trent park by three men who kept assaulting him even as he lay on the floor. , external

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say it happened in Hanley Park last Thursday after the 28-year-old victim had been chatting to two women. 

The force say shortly after that the three attackers came up and assaulted him.

BBC Weather Watchers

The sunshine's brought out plenty of great pictures from our BBC Weather Watcher volunteers.

Here's a couple from user On the Moor in Biddulph and Shane's place in Fazeley, Staffordshire.

Image source, Shane's place

Image source, On the moor

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A midwifery company serving south Cheshire has been suspended from offering a home birth service while its safety procedures are reviewed.

NHS South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, external (CCG) says it is checking the services of One-To-One (North West) Ltd, external, which has a base in Crewe - the company receives NHS funding. 

The CCG stresses that ante and post-natal care isn't affected by the review - BBC Radio Stoke has approached One-to-One for a response but they haven't come back yet.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

I took a tour of some of RHS Flower Show Tatton Park this morning before it officially opened today to RHS members.  

The five-day event is expecting thousands of visitors between today and Sunday.  

Dan Wheeler
BBC Sport

French midfielder Sebastien Amoros has today become Port Vale manager Bruno Ribeiro's 12th signing. , external

Image source, Port Vale FC

The club say the 21-year-old joins from AS Monaco where he has mostly played in their B side.

He's been signed on a one-year deal with an option of another year if things work out.

Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

NHS managers running Leighton Hospital in Crewe say "more patients than ever" are turning up to the site. , external

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says nearly 1,600 extra patients were seen between April and June compared with the same period last year. 

The trust is apologising for increased waiting times and is urging only people with serious or life-threatening conditions to use its A&E.

Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM

West Midlands MEP and UKIP leadership candidate Bill Etheridge says there should be a referendum on the death penalty and he would back its reintroduction.  

He said: “For my part I believe that the very worst crimes deserve the ultimate penalty and I propose that those who murder and rape children, those that commit sadistic acts of murder and torture and those that commit acts of murder through terrorism against our country or our people should be subject to the death penalty at the discretion of the presiding judge."

The MEP, who stood in 2012 as UKIP’s Police & Crime Commissioner candidate in the West Midlands Police force area, also said three strikes should mean "life behind bars for violent criminals".

The death penalty is opposed by the UK government, Amnesty International, the UN, the European Union and 16 US states.

Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite tells BBC Radio Stoke that bids they have received for Anthony Grant "wouldn't fuel my car for a year."

Cannock Mercury

A student who feared she wouldn't pass her GCSEs is celebrating graduating with a First Class degree in Psychology, external with Child Language Development.  

Image source, Cannock Mercury