Mike Perkins
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Port Vale have announced they've signed three Portuguese players , externalthis afternoon.

Image source, Port Vale FC

Striker Carlos Saleiro, 30, has joined from Clube Oriental de Lisboa who play in Portugal's second division. 

He's been joined in Burslem by midfielder Paulo Tavares, 30, and left-back Francisco Rosa, 23, who've both played under Vale's new manager Bruno Ribeiro at Vitoria Setubal.

BBC Travel

The A5127 Birmingham Road in Lichfield is shut both ways after a lorry hit a bridge.

It's between Falkland Road and Wall Island.

Port Vale boss Bruno Ribeiro signs three Portuguese, midfielder Paulo Tavares, defender Kiko and striker Carlos Saleiro.

BBC Travel

The A5127 Birmingham Road in Lichfield is closed in both directions between the Falkland Road junction and Lichfield, because of an accident, BBC Travel reports.  

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

It looked to be a varied picture on the weather front this morning judging by the look of the pictures our BBC Weather Watchers uploaded.

Some places were overcast, as in JonnyG's snap of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, whereas other areas had blue skies, including Congleton, as photographed by Dawn Treader.

Image source, JonnyG

Image source, Dawn Treader

BBC Travel

The B5066 in Sandon is partially blocked in both directions at the A51 Lichfield Road junction because of a crash.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra have made their second signing of the summer by bringing in much-travelled striker Chris Dagnall.  

Image source, crewealex.net

The 30-year-old will form a new strike partnership with 37-year-old veteran Ryan Lowe, who returned to the club for a third time earlier this summer.  

BBC Radio Stoke

Tamworth's sporting stars have been depicted on a town underpass.

Image source, Tamworth Borough Council

The artwork shows snowboarder Adam Gendle, footballer Marc Albrighton, athlete Meghan Beesley and boxer Ryan Hatton and was spray-painted by local artists on the underpass under River Drive bridge, between the SnowDome and the bowling alley.

Last year, the Ladybridge underpass was painted with a mural based on borough history, which included Second World War hero Colin Grazier, Sir Robert Peel, Tamworth Castle, swans, a Reliant Robin and a Tamworth pig.

Teachers from across the West Midlands gathered in the centre of Birmingham today for a rally as part of their one day strike. 

The National Union of Teachers called the action in protest over school funding, pay and workloads which the government describes as "unnecessary."

The weather for the West Midlands.

BBC Sport

Unlucky Stoke City fans - Valencia have signed Portuguese international Nani on a three-year deal. 

The Potters had been interested in signing the 29-year-old.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Former Port Vale star Robin Van Der Laan says it's essential that the club's new overseas signings adjust quickly to playing in England.

Image source, Getty Images

Five new players arrived at Vale Park last week with at least two more expected in the next few days. 

Van Der Laan told BBC Radio Stoke that they have to adapt straight away.

Crewe Alexandra sign much-travelled striker Chris Dagnall, who finished last season in Scotland with Hibernian.

An ex-MEP urges jurors to consider why she would have falsely claimed expenses shortly after being warned of similar allegations about a colleague.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Staffordshire's two main hospitals have seen "unprecedented demand, external" at their A&E units this summer, health bosses say.

According to the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the sites, 600 people accessed A&E services yesterday - the fourth time it's happened this year. 

The trust says the figure covers Royal Stoke University Hospital plus County Hospital and Emergency Eye Clinic in Stafford. Managers, it adds, would normally expect to see 490 patients a day in their emergency departments.

BBC Travel

The A533 The Hill in Sandbach, Cheshire is closed both ways between the junctions of Hassall Road and Colley Lane because of a crash.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

Forty new jobs will be created in Stafford, according to Marks and Spencer, as the firm relocates to a new, larger store. 

It says it will shut its shop on Gaolgate Street in the town centre in August, the day before a branch opens at the new Riverside Shopping Centre.

M&S says all staff from the old store will be relocated to the new site.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man's suffered injuries to his head and hands in an attack, external in Lichfield, police have revealed.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say the assault happened on Sunday on Stafford Road and the 41-year-old needed hospital treatment.

The force says it's now trying to find suspects who were in two vehicles.

Stoke City keeper Jack Butland is ready to become England's number one, says Potters assistant manager Mark Bowen.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City's assistant manager Mark Bowen has backed goalkeeper Jack Butland to become the first choice goalkeeper for England.

Image source, Stoke City

Current number one Joe Hart was heavily criticised following a couple of errors at Euro 2016 this summer. 

Bowen told BBC Radio Stoke that he thinks Butland will have another great season after recovering from a broken ankle.