Updates on Thursday 16 June 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIve
Thousands of wooden statues will be planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, external to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
One of them was planted today by Lewis Holmes, the great-grandson of George Edwards who fought on the front line.
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
The County Air Ambulance Trust has been given a cheque for more than £40,000 by the Leek United Building Society, external.
Image source, Leek UnitedThe society have a customer account which sees them donate money for every £100 saved.
A total of £125,000 has been donated since launching the scheme in 2008, it said.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The pictures I get sent of sunsets over Staffordshire and Cheshire are fantastic and this is no exception.
Andy Roye took this in Rugeley.
Image source, Andy RoyeWhile Jonathan White sent in this picture of a hot air balloon over Wistaston in Cheshire.
If you've got a picture to share on any subject, taken in Staffordshire or Cheshire, you can get it to me on email,tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram (with the tag #bbcstoke), external.
Image source, Jonathan WhiteStoke-on-Trent's expected to be busy this Sunday when runners pound the streets in the Potteries Marathon.
It is due to start at 09:00, external and Staffordshire Police are alerting drivers that roads will be busy.
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Costumes from the ITV drama Downton Abbey are going on display from tomorrow at a Stoke-on-Trent museum. They're part of an exhibition at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley which will run until October.
Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says the League Two club have put last season's relegation behind them.
Read MoreThousands of wooden statues will be planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. One of them was planted today by Lewis Holmes, the great-grandson of George Edwards who fought on the front line.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale have announced their third signing this week with French midfielder Quentin Pereira joining on a two-year deal., external
Image source, Port Vale FCPereira, 24, has an option to stay beyond the initial two seasons if he proves a success at Vale Park.
The midfielder joins from Stade De Reims and follows Rigino Cicilia and Kjell Knops to Vale Park as new manager Bruno Ribeiro adds to his squad.
Rebecca Bradshaw
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
The Battle of the Somme is going to be commemorated this summer at Lichfield Cathedral with a project involving poetry read by the Oscar-winning, external actor Eddie Redmayne.
Image source, Lichfield CathedralThe exhibition is due to be held between 4-6 August and the cathedral says the star of The Theory of Everything and Les Miserables visited them this week to record a "selection of well-known war poetry".
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A "significant amount" of cocaine has been seized by police after they pulled a car over, external in Burntwood, Staffordshire.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say they arrested three men who were in the black Ford Focus yesterday on Water Street on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.
The force wouldn't put a figure on the amount seized but said it was "around 60 rocks" of cocaine.
Need cheering up? Perhaps don't look here. A year ago today, temperatures were rather hotter at 36C.
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Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
People across Staffordshire and Cheshire have marked the day 100 years ago when the soldiers marched forward on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
BBC Radio Stoke's Emma Thomas has been at the National Memorial Arboretum where the first painted soldier statues have been planted for each soldier killed on 1 July 1916.
While in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, BBC Radio Stoke's Perry Spiller took this poignant picture today at the town's war memorial.
Image source, Perry SpillerThe weather for the West Midlands.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra's manager Steve Davis has admitted he's not been satisfied with the progress of the young players in his squad.
Image source, Getty ImagesAll but two of the Alex's current playing staff are 25 or under and five of them will only be 19 when the season starts.
Davis told BBC Radio Stoke it's time for them to prove they can take the club back to League One.
Quote MessageThey're young lads, young-ish players but have experience and I'm looking for them to push on. A lot of them have stood still, haven't shown enough in League One."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra's manager
It's the end of an era this week - as a 30-year-old leisure centre in Kidderminster is demolished.
The Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre - which was opened by Princess Diana - is to be relocated on the Kidderminster to Stourport Road in the town next week.
Image source, Google
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Goalkeeper Jack Butland is back in training with Stoke City, the club say.
He's recovering after fracturing his ankle during an England match in March which ruled him out of Euro 2016
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Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
More now on the news that an historic pottery firm in Stoke-on-Trent has been bought out of administration.
Hudson and Middleton has been acquired by BID Group, which helps turn around struggling businesses.
Its spokesman Lee Smith hasn't guaranteed all 45 employees will get their jobs back, saying they'll be employing "at least 25 people" but said he couldn't give an exact figure.
He also said they'd been in contact with a large firm in China about a partnership - but added that didn't mean they'd move production to China.
Quote MessageDefinitely not, that's not what we are about. We are passionate about UK-made products."
Lee Smith, Managing Director of BID Group
Lauren Turner
BBC News
A man from Stoke-on-Trent has travelled to France to mark the anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
Image source, Callan ChevinCallan Chevin, 24, is there to honour his great-grandfather John Chevin and his great-great-grandfather's cousin Alfred Saunders.
"It's important for me to remember the men in my family who fought so bravely," he said.
BBC Midlands Today
A war diary detailing the first day of the Battle of the Somme is being published for the first time today.
The account, written by Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Meynell, seen here with his son, was discovered by Staffordshire County Council's archives service.
Last night a special candlelit vigil was held at the National Memorial Aroborteum in memory of the thousands of troops who lost their lives when the battle started a 100 years ago today.
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News
The Cheshire Conservative MP Antoinette Sandbach has announced her support for Theresa May, external as the home secretary bids to become Tory leader.
The Eddisbury MP told BBC Radio Stoke the next Conservative leader will have a big affect on people's lives in her constituency.
Quote MessageThe decision to leave the EU is one of the most momentous decisions that's been taken for many, many years. It's going to impact on all my constituents and I think it's really important to have somebody who will unite both sides of the party."
Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative MP for Eddisbury
