Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Shami Chakrabarti, the former director of Liberty, says she has been to see the Stoke North Labour MP who walked out of an anti-Semitism event after being accused of "colluding" with the media.  

Ruth Smeeth had called for Jeremy Corbyn to "resign immediately" for what she saw as his failure to intervene when "anti-Semitic slurs" were directed towards her in front of him.  

Ms Chakrabarti, who authored a report into alleged anti-Semitism within the Labour party,  defended Mr Corbyn for not intervening.

She said "I probably didn't give him the chance," but adds that the Labour leader had concurred with her when she admonished the male heckler.

Children have taken part in a service at the National Memorial Arboretum to remember the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Somme. A two-minute silence took place as people commemorated the start of the battle 100 years ago in World War One.

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A war diary detailing the first day of the Battle of the Somme is being published for the first time today in Staffordshire. 

The account was written by Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Meynell and was discovered by Staffordshire County Council's archives service, external. 

They are tweeting excerpts from the diary on their Twitter page, external throughout the day.

Matt Newsum
BBC Sport

Port Vale have signed striker Rigino Cicilia from Dutch side Roda JC on a two-year deal.

Cicilia, 21, has an option to stay beyond the initial two seasons if he proves a success at Vale Park.

Image source, Port Vale FC

The Curacao-born player played two games for his parent club last season, and spent time on loan at RKC Waalwjik.

He made 24 appearances for Roda in total in league and cup, having played for youth sides at KVC Oranje, FC Kerkrade-West and Alemannia Aachen.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A Stoke-on-Trent pottery firm which had gone into administration has been bought by an investment group. 

The BID Group, external has taken over the Longton-based Hudsons of England who make fine bone china products. 

Image source, Google

Earlier this month the firm went into administration after blaming a lack of orders, with 45 staff being made redundant - they'll now be re-employed the BID Group say.

Their managing director, Lee Smith, said Hudsons would fit "perfectly" into their portfolio and "be a benefit for the UK economy".

A candlelit vigil was held last night at the National Memorial Arboretum in memory of the thousands killed in the Battle of the Somme. People gathered at the Alrewas site to remember the soldiers who were preparing for the battle to start on 1 July 1916 in World War One.

BBC Travel

There are delays this morning on the A518 Weston Road eastbound in Stafford between the junctions of the A34 Queensway and the A518 Weston Road. 

Latest weather for the West Midlands

League One Port Vale sign striker Rigino Cicilia from Dutch side Roda JC on a two-year deal.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

The launch of the West Midlands Combined Authority had been designed to set out our long-term prospects but instead the day was impaled on the hooks of real and present dangers after the watershed vote for Britain's exit from the European Union.

Should I perhaps turn to astrology for some inspiration as to what this uncertain future might hold?

A local lad who hailed originally from one of the combined authority's "non-constituent" or "associate" local authority areas, Stratford-upon-Avon, once said: "It is not in our stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves."

Read more in my latest blog.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra's manager Steve Davis is to introduce a league table that will determine how his squad is performing during pre-season training.

Image source, crewealex.net

The results will be published to the players and there will be a group structure to it. 

Euan Duncan
BBC Local Live

Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater has signed a new one-year deal with Burton Albion.  

Image source, Getty Images

The former Rams keeper arrived at the Pirelli Stadium in January to provide cover for Jon McLaughlin.

Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Ruth Smeeth's tweeted this afternoon that she'd had an apology from Shami Chakrabarti, the chairwoman of Labour's inquiry into anti-Semitism.

It comes after the Stoke North Labour MP says she was "verbally attacked" at the event and has called for Jeremy Corbyn to resign for not intervening.

Veteran goalkeeper Stephen Bywater signs a new one-year contract at Championship side Burton Albion.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Plans to reopen a Stafford school, which shut after a number of pupils fell ill following a chemical leak, has been delayed again.  

About 20 children were affected at Flash Ley Community Primary School and Nursery in Stafford in October amid reports of a mystery smell.  

An investigation did conclude that work to floor ducts last summer led to high levels of the chemical formaldehyde, Staffordshire County Council said.

However county councillor Ben Adams says it's taking longer than expected to make the site safe and they won't have it ready by September.

A former aide to an ex-UKIP MEP raised fears her expenses claims were being inflated six months before going to police, a court hears.

Plans to re-open a Stafford school which shut after a number of pupils fell ill following a chemical leak has been delayed again. About 20 were affected at Flash Ley Community Primary School and Nursery in Stafford in October amid reports of a mystery smell. An investigation did conclude that work to floor ducts last summer led to high levels of the chemical, Staffordshire County Council said. However county councillor Ben Adams says it's taking longer than expected to make the site safe and they won't have it ready by September.

Clark Ainsworth
BBC News

A judge has called for an urgent review of the decision to charge medics - including a Stoke-on-Trent nurse - over the death of a woman at an abortion clinic in west London.  

Image source, PA

Aisha Chithira, 32, from Ireland, died after the procedure at the Marie Stopes clinic in Ealing in January 2012.

Dr Adedayo Adedeji, along with nurses Margaret Miller and Gemma Pullen, from Stoke-on-Trent, were initially accused of manslaughter by gross negligence, but charges were dropped

Judge Nicholas Cooke QC demanded a review into what "went wrong". All three defendants had always denied the charges against them.

Four men have been jailed after a spate of burglaries across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, North Wales and Staffordshire. 

Gytis Dambaokas, Tomas Juospaitis, Grazvydas Kasarauskas and Giedrius Batutis, all of no fixed abode, targeted 120 properties which saw them escape with jewellery with an estimated value of £200,000, police say.

Image source, West Mercia Police

"These offences were undoubtedly concerning for the individuals targeted by this group of men, who gave no thought to the concern and distress they inflicted on their victims as they proceeded to ransack their homes," Det Sgt Andrew Chatting said.

All four - pictured above - were each found guilty of conspiracy to burgle at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

- Gytis Dambaokas, 30, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison

- Tomas Juospaitis, 31, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

- Grazvydas Kasarauskas, 34, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

- Giedrius Batutis, 33, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

BBC Travel

There's been an accident on the A500 D Road in Stoke-on-Trent at the Sideway roundabout.