MEP's claims 'would have been refused'published at 18:48 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
An MEP's claims for road journeys she never made would not have been paid if it was known she had travelled more cheaply by plane, a court is told.
Read MoreSummary
Updates on Thursday 16 June 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
MEP's claims 'would have been refused'published at 18:48 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Watch: Latest weather for the West Midlandspublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayAny showers will soon die out this evening to leave a mainly dry but cloudy night with a low later of 10C (50F).
A better day tomorrow - mainly dry, hazy sunshine, and just the odd shower in the afternoon, with a high of 17C (63F).
Football: Magpies sign Vale midfielder O'Connorpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
BBC SportNotts County sign midfielder Michael O'Connor on a two-year deal, the third player to join from Port Vale this week.
Image source, Getty ImagesOver 1,000 children in Staffordshire cared for by grandparentspublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Rebecca Bradshaw
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeIt's claimed over 1,000 children in Staffordshire are being cared for by their grandparents.
The figure is around 1,700 - the second highest number in the UK according to research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, external.
Across the West Midlands as a whole, there are thought to be 10,000 grandparents in this position - a record high.
The Economic and Sicial Research Council says problems like drug abuse, mental health issues and sudden death are stopping parents from being able to look after their own children.
Image source, Science Photo LibraryLatest: Asda in Crewe evacuated; Leighton Hospital in need of volunteers; arrests following JCB break inpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe afternoon's headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire:
- A supermarket in Crewe has been evacuated this afternoon after a fire, external "false alarm"
- More patients in wards at Crewe's Leighton Hospital are going to be offered a befriending service - if volunteers can be found
- Staffordshire Police, external have arrested three men in the early hours of the morning on suspicion of burglary in Stoke-on-Trent.
Former MEP denies accusation she claimed for mileage to Europe when she flew insteadpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Former Ukip MEP Nikki Sinclaire is accused of submitting 10 expenses claims dishonestly between 2009 and 2010.
In six, Antonie Muller, prosecuting, said Sinclaire flew via Brussels, Basel in Switzerland or Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, despite allegedly signing claims stating she had driven.
Ms Sinclaire denies all the charges against her. The trial continues.
Plans afoot to create safer walk to school in Rocesterpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Education bosses are in talks to create a new route for youngsters, external walking to a new school site after parents raised fears for their children's safety.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserTravel: Disruption to train servicespublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
BBC TravelReplacement bus services are running on East Midlands Trains, external between Stoke-on-Trent and Derby due to a broken-down train between Stoke-on-Trent and Uttoxeter.
Tickets are also being accepted on London Midland services between Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe.
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End of twitter postFootball: Port Vale captain thinks new signing will need to adjust to British gamepublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokePort Vale are expected to make two further signings tomorrow, having made their first addition of the summer.
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End of twitter postDutch central defender Kjell Knops signed a two-year deal at Vale Park yesterday.
Former Vale captain Phil Sproson says Knops will have to adjust quickly to life in England.
Quote MessageThe British game will be decidedly faster than anything he's been used to, because on the continent when you're playing at that level, it is very much a slow build up... that's the way they play. He won't be used to the physical element of the game."
Phil Sproson, Former Port Vale captain
Fire at Asda in Crewe 'false alarm'published at 16:12 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Rebecca Bradshaw
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeThere have been reports of a fire at an Asda store in Crewe, which was evacuated.
Cheshire Fire have confirmed it was a false alarm, external. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera but there was no sign of fire.
Shoppers were soon allowed back into the store.
Image source, Victoria BarkerTravel: Lane closed on M6 northboundpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
BBC TravelThere's been an accident on the M6 northbound between junction 15 for the A500 and junction 16 for Crewe. One lane is closed and there's queuing traffic.
Staffordshire Police investigating Newcastle attackpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeStaffordshire Police, external are investigating after a man was attacked in Newcastle on Saturday.
A 25-year-old man was punched in the face after being approached by four men and a woman.
They're described as white and all were wearing hoodies. The attacker is thought to be in his 20s and was wearing a blue hoodie.
MEP 'claimed travel expenses for mileage and ferry trips when she drove more cheaply'published at 15:41 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
A former Ukip MEP's expenses claims for road journeys she never made would "certainly not" have been paid if it was known she had travelled more cheaply by plane, an EU bureaucrat in charge of expenses has told a court.
Nikki Sinclaire, who represented the West Midlands until 2014, signed and submitted "significant" expenses "in excess of the flight costs", according to the prosecution.
It is alleged Sinclaire wrongly claimed for thousands of euros in road and ferry travel expenses when she had travelled more cheaply by air, but she denies all charges against her.
Image source, PAFrancisco Estela Burriel, head of the European Parliament members' travel and subsistence expenses unit, said: "In the files and documentation presented for the member for the European Parliament there is no evidence of flying."
Your pictures: Rainbow in Wybunburypublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Despite the weather being rather wet today, that hasn't stopped our BBC Weather Watchers from sending in some great photos.
Ian H sent in a photo of a beautifully symmetrical rainbow.
Image source, Ian HMagpies sign Vale midfielder O'Connorpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Notts County sign midfielder Michael O'Connor on a two-year deal, the third player to join from Port Vale this week.
Read MoreLeighton Hospital needs more volunteerspublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeMore volunteers are needed to befriend patients on the wards at Crewe's Leighton Hospital, external.
Sixteen people currently offer practical and emotional support on three wards, but now the hospital wants the Royal Voluntary Service, external to expand the service to another two to meet demand.
Stoke-on-Trent councillor backs Jeremy Corbynpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC NewsDavid Cameron has publicly challenged Jeremy Corbyn to resign after he was given an overwhelming vote of "no confidence" by his fellow Labour MPs.
The Labour leader is refusing to go, despite about 50 of his front-bench team resigning over the last 72 hours.
But Stoke-on-Trent Labour Councillor Ruth Rosenau, who supports Mr Corbyn, says he's done lots to win back places like The Potteries.
Quote MessageI think we've engaged far more since Corbyn's been leader than we did previously. I think that's why Corbyn is the person to lead our party forward."
Ruth Rosenau, Stoke-on-Trent Labour Councillor
Travel: Taffic problems on A500published at 14:28 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio StokePenkhull police have just tweeted this update, reporting traffic problems on the A500.
It's believed to be between the A5007 for Fenton and the A52 at Shelton Old Road.
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End of twitter postMemorial in Staffordshire upgraded for Battle of Somme anniversarypublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
BBC Radio StokeTo mark 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, 15 memorials across the country, including one in Lichfield, Staffordshire, have been listed or upgraded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, external on the advice of Historic England, external.
The Lichfield War Memorial on Bird Street, external, has been upgraded to Grade II*.
Image source, Historic EnglandThe memorial, set in a Garden of Remembrance opened in 1920, honours the high casualties suffered by the city in one of the worst battles of World War One
The Renaissance-inspired screen features a statue of St George triumphant over a slain dragon – the classic story of good triumphing over evil.
Arrests made following JCB break inpublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 29 June 2016
Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeStaffordshire Police, external have arrested three men in the early hours of the morning on suspicion of burglary in Stoke-on-Trent.
Security systems at the Gunn JCB depot in Victoria Road were triggered and it was discovered that a number of men were on site.
Officers were dispatched straight away to the depot and three men from Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford, aged 39, 38 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of burglary. They remain in custody.
