Updates on Thursday 16 June 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
BBC Travel
There's a broken-down lorry causing congestion on the A500 D Road southbound this afternoon in Sideaway, Stoke-on-Trent, at the Sideaway roundabout.
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Bikes worth around £5,000 have been stolen from the cycle track at Lyme Valley Park in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceStaffordshire Police, external says the 11 bikes aren't designed to be used on the road because they have no brakes.
They say they were taken last night at Newcastle Track Cycling Association, external.
Coaches at the club have told BBC Radio Stoke that they're "devastated".
Port Vale make their first summer signing, Dutch defender Kjell Knops from Eerste Divisie side MVV Maastricht.
Read MoreDefender Damien McCrory commits his future to Burton Albion by signing a new two-year deal.
Read More
Matt Sandoz
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Stoke-on-Trent long jumper Jazmin Sawyers says it is an honour to be representing the city at this year's Olympic Games.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 22-year-old has been speaking about the sacrifices she's had to make after she qualified at the weekend via the British Athletics Championships, external.
Quote MessageYou have to live and breathe it, you have to make sure you get enough sleep, the food you are eating, the kind of social activities you engage in - you've got to make sure that everything is tailored to this lifestyle of being an athlete. That can be hard because you've got to say no to a lot of things you want to do."
Jazmin Sawyers
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
It might not go that way today but yesterday our BBC Weather Watchers took plenty of pictures of the blue skies over Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Here are a couple of examples from Bucko in Uttoxeter and Lesley from Leek in, you've guessed it, Leek - sign up on the website..
Image source, Bucko
Image source, Lesley from LeekNotts County clinch the signing of Carl Dickinson on a two-year contract after he rejects a new deal at Port Vale.
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Tom Mullen
Reporter, BBC News Online
Eight men have been arrested in an investigation into a series of high-value cash machine thefts in the UK including one in Alsager, Cheshire.
The men, aged between 27 and 41, are held on suspicion of carrying out raids from Wiltshire in the south to Aberdeenshire in the north.
Image source, MERSEYSIDE POLICEExplosives were used to sabotage some ATMS, while others were dragged away using stolen vehicles.
Concerns have been raised over plans to relocate a post office in Stoke-on-Trent.
Under proposals, the Fenton branch would move in to an empty unit across the road.
But Glenn Parkes, from the Fenton Community Association, says he has concerns the move will make access difficult for pensioners and disabled people.
The Post Office says it welcomes customers' feedback ahead of a final decision.
BBC Travel
There's been an accident on the A513 Rugeley Road in Armitage near the Upper Lodge Road junction.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
After announcing on Twitter last week that he was rejecting staying at Port Vale, it's been confirmed this afternoon that the former Vale captain Carl Dickinson's joined Notts County.
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Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis says he's prepared to wait as long as it takes to get his transfer targets this summer.
Image source, Getty ImagesDavis has met with a striker and a midfield player over the last week.
But he told BBC Radio Stoke he'll give them all the time they need to make a decision.
Quote MessageOnce you put deadlines on things sometimes that puts them off, it gives them pressure that they don't need because they've got other offers so in certain cases deadlines aren't good, you want to be patient.
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Alex Hamilton has your forecast
Eight men are arrested in an investigation into a series of cash machine thefts in England and Scotland.
Read More
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
People living on a housing estate in Stone have told BBC Radio Stoke they want action to prevent them being "cut off" twice an hour when a rail line is in use.
Access to and from Coppice Road stops for 10 minutes each hour when level crossing barriers are lowered to allow trains to pass.
Those complaining say they want to see another route built for cars and pedestrians.
Network Rail says the frequency of trains has recently returned to twice an hour, due to improvement works on alternative routes.
BBC Travel
Delays are expected today on the A34 northbound between the A518 junction in Stafford and the A500 junction in Talke because of an abnormal load.
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Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Steelite International, which has announced today that it's been bought by American investors, external, was formed in 1983 after founding chairman David Johnson bought the whole hotel ware division from Royal Doulton.
The firm says it focused on making tableware for the hospitality industry with clients including Hilton Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels. , external
By 2006 it had a turnover of £48.2m and exported to 120 countries, external - that would rise to sales of £89.6m in 2013, external, following the acquisition of Royal Crown Derby in 2012.
Hundreds of people are employed at the Middleport site and three years ago Steelite was given a Queen's Award for Enterprise.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
These ducks and their babies bobbing along the canal in Stone were photographed by Kath Dawson who kindly shared the picture with me.
Image source, Kath DawsonThen this rainbow was seen by Matt Thomas in Rugeley.
Have you got a picture of Staffordshire or Cheshire to share? You can send it in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram (with the tag #bbcstoke), external.
Image source, Matt Thomas
Sarah Robertson
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke-on-Trent Citizens' Advice Bureau says it is meeting today to discuss any local reports of hate crime following the EU referendum result last week.
David Cameron has condemned "despicable" incidents of hate crime reported in the wake of the UK's vote.
Cheshire Police said yesterday there had been "no upsurge in reported hate crimes, external" in the county in the past few days - but the Stoke-on-Trent charity says it's worried there could be cases in the city.
Quote MessageWe have always found whenever there's been some kind of big national thing like a big demonstration or some kind of bombing, there's always been suddenly a bit of a backlash and people have suddenly got victimised and then it does hopefully fade off."
Jude Hawes, Equalities Team Manager at Stoke-on-Trent Citizens' Advice Bureau
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The Stoke on Trent pottery firm Steelite International has announced it's been bought by the company's American president and an investment group, external.
Image source, GoogleThe tableware company in Middleport is a major supplier to the hospitality industry.
As part of the takeover, former Steelite Chief Executive Officer Kevin Oakes is leaving the firm - the new owners say they're looking to bring in new ideas.
Quote MessageSteelite International is known as the leader in the hospitality tableware industry and our goal is to continue that leadership through the introduction of new, creative and innovative products."
John Miles, New CEO of Steelite International