Travel: Lorry broken down on A500 in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 16:45 BST 28 June 2016
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.
Summary
Updates on Thursday 16 June 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
Travel: Lorry broken down on A500 in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 16:45 BST 28 June 2016
Cycle club 'devastated' over break-inpublished at 16:35 BST 28 June 2016
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeBikes 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 sign Dutch defender Knopspublished at 16:22 BST 28 June 2016
Port Vale make their first summer signing, Dutch defender Kjell Knops from Eerste Divisie side MVV Maastricht.
Read MoreMcCrory signs new contract at Burtonpublished at 16:15 BST 28 June 2016
Defender Damien McCrory commits his future to Burton Albion by signing a new two-year deal.
Read MoreOlympics: Stoke-on-Trent long jumper 'honoured' to represent city in Riopublished at 15:43 BST 28 June 2016
Matt Sandoz
BBC Radio Stoke SportStoke-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
BBC Weather Watcher Pictures: Uttoxeter river and Leek under blue skiespublished at 15:18 BST 28 June 2016
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeIt 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 LeekDickinson joins Notts on two-year dealpublished at 14:58 BST 28 June 2016
Notts County clinch the signing of Carl Dickinson on a two-year contract after he rejects a new deal at Port Vale.
Read MoreEight arrested over cash machine thefts across UKpublished at 14:43 BST 28 June 2016
Tom Mullen
Reporter, BBC News OnlineEight 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.
Group wants post office move stoppedpublished at 14:32 BST 28 June 2016
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.
Travel: Crash on A513 in Armitage, Staffordshirepublished at 14:32 BST 28 June 2016
BBC TravelThere's been an accident on the A513 Rugeley Road in Armitage near the Upper Lodge Road junction.
Football: Notts County sign Port Vale skipperpublished at 14:21 BST 28 June 2016
Breaking
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokeAfter 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.
This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on XThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip X postThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of X postFootball: Crewe boss 'prepared to wait' for transferspublished at 13:47 BST 28 June 2016
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe 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
Weather updatepublished at 13:37 BST 28 June 2016
Alex Hamilton has your forecast
Eight held over ATM thefts across UKpublished at 13:33 BST 28 June 2016
Eight men are arrested in an investigation into a series of cash machine thefts in England and Scotland.
Read MoreResidents 'cut off' by level-crossing 'twice an hour'published at 13:32 BST 28 June 2016
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio StokePeople 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.
Travel: Abnormal load on A34 today between Stafford and Talkepublished at 12:09 BST 28 June 2016
BBC TravelDelays are expected today on the A34 northbound between the A518 junction in Stafford and the A500 junction in Talke because of an abnormal load.
This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on XThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip X postThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of X postSteelite International takeover: Background on Stoke-on-Trent firmpublished at 11:40 BST 28 June 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveSteelite 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.
Your pictures: Canal ducks in Stone and Rugeley rainbowpublished at 11:23 BST 28 June 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThese 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 ThomasCharity on watch for hate crime following Leave votepublished at 10:40 BST 28 June 2016
Sarah Robertson
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeStoke-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
American investor buys Stoke-on-Trent pottery companypublished at 10:25 BST 28 June 2016
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe 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