Updates on Thursday 23 June 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 06:00
Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
About 2,200 people have now been tested at sites across Newcastle-under-Lyme after a coronavirus outbreak was linked to a bingo night at Silverdale Working Men's club.
There are still 17 cases of the virus connected to that event, with health officials stating those affected also visited 12 other venues across the town.
BBC Radio Stoke
Pets at Home says its new warehouse in Stafford will employ 1,000 people.
It is looking to close its distribution centre in Stoke-on-Trent and make the move to the county town by 2024.
The retailer says the new larger warehouse is to meet online demand, and the 450 workers at Trentham Lakes will be offered the chance to move there.
Image source, Google
Stoke-on-Trent Live
Stoke-on-Trent Live is following these stories:
Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News
Twins Evie and Grace are starting senior school on their birthday.
Their dad Martin Waring said the girls, who live near Nantwich in Cheshire, had some fun posing for a picture with long faces.
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He said: "They are actually excited believe it or not... they have been looking forward to seeing their friends and making new ones."
Happy birthday girls, I hope you have a good first day back and get some celebrations in too.
Lee Tatton appeared in a series following Staffordshire Police officers responding to emergencies.
Read MoreMaintenance crews on the M6 could have been seriously hurt when a car drove through roadworks to try to avoid traffic, police said.
The car was stopped near junction 13 near Stafford and the driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Image source, GoogleStoke-on-Trent Live
Here are three of the headlines from the Stoke Sentinel's website today:
There are now 17 cases of Covid-19 known to be linked to a bingo night in Newcastle-under-Lyme last month.
Staffordshire County Council said more than 1,000 people took a test over the weekend, after the outbreak linked to Silverdale Working Men's Club.
Image source, GoogleThe council has produced a list of 12 other pubs, clubs and restaurants, external where those 17 people visited following the event on 16 August and is urging anyone who visited them to get a test.
The arrival of September has brought with it beautiful blue skies, and BBC Weather Watchers in Shrawardine, Newport and Hereford have been capturing them in all their glory.
Image source, Trench1968
Image source, DaveWill
Image source, SunchaserA nine-year-old boy is in hospital after being hit by a van at Rugeley bus station yesterday afternoon.
Staffordshire Police said the boy, who is from the town, suffered leg injuries and is in a "stable condition" at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Image source, GoogleThe collision happened on Elmore Lane at 14:20 and the 57-year-old driver of the van and his 60-year-old female passenger were unhurt.
Firefighters are still tackling a large barn fire outside Stone, Staffordshire, which broke out yesterday.
Crews have been working to move about 70 tonnes of hay out of the barn on Knenhall Road at Moddershall.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue ServiceCannock Chase has more than 100 car parking places and there are moves to reduce that number.
Read MoreThe 16-year-old girl was attacked at an apart-hotel in Liverpool city centre on Sunday, police say.
Read MoreBea Jones started writing a diary as she tried to come to terms with the brutal murder of her daughter Moira.
Read MoreChampionship side Stoke City require penalties to edge past League One visitors Blackpool in the EFL Cup first round.
Read MoreA Spitfire will fly over Stoke-on-Trent this weekend in a show of gratitude to the NHS.
Image source, Aircraft Restoration CompanyThe plane will pass over the Royal Stoke University Hospital just after 10:30 on Sunday, according to the hospital's NHS trust., external
The aircraft bears a thank you message on the underside of its iconic wings and has been taking to the skies across the country this month.
The project is raising funds for NHS Charities Together.
The Spitfire has a close connection with Stoke-on-Trent as it was designed by Reginald Mitchell, who was born in the city.
People thought to have contracted Covid-19 at a working men's club went on to drink in other pubs.
Read More
Allen Cook
BBC News
Business leaders in the West Midlands have welcomed a government campaign aimed at encouraging people to return to their workplaces.
Image source, Coventry City CouncilEmployers will be asked to reassure staff it is safe to return by highlighting measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Trish Willetts, manager of the Business Improvement District (BID) organisation in Coventry, said the city needed people back in their workplaces.
"We absolutely need that message, that clear directive that it is OK to come out," she said.
"I do appreciate people that have been shielding, people that haven't the confidence but we are really trying as a team in Coventry to make the city inviting."
Business leaders have warned of damage being done to the local economy as people stay away from city centre offices.
Jonathan Bellamy, chair of Hanley BID in Stoke-on-Trent, said: "Self-isolation is not healthy and people need to engage with other people."
He said encouraging people to return to offices would benefit both them and the local economy.
Stoke-on-Trent Live
The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's headlines today include:
We've had a morning of ominous looking clouds rolling in over the West Midlands, at least from the look of these photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers.
These are from users DaveA in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, Beefy in Halesowen, Dudley and Videoman in Leek, Staffordshire:
Image source, DaveA
Image source, Beefy
Image source, Videoman