Stoke Labour MP calls for Corbyn to 'resign immediately'
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Updates on Thursday 30 June 2016
Thousands of wooden statues will be planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. One of them was planted today by Lewis Holmes, the great-grandson of George Edwards who fought on the front line.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale have announced their third signing this week with French midfielder Quentin Pereira joining on a two-year deal., external
Image source, Port Vale FCPereira, 24, has an option to stay beyond the initial two seasons if he proves a success at Vale Park.
The midfielder joins from Stade De Reims and follows Rigino Cicilia and Kjell Knops to Vale Park as new manager Bruno Ribeiro adds to his squad.
Rebecca Bradshaw
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
The Battle of the Somme is going to be commemorated this summer at Lichfield Cathedral with a project involving poetry read by the Oscar-winning, external actor Eddie Redmayne.
Image source, Lichfield CathedralThe exhibition is due to be held between 4-6 August and the cathedral says the star of The Theory of Everything and Les Miserables visited them this week to record a "selection of well-known war poetry".
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A "significant amount" of cocaine has been seized by police after they pulled a car over, external in Burntwood, Staffordshire.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say they arrested three men who were in the black Ford Focus yesterday on Water Street on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.
The force wouldn't put a figure on the amount seized but said it was "around 60 rocks" of cocaine.
Need cheering up? Perhaps don't look here. A year ago today, temperatures were rather hotter at 36C.
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Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
People across Staffordshire and Cheshire have marked the day 100 years ago when the soldiers marched forward on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
BBC Radio Stoke's Emma Thomas has been at the National Memorial Arboretum where the first painted soldier statues have been planted for each soldier killed on 1 July 1916.
While in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, BBC Radio Stoke's Perry Spiller took this poignant picture today at the town's war memorial.
Image source, Perry SpillerThe weather for the West Midlands.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra's manager Steve Davis has admitted he's not been satisfied with the progress of the young players in his squad.
Image source, Getty ImagesAll but two of the Alex's current playing staff are 25 or under and five of them will only be 19 when the season starts.
Davis told BBC Radio Stoke it's time for them to prove they can take the club back to League One.
Quote MessageThey're young lads, young-ish players but have experience and I'm looking for them to push on. A lot of them have stood still, haven't shown enough in League One."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra's manager
It's the end of an era this week - as a 30-year-old leisure centre in Kidderminster is demolished.
The Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre - which was opened by Princess Diana - is to be relocated on the Kidderminster to Stourport Road in the town next week.
Image source, Google
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Goalkeeper Jack Butland is back in training with Stoke City, the club say.
He's recovering after fracturing his ankle during an England match in March which ruled him out of Euro 2016
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Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
More now on the news that an historic pottery firm in Stoke-on-Trent has been bought out of administration.
Hudson and Middleton has been acquired by BID Group, which helps turn around struggling businesses.
Its spokesman Lee Smith hasn't guaranteed all 45 employees will get their jobs back, saying they'll be employing "at least 25 people" but said he couldn't give an exact figure.
He also said they'd been in contact with a large firm in China about a partnership - but added that didn't mean they'd move production to China.
Quote MessageDefinitely not, that's not what we are about. We are passionate about UK-made products."
Lee Smith, Managing Director of BID Group
Lauren Turner
BBC News
A man from Stoke-on-Trent has travelled to France to mark the anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
Image source, Callan ChevinCallan Chevin, 24, is there to honour his great-grandfather John Chevin and his great-great-grandfather's cousin Alfred Saunders.
"It's important for me to remember the men in my family who fought so bravely," he said.
BBC Midlands Today
A war diary detailing the first day of the Battle of the Somme is being published for the first time today.
The account, written by Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Meynell, seen here with his son, was discovered by Staffordshire County Council's archives service.
Last night a special candlelit vigil was held at the National Memorial Aroborteum in memory of the thousands of troops who lost their lives when the battle started a 100 years ago today.
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News
The Cheshire Conservative MP Antoinette Sandbach has announced her support for Theresa May, external as the home secretary bids to become Tory leader.
The Eddisbury MP told BBC Radio Stoke the next Conservative leader will have a big affect on people's lives in her constituency.
Quote MessageThe decision to leave the EU is one of the most momentous decisions that's been taken for many, many years. It's going to impact on all my constituents and I think it's really important to have somebody who will unite both sides of the party."
Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative MP for Eddisbury
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.
Quote MessageI've been to see Ruth Smeeth and I've apologised to her because it was my press conference and I was chairing it and I'm really sorry she was treated in that way."
Shami Chakrabarti, Former director of Liberty
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.
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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 FCThe 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, GoogleEarlier 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.
