Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Monday.
Summary
Thousands of statues being planted in Somme commemoration
New owners of pottery firm eyeing new business
Damaged manhole shuts M6 lane in Cheshire 'for rest of today'
Updates on Friday 1 July 2016
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Watch: This weekend's weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands TodayIf you want a latest forecast over the weekend for your part of Staffordshire or Cheshire - head to the BBC Weather website.
Three day cycling event under way in Staffordshirepublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeCyclists from across the world are taking part in this year's Staffordshire Cycling Festival, external, which started today at Shugborough Hall.
Now in its fourth year at the estate, the three-day event sees amateurs and some of the country's top cyclists , externaltaking part in races across the county.
Image source, Shugborough'Tough' Theresa should be the next PM - Burton MP Griffithspublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local LiveThe Burton MP, Andrew Griffiths, who came out in support of Theresa May yesterday, has been speaking to the BBC about the qualities that make her a suitable leader.
"The difference with Theresa is she has made difficult decisions in the interests of our country," he said.
"She is the Home Secretary, she has had to take those tough decisions and she has had to go into tough negotiations."
Mrs May and the four other candidates - Michael Gove, Andrea Leadsom, Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox - will take part in a series of ballots of the party's 330 MPs, starting on on Tuesday.
Watch: Downton Abbey costumes on show at museumpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIveCostumes from the ITV drama Downton Abbey are going on display from tomorrow at a Stoke-on-Trent museum.
They're part of an exhibition at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley, external which will run until October.
BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Stafford and Fazeleypublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Our BBC Weather Watchers got out and snapped some of the skies in Staffordshire and Cheshire over farmers' fields by the look of these pictures.
They're from users Shane's place in Fazeley and Coton Karen in Stafford.
Image source, Shane's place
Image source, Coton KarenFright for Burton couple as car ploughs into gardenpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
An elderly couple were shocked to wake up to find a car had crashed into their garden, external, in a quiet Stretton street.
Image source, Burton MailFootball: Stoke City's internationals given extra time offpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City players who have been on international duty at Euro 2016, the Copa America and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have been told they do not have to report back for pre-season training next Friday.
Image source, Getty ImagesInstead, Jon Walters, Glenn Whelan, Shay Given, Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri, Geoff Cameron and Mame Diouf will link-up with the rest of Mark Hughes' first team squad ahead the trip to Florida later this month.
The Potters squad are due to fly to the United States on 24 July.
On Midlands Today this evening: Thousands pay tribute on Somme centenarypublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Cath Mackie
BBC News OnlineThousands of people across the Midlands have marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
The campaign in France lasted five months with the British suffering almost 60,000 casualties on the first day alone.
There'll be more coverage of today's events across the region including from the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire on Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One.
Football: Port Vale add two more with midfielder and defenderpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokePort Vale's signings keep on coming as two more players have been added today.
Image source, Port Vale FCFrench midfielder Anthony de Freitas, 22, external, and Dutch centre-back Calvin Mac-Intosch, 26, external, have both signed two-year deals at Vale Park.
They follow French midfielder Quentin Pereira, external who arrived earlier today.
Their arrivals make it five transfers in into Port Vale this week by new manager Bruno Ribeiro.
Travel: Overturned lorry shuts Salters Lane in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
BBC TravelSalters Lane in Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent is shut both ways because of an overturned lorry.
It's between the A52 Ash Bank Road and the Malthouse Lane junction.
News: Wooden statues planted in Somme commemoration; rescued pottery firm eyeing new trade; damaged manhole shuts M6 lane 'for rest of today'published at 17:02 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeIf you're just joining us, here are this evening's top stories:
- The first of thousands of wooden statues has been planted today at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, external to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme
- The new owner of a Stoke-on-Trent pottery firm, rescued from administration, says he's already got overseas companies interested in doing business with them
- A damaged manhole cover on the northbound M6 in Cheshire is going to keep one lane closed for the rest of today and overnight
Hundreds sign petition to save school busespublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
More than 400 Willaston residents have so far signed a petition calling on Cheshire East to reverse its decision to axe, external free school buses to Nantwich high schools.
Watch: Thousands of statues to be planted in Somme commemorationpublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIveThousands of wooden statues will be planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, external 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.
Air ambulance charity gets £40,000 donationpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeThe County Air Ambulance Trust has been given a cheque for more than £40,000 by the Leek United Building Society, external.
Image source, Leek UnitedThe society have a customer account which sees them donate money for every £100 saved.
A total of £125,000 has been donated since launching the scheme in 2008, it said.
Crewe have 'moved on' from relegationpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says the League Two club have put last season's relegation behind them.
Read MoreYour pictures: A Rugeley sunset and ballooning over Cheshirepublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe pictures I get sent of sunsets over Staffordshire and Cheshire are fantastic and this is no exception.
Andy Roye took this in Rugeley.
Image source, Andy RoyeWhile Jonathan White sent in this picture of a hot air balloon over Wistaston in Cheshire.
If you've got a picture to share on any subject, taken in Staffordshire or Cheshire, you can get it to me on email,tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram (with the tag #bbcstoke), external.
Image source, Jonathan WhiteRoad warning over 'busy' Potteries Marathonpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Stoke-on-Trent's expected to be busy this Sunday when runners pound the streets in the Potteries Marathon.
It is due to start at 09:00, external and Staffordshire Police are alerting drivers that roads will be busy.
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End of twitter postTravel: Damaged manhole shuts M6 lane in Cheshire 'for rest of today'published at 15:54 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
BBC TravelA damaged manhole cover on the northbound M6 in Cheshire is going to keep one lane closed for the rest of today and overnight.
Image source, GoogleHighways England say it is in lane one between junctions 18 and 19 and they say it needs repairing from later tonight.
They're keeping the lane shut until then "for safety reasons" add that congestion is now back to junction 16.
In pictures: Battle of the Sommepublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
BBC News UKThe Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest of World War One, with more than one million people killed or wounded. It lasted five months as the British and French Armies fought the Germans on a 15-mile front.
Image source, PA
Image source, PA
