Updates from Friday 15 July 2016
Rebecca Wood
BBC Weather
I'm doing some filming for Midlands Today at Biddulph Grange this morning, and you can find out what it's about in a couple of weeks.
Investigations are under way after a suspected arson attack on a wooden bridge near Stafford.
The fire started just after midnight alongside the railway line, off Brookhouse Road in Gnosall, fire crews said.
The Environment Agency was also involved, with emergency crews leaving the scene at about 06:30.
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
A few showers to look out for throughout the day.
Highs of 19C (66F).
Former Port Vale defender Phil Sproson says signing British players Jerome Thomas and Anton Forrester is a "sensible" move.
Read More
BBC Travel
That crash and resultant oil spill on the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent earlier is continuing to cause major disruption.
Highways England warns traffic is not expected to return to normal for several hours.
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James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News
Staffordshire Police is investigating reports that Syrian refugees were subjected to racist abuse within hours of arriving in Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, ReutersTwo families were moved after a city council employee asked a neighbour of one of the families to turn down his music. The man then abused the council worker and racially abused the family, the council said.
Staffordshire Police confirms it is investigating the alleged incident, in Bentilee at about 18:30 on 30 June, as a hate crime.
Stoke City chairman Peter Coates hopes the club can start making signings now Euro 2016 has finished.
Read MoreBBC Weather Watcher Pottipotter sent in this image of a late sunset over Stoke-on-Trent last night.
Why don't you sign up and send in photos, via the above link, of where you live?
Image source, PottipotterBBC Travel
An oil spill's closed two lanes on the M6 northbound between J15 for the A500 (Stoke-on-Trent) and J16 for Crewe.
Clean up teams are at the scene, but there are long queues in the area, Highways England warns, external.
Renovation work on a doctors surgery in Leek has revealed a Star Wars-themed mural.
It features Yoda, R2D2 and C3P0 - along with a Yoda-themed parking warning for motorists.
It appeared on the outer wall of a pub called the Royal Oak, which used to stand where Park Medical Centre is.
The surgery says it hasn't decided what to do with it yet.
A former British soldier who tried to join the so-called Islamic State has been jailed for 18 years for attempting to buy machine guns and pistols.
Gavin Rae, 36, who converted to Islam in 2012, was brought back to the UK in July 2015 after he was denied entry to Turkey with his wife and children.
Image source, HandoutHe was arrested after meeting an undercover operative in Crewe to buy guns.
Rae, originally from Preston, was found guilty of possessing a gun with intent to endanger life, attempting to possess ammunition and three counts of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.
BBC Travel
There's slow traffic on the M6 southbound between J14, at the A34 for Stafford north, and J13, the A449 for Stafford South, because of an earlier accident.
Here's the latest from the newsroom this morning:
- A former British soldier who tried to join so-called Islamic State has been jailed for 18 years for trying to buy machine guns and pistols in a Crewe hotel room
- An £8m plan to replace 28,500 street lights in Stoke-on-Trent with LED bulbs should be approved by councillors tomorrow
- A Stars Wars mural has been uncovered on a wall of a doctor's surgery in Leek during renovation work
The Stoke Sentinel
Road-rage motorist Craig Spillane bit off part of a van driver's ear, external and then spat it in his victim's face.
Street lights in Stoke-on-Trent could be replaced with LED bulbs to try and save the city council nearly £1m a year in energy and maintenance costs.
The scheme could be approved by councillors tomorrow, and will see 28,500 lights changed at a cost of £8m,
Jack Brereton, cabinet member for regeneration and transport, says it's good value for money.
Future housing development in Woodville could be temporarily shelved to ease traffic flow on a congested roundabout, external.
This great view of Barlaston was captured by BBC Weather Watcher Jon.
If you would like to become a BBC Weather Watcher, you can sign up here and your picture could be featured on BBC Midlands Today.
Image source, JonHere are some of the stories we're looking at this morning:
- A former British soldier who tried to join the so-called Islamic State group has been jailed for 18 years for trying to buy machine guns and pistols in a Crewe hotel room
- An £8m plan to replace street lights in Stoke-on-Trent with LEDs should be approved by councillors tomorrow
- A fire breaks out on a wooden bridge near Stafford overnight
BBC Travel
No major problems currently on the roads, but the usual slow traffic on the M6 southbound in the roadworks area.
It's affecting drivers between J10a for the M54 and J8 for the M5.
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
A mainly dry and occasionally bright day, however there will again be a few showers to look out for throughout.
Highs of 19C (66F).
