Man jailed after huge cocaine haul
Inquiry after hospital power failure caused major incident
Health commissioning body rated inadequate
Updates from Friday 22 July 2016
BBC Travel
There are also problems on the M6 northbound near Stoke-on-Trent.
One lane is closed between Keele Services and J16 for the A500 (Crewe / Stoke) due to a broken-down lorry.
BBC Travel
One lane is closed on the M54 Westbounds exit slip road at J2 (Wolverhampton).
Joanne Malin
BBC Midlands Today
The parents of a baby girl from the West Midlands who died from an infection contracted during birth want all mothers to be tested for the bug.
Image source, KAYLEIGH & COLIN GRIFFITHSPippa Griffiths was just a day old when she fell ill with a Group B Strep infection - the biggest cause of meningitis in newborns.
The NHS currently doesn't offer routine testing for the bacteria - we'll have more on BBC One from 13:30 in Midlands Today.
It was too good to last.
The Met Office says we're due a couple of days of July weather, before the rain returns.
Enjoy it while you can.
Image source, The Met Office
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A number of people whose homes in Stafford were repeatedly flooded with sewage are calling for compensation to pay for damage costing thousands of pounds.
Human waste seeped into houses
Human waste seeped into houses and gardens in Baswich after sewerage pipes were damaged by tree roots and couldn't cope with heavy rain last month.
Severn Trent says engineers have since fixed the problem and the water firm has paid a partial refund on water rates to affected households.
It adds that it is considering further financial compensation.
Police advise that traffic's backing up to J10A for the M54 as crews perform emergency repairs to the northbound carriageway near J13.
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Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Here's a round-up of our headlines this lunchtime:
- Two men have been jailed for their part in the setting off of a canister in a fast-food restaurant in Stafford
- Two lanes on the M6 in Staffordshire have been closed for much of the morning after a fuel spillage and shed load, external
- More than 250 people took part in an event at the weekend, to raise money for a boy from Codsall
BBC Travel
Emergency resurfacing work's going to be carried out on the M6 near Cannock this afternoon, between junctions 12 and 13, after the earlier fuel spillage.
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Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM
People gathered at Lichfield Cathedral last night to remember victims of the Nice attack.
Members of the public were invited to light candles in support and to say prayers for the more than 80 people killed on Thursday night, when a lorry drove into crowds on Bastille day.
A minute's silence will be observed in France this morning as the government is facing growing criticism it hasn't done enough to protect the country.
Two men who set off a canister in a fast-food restaurant are jailed for 10 months.
Read More
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale manager Bruno Ribeiro has confirmed that the club will make a further addition to their squad today.
Image source, Port Vale FCVale have signed 11 new players so far this summer but Ribeiro told BBC Radio Stoke that he plans to bring in somebody else this afternoon.
Quote MessageWe have one, I won't say his name, we'll see. Our next games are very important to see what we need - but the signing is a good player, coming from a big club.
Bruno Ribeiro, Port Vale manager
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Here's how the rest of today's looking - to get a forecast at any other time, head to the BBC Weather website.
What's the weather got in store?
Ryan Shawcross' latest back injury is unconnected to last season's issues, says Stoke assistant boss Mark Bowen.
Read MoreBill Wilson
BBC business reporter
The new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says he does not intend to scrap the high-speed HS2 rail project which is set to run through the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Cheshire.
The initial plan is for a new line from London to Birmingham, with later extensions to Manchester and Leeds including a key staging post in Crewe.
Image source, HS2The Stop HS2 campaign group had called on Mr Grayling to urgently review the project on cost grounds and the effect on towns and cities near the route.
But Mr Grayling told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "I have no plans to back away from the HS2 project."
A former carer who sprayed water into an 81-year-old woman’s face, external so she would move as he showered her has been jailed.
Image source, Express and StarA wide load is making its way through Staffordshire today as it heads north from Stafford along the A34 say police.
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Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
More than 250 people took part in an event at the weekend, to raise money for a boy from Codsall.
Five-year-old Harry Morgan-Shirley has cerebral palsy. His family says surgery to enable him to walk is only available in the USA.
They estimate that the cost of surgery and physiotherapy afterwards, will come to more than £80,000.
About £17,000 was raised by people either attempting an 18-mile run (some walked) or a 35-mile cycle ride in Shropshire.
About £17,000 was raised by people taking part
Liam Barnes
BBC News Online
Two men have been jailed for their part in the setting off of a canister in a fast-food restaurant in Stafford.
Police were called to McDonald's on Eccleshall Road on 18 April.
Image source, WEST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICETwo girls aged 17 and 18 were taken to hospital with respiratory and abdominal problems.
Christopher Wardle, 25, from Newcastle upon Tyne, and Spencer Benham, 23, from Leicester pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon.
They were each jailed for 10 months at Stafford Crown Court on Friday.
Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Here are the latest headlines for you for Staffordshire and Cheshire
- The new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says he does not intend to scrap the high-speed HS2 rail project which is set to run through Staffordshire and Cheshire
- People have gathered at Lichfield Cathedral to hold a vigil to remember victims of the Nice attack
- Drivers on the M6 are facing delays this morning northbound in Staffordshire between junctions 12 and 13 after a fuel spillage and shed load, external
BBC Travel
There are still long delays on the M6 near Cannock this morning as emergency services continue to treat the road after a fuel spill.
It's northbound between junctions 12 and 13.
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