Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

The body which oversees and pays for NHS services in south Cheshire has been rated inadequate.   , external

NHS England says South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, external (CCG) has problems with its leadership, finances and planning. 

The three CCGs in north Staffordshire fared better but officials say they still "require improvement".  

Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Work to repair part of Lichfield Cathedral's been given a grant of £690,000, external.

Image source, Will Fuller Photography

Lichfield Cathedral says the money's come from the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund.

They say it'll go towards their efforts to repair its Chapter House which has been damaged by "serious water penetration and stone erosion".

BBC Travel

A lorry's overturned and is partially blocking the A51 Barony Road in Nantwich westbound, between the junctions of Reaseheath Roundabout and Bluestone Traffic Lights.

Congestion on the A530 Nantwich Road is back to Wistaston Green Road and on the A500 back to the A534 Crewe Road junction.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale's assistant manager Michael Brown says the club's new summer signings will adjust to English football. 

Image source, Port Vale FC

The majority of the Vale's pre-season signings have experience of playing in Europe but not in England. 

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Staffordshire Fire Service say it's not thought anyone was injured in a fire at the Pets at Home centre on Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent this morning.

They say the fire which started in an animal waste hopper is now out and they've left the scene - it's not yet been revealed what caused the blaze.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A man has been jailed for six years, external after officers discovered what they described as a £4.9m haul of cocaine when he was stopped on the M6 near Crewe.  

Image source, Cheshire Police

Voicu Razvan Florea, 31, from Harrow, London, admitted one count of possession with intent to supply a class A drug at Chester Crown Court today. 

Cheshire Police say he was stopped on the motorway in April and officers found 16 blocks of cocaine in a suitcase in the car.

Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Three Crewe Alexandra fans have been sent to prison for six months and given six-year football banning orders after violence at the end of an FA Cup game at Gresty Road last year.

Image source, Geograph

A fourth supporter has been handed a suspended prison sentence by Chester Crown Court and two others given community orders - they've also been banned from games for four years.

The men are in their late teens and 20s and from Crewe and Kidsgrove - they were arrested after fighting following the Alex's 1-0 defeat to Eastleigh last November., external

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our top stories this afternoon include:

- A man has admitted murdering a woman found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire  

- A Romanian man is arrested in Kent on suspicion of cash machine fraud at Cheshire supermarkets in 2012, external

- A woman's been seriously hurt in a crash in Staffordshire, external early this morning  

Express and Star

A major incident was declared at Royal Stoke University Hospital after it was left without power for an hour and a half., external

Image source, Express and Star

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City defender Glen Johnson says Sam Allardyce deserves a shot at managing England. 

Image source, PA

Johnson who has 54 England caps told BBC Radio Stoke that the former Sunderland boss can be a success.

BBC Radio Stoke

A woman's been seriously hurt in a crash in Staffordshire, external early this morning. 

Ambulance crews were called to junction of the A515 and B5234 in Newborough just before 01:30. 

Image source, Google

They say a car had been involved in a crash and a passenger, a woman believed to be 17 years old, had suffered a serious chest injury. 

Paramedics say the driver suffered less serious injuries.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Police have arrested a Romanian man wanted in connection with a £20m fraud investigation involving cash machines. 

Marius Anton, 31, was detained in Kent as he tried to leave the UK - police in Cheshire want him for allegedly committing multiple ATM fraud offences since early 2012.   

Image source, Thinkstock

He's suspected of attaching skimming devices to machines in supermarkets to try to copy people's cards. 

Mr Anton's now been remanded in custody by magistrates in Crewe charged with possessing criminal items and articles being used for fraud as well as a count of failing to appear in court.

If, like a lot of Midlanders, you're thinking about heading down to the South West, it might be worth checking out these top tips for motorway driving.

The big seasonal getaway is moving up a gear and today is one of the busiest days of the year for the motorway network. 

Nantwich News

Reaseheath Zoo keepers in Nantwich have received a gold award for giving rare spiders, external a helping hand.  

Image source, Nantwich News

Stoke City defender Glen Johnson says he would "love" ex-Liverpool team-mate Joe Allen to join the club.

Nicola Beckford
BBC Midlands Today

It's a month since the UK voted to leave the European Union.   

Image source, AP

To mark that we're planning to follow more than 25 families, individuals and business owners over the next two years as the country grapples with the momentous decision.

This lunchtime we're going to introduce you to a few of the people we'll be following - join us from 13:30 on BBC One for Midlands Today.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This afternoon's headlines this lunchtime include:

- A man has admitted murdering a woman found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire

- The NHS trust running the Royal Stoke University Hospital says a full investigation is under way after a power surge left parts of the site without mains electricity for 90 minutes last night

- Work to repair part of Lichfield Cathedral's been given a grant of £690,000, external.  

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

Five fire engines are tackling a blaze in an animal waste hopper at a pet supplies distribution centre in Stoke-on-Trent this afternoon. 

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it was called to the Pets at Home centre at 10:38 and sent four pumps and their aerial ladder. 

The fire is still ongoing and has spread to a lorry trailer.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A man has pleaded guilty to murdering a woman found stabbed at a house in Staffordshire. 

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Fay Daniels, 30, was discovered at a property on Victoria Street, in Chesterton, on 24 April. She had suffered multiple stab wounds, police said. 

Phillip Barlow, 36, of the same address, today pleaded guilty to her murder at Stafford Crown Court - he's due to be sentenced next month.

Port Vale's foreign signings are learning what to expect from playing in England, says assistant boss Michael Brown.