Hospital patients plunged into darknesspublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
A hospital declares a major incident after a loss of power plunged wards into darkness and left staff unable to access computers.
Read MoreSummary
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
Hospital patients plunged into darknesspublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Your pictures: Village trees and a reflective reservoirpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveYou keep sending in great pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire and this one's from Kath Dawson who says she took it in Tittensor.
Image source, Kath DawsonWhile this stunning shot of Knypersley Reservoir was taken by Lee Millward.
Have you taken a picture in the area which you want to share? Send it in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram (with the tag #bbcstoke), external.
Image source, Lee MillwardFire tackled on Stanley Matthews Waypublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Crews are currently at the scene.
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End of twitter postBFG star opens garden at RHS Tattonpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Rumeana Jahangir
Reporter, BBC News OnlineThe young star of Steven Spielberg's film adaptation The BFG has opened a garden based on the Roald Dahl story at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.
Ruby Barnhill, who is from nearby Knutsford, Cheshire, played Sophie alongside Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant.
Media caption, Video of Ruby Barnhill
The 12-year-old actress admitted she "had no idea how big the BFG was going to be" as a movie when she won the role.
About 80,000 visitors are expected at the RHS show, which will end on Sunday.
Watch: This afternoon's weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC WeatherThe BBC Weather website also has the latest weather forecasts for Staffordshire and Cheshire if you want to get one at any other time.
Media caption, The weather for the West Midlands.
Seven Burton men jailed after violent street brawlpublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Seven men have been convicted of being involved in a violent clash, external in a Burton street more than a year ago.
Image source, Burton MailFull investigation after major incident at hospital after power failurepublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeThe 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.
In a statement, the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, external says they declared a major incident at 19:00 and their back up generators stopped working briefly.
But managers says back-up systems continued to provide power to essential areas such as A&E and critical care.
However staff were unable to access blood results or X-rays and some wards were left with only emergency lighting.
Hundreds of knives handed to police in amnestypublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
BBC Midlands TodayMore than 200 weapons have already been handed in to Staffordshire Police as part of a month-long knife amnesty., external
Image source, Staffordshire PolicePeople were asked to ditch the weapons at one of 18 locations across the county after the force said there had been a rise in offences over the last year.
Officers say knives, swords, meat cleavers and machetes were among the weapons handed in since the four-week amnesty started on 27 June.
Latest: Power generator failure hits hospital; knife amnesty gets hundreds of weapons; BFG garden opened in Cheshirepublished at 10:06 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are among this morning's top stories:
- A Stoke-on-Trent hospital declared a major incident after a loss of power left staff unable to access blood results or X-rays
- More than 200 weapons have been handed into Staffordshire Police as part of a month-long knife amnesty, external
- The young star of Steven Spielberg's film adaptation The BFG has opened a garden based on the Roald Dahl story at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
Football: Burton Albion captain says Championship experience keypublished at 09:51 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Gary Smee
BBC SportBurton Albion captain John Mousinho says recruiting players who have played in the Championship will be key to their prospects this season.
Three of the Brewers' summer signings - Kyle McFadzean, Chris O'Grady and Ben Turner - have second-tier experience.
Image source, Getty ImagesOnly three other members of their squad, Callum Reilly, Stephen Bywater and Tom Naylor, have featured for Championship teams in the past.
Quote MessageThe more we can add to the squad the better. We've lost a few defenders so we're looking to strengthen there and Championship and Premier League experience is going to be huge for us."
John Mousinho, Burton Albion captain
Thousands of jobs to be created as 40 companies look to move into zonepublished at 09:33 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Thousands of new jobs could soon be on their way to the city after it emerged more than 40 companies, external are considering moving to the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone.
Image source, The SentinelSports Direct staff 'not treated as humans', says MPs' reportpublished at 09:18 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News OnlineMPs have accused one of Europe's biggest retailers of not treating its workers like humans.
A report by the Business, Innovation and Skills committee, external states Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley must be held accountable for company failings.
The Conservative MP for Cannock Chase, Amanda Milling, who is part of the commitee, has tweeted this morning to say, external they heard "shocking evidence".
Image source, PAEvidence suggested Sports Direct's working practices were similar to those of a Victorian workhouse, one MP said.
In response, Sports Direct said in a statement that its policy is to treat all people "with dignity and respect".
News: Power generator failure hits hospital; hundreds of knives handed to police; German children tidy Staffordshire war gravespublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Chris King
Newsreader BBC Radio StokeThis morning's first headlines to get you up-to-date include:
- A hospital in Stoke-on-Trent declared a major incident after a loss of power left staff unable to access blood results or X-rays
- More than 200 weapons have been handed into Staffordshire Police as part of a month-long knife amnesty, external
- German school children have been visiting Staffordshire this week to help to tidy up the World War Two cemetery on Cannock Chase
Royal Stoke University Hospital declares major incident after power failurepublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Liam Barnes
BBC News OnlineA hospital declared a major incident after a loss of power left staff unable to access blood results or X-rays.
Back-up power generators at Royal Stoke University Hospital failed during a power cut on Thursday night, a spokesman confirmed.
Image source, GoogleSome wards were left in darkness, while hospital computers were also rendered unusable.
After the initial failure of the generators, power was restored and the hospital returned to normal service.
Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather forecast for todaypublished at 08:30 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC WeatherYou can also get forecasts from the BBC Weather website.
Media caption, The weather for the West Midlands.
Travel: Signalling delaying Lichfield trainspublished at 08:22 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
BBC TravelA signalling problem is delaying trails between Lichfield Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street this morning.
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End of twitter postTravel: Congestion on A50 in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 08:16 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
BBC TravelThere's heavy traffic already this morning on the A50 westbound in Stoke-on-Trent between the Blurton Road junction and Sideaway roundabout.
Welcome to Stoke and Staffordshire's Live coverage for Fridaypublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 22 July 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveMorning everyone, there are blue skies and fluffy white clouds over Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent this morning.
We'll find out with Alex Hamilton shortly as to what the weather's got in store for the rest of the day.
There'll also be plenty more updates through the day including pictures you've sent in which you can do on email, Twitter, external and Instagram, external.
Diver retrieves £10k heirloom ringpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
A veteran diver who retrieved a holidaymaker's lost ring - worth £10,000 - from the Mediterranean seabed says it was "fairly easy" to find.
Read MoreDiver hired to find £10k heirloom ringpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
A woman has been reunited with her £10,000 diamond ring after flying a specialist diver to Majorca to find it.
Read More
