BBC Local Live: Stoke & Staffordshire on Friday 22 July 2016

Summary

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

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

999 lines 'back up and running'published at 18:16 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Police phone lines are working again, the Staffordshire force says.
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Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.
Football: Crewe's Lowe enjoying his partnership with Dagnallpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Dan Wheeler
BBC Sport
Veteran Crewe Alexandra striker Ryan Lowe says his partnership with Chris Dagnall is working well and they are relishing the chance to unleash it on League Two this season.
Image source, crewealex.net
Lowe, 37, and Dagnall, 30, joined the Alex this summer and will be key figures if the club is to challenge for promotion in the forthcoming campaign.
Quote Message
I've known Daggers since he played at Tranmere with my cousin. We're building our partnership and hopefully we can score some goals."
Ryan Lowe, Crewe Alexandra striker
On Midlands Today: The underwater hunt for a precious heirloompublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
This evening on Midlands Today we'll have a tale to give you hope if you've ever lost a precious heirloom or memento.
Image source, BNPS
It starts with Katie Patterson, a student from Newcastle-under-Lyme who was devastated when she lost a diamond ring while swimming on holiday.
She was though determined to get it back and I'll be bring you her full story from 18:30 on BBC One.
Staffordshire set for devolution bid in coming monthspublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News
Staffordshire County Council says it could be ready to present a devolution bid to the government within the next six months, after councillors unanimously backed a motion, external.
It means extra powers and funding could be handed over from the government to local leaders.
But the council's deputy leader doesn't think the county needs an elected mayor, as planned in the West Midlands or Manchester.
Quote Message
I think people have taken on mayors reluctantly in lots of places. They've kind of accepted that as if that's the only way we'll do it. There's a phrase 'barely mayor' about these appointments that actually these mayors have very little power."
Ian Parry, Deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council
Championship experience huge - Mousinhopublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Burton Albion captain John Mousinho says recruiting players with Championship experience will be key.
Read More
Watch: Weather forecast for the rest of the daypublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather
Here's the weather picture for the rest of today - if you want to get a latest forecast at another time you can get one from the BBC website.
Media caption,
Weather forecast for the West Midlands
Speedway: Brummies 56-34 Stokepublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
BBC WM Sport
The Brummies are now seven clear at the top of speedway's national league after beating Stoke 56-34 last night., external
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Football: Stoke's Arnautovic hasn't agreed new deal yetpublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
BBC Sport
Stoke City forward Marko Arnautovic is yet to agree to a new contract, but boss Mark Hughes is hopeful they can keep the 27-year-old.
Image source, AP
The Austria international has 12 months left of his deal and has been linked to Paris St-Germain.
"We are where we were with Marko, but we remain very hopeful of being able to keep him here.
"He isn't going to rush into any decision - clearly he has had an offer on the table from ourselves for a period of time now but his advisors want to take a look at the options for him."
MP leads calls to turn children's centres into 'family hubs'published at 17:19 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News
Children's centres shouldn't just be for children and their parents - according to a new report led by Congleton's MP, which says they should instead become "family hubs".
Over the last few years children's centres have closed or faced cutbacks across the country including recently in MP Fiona Bruce's constituency in Sandbach, external.
Image source, Dominic Lipinski/PA
But now a committee she chairs says the centres should expand to offer help to find jobs, external, relationship support and more health services.
The report says the government and councils should make the changes a priority.
Diver retrieves £10k heirloom ring in Majorcapublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Stephen Stafford
BBC News Online
A veteran diver who retrieved a Staffordshire student's lost ring - worth £10,000 - from the Mediterranean seabed said it was "fairly easy" to find.
George Edmunds, 75, from Weymouth, Dorset was flown to Majorca by Katie Patterson, 24, a student living in Newcastle-under-Lyme, after she had lost the heirloom while swimming in the sea.
Image source, BNPS
The expert in underwater metal detecting found it within an hour.
Describing Ms Patterson's reaction when reunited with the ring, he said: "You should have seen her face".
Latest: JCB say global market 'fragile'; swan 'shot'; diver retrieves £10k heirloom ringpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Here are some of the stories we're looking at this afternoon:
- The Staffordshire digger maker JCB says the global market for its products is, external "fragile"
- A swan's been shot in Staffordshire in a "shocking incident" the RSPCA says, external
- A veteran diver who retrieved a Staffordshire student's lost ring - worth £10,000 - from the Mediterranean seabed said it was "fairly easy" to find
Swan killed in reported shootingpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A swan's been shot in what animal welfare charity the RSPCA, external describe as a "shocking incident".
Image source, Google
The charity says a member of the public saw a man aiming and shooting the bird on a lake at Croxall Lakes nature reserve in Croxall Road, in Alrewas on 7 July.
The body of a swan was later found nearby.
Quote Message
It is very distressing to think that people take pleasure in causing harm to these beautiful and defenceless birds. These are deliberate acts of cruelty and we would appeal to people's consciences not to commit these offences."
Kate Levesley, RSPCA inspector
JCB sees sales fall in 'fragile' global marketpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
The Staffordshire digger maker JCB says the global market for its products is, external "fragile".
Image source, JCB
The company has revealed today it sold over 4,000 fewer machines last year than in 2014.
JCB also says its sales turnover dropped by £0.17bn from 2014 to £2.34bn in 2015.
'Technical issues' on 999 and 101 police numbers in Staffordshirepublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Staffordshire Police says its having technical problems with its 999 and 101 call system.
A back up is in place, but the force says some people may struggle to get through on the non-emergency number.
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Horror as toddler burned on skate ramp in scorching sunshinepublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Tamworth Herald
A toddler needed burns treatment after touching a skate ramp that had reached a sizzling 51C, external in the sunshine.
Image source, Tamworth Herald/Jim Jarvis
Premier League pre-season: How far is your club travelling?published at 16:12 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
BBC Sport
Premier League teams will clock up an estimated 172,413 miles in total during pre-season for friendlies and tours.
Image source, Getty Images
Clubs will visit 14 countries, with 17 matches in the United States making it the most-visited place. Austria is second with 11.
Stoke City are set to rack up a total distance of 9,624 miles with matches ranging from Orlando City and Hamburg to Preston and Burton.
BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Madeley and Tamworthpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
BBC Weather Watchers
As Staffordshire and Cheshire's been basking in sunshine, our BBC Weather Watchers have been busy taking photos across the area.
These two are from users Graham's Vista in Tamworth and Young Ted in Madeley.
Image source, Graham's vista
Image source, Young ted
NHS multimillion-pound contract consultants scrappedpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Tom Barton
BBC Look East political reporter
An "award winning" team of consultants linked to a series of failed multimillion-pound NHS deals is to be scrapped.
The Strategic Projects Team, which boasts of delivering "over £6bn of major projects," was set up to deliver the first franchise-run NHS Hospital.
Image source, STRATEGIC PROJECTS TEAM/YOUTUBE
NHS England has now raised "real concerns" about its work, saying the unit will be "closed down".
The team (SPT) says it intends to "eventually" complete the projects.
Among its major projects, SPT worked on the Staffordshire cancer and end of life contracts - the project has been put on hold, external pending the outcome "of the independent review" into UnitingCare
Football: Defender Smith targeting starting place at Port Valepublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 21 July 2016
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale defender Nathan Smith says he's ready to become a regular in the starting 11 this season.
Image source, Port Vale FC
The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at conference side Torquay, external and he told BBC Radio Stoke that his time there was beneficial.
Quote Message
It's a tough league, very physical, good sides in there. I think it was a good move for me to go there and play 40+ games and come back. I think I'm in a better position now to push for a start."
Nathan Smith, Port Vale defender