BBC Travel

A lane's shut on the M6 northbound between junctions 12 and 13 near Cannock because of a broken down vehicle.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This afternoon's headlines include:

- A woman's in a "very serious condition" in hospital, police say, after being attacked in Burntwood, external

- Developers wanting to build a new shopping area in Stoke-on-Trent release a shortlist of three possible names for the project, 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  

Express and Star

England goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks is set to be reunited with football legend Pele in Cannock.  , external

Image source, Express and Star

BBC News Education

A Staffordshire MP is calling for urgent help for the county's schools after the government delayed plans for a "fairer" funding formula.

The new Education Secretary Justine Greening has pushed back changes to the way schools cash is allocated, saying she needs an extra year to get it right.   

The Conservative MP for Stafford, Jeremy Lefroy, says schools in the area have some of the lowest funding in the country and headteachers need extra money this coming year.

Ms Greening said the new timescale would allow local authorities to plan ahead and no school would lose funding.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Developers wanting to build a new shopping area in Stoke-on-Trent have released a shortlist of three possible names for the project. , external

They are Unity Walk, Eastwood or Rectory Quarter - Realis Estates say they all have local relevance.

Image source, Realis Estates

The developer plans to build on the old bus station and East West centre in Hanley, external and had wanted to call the original scheme City Sentral but it was mocked for the way the title was spelt.

Realis Estates says they've launched an online poll for people to decide which of the three names will be used.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

A 20-year-old man continues to be questioned after a woman was found unconscious outside a church in High Street, Chasetown last night.

Staffordshire Police say they arrested the man, external on suspicion of assault after the 53-year-old woman was found lying on the pavement.

The road remains closed while police carry out inquiries.

Crewe striker Ryan Lowe says his partnership up front with Chris Dagnall is working well ahead of the new season.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says crews have left the site of a fire at JCB's factory on Leek Road in Cheadle.

The site had been evacuated while they tackled the blaze on some piping - the service says it started accidentally.

Nicola Beckford
BBC Midlands Today

This lunchtime on Midlands Today we'll hear about a takeover of one of the region's biggest football clubs.

We'll also see how the government is being urged to give rail companies longer contracts in an effort to improve the standard of service to passengers. 

Both those stories and more from 13:30 on BBC One.

A Little Bit Of Stone

Stonefield Park in Stone has picked up a prestigious Green Flag, external, the award given to the best open spaces in the country, for the first time.

Image source, A Little Bit of Stone

James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News

Staffordshire County Council has signed an agreement which could pave the way for control over local rail services to be devolved from the government, external to the West Midlands.  

West Midlands Rail Limited was formed from local councils to give them more of say over how regional services are run.  

Its biggest responsibility will be helping to decide who gets the London Midland franchise when it expires next year. 

Yesterday the county council agreed to sign a collaboration agreement , externalbetween West Midlands Rail and the Department for Transport to allow that devolution of power to happen. 

The stated aim of course is to create better quality and more reliable train services. 

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Let's get you updated with this lunchtimes latest headlines:

- A man from Stafford is sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to 13 sexual offences, external

- A woman's in a "very serious condition" in hospital, police say, after being attacked in Burntwood, external

- A man who died after reportedly jumping into a river in Staffordshire "to cool off" in hot weather is named by police

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

This stunning picture of lavender was shared on Instagram by Erin Smallbone who says it was taken in her garden in Kingsley, Staffordshire.

Image source, Erin Smallbone

While these fields - "custard fields" as she called them - were snapped by Ann Ferrington who emailed them in from Bridgemere, Cheshire.

If you've got a picture of the area to share you can also send them in on email or share on Instagram (add the tag #bbcstoke), external.

Image source, Ann Ferrington

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

We've heard in the last few minutes from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service that the fire at JCB's factory on Leek Road in Cheadle was started accidentally. 

The service say at the moment though the factory is still evacuated.

Raj Kaur Bilkhu
Broadcast Journalist

A man who died after reportedly jumping into a river in Staffordshire "to cool off" in hot weather has been named by police. 

Image source, Google

Sylwester Ficon, 46, was pulled from the water by emergency services at Waterside Road, Burton-upon-Trent, on Monday night. 

He was treated by paramedics but later died in hospital, said Staffordshire Police - they add that the cause of death hasn't yet been confirmed.

BBC Travel

Two lanes are shut on the M6 southbound between junctions 13 and 12 near Stafford because of debris on the road.

Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather

The BBC Weather website also has latest forecasts if you need one at any other time.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman's in a "very serious condition" in hospital, police say, after being attacked in Burntwood. , external

Image source, Rich Bailey

Staffordshire Police say the 53-year-old victim, who's from the area, was lying unconscious on the pavement when they arrived last night on High Street, Chasetown. 

They say they've arrested a 20-year-old man who was at the scene at the time.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

JCB's factory on Leek Road in Cheadle has been evacuated because of a fire. 

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say two crews are currently in attendance and are said to have the fire, which started on some piping, under control.

Uttoxeter Advertiser

A Marchington prisoner died in hospital just hours after complaining of chest pains, external in his cell, his inquest hears.  

Image source, Uttoxeter Advertiser