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

  1. Football: Crewe sign Chelsea winger Kiwomya on loanpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Crewe Alexandra have announced this afternoon that they've signed the Chelsea winger Alex Kiwomya, 20, on loan until January., external

    Alex Kiwomya in Chelsea shirtImage source, Getty Images

    The club say he's already joined the squad for training today and is available for the Alex's home friendly with Bolton on Friday.

  2. Berahino good value at £20m - Smithpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Ex-Stoke City captain Denis Smith tells BBC Radio Stoke that Potters boss Mark Hughes can get the best out of Saido Berahino.

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  3. On Midlands Today at 13:30: Inquest into Birmingham wall collapse deathspublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Nicola Beckford
    BBC Midlands Today

    This lunchtime we'll be leading on news that an inquest has been opened and adjourned into the deaths of five men who were killed after a wall collapsed on them at a recycling plant in Birmingham.

    The scene of the collapse in BirminghamImage source, PA

    It's been confirmed the men died from multiple injuries and we'll have more from Sarah Falkland who's been at the inquest in our bulletin from 13:30 on BBC One.

  4. Watch: Cooling off at Cheshire outdoor swimming poolpublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    John Acres
    BBC Radio Stoke

    With the current hot weather, I've been cooling off at the outdoor Nantwich Swimming Pool. 

    Media caption,

    The outdoor Nantwich Swimming Pool

    While it may not be as warm as yesterday, temperatures are still expected to hit a high of 26C (79F) today. 

    With a capacity of 155, managers at the pool say people were queuing to get in yesterday.  

  5. News: Teen seriously hurt in 'hit and run'; hundreds call to keep stroke ward open; Stoke make £20m Berahino bidpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    This lunchtime's headlines we're looking at include:

    - A 14-year-old boy's been seriously hurt in what police, external are calling a "hit and run incident" in Tamworth

    - Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the stroke rehabilitation ward, external at Stafford's County Hospital to stay open   

    - Stoke City have made a £20m bid for West Brom striker Saido Berahino

  6. Football: Stoke lodge £20m Berahino bidpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Pat Murphy
    BBC Midlands football reporter

    Stoke City have a lodged a £20m bid for West Brom striker Saido Berahino. It comprises of a £17m payment and £3m in add-ons. 

    The deal is getting closer to owner Jeremy Peace’s valuation of the player but it’s complicated by West Brom’s need to bring in replacements for Berahino before he goes.

    Saido BerahinoImage source, Getty Images

    West Brom want to sign West Ham’s Diafra Sakho as his replacement but the deal is being held up while West Ham wait for a replacement.

    It’s like buying houses. Crystal Palace and Watford are also interested in Berahino.   

  7. Teenager seriously hurt after hit by car in Tamworthpublished at 11:49 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A 14-year-old boy's been seriously hurt in what police, external are calling a "hit and run incident" in Tamworth.

    He was hit near the Snow Dome by what police believe to be a Kia Sportage.

    The A51 River Drive at the junction of Fazeley RoadImage source, Google

    The force says the car had apparently failed to stop for a red light and collided with the teenager who's suffered serious injuries, which officers say are not thought to be life-threatening. 

    They say the vehicle was last seen heading towards Ventura Retail Park.

  8. Watch: This afternoon's weather forecast for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    The BBC Weather website's also available if you want to get the latest forecasts for your area at any other time.

    Media caption,

    Weather for the West Midlands.

  9. Travel: Crash on A519 in Newcastle-under-Lymepublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    BBC Travel

    The A519 Clayton Road in Newcastle-under-Lyme is partially blocked eastbound at the Buckmaster Avenue junction because of an accident. 

  10. Watch: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park opens todaypublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Liz Ellis
    Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park , externalwhich opens in Cheshire today.   

    Media caption,

    Pictures from last year's RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park

    Most members of the public will only get a chance to see the show from tomorrow, as today is just for RHS members. 

    The event, which runs until Sunday, features the usual gardens, trade stands and marquees and there are more than 20 show gardens to visit.  

  11. Football: Port Vale manager unconcerned by friendly defeatpublished at 10:52 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Port Vale manager Bruno Ribeiro says he's not concerned at their defeat in last night's friendly.  , external

    Media caption,

    Port Vale manager Bruno Ribeiro

    The Vale lost 2-0 to Championship side Nottingham Forest. 

    But with League One not set to start until 6 August, Ribeiro says he's more concerned with how his team are playing than the results of friendlies.  

  12. Burst pipe leaves Cheshire homes without waterpublished at 10:36 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    People living in the Tarporley area of Cheshire may be without water, United Utilities says, because of a burst water pipe.

    The firm says it has engineers on the way, but they may not arrive until the early afternoon., external

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  13. Two hurt in van and lorry crash on M6published at 10:21 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Two people were hurt in a crash between a van and a lorry on the M6, external near Stafford last night. 

    The scene of the crash on the M6Image source, WMAS

    West Midlands Ambulance Service says it happened between junctions 14 and 13 - the van was carrying six people. 

    They say three ambulances along with the air ambulance were called to the scene and add that the van had suffered "considerable" damage. 

  14. Latest: Open water warning after death; two hurt in lorry and van M6 crash; thousands expected for Cheshire showpublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The top stories we are looking at this morning include:

    - People in Staffordshire are being warned of the dangers of swimming in open water after a man has died after reportedly jumping into a Burton river "to cool off" in hot weather   

    - Two people were hurt in a crash between a van and a lorry on the M6, external near Stafford last night

    - Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park , externalwhich opens in Cheshire today for the first of five days

  15. Watch: M6 motorway bridge 'Vote Pies' mystery revealedpublished at 09:51 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Colin Paterson
    BBC Breakfast

    It's puzzled drivers on the M6 in Cheshire for over 25 years but now the people responsible for the graffiti urging people to "Vote Pies" have owned up. 

    The words were sprayed on to a motorway bridge between junction 18 and 19 in the mid-1980s by the Liverpudlian band The Pies.

    They're now releasing a debut album called The Best of Pies.

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  16. Darts: Mixed fortunes for Stoke-on-Trent pair in World Matchplaypublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    BBC Radio Stoke Sport

    Stoke-on-Trent darts player Ian White is out of the World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool. , external

    Ian WhiteImage source, Getty Images

    He was beaten 11-6 by Peter Wright at the Winter Gardens last night.

    There was better news for fellow Stoke-on-Trent player Adrian Lewis though as he beat Gerwyn Price 11-5.

  17. Open water warning after 'cool off' river deathpublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Raj Kaur Bilkhu
    Broadcast Journalist

    People in Staffordshire are being warned of the dangers of swimming in open water after a man has died after reportedly jumping into a Burton river "to cool off" in hot weather.

    The 46-year-old was pulled out of the water by emergency services at Waterside Road on Monday night

    Waterside Road canalImage source, Google

    He was treated by paramedics but later died in hospital, said Staffordshire Police.

    Ch Insp Steve Maskrey added: "Tragically, this incident proves just how dangerous open water can be."

  18. News: Open water warning after canal 'cool off' death; calls to keep stroke rehab ward open; thousands due at flower showpublished at 08:50 British Summer Time 20 July 2016

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    This morning's headlines to start us off for Wednesday include:

    - People in Staffordshire are being warned of the dangers of swimming in open water after a man has died after reportedly jumping into a Burton canal "to cool off" in hot weather 

    - Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the stroke rehabilitation ward at Stafford's County Hospital to stay open 

    - Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park , externalwhich opens in Cheshire today