Summary

  • Staffordshire hospital under 'unacceptable strain', MP says

  • Drugs worth £7,000 seized in raids, police say

  • Four in court charged with robbing jewellers

  • Voice of Postman Pat Ken Barrie dies

  • Updates from Friday 29 July 2016

Live Reporting

  1. Judging underway at Nantwich Cheese awards

    Andy Giddings
    BBC Shropshire

    The judges have started their task of tasting hundreds of cheeses at the Nantwich International Cheese awards.

    There are more than 5,000 to try, so I hope they have lots of crackers and chutney.

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  2. M6 lorry fire: Chassis is now a charred shell

    Alex Homer
    BBC Local Live

    A lorry on the M6 has been destroyed by a fire near J7, for Great Barr, on the northbound carriageway.

    The fire service said no-one was injured.

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  3. Amazon parcels could be delivered by drones in new pilot project

    BBC WM

    Parcels ordered from retail giant Amazon could soon be delivered by drones. 

    They are testing the idea in partnership with the government. 

    The company - which has a depot in Rugeley - says it would eventually mean small parcels would arrive within 30 minutes of being ordered online.

  4. Latest: Family 'desperate' for answers on water park death; Amazon drone deliveries

    Here are the top stories on Tuesday so far:

    - The family of a five-year-old boy from Staffordshire who drowned at a water park is "desperate" to find out how he ended up in the water

    - Amazon is to begin to test whether drones can be used to deliver packages

    - A lorry fire has blocked part of the M6  

  5. M6 lorry fire: Extent of the damage made clear

    Here is some idea of the extent of the damage caused to the lorry after the fire we have been reporting near J7 on the northbound carriageway of the M6 by Great Barr.

    Highways England says the southbound carriageway has since reopened.

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  6. M6 lorry fire: Highways England estimates traffic will take two hours to return to normal

    Highways England says the lorry fire is on the northbound carriageway and the southbound carriageway has now reopened.

    Current estimates are that traffic will return to normal by 11:15.

  7. M6 lorry fire

    The M6 at Junction 7 is closed in both directions due to a lorry fire.

    The red here, between Walsall and Birmingham marks the spot - those in neighbouring south Staffordshire should bear disruption in mind.

    Map showing location of lorry fireBBC Travel

  8. Lorry fire on the M6: Severe delays in both directions

    Here's the scene of the lorry fire causing severe delays in both directions on the M6 near J7, for Great Barr.

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  9. Travel: M6 stationary due to lorry fire

    BBC Travel

    The M6 is blocked and there is stationary traffic in both directions between J6, for the Aston Expressway, and J7, for Great Barr, because of a lorry fire, drivers are warned.

  10. Slow traffic - M6 Staffordshire southbound

    BBC Travel

    More M6 woe, this time severe disruption in Staffordshire.

    Watch out for slow traffic southbound between J13, A449 (Stafford South) and J12, A5 (Gailey) following an earlier vehicle breakdown.

  11. Broken-down vehicle closes lane on M6

    BBC Travel

    There’s severe disruption on the M6 Cheshire.

    One lane is closed and there’s slow traffic northbound between J16, A500 (Crewe) and J17, A534 (Sandbach) because of a broken-down vehicle – in the roadworks area.

    Also watch out in Hanley, Staffordshire, for minor congestion on A52 Leek Road in both directions. It’s around the Lime Kiln traffic lights.

  12. Watch: Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    We might see some showers today and we will have highs of 20C (68F).

    Find out more.

    Midlands weather for July 26th

  13. Good morning

    Welcome to today's live coverage covering Staffordshire and Cheshire.

    How are things looking where you are? We'll be bringing you news, sport and travel updates throughout the morning and into the afternoon and evening. In the meantime, stand by for this morning's weather forecast.

  14. Liverpool's Allen completes Stoke move
    Breaking

    Stoke City sign Wales midfielder Joe Allen from Premier League rivals Liverpool for £13m on a five-year deal.

    Read More

  15. Water park gran mourns 'Milkybar Kid'

    The family of a young boy who died in a suspected drowning at a water park pay tribute to the child they dubbed the "Milkybar Kid".

    Read More

  16. 'He was like the Milkybar Kid'

    Step-grandmother Sharon Robinson pays tribute to five-year-old Charlie Dunn, who died after visiting Bosworth Water Park

    Read More

  17. Our live coverage across the day

    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.

  18. Police chief says third of calls to force 'not meant for them'

    James Bovill
    Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News

    The call centres for Staffordshire's police force, fire service and councils should work more closely together to improve customer service, according to the office of the county's police and crime commissioner (PCC).  

    Call handler at Staffordshire Police

    PCC Matthew Ellis told a meeting with his top police officers nearly a third of calls that come in to the police control room aren't meant for the police at all but for other agencies such as local councils. 

    However, he added there's currently no effective way of transferring those calls from one control room to another. 

    An agreement between police, fire and councils to work more closely together fell through two years ago but the PCC's chief of staff said it should be revisited to build a better service. 

  19. Football: Crewe boss 'still looking for more' from side

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Crewe Alexandra's boss Steve Davis says he still looking for more from his players during their pre-season build up. 

    Steve Daviscrewealex.net

    The Alex play at Altrincham tomorrow night off the back of a positive display against Bolton on Friday.  

    Davis told BBC Radio Stoke he's been encouraged by his team's performances but he feels there's still room for improvement.

    I'm still looking for more. I think as a coach you've always got to be looking for the players to do better and more. They've shown consistency over the two home games and we haven't had a game were the consistency has gone

    Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager