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
Families will be given the chance to use portable CCTV to help identify troublemakers as police continue to crackdown on anti-social behaviour., external
Image source, The Sentinel
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
You can get local updates at any time from the BBC Weather website.
The weather for the West Midlands.
BBC Travel
There's queuing traffic on the A38 southbound in Branston, near Burton, at the Branston Interchange.
It's in the roadworks area.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Well if you were up early today you may well have seen a fantastic sunrise over Staffordshire and Cheshire - BBC Radio Stoke's Pete Morgan took this on his way in.
Image source, Pete MorganHowever I've heard rumour the bright weather may not last the day - we'll find out shortly in our early weather forecast for Stoke and Staffordshire.
Also I want to feature as many your pictures of the area as possible, so keep sending them in on email, Twitter, external or Instagram, external.
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.
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A man has been arrested in Stafford, external as part of a police operation targeting suspected criminals who travel to the area to sell drugs.
Staffordshire Police say the 27-year-old, from Birmingham, was stopped on Radford Bank yesterday evening.
He was detained on suspicion of drug driving and later charged for failing to provide a blood sample.
The man's been bailed and is due before magistrates in September.
Parents who take their children out of Staffordshire schools for holidays of less than ten days over two consecutive half terms will not be fined , externalsays the county council.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryDan Wheeler
BBC Sport
Goalkeeper Jak Alnwick says there is no chance of any cliques developing in the Port Vale dressing room as the club seeks to incorporate into the squad the 10 foreign signings made this summer.
Image source, Port Vale FCOf the 13 new arrivals, three have come from Portugal, three from France, two from the Netherlands and one each from Curacao and Sweden.
Alnwick told BBC Radio Stoke there is no division in the camp.
Quote MessageI have been at clubs where it (separation) has been the case but everyone's together and it doesn't matter what nationality, there's a good bond between the team."
Jak Alnwick, Port Vale goalkeeper
A dramatic police chase ended with four suspected armed robbers being snared near Stafford today after a pursuit , externalinvolving a helicopter, two police forces, 10 cars and armed officers.
Image source, Express and Star
Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Justin Bieber says he wants to be soaked in water at an upcoming show in Staffordshire.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe singer is playing V Festival at Weston Park, external in August and has requested 800 gallons of purified water at 40 degrees for his show.
Organisers say his production is one of the most challenging in the history of the event.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The top stories we're covering this evening include
- A Nantwich jewellers has been robbed by four people in balaclavas , externalwho forced a hole in the window and took watches
- Investigators say a major fire in Alsager last night was caused accidentally by welding machinery, external
- Stoke City have announced that Marko Arnautovic has signed a new four-year deal with the club, external
BBC North West Tonight
The dangers of playing on railway tracks are being highlighted in a new police campaign following 270 incidents of trespassing on train lines across the North West last year.
The dangers of trespassing on railway lines
Over the past 10 years, almost 170 people in the UK have lost their lives after trespassing on railways, with just under half of those killed being under the age of 25.
We'll have more on North West Tonight from 18:30 on BBC One.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra's manager, Steve Davis, is expected to make a decision over trialist Jamey Osborne after tonight's game at Hednesford Town.
Image source, crewealex.netThe 24-year-old is looking to earn a contract, having been invited in by the club for pre-season training.
The Alex manager says he's a player that could strengthen his midfield department.
Quote MessageI think he could become a good player but it's about what we need now and not what we need in 12 months. On the other hand he might settle in very quickly and might show something very quickly so he's definitely worth looking at."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
A Staffordshire Moorlands bowling club now has a new home after seven years without one. Biddulph Bowling Club has a new pavilion and green next to St Lawrence's Church on the edge of the town. The green is artificial which means members can play all year round - it just needs vacuuming around twice a week. Graham Swift, Roy Allen and Graham Court (featured in video) gave BBC Radio Stoke a tour of their new site.
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
The BBC Weather website also has the latest weather forecasts for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
The weather forecast for the West Midlands from Shefali Oza.
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A multi-million pound contract to collect bins in Stafford , externalis being opened up for bids.
The borough council say their current deal with Biffa to handle household and garden waste, as well as electrical goods, runs out in 2018.
The authority says it is the biggest contract they have responsibility for.
The successful bidder is expected to be decided next year.
The influx of foreign players will not lead to any dressing-room cliques at Port Vale, says goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
Read MoreAn 80s Tamworth band will be holding their next gig in memory of Tunisia terror attack , externalvictim Sue Davey.
Image source, Tamworth Herald
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Investigators say a major fire in Alsager last night was caused accidentally by welding machinery., external
Image source, GoogleCheshire Fire and Rescue Service say, at its height, more than 50 firefighters from two counties were at the former Twyfords factory site off Lawton Road.
They say they found a fire on a lifting platform had spread to the roof of an industrial building - one crew stayed on site overnight to monitor the situation.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A Nantwich jewellers has been robbed by four people in balaclavas , externalwho forced a hole in the window and took watches.
Cheshire Police say it happened just after 11:00 today at Moody C H & Son Ltd on Pillory Street - they add that a short time later a car was found on fire in Brine Road in the town.
Image source, GoogleOfficers say a van was then followed onto the M6 and four men fled the vehicle on the Staffordshire stretch of the motorway.
They've been arrested on suspicion of robbery.
