Arnautovic signs new Stoke contractpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Stoke City's Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic signs a new four-year contract with the Premier League club.
Read MoreSummary
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
Arnautovic signs new Stoke contractpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Latest: Jewellers robbed by men in balaclavas; hundreds of knives handed to police; Arnautovic signs Stoke dealpublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are among our top stories this afternoon:
- A Nantwich jewellers has been robbed by four people in balaclavas , externalwho forced a hole in the window and took watches
- More than 300 weapons were handed into Staffordshire Police during a four-week long knife, external amnesty
- Stoke City have announced this afternoon that Marko Arnautovic has signed a new four-year deal with the club
Football: Arnautovic signs four-year Stoke dealpublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City have announced this afternoon that Marko Arnautovic has signed a new four-year deal with the club.
Image source, Stoke City FCThe attacker had been strongly linked with a move to Everton, but has decided to stay with Stoke.
Car smashes into Stoke-on-Trent shoppublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
An "almighty bang" is how the manager of a shop in Stoke-on-Trent has described the moment a car smashed into the front of the store. The crash happened yesterday afternoon at Fenton Bed Warehouse on City Road in Fenton. Staffordshire Police say they found a Ford Focus, a VW Passat and a VW Transporter had been involved in the collision. West Midlands Ambulance Service say one woman, who was in the car that hit the window, was treated for a shoulder injury and then taken to hospital.
Branch spears car on Cannock Chase injuring young girlpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
A large branch fell from a tree in Cannock Chase and went straight through the windscreen of a passing car -, external hitting an eight-year-old girl in the face and breaking her arm.
Image source, Cannock Mercury/West Midlands Ambulance ServiceBBC Weather Watchers: Dark skies over Congletonpublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
There were some gloomy skies around over Staffordshire and Cheshire this morning.
This photo is from BBC Weather Watcher Dawn Treader, who took the picture in Congleton.
Image source, Dawn TreaderWild birds found in gardens after being 'shot'published at 13:51 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio StokeThree wild birds have been shot and fatally injured in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the past month, according to the RSPCA, external.
The charity says the trio - a magpie, blackbird and pigeon - were found in gardens on Dimsdale View East, with the latest discovery made on 15 July.
Image source, GoogleThe RSPCA says gunshots were heard by a member of the public shortly before the bodies were found and the wounds suggest the birds were shot.
It says it is investigating, adding that it's illegal to take, injure or kill wild birds unless under licence.
Former Brine Leas student to join Strictly Come Dancingpublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
A former Brine Leas student and his dance partner are joining the BBC’s new series of Strictly Come Dancing. , external
On Midlands Today from 13:30: Railway line warning over Pokemon Gopublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands TodayAmong the stories this lunchtime we'll hear from Network Rail which has expressed concern about people playing the online game Pokemon Go near railway lines.
It comes as British Transport Police appeal to teenagers not to trespass on the tracks near Birmingham New Street and other stations.
On Midlands Today from 13:30 on BBC One we'll hear just how serious the issue is getting.
Football: Burton Albion midfielder becomes Port Vale's 13th new signingpublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Gary Smee
BBC SportLeague One Port Vale have continued their extensive summer rebuilding with the signing of midfielder Nathan Ferguson, the 13th new arrival at the club this summer.
Image source, Port Vale FCThe 20-year-old has agreed a one-year deal, with an option for a further 12 months at Vale Park, after leaving Championship side Burton Albion.
Ferguson joined Burton from non-league Grays Athletic in December 2015.
New Vale boss, Bruno Ribeiro, is also keen to add former Nottingham Forest and Doncaster striker Nathan Tyson to his squad ahead of the new season.
Hundreds of knives handed to police in amnestypublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeMore than 300 weapons were handed into Staffordshire Police during a four-week long knife, external amnesty.
Across the county, 18 secure knife bins were set up so the knives could be deposited anonymously.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceThe force says the weapons included ceremonial swords, meat cleavers, machetes, lock knives and knuckle dusters.
Officers say the blades will now be used by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry to add to a 26ft (7.92m) high "Knife Angel" sculpture.
Latest: Hundreds of knives surrendered to police; three wild birds 'shot'; international cheese event openspublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeLet's get you updated with our latest set of headlines this lunchtime:
- More than 300 weapons were handed into Staffordshire Police during a four-week long knife, external amnesty
- Three wild birds have been shot and fatally injured in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the past month, according to the RSPCA, external
- The public have their chance today to see the cheeses on show at Nantwich's international cheese festival, external
Travel: Vehicle fire stops traffic on M6 in Staffordshirepublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
BBC TravelThere's stationary traffic on the M6 southbound in Staffordshire between junctions 10a and 10 because of a rolling road-block, a vehicle fire and smoke blowing across the road.
Image source, Highways EnglandFootball: EFL Trophy groups drawn for Stoke City, Port Vale and Crewepublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke SportThe draw for the group stages of the EFL Trophy, external has been made this morning.
Sixteen Category One academies were invited to play against League One and League Two clubs as part of a one-season, 64-team competition trial.
Image source, Getty ImagesStoke City are one of the Under-21 teams participating and have been paired with Bradford, Morecambe and Bury.
Elsewhere, Port Vale's group consists of Derby, Doncaster and Mansfield, while Crewe Alexandra will face Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chesterfield and Accrington Stanley.
The top two from each group of four teams will qualify for the first knockout round of 32 teams.
Travel: Trains 'back to normal' between Rugeley and Birmingham New Streetpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
BBC TravelTrain services are back to normal between Rugeley and Birmingham New Street after an earlier incident near Tame Bridge Parkway.
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End of twitter postWatch: This afternoon's weather forecast for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterTo get a latest weather forecast at another time, head to the BBC Weather website.
Media caption, The weather for the West Midlands.
Slowdown in children in care numbers in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC NewsThe number of children in care in Stoke-on-Trent has stayed almost the same in the last quarter, according to council figures, after months of increases and budget overspends.
At the end of June, 656 children were in the care of the city council, external, up by just one compared with the end of March.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt follows an increase of 22 children in the three months before that and a total budget overspend in children's social care in the last financial year of £7.7m.
Stoke-on-Trent's councillor in charge of children's services, Jan Bridges, has told me that overspend is going down.
Your pictures: A Cheshire sunset and Rudyard Lakepublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThere are great colours in the sky in this picture of sunset on Witter's Field in Wistaston, Cheshire.
It was sent in by Jonathan White.
Image source, Jonathan WhiteWhile this picture of Rudyard Lake in the Staffordshire Moorlands has come from Stephanie Carter.
If you've got a photo of Staffordshire or Cheshire which you'd like to see featured on future live pages, send it in on email, Twitter, external or Instagram, external.
Image source, Stephanie CarterSouth Cheshire College merger talks with three other collegespublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
South Cheshire College is in talks with three other colleges in the county, external to create one FE college by 2018.
Image source, Nantwich NewsMan injured after car collision in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 27 July 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA man has been injured after a collision with a car this morning in Stoke-on-Trent, police say.
Staffordshire Police say the man was conscious when they arrived on the A527 James Brindley Way in Tunstall after being called at 04:41.
Image source, GoogleThe man was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital and his injuries aren't thought to be life-changing.
Officers say the driver of a Nissan Note was left "shaken and upset" and they've closed the road for several hours as they investigate.
