BBC Newsbeat

Between Apri last year and March 2016 there were a combined 35 cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) reported in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire local authority areas.

The data was recorded by doctors and nurses who have been obliged to do so since July 2015.

Image source, Tony Karumba / Stringer

There were 25 cases of FGM reported in the Stoke-on-Trent City Council area and 10 in the Staffordshire County Council area.

The data was collected from the Health and Social Care Information Centre.  

Public Health and Innovation Minister Nicola Blackwood told the BBC: "FGM devastates lives, and we are committed to ending this abusive practice.  

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra are going to be without their loan signing Liam Smith for at least the first month of the new season. 

The Alex boss Steve Davis has told BBC Radio Stoke today that Smith is heading back to his parent club Newcastle United in a bid to speed up his rehabilitation following an ankle injury.

Image source, Nathan Stirk / Stringer

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Here are some of the stories we're looking at today:

- Two local dancers are joining Strictly Come Dancing for the next season

- A young girl was airlifted to hospital after a falling branch in Cannock Chase smashed through the windscreen of a passing car

- Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital trust says it will no longer provide hearing aid assessments or aftercare, external

James Watt
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

Two local dancers are joining the Strictly Come Dancing lineup - making them the youngest ever professionals to appear on the show.

British and European Youth Latin and Ballroom Champions, AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt, are from Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire. 

Delivery of shopping by drones could become a reality, says transport correspondent Richard Westcott.

It comes as online retailer Amazon - which has a Rugeley depot - tests the technology.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

A sports pavilion in Crewe has been given a £450,000 facelift.

Image source, Jon Super / Stringer

The site at King George the Fifth Playing Fields on West Street had been deemed as a high priority for improvements by Cheshire Football Association.

The pavilion now has better changing rooms and improved pitch drainage to try to increase the number of matches that can be played.

Crewe Alexandra midfielder Liam Smith is set to return to parent club Newcastle United for treatment on an ankle injury.

The family of a five-year-old boy who died in a suspected drowning at a water park say they are still in shock and are desperate to find out how he ended up in the water. 

Charlie Dunn, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, was pulled from the Blue Lagoon at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire on Saturday afternoon. He was airlifted to hospital where he died.

Image source, Family handout

Leicestershire police says its investigations into the death are ongoing.

Step-grandmother Sharon Robinson said the family was struggling to understand why a boy who did not like water went back to the lake by himself.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City's new signing Joe Allen will be jetting off to meet up with his new teammates in Orlando after the Wales midfielder signed from Liverpool for £13m last night.

Former England and Derby County defender Danny Mills called it a good move for Stoke.

Image source, Dennis Grombkowski / Getty Images

The Sentinel

Calls are being made for dog walkers to keep their pets on leads at a beauty spot – after a swan was mauled to death., external

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A young girl was airlifted to hospital after a falling branch in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, smashed through the windscreen of a passing car, West Midlands Ambulance Service says.

Image source, WMAS

It happened on Rugeley Road, near Hazelslade, yesterday afternoon. 

The girl, eight, suffered a broken arm and cuts to her face, but nobody else was harmed. She's being treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

FC Barcelona have arrived to train at St George's Park near Burton upon Trent.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Here are some of the stories we're looking at today:

- Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital trust says it will no longer provide hearing aid assessments or aftercare, external

- The M6 is partially re-opened after a lorry fire northbound near junction 7

-  A driver was caught doing almost 100 miles an hour on a road in North Staffordshire yesterday afternoon, police say

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It's going to be another grey and cloudy day with some rain around this evening.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital trust says it will no longer be providing hearing aid assessments or aftercare. 

Image source, Chris Jackson / Getty Images

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, external says it's been running the service at a loss of around £140,000 a year. 

Bosses say they'll get in touch with patients who are affected by the change over the next three months., external

The outside lane of the M6 northbound has been re-opened passing the scene of the lorry fire near Great Barr, the Central Motorway Police Group says.

Lanes one and two will need further work after the damage from the flames.

Burton Albion sign former Blackburn midfielder Lee Williamson, winger Lloyd Dyer and defender Ryan Delaney.

A driver was caught doing almost 100 miles an hour on a road in North Staffordshire yesterday afternoon, police say.

Staffordshire Police set up two mobile speed cameras, one on the A50 between Stoke-on-Trent and Uttoxeter, and another on the A500 at Cliff Vale.

Image source, PA

In five hours, 80 motorists were caught committing offences, including one who reached 97mph on the A50.

BBC Weather Watchers

We are seeing photos of thick grey clouds this morning.

These pictures were sent in by BBC Weather Watchers in Congleton (top) and Barlaston (bottom).

Image source, Dawn Treader

Image source, Jon

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

More than 200 weapons, including samurai swords, lock knives and a meat cleaver, have been handed in during a month-long knife amnesty in Staffordshire.

Around half of them counted so far were surrendered at Hanley Police station.

Image source, Staffordshire Police