Sanchia Berg
Today Programme

On the steps of Downing Street, Theresa May pledged to promote social mobility, to make Britain a country that works for everyone.

However, promising social mobility and delivering it are different things, as previous governments have learned. 

I've been speaking to the Sutton Trust, which helps pupils from less advantaged backgrounds gain access to elite universities, and helping them into the professions. 

Ben Hopkins, aged 18, from the village of Wheaton Aston in Staffordshire, will soon be heading for Bowdoin in Maine, where he has won a scholarship. 

You can read more about his background, the help he's had from teachers in the county and why he's seen as an exception to the local community, on the BBC website here.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis admits "the squad is short" of players for this weekend's game at home to Portsmouth. 

As well as still looking at transfer targets, the Alex have several players with injuries after their EFL Cup win at Sheffield United.  

Lichfield Mercury

Boosting Burntwood's town centre and improving local health facilities are among the key parts of a "new deal" between three local authorities., external

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Big news for Stoke City fans this afternoon - the club's confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland will miss their opening game at Middlesbrough tomorrow.

He's jarred his ankle in training this morning the Potters say.

In March, Butland was ruled out of Euro 2016 after fracturing his ankle in an England match.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man's been jailed for eight years after police say the car he was driving crashed, external into a lorry on the A500 in Stoke-on-Trent last year, killing two passengers. 

James Tatton, 24, of Marlow Road, Longton, had previously admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving before sentencing today at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police say Tatton had drunk alcohol and taken drugs and was speeding at 112 to 126mph when he hit the lorry on the southbound carriageway in Cliffe Vale on 22 August. 

The two passengers, Marcus Smith, 22, from Yarnfield, and Sean Longstaff, 22, from Woodhouse Street in Stoke-on-Trent were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Tatton was also banned from driving for nine years.  

BBC Travel

The A34 Newcastle Road in Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent is partially blocked northbound at the Clayton Road junction due to an accident.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Since his Olympic win earlier this week, Uttoxeter's Adam Peaty has had the Freedom of the Borough offered in his honour and a range of burgers made in tribute.

Now comes another big one - the front door of Uttoxeter Post Office has been painted gold.

Image source, Uttoxeter Post Office

It may not quite be the same as the 110 postboxes repainted gold after the successes of London 2012, but we think it's still a pretty big honour.

Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke

More than five months after a Stoke-on-Trent jewellers was broken into, Staffordshire Police says it still hasn't made any arrests. 

Nearly £400,000 worth of watches were stolen from Beaverbrooks in Hanley in the early hours of 10 March. 

Staffordshire Police says it's following up a number of key lines of enquiry and working with other police forces "to progress the investigation".

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This afternoon's top stories include:

- The trust that runs the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford's County Hospital says not having enough beds available is why its A&E waiting times are so poor, external

- More than five months after a Stoke-on-Trent jewellers was broken into, Staffordshire Police says it still hasn't made any arrests

- People living in Cannock are being warned by the local council that their recycling bins might not be emptied in the future, external if they put wrong items in  

James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News

We told you earlier that one in five patients going to A&E at the Royal Stoke University Hospital or the County Hospital in Staffordshire in June waited more than four hours to be seen.

Image source, Thinkstock

Those figures came from NHS England , externaland we can show you the situation at other emergency departments in our area for the same month.  

The target for hospitals is for 95% of patients to get seen in four hours:

- Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 90.3%  

- Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (which runs Leighton Hospital) - 87.5%

- The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (which runs Cannock Chase Hospital)  - 91.6%

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Port Vale winger Jerome Thomas says he's confident they can win their next two games. 

Image source, Port Vale FC

The Vale failed to build on a good opening draw in the league at Bradford when they lost in the EFL cup at Carlisle on Tuesday night. 

Their next two games are Southend tomorrow and Rochdale on Tuesday.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

People living in Cannock are being warned by the local council that their recycling bins might not be emptied in the future, external if they put wrong items in. 

Image source, Biffa Group

Cannock Chase Council says they've seen a "marked increased" in loads being rejected at their recycling facility due to containing "unacceptable items". 

The authority says key wrong items include nappies, animal bedding, food waste and paint pots.

BBC WM

West Midlands tourist attractions have seen an increase in the amount of people visiting them, according to new figures. 

Visit England's annual survey shows footfall grew by 6% in 2015, external, which is the biggest regional increase in the country. 

MAC Birmingham was the most visited free attraction outside of London and the south east, with over a million visitors last year.

The region's most popular paid for attraction was Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth.

Uttoxeter Advertiser

"Olympic nan" will not get her wish of a golden post box in Uttoxeter , externalto celebrate Adam Peaty's achievements.

Image source, Uttoxeter Advertiser

Ian Winter
BBC Midlands Today Sport

The Premier League gets under way this weekend with Stoke City in action tomorrow at Middlesbrough.   

But before a ball's even been kicked, the Potters chairman Peter Coates says he'd settle for another ninth place. 

The team's finished in that same position for the past three seasons and, despite that, he says they're always trying to improve.  

BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime we'll be looking at where the region could win its third and fourth gold medals of the Olympics.

Image source, Getty Images

Adam Peaty from Uttoxeter triumphed in the swimming on Monday followed by kayak gold for Joe Clarke from Stone on Wednesday night. 

So who could be next? We'll be looking at the possible medal chances today on BBC One from 13:30.

BBC Weather Watchers

The sunny weather's brought out plenty of great pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire from our team of BBC Weather Watchers.

Here are a couple from Rugeley and Congleton.

Image source, April

Image source, Dawn Treader

For those wanting to keep track of our local athletes taking part in Rio 2016, Uttoxeter's Adam Peaty begins his quest for a second Olympic gold later today

He will line-up in the men's 4x100m medley team who have their heat this evening with the final, if they get through, early on Sunday morning.

Image source, Getty Images

Also in action today is the south Cheshire gymnast Bryony Page, external.

The 25-year-old from Wrenbury near Nantwich will be going for trampoline gold this evening, with qualification and final due tonight.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The headlines this lunchtime:

- A&E waiting times at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford's County Hospital are among the 10 worst in the country, external, official figures reveal

- A girl's been taken to hospital after being stung by dozens of wasps , externalin the Staffordshire Moorlands

- Uttoxeter swimmer Adam Peaty's gold medal win at the Rio Olympics is marked by a local butcher - with a range of burgers

Tamworth Herald

Fed-up residents are calling for action to be taken after a massive pile of rubbish, external was dumped on their street.

Image source, Tamworth Herald