Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Let's get you the latest headlines we're looking at this afternoon:

- Olympic gold medallist Joe Clarke thanks the people of Staffordshire for their support

- A court's heard from football fans in the trial of five teenagers, including one from Staffordshire, accused of an "unprovoked" attack on a football fan last year - the trial continues

- Nine men are charged with drugs offences, external, following raids in Crewe and Newcastle-under-Lyme

A social experiment has revealed people in Coventry are the most likely to return a child's lost teddy bear, compared to their West Midlands neighbours in Warwick, Stratford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent.

A total of 500 teddy bears were intentionally lost in 25 major towns and cities, each in a different location, such as a café, gym or park bench, between May to June this year. 

Image source, My Nametags

All had name-tags with a child’s name and contact number, to see which places and type of person were most likely to return a lost bear.

My Nametags, which commissioned the research, said Coventry came in seventh place overall out of 25 for the most bears returned. York came top.

BBC Travel

A lane is shut on the M6 southbound at junction 16 near Stoke-on-Trent, because of an accident.

Cath Mackie
BBC News Online

Olympic gold medallist Joe Clarke thanks the people of Staffordshire for their support.  

Clarke, 23, from Stone, won gold in the kayak K1 at Rio.

Speaking to BBC Midlands Today's Elizabeth Glinka, he said he was so nervous beforehand it was "worse than collecting exam results".  

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Midfielder Joe Allen says he does not see his move from Liverpool to Stoke City as a "big drop" in his career.  

Image source, Getty Images

The Wales international, 26, joined the Potters for £13m in July after four seasons at Anfield. 

Get Inspired
Get Inspired

If you watched Joe Clarke winning Olympic gold in his kayak at Rio 2016 and think it looks fun - BBC Get Inspired has plenty of advice on how you can get involved.

From how to learn basic skills to taking your first steps into racing, we've pulled together loads of details on the sport so check out the page.

Who knows, you might turn out to be a future champion at an Olympic Games.

Tamworth Herald

Fuel thieves have targeted a Fazeley filling station three times in a month, external, sparking a police investigation.

Image source, Tamworth Herald

Louise Brierley
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

Sixty football coaches from China are currently being trained in Staffordshire to learn from Premier League experts.

The Chinese government has invested millions of pounds into the 12-week programme, being delivered by Stoke City Football Club and Staffordshire University.

As well as football coaching, they're being given lessons in psychology, physiology and nutrition.

Course leaders say the project is all part of the country's aims to become a football superpower by 2050.

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today

It's almost turning into a new Staffordshire Hoard - after the Stone canoeist Joe Clarke became the second man from the county to win a gold at the Rio Olympics. 

Image source, Getty Images

The 23-year-old surprised everyone including himself when he stormed to victory. 

We'll be hearing from Joe himself in Rio during Midlands Today on BBC One from 13:30.

Jenny Coleman
Reporter, BBC Local Live

An inquest into the deaths of Warrington band Viola Beach and their manager has been set for 7 December.

Band members Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Jack Dakin and Tomas Lowe died along with manager Craig Tarry, 33, in a car crash near Stockholm on 13 February.  

Last week the band's posthumous album reached number one in the charts. The self-titled debut was compiled by the band's families, using live sessions and studio recordings.

The inquest will be heard at Warrington Town Hall.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our top stories this lunchtime include

- Staffordshire's latest Olympic gold-medal winner Joe Clarke is going to be offered the Freedom of the Borough of Stafford , external

- Nine men have been charged with drugs offences, external, say police, following raids in Crewe and Newcastle-under-Lyme

- Sixty football coaches from China are currently being trained in Staffordshire to learn from Premier League experts

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

One of Joe Clarke's friends says there were cheers and tears from his teammates as they watched him win kayak Olympic gold at Rio 2016.

Image source, Getty Images

Clarke won Britain's second gold of the games in the K1 class on Wednesday. 

Adam Burgess is, like Joe, a member of the Stafford and Stone Canoe club and trains with his friend. 

He watched the race with canoeing coaches, friends and teammates at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

The reaction to Stone's Joe Clarke winning a kayak gold at the Olympic Games in Rio last night has kept on coming.

The London Eye promised it would be lit up in gold to celebrate the success while another Staffordshire kayaker, Ian Marsden, who's going to Paralympic glory in Rio, tweeted his reaction.

The Sentinel

Joe Clarke has capped a momentous week for Staffordshire sport by claiming gold at the Rio Olympics.  , external

Image source, OLIVIER MORIN/Getty Images

Wales midfielder Joe Allen says his £13m move to Stoke City from Liverpool is not a backward step in his career.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

The BBC Weather website also has the latest forecasts for Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stafford and Stone Canoe club is celebrating a gold medal won by member Joe Clarke. 

He took first place in the kayak K1 at the Rio Olympics. 

Today the Olympic flag is flying above the club, alongside bunting and a banner.

British Canoeing has tweeted this video after Staffordshire's Joe Clarke won his kayaking gold medal, showing the reaction of teammates and coaches.

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport

Championship side Burton needed extra-time to beat League One Bury in the EFL Cup first round at the Pirelli Stadium.

The Brewers took the lead through Callum Reilly's 20-yard strike, but Shakers forward Tom Pope finished off Danny Mayor's approach work to take the match into the extra period.

Image source, Getty Images

Stuart Beavon blasted the hosts ahead again, before Calum Butcher's deflected cross found its way in to make it 3-1.

Burton held on despite Niall Maher's late free-kick for Bury.

Their reward is that they will be hosting last season's runners-up Liverpool in the next round.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

We've confirmed this morning that Olympic gold-medal winner Joe Clarke is going to be offered the Freedom of the Borough of Stafford by the local council.

The Stone kayaker snatched victory in the kayak K1 event.

Stafford Borough Council says leader Patrick Farrington will propose giving him the freedom honour at a "special meeting" to be held in the next few weeks.

The authority says he'll be given a special scroll - however I've checked, it doesn't also include anything like special grazing rights for sheep!