BBC Hereford and Worcester

A West Midlands MEP has defended some of his past behaviour, including posing with a golliwog and suggesting that young party supporters should study the speaking style of Adolf Hitler. 

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Bill Etheridge is in the running for the UKIP leadership to succeed Nigel Farage. 

Mr Etheridge says he was simply using Hitler as an example of a good public speaker. 

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

Nearly £300k of healthcare funding is going to be spent on a redundancy pay-out for a senior Cheshire East Council manager. 

It's part of a restructure which the authority insists will save money., external 

Cheshire East Council's Director of Public Health is already paid over £183,000 but, when Heather Grimbaldeston takes voluntary redundancy, it could cost taxpayers up to £293,814. 

A report from the council's executive director to the authority's Staffing Committee says the "vast majority" of the redundancy costs relate to her NHS pension and the funding for it will come from the council budget that pays for public health. 

The authority's report says the salary of the new director will be nearly £100,000 lower than the current one, meaning the cost of the redundancy will be recouped within four years.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIve

Olympic champion Adam Peaty is set to be given the freedom of East Staffordshire, but that doesn't mean he gets a giant key and can drive cattle up Uttoxeter High Street.

East Staffordshire Borough Council, external has told me the award is "purely symbolic" and a way for local authorities to confer honours on outstanding individuals.

They added that the Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that the council can bestow.

Image source, Getty Images

The award dates back to the middle ages when Freemen had commercial privileges and was a route into a position of power in a town or city.

Peaty for Mayor anyone?

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today

This lunchtime we'll hear from the father of Staffordshire charity fundraiser Stephen Sutton, who is calling for more testing to help identify a genetic condition which led to his son's bowel cancer. 

Both Stephen and his dad were born with "Lynch Syndrome" which Macmillan Cancer say makes developing the disease more likely. , external

Stephen was never tested. He lost his battle with the disease in 2014. 

We'll have more from 13:30 in Midlands Today on BBC One.

The father of teenage charity fundraiser Stephen Sutton, who died after contracting bowel cancer, has praised his son's courage.

Ex-Derby defender Shaun Barker will be offered a deal at Burton if he can prove his fitness, says manager Nigel Clough.

John Bray
BBC Midlands Today

Coaches at a swimming club in Adam Peaty's home town of Uttoxeter hope his Olympic gold will inspire a new generation of champion swimmers.  

The 21-year-old, who won gold on Monday in the men's 100m breaststroke final, set off on the path to Rio 2016 at Dove Valley Swimming Club."Dove Valley is going to be inspired even more by what Adam has done," said club chairman John Plant.  

Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today

Andy Sutton has twice recovered from bowel cancer - he was first diagnosed at the age of 31. 

Now 58 he's perhaps more well known as the father of Stephen Sutton - the Staffordshire teenager who raised millions for charity who died from bowel cancer. 

Both father and son had Lynch Syndrome a genetic condition which makes it likely you'll get bowel cancer. 

Tonight I hear Andy's emotional story and his campaign to get more hospitals to routinely screen for Lynch Syndrome.

Phil Bowers
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The headlines this lunchtime include:

- A couple in the West Midlands are offering a £100,000 reward to prove their son's death near Tamworth was a murder 

- The Uttoxeter swimmer Adam Peaty is going to be awarded the Freedom of East Staffordshire after his Olympic gold medal win 

- Part of the Staffordshire Moorlands has been cordoned off after police say a, external "historic explosive device" has been found

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Port Vale defender Kjell Knops has told BBC Radio Stoke he feels he's adapting well to life as a left-back at the club.

Image source, Port Vale FC

He had to play in that position during pre-season and at Bradford on Saturday because of a number of injuries. 

Knops told BBC Radio Stoke that, despite normally playing in the centre of defence, he feels he's progressing well.

Kay Crewdson
BBC weather presenter

You can also get forecasts from the BBC Weather website.

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Part of the Staffordshire Moorlands has been cordoned off this morning after police say a, external "historic explosive device" has been found. 

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say it's was found on the A53 Buxton Road, at Upper Hulme. 

They say the cordon is precautionary and a controlled explosion will be carried out by the military's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit.

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Firefighters are tackling a vehicle fire on the A34 in Yarlet near Stafford. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say crews were called to reports of a bin lorry on fire shortly before 11:00 this morning. 

They say the cab was alight and the fire has spread into the back of the vehicle - the road's been closed in both directions. 

Burton Mail

Burton Albion has been praised for its facilities for disabled people, external after findings revealed many clubs are failing to deliver.  

Image source, Burton Mail

Dave Wade
BBC Local Live

The honours from Adam Peaty's hometown don't stop at a "book of pride" for the Olympic champion - an open top bus tour in Uttoxeter and a civic reception are on the cards.  

East Staffordshire Council are also going to rename their annually presented sports scholarship award after Adam Peaty.  

Image source, Getty Images

And if that wasn't enough, they're hoping to have a postbox in the town painted gold in his honour. 

Adrian Goldberg
Presenter, BBC WM

A couple from Streetly, in the West Midlands, are offering a £100,000 reward to prove their son's death was a murder. 

The body of John-Paul Merrick was found on a railway line in Wigginton, near Tamworth, in September 2013. 

A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death in 2014, but his parents believe he was murdered, as he was found with stab wounds. 

Image source, Merrick family

Staffordshire Police says a complaint was investigated but not upheld and the force is currently working with partners to establish if there is any new evidence.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

This daisy was spotted in Hanley Park, Stoke-on-Trent, by Keith Cowley, who kindly shared a photo of it on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page, external.

Image source, Keith Cowley

While regular contributor Villager Jim emailed in this atmospheric picture of hares in the Peak District countryside.

It's always great to see the varied pictures you all take of Staffordshire and Cheshire - you can send them in on email, Twitter , externalor Instagram, external.

Image source, Villager Jim

The Sentinel

Global logistics giant Amazon is delivering more than 120 new jobs – with the opening of a distribution centre. , external 

Image source, The Sentinel

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This morning's headlines include:

- Alcohol-fuelled violent crime in Stoke-on-Trent is the seventh worst in England, according to figures, external released by the city council 

- The Uttoxeter swimmer Adam Peaty is going to be awarded the Freedom of East Staffordshire after his Olympic gold medal win 

- Nearly £300k of healthcare funding is going to be spent making a senior Cheshire East Council manager, external redundant 

Dave Wade
BBC Local Live

So you can hardly have missed yesterday's incredible news about Adam Peaty's gold medal in Rio.

The tributes poured in yesterday - and they're continuing today.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been revealed the Uttoxeter swimmer is to be awarded the Freedom of East Staffordshire after his Olympic gold medal win. 

Mayor of Uttoxeter, Alan Noyes, says the town is considering opening a "book of pride" so people can send Adam their good wishes.