Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This lunchtime, here's a look at the big stories we're looking at this afternoon

- An 18-year-old man from Middlewich is charged with two counts of rape and one of kidnap, external after an incident in Crewe  

- Police forces in the West Midlands have had handcuffs, emergency vehicles, horses and more than £100,000 in cash stolen in the last five years

- People arriving at Stafford Railway Station who are heading to Weston Park for this weekend's V Festival say the wet weather's not put them off

Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

This weekend's V Festival at Weston Park should be low on crime, external, according to police.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Over 90,000 people are expected at the event over the weekend and Staffordshire Police say they will have uniformed and plain-clothed officers on site during the event.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

An 18-year-old man from Middlewich has been charged with two counts of rape and one of kidnap, external after an incident in Crewe.

Cheshire Police say they arrested him yesterday and, after being charged, he's due before magistrates today.

The force says the incident happened in the Dunwoody Way area of Crewe on 3 July.

He's also been charged with making off without payment and use of threatening and abusive language after another incident in Middlewich in April. 

Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather

To get the latest forecasts at another time, head to the BBC Weather website.

BBC Travel

If you're not travelling to the V Festival this morning, the police are advising you to avoid the Weston Park area, because the traffic remains slow there.

Both the A5 and the A41 are busy, heading into the site.

A family is taking legal action after an elderly holidaymaker died when taken home on a 300-mile taxi journey while unwell.

The Sentinel

Firefighters have launched an investigation after up to 300 tonnes of commercial waste was set alight at a former scrapyard.  , external

Image source, The Sentinel

Andrew Dawkins
BBC News Online

A cannabis plant, handcuffs, mountain bikes and laptops are among items to have been stolen from Staffordshire Police  

The BBC asked forces which items had been stolen between 2011-12 to 2015-16.  

Staffordshire Police also reported the theft of some cigars, street signs and cash.  

The items were all taken from officers on the beat or from police stations themselves. 

BBC Weather Watchers

The rain's already falling across Staffordshire and this picture shows how it looked earlier this morning in Gnosall.

BBC Weather Watcher JR took the picture - see more great photos from our audience on the website.

Image source, JR

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed that goalkeeper Jack Butland will miss tomorrow's game against Manchester City. 

Image source, Getty Images

The England goalkeeper damaged the same ankle he broke playing Germany in March just before the season began - but it wasn't as bad as first feared.   

"Jack Butland won't play, it's a bit too soon for him," Hughes says. "Last week was a shock and we were all a bit concerned but it's settled down really well. 

"There was possibly a chance he could feature, but it was never in my mind to rush him back. [Xherdan] Shaqiri has a problem with his calf, which we will check today. But apart from him and Glen Johnson [who is out with a thigh problem] we're in good health."

BBC Travel

Two lanes are shut on the M6 southbound near Stafford between junctions 13 and 12 because of a broken down vehicle and recovery work.

Travel time is around 30 minutes.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This morning's headlines include:

- A cannabis plant, handcuffs, mountain bikes and laptops are among items to have been stolen from Staffordshire Police  

- This weekend's V Festival at Weston Park, Staffordshire should be low on crime, external, according to police

- A mother who went missing with her eight-month-old baby from Stoke-on-Trent has now been found, external

BBC Travel

A vehicle has overturned on the A500 in Barthomley near Crewe, partially blocking the road between Crewe and the A5020 Old Park Road junction.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A mother who went missing with her eight-month-old baby from Stoke-on-Trent has now been found. 

Staffordshire Police say Laura Pazir was discovered in the Islington area of London , externallast night and was "safe and well".

West Midlands Ambulance Service say it's already looking "a little wet" at Weston Park with V Festival set to get under way later., external

BBC Travel

If you're heading to the V Festival at Weston Park, we've already got traffic issues on routes near the site:

- The M6 exit slip road at junction 12 for Gailey is closed northbound due to the event.

- There's slow traffic on the A5 westbound between Gailey Island, Gailey and the A41 in Weston-under-Lizard.

- It's also slow going on the A41 northbound in Tong at the Offoxey Road junction because of people heading to V Festival.

Staffordshire Police is urging drivers not use sat-navs on their journey to the venue but follow road signs., external

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Here's our first look at the main headlines for Friday morning:

- A cannabis plant, handcuffs, mountain bikes and laptops are among items to have been stolen from Staffordshire Police

- Thousands of visitors are expected at Weston Park in Staffordshire this weekend for the 21st V Festival 

- Staffordshire's fire service says it's looking for more retained firefighters after concerns a shortage means some fire engines aren't always able to respond to emergencies

BBC Midlands Today

Thousands of visitors are expected at Weston Park this weekend for the 21st V Festival.

Image source, PA/JOE GIDDENS

Held in the grounds of the stately home it's the biggest festival in the Midlands and will feature Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Travis. 

People are being advised to leave plenty of time for their journey as traffic is expected to be extremely busy around junction three of the M54 and the surrounding area.

Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather

Here's your forecast for this morning's weather - you can also get latest forecasts from the BBC Weather website.

BBC Travel

It's slow on the A50 eastbound in Stramshall at Uttoxeter because of an accident involving two vehicles.