Travel: A50 crash in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
BBC Travel
A lane is closed on the A50 eastbound in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent at the Meir Tunnel Interchange, because of a crash.
Summary
Nic Cruwys attack: Five change plea in Watford football fan trial
Teenagers force train into emergency stop after standing on level crossing
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Updates from Friday 19 August
Travel: A50 crash in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
News: Two wards to shut at hospital; thousands set for redundancy pay changes; Royal Mail reject more Olympic gold postboxespublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeHere are some of the big stories we're looking at this evening:
- Two wards are being shut at a Staffordshire hospital which says many patients will now recover after surgery at home
- Thousands of council workers could see their redundancy terms cut after the county council cabinet, external backed proposals this morning
- Royal Mail has rejected calls for it to paint postboxes gold to celebrate Staffordshire athletes' gold medal success at the Olympics
Royal Mail turns down call for Olympic gold postboxespublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeRoyal Mail has told BBC Radio Stoke it won't be painting postboxes gold to celebrate British success at the Olympics because we aren't the host nation.
The leader of Staffordshire County Council says he has written to the postal service asking for recognition for local Olympic winners Adam Peaty and Joe Clarke.
In a statement Royal Mail says London 2012 was a "unique occasion" and with the "honour" of hosting passing to Brazil it has no plans for more gold postboxes.
Watch: Falcons fly nest after thousands visit wildlife basepublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeA base set up in the Staffordshire Moorlands to allow people to watch nesting peregrine falcons has had thousands of visitors.
Media caption, Falcons fly nest after thousands watch them nest.
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is thanking all those who've come and volunteered, external as part of their team on Hen Cloud on the Roaches, keeping an eye on the birds and their eggs.
Jon Rowe and Ian Kynaston, rangers with the trust (featured in video), say the falcons have flown the nest after their chicks fledged and are now being trained by their parents to hunt.
BBC Weather Watcher picture: Stunning sun in Pattinghampublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
We take our hats off this morning to BBC Weather Watcher user Spoddy - this just stunning image was uploaded this morning by them from Pattingham, Staffordshire.
There are other great images too on the BBC Weather Watcher website - you can also sign up there.
Image source, SpoddyWatch: Adam Peaty's Rio postcardpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
BBC SportAfter wowing us in the pool, Britain's 100m breaststroke champion Adam Peaty has sent us a Rio postcard.
Media caption, Rio Olympics 2016: Adam Peaty’s tribute to his ‘Olympic Nan’
Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather tonight and tomorrowpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayThere's also the BBC Weather website if you want the up-to-the-minute forecasts at another time.
Media caption, Shefali Oza has your forecast
Tyrrells £300m takeover could bring more jobs to Uttoxeterpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
The £300m takeover of a vegetable crisp firm could create more jobs at a Uttoxeter factory already employing, external more than 100 workers.
Image source, Uttoxeter AdvertiserDavis urges Crewe to keep concentrationpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Crewe boss Steve Davis says his side need to remain focused late into games in order to avoid conceding late goals.
Read MoreNews: Hospital wards to shut; thousands set for redundancy changes; unemployment up in West Midlandspublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeNow time to get caught up with the big stories making our headlines this afternoon:
- Two wards are to shut at Cheadle Hospital, external with the loss of 47 beds, it's been confirmed
- Thousands of council workers could see their redundancy terms cut after the county council cabinet, external backed proposals this morning
- The West Midlands was one of only two regions in the UK to see unemployment rise between April and June, external, official figures indicate
Adam Peaty's mum 'brought to tears' by Olympic winpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Martyn Williams
Reporter, BBC Radio DerbyThe parents of Staffordshire's Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer Adam Peaty say they were moved to tears by his win in the men's 100m breaststroke.
The 21-year-old from Uttoxeter broke his own world mark by winning in 57.13 seconds, well clear of the field.
His parents Mark and Caroline are now back from Rio and home in Uttoxeter where they've been speaking to the BBC.
Quote MessageI think it didn't really hit me until he was actually on the podium. I've seen him win races before and I knew this meant a lot to him but actually seeing him on the podium, listen to the anthem of our country - it was a lovely experience, brought me to tears."
Caroline Peaty, Mother of Adam Peaty
Your pictures: Radio station in the sun and Trentham birdpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveIt's not often you become the focus of a picture that gets sent in but that was kind of the case in this photo Mark Sandbach took - of the BBC Radio Stoke building in sunshine.
Image source, Mark SandbachMeanwhile Jon Kelso sent this picture in from the weekend from a Falconry display event at Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent.
If you've got a picture of Staffordshire or Cheshire which you think is fantastic - share it with me and do it on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.
Image source, Jon KelsoTwo wards to be shut at Staffordshire hospitalpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeTwo wards are going to shut at Cheadle Hospital, external with the loss of 47 beds, it's been confirmed.
They're currently used by patients who are recovering after treatment at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Image source, GoogleBut North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group , external(CCG) says the "Step Down" beds are going to be closed this autumn with staff redeployed elsewhere.
The CCG says they'll instead shift resources into home care and the community - it adds that there are no plans to close Cheadle Hospital itself.
Unions to be consulted over redundancy pay changespublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC NewsThousands of council workers could see their redundancy terms cut after the county council cabinet backed proposals this morning.
It could affect about 13,000 members of staff.
The authority is planning a reduction of 30% in redundancy pay to save £2m a year, external, and will now consult with trade unions.
Football: Five-hour sell out for Burton's EFL Cup tie v Liverpoolpublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
BBC Midlands TodayAll home tickets for Burton Albion's EFL Cup tie at the Pirelli Stadium against Liverpool have sold out., external
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Brewers beat Bury 3-2 in the first round after extra time.
Tickets went on sale yesterday and were snapped up in less than five hours.
Woman airlifted after motorbike and car crashpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA woman's suffered a serious injury after her motorbike collided with a car in Featherstone , externalthis morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service say they were called at 07:55 to Baneberry Drive and found the woman next to her bike and a car "with significant damage to its side".
Image source, GoogleThey say she was fully conscious and treated for a serious leg injury and cuts to her arm before being airlifted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Paramedics also treated the car's driver and a bus driver who'd seen the crash for shock.
On Midlands Today from 13:30: Court action threatened over business levypublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Sian Grzeszczyk
Staffordshire Reporter, BBC Midlands TodayNewcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is threatening to take 189 of the town's shop owners and businesses to court over failing to pay a local levy.
The Business Improvement District fee has been going since last October and is charged on top of business rates, aimed at promoting the town centre.
But, as I've been finding out, some firms still haven't settled last year's bill - you'll see the full story from 13:30 on BBC One in Midlands Today.
Palmer signs two-year deal at Burtonpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Burton Albion midfielder Matty Palmer signs a new two-year contract at the Championship club.
Read MoreA38 crash causes huge delays with drivers stuck in queues for hourspublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
This shocking photograph shows the crash which left hundreds of motorists stuck in traffic, external yesterday afternoon.
Image source, Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit/Burton MailFootball: 'We look dangerous' - Clough on Burtonpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 17 August 2016
Dave Wade
BBC Local LiveBurton Albion created their own little bit of history last night by beating Sheffield Wednesday - their first victory in the football league's second tier.
Here's what Brewers manager Nigel Clough had to say on the victory:
Media caption, Nigel Clough after Burton Albion beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1.
