BBC Local Live: Stoke & Staffordshire on Friday 26 August 2016

Summary

Health expert expects County Hospital's children's A&E to stay shut
'Lucky escape' for four people in M6 crash
Snake in canal: Expert says it's an 'Albino Burmese Python'
Our updates from Friday 26 August

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

Snake in canal: Expert says it's an 'Albino Burmese Python'published at 16:11 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
People are being urged by Staffordshire Police to stay away from this snake that's been spotted in Endon going into the Caldon Canal.
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Weekend rain: Bad news, good newspublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
The bad news is there's going to be heavy rain this weekend, according to the Met Office - the good news is there's a low risk of surface flooding.
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Deadline day for views on a 'source of congestion'published at 15:59 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIve
Today's the last day for people to have their say on a major source of congestion on the outskirts of Crewe.
Image source, Google
Cheshire East Council has put forward four options to improve the Crewe Green roundabout, external which they say will improve access to the town, the railway station and Leighton Hospital.
The authority says the preferred option will be announced in October.
Travel: Break down causing 45 minute delays on A500 in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
BBC Travel
A lane is shut on the A500 D Road northbound in Stoke-on-Trent between Basford roundabout and Wolstanton Retail Park.
A vehicle is broken down - travel time is around 45 minutes and congestion is back to the Sideaway roundabout.
Free events to be held to relive Rio 2016 Team GB successpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
BBC Radio Stoke
Gymnastics, table tennis, boxing and athletics - just a few of the many activities taking place in Staffordshire and Cheshire this weekend as part of "the nation's biggest ever sports day, external".
The events are being organised by the National Lottery and ITV along with Team GB's athletes who received lottery funding.
They say they want to get thousands of people involved in the free events - you can find ones near you on their website, external.
Football: Stoke's Mark Hughes may 'move on' from Berahino targetpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes says he may soon accept defeat in his pursuit of West Brom's Saido Berahino, whose deal expires in the summer.
Image source, Getty Images
Speaking this week at his press conference he said: "There may well become a point, not necessarily with these negotiations, but certainly some deals just go on and on and you get to a point where you have to make a decision to move on."
Meanwhile today Berahino's boss, West Brom manager Tony Pulis says he's not been in touch with the Potters "on any occasion" about the striker.
Snake in canal: 'Boa constrictor or python' and '10ft long' - policepublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
More information about the snake that's been spotted by a resident in Endon.
Staffordshire Police say it's believed to be a boa constrictor or a python , externaland is about 10ft (3m) long, white with yellow markings
Officers say it was last seen going into Caldon Canal in the Station Road area.
Image source, Staffordshire Police
News: Health expert doesn't expect children's A&E to reopen; jail for growing £15k cannabis; snake spotted in canalpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Our headlines this afternoon:
- A former NHS Trust chairman says he doesn't think children's services at Stafford's County Hospital will reopen again
- A woman's been jailed after police found a cannabis factory in a derelict building in Stoke-on-Trent and seized 50 plants, external with a street value of £15,000
- Police are warning about a snake which has been spotted in the Caldon canal , externalin Staffordshire
Snake in canal: Witnesses 'believe it could be a python'published at 14:50 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
We've had a few more details on the snake which police say has been spotted in the Caldon Canal.
Image source, Google
Staffordshire Police tell BBC Radio Stoke it's not clear exactly what type it is but witnesses believe it could be a python.
The last reported sighting was in the Endon area and it was said to be heading towards Stockton Brook.
Snake in the canalpublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
If you're near the Caldon Canal this afternoon, Staffordshire Police say be on the watch for a non-venomous snake.
They say it's gone into the waterway which runs from Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent to Froghall.
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Arriva set to leave Burton depot on Saturdaypublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Burton Mail
National bus company Arriva is gearing up for its last day operating the main part of Burton's bus network - by thanking staff and customers, external for their support over the years.
Image source, Burton Mail
Vale sign former Stoke striker Patersonpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
League One side Port Vale sign former Stoke City, Burnley, Blackpool and Northern Ireland striker Martin Paterson.
Read More
Rivals Burton and Derby set for 'A38 derby'published at 13:54 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
BBC Sport
Nearby rivals Burton and Derby County will face each other tonight at 19:45 in what's been dubbed the "A38 derby".
Neither side has made an impressive Championship start, with the sides in 18th and 16th place respectively.
Image source, BBC Sport
Australia backpacker stabbing: Cheshire man still critical in hospitalpublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Sonia Kataria
BBC News Online
A man from Cheshire remains in a critical condition today in hospital after being stabbed at a backpacking hostel in Australia.
Tom Jackson, 30, from Congleton was stabbed in the face several times - a woman from Derbyshire, Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, was killed.
Image source, Facebook
Police tweeted that Mr Jackson was still being treated for critical head injuries he suffered while trying to save Miss Ayliffe-Chung.
Today a man accused of the murder did not appear in court as "he had caused a disturbance".
BBC Weather Watcher picture: Drying washing weatherpublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
BBC Weather Watchers
Well if anything sums up what a sunny day this is going to be, this is from BBC Weather Watcher user On the moon in Biddulph, Staffordshire.
Does seem like it should be a washing-on-the-line kind of day - find more photos from our Weather Watchers on the website.
Image source, On the moor
On Midlands Today from 13:30: Baby death inquiry and the bank holiday getawaypublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime we'll have more on the investigation into the death of a baby, who was sent home from a Stoke-on-Trent hospital two days earlier.
Image source, Getty Images
Plus with the bank holiday about to start we'll be looking at where the problems could be for you on the roads and railways.
We'll be on from 13:30 on BBC One.
Latest: Baby death investigation; jail for growing £15,000 cannabis; M6 hotspot for bank holiday getawaypublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
This afternoon's headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire:
- An investigation is to be held into why a three-week-old baby, sent home from hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, died two days later
- A woman's been jailed after police found a cannabis factory in a derelict building in Stoke-on-Trent and seized 50 plants, external with a street value of £15,000
- Parts of the M6, including through Staffordshire and Cheshire, are expected to be hotspots this weekend as millions of drivers head off on holiday for the bank holiday weekend
Travel: Two vehicle crash on M6 near Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
BBC Travel
Police are warning drivers of long delays this Friday afternoon after a two-vehicle crash at junction 15 of the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent.
Get the latest from the BBC Travel website.
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MP Craig Tracey calls for public meeting over Arriva bus planspublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
Tamworth Herald
NORTH Warwickshire MP Craig Tracey has organised a public meeting, external regarding Arriva's plans to axe the 116 bus service from Tamworth to Birmingham.
Travel: Horse box breakdown on M6 near Cannockpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 26 August 2016
BBC Travel
A lane's shut on the M6 northbound in Staffordshire between junctions 12 and 13 because of a broken-down horse box.