Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

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. 

Staffordshire Police say it was within farm grounds in the Adderley Green area of Longton and they raided it in December. 

Beverley Jenkinson, 51, from the site, admitted producing a class B controlled drug but officers say she claimed it was on behalf of another person she refused to name. 

She was jailed for 20 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. 

During the raid, officers also seized over £15,000 in cash and say there'll be a future hearing over the money.

Staffordshire Newsletter

A Stafford couple who have been living in a tent for the past few weeks say they have been trying to secure a permanent home in the town for more than two years, external.  

A new way to recycle the super strong magnets our gadgets rely on

BBC Travel

A lane is closed on the M6 northbound between Stafford Services and junction 15 near Stoke-on-Trent, because of an accident involving a lorry.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

The BBC Weather website also has latest weather forecasts at any other time for Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

About 80 people are going to be recruited to work on an international science project to build the world's biggest telescope, which will be headquartered at Jodrell Bank. 

The Cheshire observatory is the HQ of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will manage thousands of antennas due to be built in South Africa and Australia. 

The SKA will sweep the sky for answers to the major outstanding questions in astronomy including even searching for alien intelligent life. 

This week Jodrell Bank received permission from Cheshire East Council to expand its HQ., external

BBC News UK

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.

Tourism agency VisitEngland says it expects around 5.1 million people to be on the move within the UK.

The AA estimates that some 13 million drivers will take to the roads over the holiday weekend. 

The busiest single day for motorists embarking on leisure journeys is expected to be Saturday - roadworks will still be in place between junctions 18 and 19 of the M6 in Cheshire.

Express and Star

Hospital campaigners have vowed to take the fight to reopen children’s emergency services at Stafford straight to, external the prime minister.

Image source, Express and Star

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

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.

The infant died at Stafford's County Hospital last weekend. 

Dr Ann Marie Morris from the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (featured in video) says there will be a full investigation into the case.  

She added that there was no connection with the suspension yesterday of children's A&E services at the County Hospital site.

"We already had the review by that point and we were already having discussions about what we could put in place", she said.  

BBC Travel

There's queuing traffic on the M6 northbound between junctions 16 and 17 in Cheshire because of a multi-vehicle accident and a rolling road-block.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Here are this morning's headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire:

- An investigation has started into why a three-week-old baby, sent home from hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, died two days later

- Concerns have been raised about what impact suspending children's accident and emergency services at Stafford's County Hospital will have on neighbouring services  

- More scientists and experts are going to be recruited to work on an international science project based at Jodrell Bank, Cheshire after it got planning permission to expand this week, external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Here are some more of the lovely pictures that you've sent in from across Staffordshire and Cheshire.

These new arrivals were spotted by Stuart Mottram at Westport Lake.

Image source, Stuart Mottram

While Amelia Unwin sent this in saying it shows the "view from the bus route from Gnosall to Newport".

If you've got a photo to share of Staffordshire or Cheshire you can send it in on email,tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or put on Instagram with the tag #bbcstoke, external.

Image source, Amelia Unwin

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale are close to signing the former Stoke City striker Martin Paterson, BBC Radio Stoke understands.

Image source, Empics

The 29-year-old, who's also played for Burnley, Huddersfield and Scunthorpe, is currently at League Two side Blackpool. 

Vale boss Bruno Ribeiro has stepped up his search for a new striker following his decision to let JJ Hooper go on loan to Northampton Town.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This morning's headlines include:

- Concerns have been raised about what impact suspending children's accident and emergency services at Stafford's County Hospital will have on neighbouring services

- About 80 people are going to be recruited to work on a project to build the world's biggest telescope, external which will be headquartered at Jodrell Bank, Cheshire

- A dog which was found wandering, thin and with a tumour so big it dragged on the floor, has been rescued by a Leek-based charity

Liam Barnes
BBC News Online

Concerns have been raised about the impact suspending children's accident and emergency services at Stafford's County Hospital will have on neighbouring services. 

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust took the decision yesterday after senior staff said it was "not clinically safe".

However there are fears hospitals in nearby areas, such as Stoke-on-Trent, could face a "surge" in demand. 

Ruth Smeeth, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, said services in North Staffordshire were already running at high capacity. 

While the Stoke Central Labour MP Tristram Hunt echoed his party colleague by saying that services at the Royal Stoke University Hospital "are already stretched to breaking point".

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Today looks like being much drier and brighter than yesterday with plenty of sunshine - high 20C (68F)

BBC Travel

A lane is closed on the A50 eastbound in Uttoxeter at the Little Chef roundabout because of a broken-down vehicle.

The Sentinel

Pervert David Hill offered to make a £1,000 donation to help a disabled six-year-old girl walk, external - in return for having sex with her mother.

Image source, The Sentinel

BBC Travel

The A51 Hopwas Hill in Hopwas near Tamworth is partially blocked eastbound because of an accident.

It's at the junction with the B5404 Plantation Lane.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Morning all, it is looking like being a stonking day on the weather front as there is blue sky over Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent this morning.

To find out if it will continue with the sunshine, we'll have a weather forecast shortly and there'll be more news, sport, travel and other updates through the day.

You'll also see more of the pictures sent in by you - get those to me on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external or use Instagram, external.