'Unsafe' A&E services halted in Staffordpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Children's accident and emergency services at a troubled hospital are suspended after senior staff said it was "not clinically safe".
Read MoreSummary
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
'Unsafe' A&E services halted in Staffordpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Heavy rain on the waypublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Bad news from the Environment Agency, with heavy rain expected to hit most of the West Midlands over the next 24 hours.
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End of twitter postFootball: Crouch frustrated by lack of Stoke City league gamespublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeThe Stoke City striker Peter Crouch has hinted that he may leave the club before next week's transfer deadline.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 35-year-old, who scored a hat-trick at Stevenage in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, told BBC Radio Stoke that the lack of Premier League football is frustrating.
Quote MessageI do like being at Stoke but last year was difficult and obviously starting off this year I haven't played in the Premier League yet so it's been frustrating. I know I can still play at the highest level and, if given the opportunities, hopefully i'll take them."
Peter Crouch, Stoke City striker
Urgent meeting sought over suspended children's A&Epublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Liam Barnes
BBC News OnlineThe leader of Stafford Borough Council says he's seeking an urgent meeting with the NHS Trust running Stafford's County Hospital over the suspension of its children's A&E services.
It is "not clinically safe", the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says, adding that there are not enough staff with the correct specialist training.
Borough council leader Patrick Farrington says he wants the services reinstated "as soon as it is safe to do so", adding that the situation was "unacceptable" and "devastating" for parents.
BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Spider's web in Staffordshirepublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
We see some great pictures from our local BBC Weather Watcher volunteers - this one's from user Thornhill Watch in Hednesford, Staffordshire.
If you want to become one of the team, head to the website to sign up.
Image source, Thornhill WatchAustralia backpacker murder: Cheshire man tried to save victim's lifepublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
BBC News EnglandA Cheshire man who was critically injured in a stabbing at a backpacking hostel in Australia, tried to save the life of a woman who's died.
Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, died from multiple stab wounds - Queensland Police Service have charged a man with several offences including murder.
Image source, MYKAH POWELL/PA WIRESupt Ray Rohweder, regional crime co-ordinator from the Northern Region, also confirmed that Tom Jackson, 30, from Congleton was hurt trying to save her - he has critical head injuries.
Of his intervention, Mr Rohweder said: "His subsequent actions were absolutely fantastic. I have no doubt that his actions on that day, as completely selfless as they were, led to the injuries he now has."
Mum 'told to breastfeed son in pub's disabled toilet'published at 13:33 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeA Stoke-on-Trent mum has told BBC Radio Stoke she was left "close to tears" when she was asked to breastfeed her son in a disabled toilet at a pub in Sneyd Green.
Image source, Lauren NoakesLauren Noakes says she was feeding her son Zionn while eating at the Sneyd Arms, when she was asked not to do it in front of other customers.
A spokesman for the Sneyd Arms has apologised for what they say was an ill-advised decision, taken because of another guest's request, and say it shouldn't have happened.
Millwall sign Butcher from Burtonpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
League One club Millwall sign Calum Butcher from Burton Albion on a two-year contract.
Read MoreMP 'deeply disappointed' at suspension of children's A&Epublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Liam Barnes
BBC News OnlineThe MP for Stafford says he's "deeply disappointed" by the closure of children's accident and emergency services at Stafford's County Hospital.
Today the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said it was suspending the service after senior staff said it was "not clinically safe".
The town's MP Jeremy Lefroy said: "I am pushing for this matter to be resolved urgently in order that services can be restored".
More on Midlands Today from 13:30 on BBC One.
Latest: Children's A&E labelled 'unsafe'; injured man tried to save backpacker's life; 'well alight' bin lorry fire tackledpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThis lunchtime's headlines include:
- Children's accident and emergency services at Stafford's County Hospital are suspended after senior staff said it was "not clinically safe"
- A Cheshire man who was critically injured in a stabbing at a backpacking hostel in Australia, tried to save the life of a woman who's died
- A bin lorry fire's been tackled by two, external fire crews in Stone this morning
Rain warning for West Midlandspublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Drivers are being warned they could be facing heavy rain through this afternoon and evening.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning covering most of the West Midlands:
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End of twitter postWatch: This afternoon's weather for Stoke and Staffordshirepublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterThe BBC Weather website also has latest forecasts for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Media caption, Charlie Slater
Mother told to breastfeed in pub toiletpublished at 11:44 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
A breastfeeding mother says she was asked to "cover up" and feed her nine-week-old son in a pub's disabled toilet.
Read MoreIn pictures: Bin lorry fire in Staffordshirepublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio StokeA bin lorry fire's being tackled by two fire crews in Stone this morning.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say the truck was "well alight" on Eccleshall Road when they arrived at 10:41.
Image source, Jack Taylor
Image source, Jack TaylorShoppers discouraged from feeding pigeons after child's sandwich is snatchedpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Pigeons terrorising shoppers have attacked a child, external and snatched the bacon sandwich she was eating from her hand.
Image source, Geoff Merryweather/Burton MailPolice 'fails to record 6,700 crimes each year'published at 10:59 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeA police force "fails to record over 6,700 reported crimes each year", a government inspection report has estimated. , external
They include reports of crimes involving violence, sexual offences and modern slavery, a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said.
Staffordshire Police has been told it "requires improvement" regarding recording crime.
HMIC does say the force has improved since its last report in 2014 on issues like recording every reported rape and putting victims "at the forefront of their crime-recording decisions".
We've approached the force for a reaction to the report and, when we get one, we'll bring it to you.
Travel: Crashes on A520 and Tittensor Road in north Staffordshirepublished at 10:43 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
BBC TravelTwo incidents to flag up in north Staffordshire at the moment:
- There's been an accident on the A520 Weston Road in Meir at the Woodville Road junction
- Tittensor Road in Barlaston is partially blocked northbound near the Old Road junction because of an accident and recovery work
Children's A&E suspended at County Hospitalpublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Breaking
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA&E services for children and teenagers under 18 have been suspended at Stafford's County Hospital because, external it is "not currently clinically safe".
The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says it has a shortage of staff with the right specialist training and the service has been "temporarily suspended".
The trust says the Children's Emergency Centre sees around 30 children a day and, as of 10:00 today, any sick children being brought to the County Hospital's A&E will be cared for until they can be transferred to another hospital.
UHNM says the adult Accident and Emergency service isn't affected and will stay open 14 hours a day from 08:00.
Watch: Adam Peaty wants 'powerful' Team GB swimming teampublished at 10:27 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
BBC BreakfastUttoxeter's Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Adam Peaty says he wants Team GB to be a "really powerful force in Tokyo" for the next Olympics.
Media caption, Adam Peaty
The 21-year-old swam to victory in the men's 100m breaststroke and was part of the 4x100m medley relay which took silver.
He's told the BBC this morning that he now wants to give back to his sport and encourage more children to take up swimming.
News: Man critical after backpacking stabbing; police 'fail to record 6,700 crimes each year'; thousands set for GCSE resultspublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 25 August 2016
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeOur latest headlines include:
- A man from south Cheshire remains in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed at a backpacking hostel in Australia
- A police force "fails to record over 6,700 reported crimes each year", a government inspection report has estimated, external
- Thousands of teenagers in Staffordshire and Cheshire will be among the half a million across the country picking up their GCSE results today
