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

  1. Maths genius, 11, is a star performer

    An 11-year-old boy achieves an A* grade in GCSE maths - five years ahead of his peers

    Read More

  3. Thousands set to receive GCSE results

    Trystan Jones
    BBC News Online

    Thousands of teenagers in Staffordshire and Cheshire will be among the half a million across the country picking up their GCSE results today.

    Pass-rates are likely to have been affected by a high number of pupils who've had to re-sit English and Maths having failed to get a grade-C last year.  

    Government plans in England to encourage more pupils to get GCSEs in maths and English required re-sits for tens of thousands who failed last year.  

    Exams

  4. Killer stabbed victim 17 times - then dumped her body in back yard

    The Sentinel

    Murderer Phillip Barlow stabbed his victim 17 times in a "brutal and frenzied attack" after the two rowed over drugs.

    Stafford Crown Court with Phillip Barlow (inset)The Sentinel

  6. News: Man 'critical' after backpacking stabbing; Staffordshire Police 'requires improvement'; mum 'asked to breastfeed in pub's toilet'

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Our first headlines on Thursday 25 August:

    - A man from south Cheshire remains in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed at a backpacking hostel in Australia

    - Staffordshire Police "requires improvement" when recording crime, according to Her Majesties Inspectorate of Constabulary

    - A Stoke-on-Trent mum says that she was asked to breastfeed her two-month-old baby in a disabled toilet while eating at a pub in Sneyd Green

  7. Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather this morning

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    To get the latest forecasts for your part of Staffordshire or Cheshire, head to the BBC Weather website.

    The weather for the West Midlands.

  8. Australia backpacker murder: Man charged over death as Cheshire man remains critical

    BBC News England

    A man from south Cheshire remains in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed at a backpacking hostel in Australia. 

    Tom Jackson, 30, from Congleton was stabbed in the face several times in an attack in which a woman from Derbyshire was killed.

    Mia Ayliffe-ChungFacebook

    Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Wirksworth received multiple stab wounds in the hostel in Home Hill, near Townsville, on Tuesday night local time.

    This morning Queensland Police Service said they'd charged 29-year-old Frenchman Smail Ayad with murder and two counts of attempted murder, 12 counts of serious assault and one count of serious animal cruelty.

  10. Good morning - join us for today's live coverage for Staffordshire and Cheshire

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Welcome everyone, the skies are looking pretty grey today over Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and I suspect there may be more rain ahead.

    Hanley today

    We'll have a weather forecast for the morning shortly and there'll be news, sport, travel and more updates through the day.

    You can also see more of the pictures you send in of Staffordshire and Cheshire featured - you can get them to me on email,Twitter and Instagram.

  11. Herefordshire win Knockout at Wormsley

    Minor Counties Knockout Trophy Final

    Herefordshire have won the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy for the second time in their history.

    They beat pre-match favourites Staffordshire by 56 runs at Wormsley, in Buckinghamshire.

    David Ball was the top scorer with 84 as Herefordshire posted a target of 258-9 from their 50 overs.

    But Staffs were always struggling in reply after losing captain Kadeer Ali in the first over.

    Despite Peter Wilshaw's 50, Staffs eventually fell short, being bowled out for 202, with five overs left unused.

  12. Our live coverage across the day

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more stories this evening and into the morning.

  13. Watch: Weather forecast for tonight

    BBC Midlands Today

    Shefali has your weather forecast for this evening.

    Cloudy with rain tonight - highs of 22C (72F) into Thursday. 

    Brighter on Friday.

    The weather forecast for the West Midlands with Shefali Oza

  14. Ex England goalkeeper Gordon Banks unveils a statue of himself

    Former Stoke City and England goalkeeper Gordon Banks unveils a bust of himself outside Newcastle College.

    The World Cup winner was joined by current Stoke keeper Jack Butland for the event outside the sports centre which was named after him. 

    Banks described the statue as a massive honour.

    Ex England goalkeeper Gordon Banks unveils a statue of himself at Newcastle College

  15. Alton Towers new ride set to go before planners

    Plans for a new rollercoaster at Alton Towers are expected to go before planners at Staffordshire Moorlands Council tomorrow.

    Owners Merlin Entertainment proposes to demolish the "now dated" log flume and build a new rollercoaster on nearby land.

    The new wood-built SW8 ride would include "themed sound tunnels", the theme park says.

    The log flume site itself would be returned to "natural woodland", agents for Alton Towers added.

    Log flumeMatthew Wells

    Staffordshire Newsletter reported that the new ride was expected to create up to 25 jobs.

  16. Olympian Bryony Page 'still coming to terms with silver medal'

     Olympian Bryony Page, from Cheshire, says she is still coming to terms with her silver medal - the first Olympic medal Team GB  has ever won in the event.

    Olympian Bryony Page says she is still coming to terms with her silver medal

  17. Traders face fines over unpaid levy

    Dozens of traders are facing fines for failing to contribute towards the Business Improvement District (BID) in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

    Read More

  18. College principal 'shocked and saddened' by backpacker stabbing

    The principal of South Cheshire College says he is "deeply shocked" to discover a former pupil has been left in a critical condition after a stabbing at a backpackers hostel in Australia.

    Tom Jackson, 30, from Congleton is in hospital after the attack in Queensland which left a woman from Derbyshire dead.

    South Cheshire CollegeGoogle

    We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the incident in Australia and our thoughts are with Tom, his family, friends and all the other victims involved."

    Jasbir Dhesi, Principal, South Cheshire College

  19. Latest: Congleton man 'fighting for life'; firms fail to pay business levy; Gordon Banks unveils statue of himself

    Chris King
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A few of the stories we're looking at this afternoon:

    - A man from Congleton has been stabbed at a backpackers hostel in Australia

    - Almost 90 businesses in Newcastle haven't paid a compulsory levy to help promote the town, despite being issued with a court summons

    - Former Stoke City and England goalkeeper Gordon Banks unveils a bust of himself outside Newcastle College

  20. Nominate your sports unsung hero

    Unsung Hero graphic

    Do you know a local sports volunteer who deserves recognition for their tireless efforts in helping people to participate in sport? 

    Well, now’s your chance to give them their time to shine by nominating them for a BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero award.

    The winner could be anyone from a local sports club manager, volunteer, kit person or coach.

    Nominate your chosen champion on the Get Inspired website - and join in the conversation online with#BBCUnsungHero.