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. Man attacked after being forced to get cash from ATM

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    A man was forced to take money out of a cash machine in Stoke-on-Trent and then assaulted, police say. 

    The Staffordshire force says it happened on Sunday afternoon when the man was sitting on a bench on Lonsdale Street.

    Lonsdale Street, Stoke-on-TrentGoogle

    They say three men forced him to an ATM on Church Street to take out a "large sum of money".

    Officers say they then attacked him, hurting an eye and left it needing hospital treatment. 

  2. Your pictures: A woodland in evening sunshine

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    When you send in photos you've taken of Staffordshire and Cheshire, there's such variety to them.

    This one's from Paul Jeffery who put it on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page saying it shows the "evening sun in Checkley, Staffordshire".

    Evening sun in Checkley,StaffordshirePaul Jeffery

  4. Football: Crewe 'full of confidence' for Blackburn cup game

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says his players are full of confidence going into tonight's EFL Cup game at Blackburn. 

    The Alex are unbeaten this season as they prepare to face the Championship side.

    Blackburn Rovers groundGetty Images

    Davis insists there's no pressure on his players and he could make several changes, with new signing Danny Hollands available for a full debut. 

    The League Two side has George Ray, Ben Nugent, Callum Saunders, Charlie Kirk and Callum Ainley in contention.

  5. Watch: Pottery dating back to 19th century found in Spode dig

    John Acres
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    A huge amount of broken pieces of pottery dating back to the mid-19th century has been unearthed by archaeologists at a former factory site in Stoke-on-Trent.  

    Pottery found in a dig on the Spode site.

    The city council is planning to redevelop the Spode site, with the dig carried out beforehand to try to find out what's under the ground. 

    Archaeologists have told me the pottery shows what the factory was producing at the time, including products for an Islamic market. 

    They say they've also found the foundations of a flint mill which used to stand there.  

  6. Watch: The weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow

    Kay Crewdson
    BBC weather presenter

    You can also find latest weather forecasts for your part of Staffordshire or Cheshire on the BBC Weather website.

    The weather for the West Midlands.

  7. Football: Burton boss' Liverpool connection

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    The manager of Burton Albion in their EFL Cup match against Liverpool this evening has close ties with the opponents - Nigel Clough is a former Liverpool player after all.

    He joined Liverpool in 1993 from Nottingham Forest after they were relegated from the top flight. 

    Nigel Clough in Liverpool shirtGetty Images

    Clough made probably one of the best debuts in any club's history - scoring twice against Sheffield Wednesday. 

    However his career at Liverpool started to struggle when Robbie Fowler emerged alongside Ian Rush and was sold midway through the 1995/6 season to Manchester City.

    Time for a little revenge against his former employer tonight? We'll let you know this evening on the Stoke and Staffordshire Live page.

  9. Watch: Paralympian on 'never giving up'

    BBC Midlands Today

    A canoeist from Stoke-on-Trent says he has followed his dreams to become a Paralympian instead of "giving up" and "getting a proper job".  

    Ian Marsden

    Ian Marsden is heading out to his first Games at the age of 44. 

    The national champion began his sports career as an able-bodied weightlifter but a serious spinal injury meant he lost the use of his legs. 

    He's since turned his sporting ambitions to hand cycling, shooting and then canoeing four years ago.  

  10. Football: Stoke boss looking to strengthen defence

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City's assistant manager Mark Bowen has admitted to BBC Radio Stoke they need to sign a defender before the transfer window closes next week.

    Phil JonesGetty Images

    The club has been strongly linked with a move for Manchester United's Phil Jones (pictured) over the past few days. 

    Bowen says they're hopeful of getting deals done soon.

    Obviously we lost a defender in Marc Wilson so I'm sure the people behind the scenes are doing everything they can to strengthen us and put us in the right shape for the remainder of the season."

    Mark Bowen, Stoke City's assistant manager

  11. Stoke-on-Trent homelessness project plans expansion

    Max Mallen
    Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

    A homelessness project in Stoke-on-Trent which says it helped hundreds of people last winter is planning to expand this year. 

    Jackie and Carrie Ambler who set up and run the shelters

    The Night Shelter ran between January and March as part of a trial and organisers Jackie and Carrie Ambler (pictured) say they are now looking to open shelters at two more churches. 

    The scheme aims to provide a safe night’s rest to homeless people in the city and is also looking to recruit more volunteers to help.

    We're just looking for folk who want to help, people who just want to muck in and chat to people, perhaps lend a listening ear."

    Jackie Ambler, Organiser of the Night Shelter, Stoke-on-Trent

  12. Team GB return from Rio: Joe Clarke gets teammates in arrival selfie

    Not a bad place for a selfie - Stone's Olympic gold medal winner Joe Clarke grabbed this pic after Team GB arrived back at Heathrow Airport...

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  13. News: Peaty wants to 'inspire future Olympians'; Caudwell in multi-million pound dispute; Burton prepare for Liverpool cup tie

    Chris King
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Our headlines this afternoon include:

    - Uttoxeter's Adam Peaty has told a press conference he wants 'to inspire future Olympians' after arriving home following his gold medal triumph at Rio 2016

    - A Staffordshire businessman has been urged by a judge to make "genuine efforts" to make up with a former colleague to resolve a multi-million pound High Court dispute   

    - Burton Albion are preparing for one of the biggest games in the club's history tonight when they take on Liverpool in the EFL Cup at the Pirelli Stadium

  14. BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Congleton and Church Leigh

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The weather this morning's been clear and sunny and that's led to some spectacular BBC Weather Watcher pictures from our local volunteers.

    These two show the blue skies over Congleton from user Dawn Treader while Ibby1970 had some mist around in Church Leigh, Staffordshire.

    CongletonDawn Treader
    Church Leigh, StaffordshireIbby1970

  15. Football: Burton 'riding crest of a wave' - Clough

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    Burton Albion are preparing for one of the biggest games in the club's history tonight when they take on Liverpool in the EFL Cup at the Pirelli Stadium.   

    Nigel Clough

    Tickets for the match sold out in less than five hours last week. 

    While Liverpool have been in 12 League Cup finals, this is only the 14th match Burton have played in the competition.

    Manager Nigel Clough says his side is "riding the crest of a wave" in landing the Merseyside club as opponents.  

  17. Watch: Peaty wants to 'inspire future Olympians'

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Uttoxeter's Adam Peaty's told a press conference he wants 'to inspire future Olympians'.  

    The Staffordshire swimmer came back from Rio with two medals including gold in the men's 100m breaststroke.  

    Adam Peaty

    He told the media, following the return of Team GB to Heathrow, that he was "extremely proud to be British".

    He added: "I couldn't think of anything better to do with my life and I just want to inspire future Olympians. I'm looking forward to seeing all the smiles on children's faces soon."  

  18. Cheshire to see Sir Bradley Wiggins in Tour of Britain

    Fresh from becoming the first Briton to win eight Olympic medals, Sir Bradley Wiggins has been confirmed for this year's Tour of Britain. 

    The organisers confirmed the news this lunchtime - the third stage of the race will start in Congleton and loop through Crewe and Nantwich, ending in Tatton Park.

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  19. Picture: Peaty family gathers for Olympic winner's return

    It's the moment the Peaty family must have been waiting for - a family reunion after Adam won his gold medal in Rio.

    His mum Caroline tweeted this picture earlier, including her husband Mark and internet-famous nan, Mavis Williams.

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  20. Businessman John Caudwell in multi-million pound dispute with former colleague

    Lucy King
    News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

    A Staffordshire businessman has been urged by a judge to make "genuine efforts" to make up with a former colleague to resolve a multi-million pound High Court dispute. 

    The case involves John Caudwell (pictured), who founded the mobile phone firm Phones4U, and Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe.  

    John Caudwell in 2013

    Signia Wealth, which is controlled by a Caudwell family trust, is suing Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe, alleging she misused expenses while working at the firm. 

    She claims to have been constructively dismissed and to have lost more than £10m in shares.

    Both sides deny the allegations against them, with lawyers saying any trial would likely come next year. 

    Chief Master Matthew Marsh, in a preliminary written ruling, urged all parties to settle their differences.