Alton Towers says Smiler ride is safe after criticism
Call for urgent moves to reopen Stafford's A&E to children
Fire choir release 9/11 charity song
Updates from Friday 2 September
A 31-storey luxury residential tower block in London's Docklands described by critics as "jarring, unsettling and shambolic" is judged the worst UK building of the year.
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BBC Midlands Today
Public parks in the Midlands are at risk of decline and some of the facilities in them could close, according to a new report by the Heritage Lottery Fund. , external
Findings showed that 78% of councils across the region anticipate budget reductions of 10% or more over the next three years with nearly half their parks expected to deteriorate.
Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport
Wales midfielder Joe Allen says he feels "refreshed and positive" following his summer move from Liverpool to Stoke City.
Allen scored his first international goal on his 32nd appearance in Wales' 4-0 win over Moldova in their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 26-year-old joined Stoke City from Liverpool for £13m in July after only starting eight league games in 2015-16.
"I think it had come to the point where I needed to move on," Allen said. "Personally, it was pretty obvious."
We now have data examining the impact of the badger cull on the incidence of TB in cattle.
Read MoreWales midfielder Joe Allen feels "refreshed and positive" following his summer move from Liverpool to Stoke City.
Read MoreFollow live text coverage from the Premier League match between Stoke and Tottenham at the Britannia Stadium.
Read MoreBidders for the West Midlands rail franchise are being given permission to remove seats and create more standing room to fit more passengers in.
Read MoreAn A&E unit hit by staff shortages should have an emergency service for children with minor injuries within weeks, doctors hope.
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Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says the club's current group of players is the best in the club's history.
Image source, Stoke CityWilfried Bony, Joe Allen and Bruno Martins-Indi are just three of the additions made by Mark Hughes this summer.
Quote MessageI think it is the best squad we've had. We're always trying to improve but I think I would judge this as our best squad. I'm always cautious, football is a very unpredictable game and we want to demonstrate our quality by playing and winning football matches
Peter Coates, Stoke City chairman
A sailor from Cheshire says he's confident he could win gold at this years Paralympic Games in Rio. Niki Birrell, from Knutsford, and sailing partner Alexandra Rickham won a bronze medal at London 2012. The five-time world champions will compete together in the Skud 18 class for a third time.
BBC Travel
There's slow traffic on the M6 southbound between J13, for the A449 (Stafford South) and J12, at the A5 (Gailey), because of an earlier broken down vehicle.
A woman has quit her job in the West Midlands to move to Poland, saying she is choosing to emigrate following the referendum vote to leave the EU.
Read MoreJames Jones strikes late to earn Crewe their first home success of the campaign as they beat Doncaster in a frantic finish.
Read MoreJames Vaughan scores twice on his Gigg Lane debut as Bury ease to a comfortable victory over Port Vale.
Read MoreWe'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Monday, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening.
Kevin Reide
Midlands Today
We'll have more on calls for Alton Towers to shut down its Smiler ride for good, after a string of incidents.
The theme park insists it is safe but one victim of a serious collision on the rollercoaster last year says it should close completely.
See more on BBC One in Midlands Today from 18:30.
Victoria Derbyshire
Stoke-on-Trent North Labour MP Ruth Smeeth has described how she has received 25,000 pieces of anti-Semitic abuse over the summer.
Labour MP Ruth Smeeth
She is now receiving special police protection after an internet troll said on Facebook that she should be hanged.
Ms Smeeth was talking to the Victoria Derbyshire programme.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale's new goalkeeper Miguel Santos says he wants to claim the number one shirt from Jak Alnwick.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 21-year-old was a regular for Benfica B last season before training with the Vale this summer and then signing on transfer deadline day.
Quote MessageIt's my dream to play here and so I came here to work and become number one. Let's see what happens, it depends on so many things but I will give everything and the decision is from the boss."
Miguel Santos, Port Vale goalkeeper
Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A man's been attacked in Stone in the early hours of this morning., external
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police says the 53-year-old victim was treated in hospital for head and chest injuries after the attack on Stafford Road at around 02:00.
Three men, aged between 21 and 32, have been arrested on suspicion of assault and remain in custody.
Hundreds of people in Tamworth could lose out on vital mental health support - when one of the town's key providers closes in October., external
Image source, Tamworth Herald