BBC Midlands Today

You've been having your say today on whether Alton Towers should close down its Smiler ride after 30 people were trapped in a new incident yesterday.

The theme park has insisted the rollercoaster is safe. 

Image source, Lindsey McQueen

On the Midlands Today Facebook page, Rachel Owlhoot wrote, external: "I've been to Alton Towers a lot since that ride opened and they are constantly closing it down." 

Sarah Copeland added, external: "Yes it should be closed down nothing but trouble".

But John Birch put, external: "no - but it should be fixed so it's safe and reliable".

BBC Sport

A former Crewe Alexandra captain, who went on to model as England defender Rio Ferdinand's body double, has been speaking to BBC Sport about playing in this weekend's FA Cup first qualifying round.

Mat Mitchel-King has earned a living rubbing shoulders with Ferdinand, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and other Premier League stars in television adverts and photo shoots. He has even appeared in a Bollywood movie. 

Image source, Getty Images

But tomorrow the 32-year-old defender is hoping to help Chesham United on another FA Cup adventure when they play Saffron Walden Town in one of 16 ties in the famous cup competition taking place this weekend. 

Read more about his story including the glitz and glamour and encountering Ibrahimovic and Ferdinand on the BBC Sport website.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This evening's headlines include:

- Alton Towers says the Smiler rollercoaster is safe after a victim of last year's crash called for it to be shut

- Councillors in Stafford call on NHS bosses to make urgent plans to reopen the children's accident and emergency services, external at the County Hospital

- A choir, made up of staff and firefighters from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, is releasing a charity single, external

An early warning about engineering work this Sunday which will affect services for a time between Lichfield and Birmingham New Street.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Have a gander at this - Staffordshire Wildlife Trust snapped a picture of these geese in Stoke-on-Trent.

The trust tweeted, external: "It's good to see it's not just vehicles who adhere to the one way system in operation on the Westport Lake car park!"

Image source, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

Here's how your weekend is looking - get up-to-date weather forecasts from the BBC website.

BBC Travel

There's slow traffic on the A34 northbound in Yarlet near Stafford at the Yarlet Lane junction because of a broken-down vehicle.

BBC North West Tonight

A choir, made up of staff and firefighters from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, is releasing a charity single, external.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

The service says it is to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

It adds that proceeds from the song, a cover of Bruce Springsteen's The Rising, will go to The Fire Fighters Charity. 

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

This scenic look at Rudyard Lake in the Staffordshire Moorlands has come from Stephen Dunn.

Image source, Stephen Dunn

And this view of Stoke-on-Trent from across nearby countryside was shared with me via Facebook by Chris Cawley.

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

Image source, Chris Cawley

Nantwich News

Hundreds of volunteers across Cheshire are lining up to help the Tour of Britain’s visit to the region run smoothly., external

Image source, Nantwich News

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra may be forced into making a change to their defence for the first time in the league this season, when they host Doncaster tomorrow.

Image source, crewealex.net

The Alex are waiting to hear how Zoumana Bakayogo is responding to treatment after his groin injury which he picked up on Tuesday against Accrington Stanley. 

The defensive reshuffle could see Jon Guthrie move to left back with George Ray or Ben Nugent playing centrally.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Alton Towers has insisted the Smiler rollercoaster is safe after a victim of last year's crash called for it to be shut.

Chanda Chauhan, from Wednesbury, said she wanted the ride closed after 30 people were trapped in the latest incident yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Alton Towers said: "All of the rides undergo extensive testing before they open to the public each day, thorough monthly checks and are also subject to independent, third party accreditation to ensure the highest levels of safety."

BBC Travel

A lane is blocked on the A527 Porthill Road southbound in Stoke-on-Trent between Porthill Bank and Wolstanton Retail Park because of an accident.

Congestion is back on the A500 D Road to Kidsgrove.

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Councillors in Stafford have called on NHS bosses to make urgent plans to reopen the children's accident and emergency services, external at the County Hospital. 

The NHS trust in charge shut the department last week as a temporary measure due to a shortage of paediatric trained staff. 

The leader of Stafford Borough Council, Patrick Farrington, has called upon the Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee scrutinises future plans to reopen the centre. 

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This afternoon's headlines include:

- A man's been jailed for life for killing a woman in Stoke-on-Trent, external

- A victim of the Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has called for the ride to be shut indefinitely after 30 people were trapped in a new incident yesterday

- A new head of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is named, external

Sarah Robertson
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A man who was found with serious injuries in an alleyway in Crewe died from a single stab wound to the chest, police say.  

Officers were called to reports the victim had been found unconscious off Edleston Road on Wednesday night. 

Image source, Google

The 51-year-old was found in a service area at the back of a convenience store in the town. He died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Today Cheshire Police say a post-mortem examination has been carried out and add that "this is an isolated incident". 

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder and woman's also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender - all three are still in custody.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke-on-Trent is named among the 40 worst cities in the UK for air pollution, external, according to a study by the European Lung Foundation. 

In its report, the group suggests people are almost twice as likely to die from breathing problems if they lived in the most polluted areas as a child.

The foundation says if they were exposed to heavy coal use in the home as children they can still have a much higher chance of dying from a respiratory condition up to 60 years later. 

Earlier this week the government said it is committed to improving the UK's air quality.

A victim of the Smiler rollercoaster crash calls for the Alton Towers ride to be shut after 30 people are trapped in a new incident.

Andrew Dawkins
BBC News Online

The Stoke-on-Trent Labour MP Ruth Smeeth has thanked people for sending her supportive messages, following news the police are investigating a death threat against her on Facebook. 

She tweeted, external: "I'm very touched and will keep fighting the good fight against abuse".

Image source, Labour Party

The threat was issued in July, soon after she fled the launch of Labour's report into anti-Semitism in tears after being accused by an activist of colluding with the right-wing press. 

Ms Smeeth accused Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of a "catastrophic failure of leadership" for not intervening during the incident, external and said the Labour Party "cannot be a safe space" for British Jews.  

A Labour spokeswoman said: "Threatening behaviour will not be tolerated within the party and we urge anyone receiving any abuse to contact the party and where relevant the police."

Lichfield Mercury

The number of potholes in Lichfield roads is continuing to cause alarm and frustration among city drivers., external

Image source, Lichfield Mercury