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
BBC Travel
A lane is blocked on the A50 westbound in Sideway, Stoke-on-Trent at the Bet365 Stadium because of a broken-down lorry.
Congestion is back to Longton.
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Here's how your day is looking on the weather front - get the latest forecast at another time from the BBC Weather website.
Charlie Slater
BBC Travel
The A5078 Edleston Road in Crewe is closed in both directions between the junctions of Camm Street and the A534 Nantwich Road.
It's because of a police incident and a diversion is in place.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Hello everyone, it's started off again with blue skies over Stoke-on-Trent - this was the BBC Stoke HQ just before 07:30 today.
Charlie Slater will be here shortly with the weather forecast for today for the area and there'll be plenty of news, sport, travel and other updates through the day.
You can also send in pictures of the area and I'll feature as many as I can - do that on email or put them on Instagram with the tag #bbcstoke, so I can find them, external.
BBC Sport looks back at some great goals scored by the big-name signings on deadline day, including David Luiz and Jack Wilshere.
Read MorePortuguese goalkeeper Miguel Santos and Switzerland-born winger Gezim Shalaj both join Port Vale on free transfers.
Read MoreNottingham Forest forward Jamie Ward joins fellow Championship side Burton Albion on a season-long loan.
Read MoreThe mother of backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who was killed in Australia, pays tribute to her "vivacious and extremely funny" daughter.
Read MoreWe'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 updates this evening and into the morning.
East Midlands Today
The sister of a woman who died in a knife attack at an Australian hostel has praised the bravery of a man from Cheshire who tried to save her sister's life.
A week after the stabbing, Tom Jackson, 30, from Congleton died from the wounds he suffered while trying to protect Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21.
Mia's sisters speaks about Tom's bravery.
He's now been nominated by the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for a posthumous bravery award.
Ms Ayliffe-Chung's family said words could not describe his bravery.
Nicola Beckford
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
What's been described as an "historic agreement" has been signed today between the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent and officials of a Chinese city with the aim of boosting both areas' ceramic industries. , external
Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilThe city council says it hopes the partnership with Jingdezhen will encourage more economic growth and improve the trade of ceramics made in the Potteries.
You can see more about what this agreement could mean on Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.
BBC Sport
Fans of cycling in Cheshire will now get the chance to see six Olympic medallists taking part in the Tour of Britain.
The third stage of the race will start in Congleton next Tuesday, external and loop through Crewe and Nantwich, ending in Tatton Park.
Image source, Getty ImagesToday it's been announced Italy's omnium winner Elia Viviani will lead Team Sky in the tour.
He joins Mark Cavendish and Britain's record medal winner Sir Bradley Wiggins on the start line.
Also competing are Welshman Owain Doull, Australia's Jack Bobridge and Dutch time trialist Tom Dumoulin.
Stoke City sign striker Wilfried Bony on a season-long loan deal from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Read More
Pete Morgan
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
The Conservative MP for Stone says he wants a meeting with the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to discuss the future of children's services at the County Hospital.
Services were suspended last week after senior staff said it was "not clinically safe".
Sir Bill Cash told BBC Radio Stoke that it's an issue that both he and Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy are passionate about.
Quote MessageWe're making joint representations to all the appropriate government ministers, in particular Jeremy Hunt. Jeremy Hunt has been very positive about Stafford's hospital over the years."
Sir Bill Cash, Conservative MP for Stone
BBC Midlands Today
Fish at a farm in Staffordshire have been found to be carrying a severe virus , externalknown as fish herpes.
Cornerhouse Farm Lake in Burton has been the victim of an outbreak this year.
Anglers are in part being blamed for not cleaning and disinfecting their nets properly.
Heartless thieves have stolen cash raised for a 10-year-old Nantwich schoolgirl waiting, external for a double lung transplant.
The blue skies this morning prompted some more great photos from our BBC Weather Watcher volunteers.
This one over Stoke-on-Trent's come from user Gadjet.
Image source, Gadjet
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
This evening's headlines include:
- A staff member at Huntercombe Hospital, placed in special measures, failed to intervene when a child repeatedly banged their head against a wall, inspectors found
- The sister of a woman who died in a knife attack at an Australian hostel has praised the bravery of a man from Cheshire who tried to save her life
- Stoke City make three loan signings on transfer deadline day including the Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony
One centre-back in, one centre-back out at Stoke City.
Philipp Wollscheid is pushed out of the Stoke squad by Bruno Martins Indi and has gone back to Germany.
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BBC Travel
The A51 Lichfield Road in Sandon is partially blocked at the B5066 junction because of an accident.
