Summary

  • Dozens of senior jobs 'at risk' as university plans restructure

  • Charity blames homelessness rise on council cuts

  • Police officer 'knocked unconscious' in stone-throwing incident

  • Football: Diouf and Johnson back for Stoke City

  • Updates from Friday 16 September

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. Football: Port Vale's Smith set for new deal after impressive start

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite has told BBC Radio Stoke that defender Nathan Smith will be offered a new deal by the club in the next few weeks.

    Nathan SmithPort Vale FC

    Smith has impressed so far this season, scoring three goals and helping the team to four clean sheets.

    There will be discussions and there will be something I suspect happen between now and the end of October. That's only to make it fair for him because he is holding down a first team place which he wouldn't have expected when he was given his current contract."

    Norman Smurthwaite, Port Vale chairman

  2. Boundary reform: How is your area affected?

    BBC Politics

    We told you earlier that the Stoke Central Labour MP Tristram Hunt faces losing his seat under new constituency boundary proposals in England and Wales. 

    But that's not the only planned change to constituencies in Staffordshire or Cheshire. 

    Polling stationGetty Images

    Most are affected by the bid to cut the number of MPs in the Commons and create equal-sized seats. 

    You can see how your area is affected on the BBC website here.

  3. Hot weather: Tamworth could see 28C

    Temperatures in Tamworth could reach 28C (82F) today.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

  5. On Midlands Today from 13:30: Paralympic Games success

    Ben Godfrey
    BBC Midlands Today

    This lunchtime in BBC Midlands Today we'll be rounding up the latest medals won by Paralympians from this region in Rio. 

    Ellie SimmonsBBC Sport

    You'll also hear from people living near a large fire in Staffordshire who are unhappy after it's been left to burn for more than a week by the fire service.

    Plus your latest weather forecast - all from 13:30 on BBC One.

  6. Latest: Fears over scrapping Stoke-on-Trent MP's seat; 'astonishing escape' after tree fall; freedom honour decision due for Joe Clarke

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Our top stories this lunchtime:

    - A Stoke-on-Trent MP has told BBC Radio Stoke he fears the city will miss out if plans to scrap the constituency seat for Stoke Central go ahead

    - Three men had an "astonishing escape" after a tree fell on their van

    - A decision's going to be made next week on awarding the Freedom of Stafford to Stone's Olympic gold medal winning kayaker Joe Clarke  

  7. Motorbike passenger airlifted after car collision

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Two men have been seriously hurt in a crash between a motorbike and a car in Stoke-on-Trent this morning. 

    It happened on Beaconsfield Drive say West Midlands Ambulance Service and both victims were on the motorcycle.

    Beaconsfield DriveGoogle

    They say the pillion passenger, thought to be a man in his 20s, suffered a serious head injury and was airlifted to hospital where the service say his condition's "thought to be extremely serious". 

    The motorbiker himself had a broken elbow and fractures to both arms while the car driver wasn't hurt.

  8. Olympic winner to be given Freedom honour?

    Sarah Robertson
    Producer, BBC Radio Stoke

    A decision's going to be made next week on awarding the Freedom of Stafford to Stone's Olympic gold medal winning kayaker Joe Clarke.

    Joe Clarke at his homecoming parade

    The 23-year-old took victory in the kayak K1 at the Rio games last month and hundreds of people turned out for his homecoming parade on the bank holiday weekend.

    A special council meeting will be held on Tuesday to vote on giving him the Freedom of the Borough.

  9. Flash flooding warning for Cheshire

    There could be flash flooding this afternoon and tonight because of outbreaks of showery rain which could turn torrential.

    The Met Office has included Cheshire East and Cheshire West in a yellow weather warning for the North West.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

  10. Latest: Stoke MP Hunt's seat faces axe; push for children's A&E to be reopened; Joe Clarke set for Freedom honour

    Jodie Looker
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    This morning's headlines include the following: 

    - Labour MP Tristram Hunt is set to lose his Stoke Central seat under new constituency boundary proposals

    - Managers of the town's County Hospital are being asked to reopen the children's A&E unit as soon as possible

    - A decision's going to be made next week on awarding the Freedom of Stafford to Stone's Olympic gold medal winning kayaker Joe Clarke

  11. Watch: Stoke and Staffordshire's weather this afternoon

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    The BBC Weather website also has the latest forecasts if you need to keep up-to-date.

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  12. Your pictures: Flowers in bloom in Alrewas and Lichfield

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    We've been sent some some lovely flower pictures in the past few days.

    This one came from Michael Colton who says he took it in Alrewas.

    AlrewasMichael Colton

    This fountain surrounded by blooms has come from Helen Burbridge in Lichfield.

    If you've got a photo of Staffordshire or Cheshire to share you can send them in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke or put them on Instagram (add the tag #bbcstoke so I can find them).

    LichfieldHelen Burbridge

  13. Football: Former Stoke player warns club 'cannot afford' to be bottom of league

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Former Stoke City defender Mike Pejic has told BBC Radio Stoke he thinks the club could have a long, tough season ahead of them.

    Dejected Stoke City players after conceding a goal this seasonGetty Images

    The Potters, without a win, are currently bottom of the Premier League and Pejic says he feels the table is already taking shape.

    You look at the league already - the top six teams are already in place, who are going to finish in the top six at the end of the season. If Stoke continue the way they are, they're going to be in that bottom group, they cannot afford to be there, you need to get out of there as quick as possible."

    Mike Pejic, Former Stoke City defender

  15. Residents fed up with week-long 'very unpleasant' farm fire

    BBC WM

    People living in Rugeley have told the BBC they are running out of patience with a fire that's been burning for more than a week now. 

    The fire on Slitting Mill Road

    Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say they think the blaze started when a controlled burn of wood waste of around 400 tonnes of rubbish "got out of control" at a farm just off Slitting Mill Road on Monday 5 September. 

    The service says a controlled burn is now taking place, with fire breaks around the site, because putting the fire out could affect the local water supply.  

    I guess it's a wood fire, I don't exactly know what's burning up there which is a worry. But yes it's very unpleasant, you can't take deep breaths in when the wind is blowing, it's very, very unpleasant."

    Caroline Cash, Local resident to Slitting Mill Road

  16. Call for timetable over children's A&E reopening

    Matt Lee
    News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

    The leader of Stafford Borough Council is calling on managers of the town's County Hospital to reopen the children's A&E unit as soon as possible.

    Low numbers of staff with the right specialist training forced the closure of A&E to patients under 18 on 25 August.

    Stafford's County Hospital's A&E entrance

    Council leader Patrick Farrington says he also wants a clear explanation from the hospital as to why the service was withdrawn in the first place. 

    Last week the hospital trust said it was looking at putting in a service to deal with minor injuries. 

    It's also asked the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to carry out a service review and to make recommendations about how children's emergency services can be made safe.

  17. Windscreen shattered as tree falls onto van

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Three men had an "astonishing escape" after a tree fell on their van.

    The ambulance service said it found "a scene of devastation".

    The van after the tree fallWest Midlands Ambulance Service

    The tree took out power cables as it fell and landed on the van, smashing the windscreen.

    Paramedics say the men who were in the van, which was in Main Road, Betley, were unhurt.

    The men inside were unhurt.

    The tree after falling in BetleyWest Midlands Ambulance Service

  18. Football: Burton could be without skipper again for Fulham match

    Rob Stevens
    BBC Sport

    Ahead of their game tonight at Fulham, Burton's captain John Mousinho has missed their last three games with a hamstring problem and remains a doubt for the match.

    John MousinhoGetty Images

    Defender Tom Flanagan (thigh) will be assessed as the Brewers look to extend their four-game unbeaten run in the league.  

    Read a preview of the game including "Match facts" on the BBC Sport website.

  20. News: MP seat faces axe in boundary review; timetable wanted on reopening children's A&E; crossroads' layout 'putting lives at risk'

    Jodie Looker
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    This morning's headlines include:

    - One of Stoke-on-Trent's MPs, Labour's Tristram Hunt, could see his seat disappear under new constituency boundary proposals in England and Wales

    - The leader of Stafford Borough Council is calling on managers of the town's County Hospital to reopen the children's A&E unit as soon as possible 

    - People living in Weston Coyney have told BBC Radio Stoke the layout of one of the crossroads is putting lives at risk