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. News: On-the-run killer arrested in Staffordshire; man's death 'unexplained'; no end date for 10-day wood fire

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    This evening's top stories include:

    - A convicted murderer who stamped a woman to death and absconded from an open prison in Derbyshire has been arrested today in the Staffordshire Moorlands

    - The death of a man in Stoke-on-Trent is being treated as unexplained by police, after he was found collapsed at a house in the city

    - Firefighters say they still don't know when a blaze at a farm in Rugeley will burn out

  2. More anger over 10-day wood fire

    Monica Rimmer
    Journalist, BBC Online

    Local residents have again told the BBC they are angry they have to keep their doors and windows shut, 10 days after 1,000 tonnes of waste caught fire on farmland in Staffordshire. 

    Thick smoke has been billowing from the fire in Slitting Mill Road in Rugeley since the blaze began on 5 September. 

    Fire crews near Slitting Mill fireStaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

    The fire service said a controlled burn was taking place over fears water supplies could be contaminated. 

    It is not known how long it will take to put the fire out. 

    Alison Shaw, manager of the nearby Horns Inn, said the pub's takings were also down because of the blaze. "Last week alone we have been down £3,000. We're very angry about it."

  3. Football: Crewe's Guthrie says good start down to getting rid of 'negativity'

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Jon GuthrieBBC / Crewealex.net

    Crewe Alexandra's Jon Guthrie has admitted to BBC Radio Stoke that getting off to a good start to their season was crucial. 

    The Alex were relegated last season, but have started life in League Two well and are currently sixth in the table.

  4. Proposals for 250 holiday lodges given outline planning permission

    Ros Chimes
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Artist impression from Moneystone Park website of lodgesMoneystone Park

    Plans to build a multimillion-pound leisure complex in the Staffordshire Moorlands have this afternoon been approved. 

    Councillors voted to give Laver Leisure Limited outline planning permission to build on Moneystone Quarry near Whiston.

    Opponents said 250 holiday lodges would dilute the character of the Churnet Valley while those in support highlighted the economic boost to the area.  

  5. Olympic winner congratulates para-canoeist on bronze medal

    From one Staffordshire medallist to another - Olympic winner Joe Clarke, who took gold in Rio in the kayak K1, has tweeted his congratulations to para-canoeist Ian Marsden.

    He won bronze today in the 200m KL1.

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  6. Stomach stamp killer arrested after going on the run from prison
    Breaking

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A convicted murderer who stamped a woman to death and absconded from an open prison in Derbyshire has been arrested today in the Staffordshire Moorlands. 

    Darren Jackson, 51, was serving part of his life sentence at HMP Sudbury when he was reported missing on Tuesday.

    Darren JacksonDerbyshire Police

    Jackson killed Gill Ellis in Burnley in 1984, when he was a teenager, by stamping on her stomach and tearing a main blood vessel to her heart.  

    He was jailed in March 1986, went on the run in 1997 and was later freed but then recalled to Sudbury Prison. 

    Derbyshire Police said this afternoon that he was arrested by Staffordshire Police and remains in custody.

  7. Timing of bridge repair works called an 'error' by MP

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The transport minister has promised to act on concerns that a main road to Staffordshire's Freeport shopping centre will be closed until Christmas. 

    The Labour MP for Stoke On Trent North Ruth Smeeth told the Commons that Highways England's plans to close the A34 at the Talke Junction to carry out structural repairs to bridges were an "error".

    Freeport TalkeGoogle

    Transport Minister John Hayes said he'd already warned Highways England that it needed to improve the way it notified the public about road closures and he'd be raising the issue with them. 

    We've approached Highways England for a response and, when we get one, we'll bring that to you.

  8. Defender Smith signs new deal at Vale

    Port Vale's young defender Nathan Smith signs a three-year contract extension with the League One club.

    Read More

  9. EFL Cup third round

    Reaction to eight matches in the third round of the League Cup, plus fourth-round draw details.

    Read More

  10. Man's death 'unexplained'

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The death of a man in Stoke-on-Trent is being treated as unexplained by police, after he was found collapsed at a house in the city. 

    Furlong RoadGoogle

    Staffordshire Police were called to Furlong Road last night and the 41-year-old was taken to hospital where he later died. 

    A 32-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

  11. Fire service let wood waste burn

    Steve Hermon
    Journalist, BBC WM

    Firefighters say they still don't know when a blaze at a farm in Rugeley will burn out.

    The fire started more than a week ago when wood waste at a site of Slitting Mill Road ignited.

    Staffordshire Fire Service say they are leaving it to burn out because putting it out themselves could affect the local water supply.

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  12. Football: 'Nobody's position is safe' as Stoke look to overcome worst start in century

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City's manager Mark Hughes is expected to make changes for Sunday's game at Crystal Palace.

    Having taken one point from their opening 12, the Potters have made their worst start to a season in over 100 years.

    Stoke City players during their game against Tottenham after concedingGetty Images

    Following their last match, when they lost 4-0 at home to Tottenham, Stoke's assistant manager Mark Bowen says players will have to show more fight to keep the shirt.

    When you come off the back of a result like that, nobody's position is safe in the team because when the team is losing, on the back of performances like that, you've got to look at yourself in the mirror and think 'well, am I doing enough?' And if you're not, don't go crying if you are out of the team."

    Mark Bowen, Stoke City's assistant manager

  13. Wheelchair basketball coach hopes to inspire in Cheshire

    Rachael Connors
    Reporter, BBC News Online

    As elite disability athletes compete in Rio at the Paralympic Games, wheelchair basketball player Anna Jackson has said she hopes to inspire others by coaching Cheshire Phoenix.

    Wheelchair basketballEnglish Federation of Disability Sport

    Jackson, who played for Great Britain for 10 years, told the English Federation of Disability Sport that wheels gave her back her "freedom and independence".

    "Suddenly life was amazing again. Life became so much better once I discovered what a set of wheels could do for me,"   she said.

    The beauty of this sport... is that you’re part of something and it doesn’t matter what’s wrong with you or what doesn’t work - it’s about sport and that positive environment."

    Anna Jackson, Cheshire Phoenix coach

  14. Recreation centre to be demolished at £50k cost

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Proposals to demolish the former Knutton Recreation centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme have been approved. 

    Knutton Recreation CentreGoogle

    The work, which will cost £50,000, was approved by borough council leaders yesterday.

    It was shut in 2012 after the Jubilee2 leisure centre opened in the town centre. 

  15. Latest: Anger at 10-day wood fire; para-canoeist takes bronze; housing planned for former Stoke City ground

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Your headlines this afternoon include:

    - Local residents have again told the BBC they are angry they have to keep their doors and windows shut, 10 days after 1,000 tonnes of waste caught fire on farmland in Staffordshire

    - Stoke-on-Trent's Ian Marsden has won bronze in the 200m KL1 Canoe Sprint event at the Rio Paralympic Games

    - Nineteen years after Stoke City left the Victoria Ground, plans to redevelop the site with housing are going on display this afternoon

  16. Scheme to prevent deer deaths halted after thieves steal equipment

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Thieves have stolen wooden posts that were being put up at a Staffordshire beauty spot as part of a scheme to try and stop motorists hitting deer.

    The county council say their rangers had started putting the posts in the ground on Cannock Chase over the last fortnight. 

    The stretch of road on Cannock Chase from which they've been stolenStaffordshire County Council/Rob Taylor

    However they say this morning around £350 worth of them have been taken. 

    They say their staff are going to take down the remaining posts to stop more being stolen and they'll rethink the scheme.

  18. Watch: Son cheers on dad to Paralympics bronze

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Para-canoeist Ian Marsden was cheered on by his son Joshua as he won bronze in the 200m KL1 at the Rio Paralympic Games.

    Ian Marsden's son cheered his dad on to Paralympics bronze

    He and friends at Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy were allowed to watch the race this lunchtime at the school.

    You can see the moment in this video as they all waited to find out if he'd won a medal.    

  19. Your pictures: Kidsgrove sunset and a Stoke-on-Trent beauty spot

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Plenty of you are sharing pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire on Instagram. Sharon Chell's taken this one, of sunset last night over Kidsgrove.

    Sunset over KidsgroveSharon Chell

    While shared in the same way, Christine Holdcroft took this picture of Westport Lake, Stoke-on-Trent.

    To also share a picture of the area via Instagram, put it on the site and add the tag #bbcstoke so I can find it.

    Westport Lake, Stoke-on-TrentChristine Holdcroft