Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The capacity of the drains is being blamed by the city council for a Stoke-on-Trent primary school flooding for a third time this year. 

Clarice Cliff Primary, external in Fenton shut yesterday after thunderstorms on Tuesday night flooded parts of the building - it's staying closed for the rest of the week, external.

A spokesman for the city council says their understanding is that the drainage needs significant work from Severn Trent to get the issue resolved. 

The authority says it's holding discussions at "the highest level" with Severn Trent to get a solution.

Burton Mail

Three businesses and a college are counting the cost this morning after acts of mindless vandalism saw windows smashed, external across Burton.  

Image source, Burton Mail

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

Image source, Getty Images

The gold medal went to Poland's Jakub Tokarz.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

This picture's been released by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service of the fire in a barn off Buxton Road, Wetton last night, which saw about 1,000 tonnes of hay and straw alight.

The service says it expected to have crews on site for most of the day,, external monitoring the area.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Staffordshire's Lee Pearson might have narrowly missed out on a gold medal - by a point - at the Paralympic Games last night but his silver takes him to 13 medals in his career.

The Cheddleton equestrian rider's been competing since the Sydney games in 2000.

Image source, BBC / Getty

Nicola Beckford
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime we'll reflect on the region's medal rush continuing at the Paralympic Games in Rio.

Also how one police force is pioneering the use of human psychology to try and prevent and cut crime. 

Those stories and more plus your latest weather, on BBC One from 13:30.

Residents say 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.

Uttoxeter Advertiser

A golf club owner had a rough night when a couple of wetsuit-clad thieves tried to steal 800 balls from a lake , externalon her course. 

Image source, Uttoxeter Advertiser

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our top stories this lunchtime:

- A farm fire in Staffordshire involving hundreds of tonnes of wood waste is still burning, external, 10 days after the fire service were first called to the blaze

- Trentham's Ian Marsden is going for gold this afternoon in the final of KL1 canoe sprint at the Paralympic Games

- Plans to develop the former Moneystone Quarry site in the Staffordshire Moorlands, external are expected to be approved by councillors this afternoon

BBC Weather Watchers

It was certainly a foggy and misty start to the day across Staffordshire and Cheshire and that's been reflected in the photos uploaded by our BBC Weather Watchers.

These two are from users Flying Ant in Stafford and Altonbirdwatch in Alton

Image source, Flying Ant

Image source, Altonbirdwatch

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Nineteen years after Stoke City left the Victoria Ground, plans to redevelop the site are finally going on display today.  

The owner, developer St Modwen, external, wants to build more than 120 homes there.

It's holding a public exhibition this afternoon at Stoke Minster Primary School so people living nearby can give their views on the proposals.  

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Plans to develop the former Moneystone Quarry site in the Staffordshire Moorlands, external are expected to be approved by councillors this afternoon.

Laver Leisure Limited wants to build holiday lodges, a swimming pool and restaurant in the area near Whiston.

Image source, Google

Previous proposals were rejected for several reasons including that they could lead to "unacceptable congestion" on the area's roads. 

The leisure firm says it's addressed these concerns although a number of residents have still raised traffic issues among 89 letters of objection. 

Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

This afternoon, Trentham's Ian Marsden will be going for gold in the final of KL1 canoe sprint. 

The 44-year-old is competing in his first Paralympic Games and got a personal best time yesterday to reach today's medal race.

Image source, Getty Images

Kay Crewdson
BBC weather presenter

If you want to keep up-to-date with BBC Weather's latest forecasts for Staffordshire and Cheshire, head to their website.

BBC Midlands Today

Police are due to meet a charity today after it was told to stop giving tents to the homeless in Stafford. 

House of Bread supports vulnerable people in the town by offering home-cooked meals and other services.

Image source, House of Bread

They issued about a dozen tents to people claiming they have nowhere to live. 

But police said a "tent community" is developing in the town centre, with complaints of a rise in drinking and drug abuse. 

The charity has been issued with a Community Protection warning, external.  

The Sentinel

This hole in one of Stoke-on-Trent's busiest roads sparked traffic chaos., external

It led to the closure of part of the southbound carriageway of the A34 yesterday afternoon.

Image source, The Sentinel

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A farm fire in Staffordshire involving hundreds of tonnes of wood waste is still burning, external, 10 days after the fire service were first called to the blaze. 

This morning Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they, the Environment Agency and Cannock Chase Council were constantly monitoring it. 

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

The service says, in terms of putting the fire out, they have limited methods and "each has its own potential hazards" including affecting the local water supply. 

The MP for Cannock Chase, Amanda Milling, said this week, external it was "unacceptable" the fire had been burning for over a week and says she's meeting with the agencies tomorrow. 

Residents have also complained to the BBC that it's unpleasant to live close to - Public Health England says nearby residents should stay inside with doors and windows shut, external.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This morning's headlines include:

- Christmas lights are facing the chop in Cannock Chase this year, external as the area's council is looking at a funding shortfall of more than £1m  

-  A huge fire has ripped through a barn in the Staffordshire , externalMoorlands  

- Staffordshire's Lee Pearson missed out on an 11th Paralympic gold medal in Rio last night as he took silver by just one point

There's a warning we could be in for more flash flooding today across parts of the West Midlands.

The Met Officer has put out a yellow weather warning for rain as it says there could be thundery showers from 14:00 this afternoon.

Caroline Gall
BBC News Online

A huge fire has ripped through a barn in the Staffordshire Moorlands. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says about 1,000 tonnes of hay and straw caught fire, external on farm land off Buxton Road in Wetton.

Image source, Hannah Blissett

At it's height eight fire crews were in attendance and three are still there this morning.

The service says nobody is reported to have been injured.