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
We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.
Burton Albion fans in particular, with Championship football action tonight, keep across our page as there'll be updates of the match against Fulham.
Plumbers are still carrying out repairs at a school in Burton after a water leak in a cupboard forced it to close , externalfor one day.
Image source, Google/Burton Mail
Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
The farm fire in Rugeley, Staffordshire which has been burning for more than a week and causing concerns among a number of residents will feature on BBC Midlands Today this evening.
We'll hear from concerned people living in the area and the local fire service about why it's been allowed to keep on burning for days.
Tune in to BBC One from 18:30 for the full story.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis has told BBC Radio Stoke that he has made contract offers to his first-choice goalkeeper Ben Garratt and his central defender Jon Guthrie.
Image source, crewealex.netThe Alex boss is hoping they will follow youngsters Callum Ainley and Charlie Kirk by signing new deals, external with the club.
Quote MessageWe have made offers to Ben and Jon. We are yet to receive a reply from them on that. I am sure they are considering that and all we can do is wait at the moment."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
The Stoke Central Labour MP Tristram Hunt has told BBC Radio Stoke this evening that he believes the city's voice in Parliament will be reduced by proposals that could see his seat abolished.
The draft Boundary Commission plans would see just two constituencies for the city, north and south, ahead of the 2020 General Election.
The government said the proposals would "ensure an equal say for each voter" but Mr Hunt says he's not sure two city MPs could handle his workload.
Quote MessageWith an electorate in the low 60,000s, which is what I have, you think it (the workload) might be less than a constituency with 90,000 but some of those constituencies with 90,000 in Surrey or Hampshire are not going to have the challenges that we have in Stoke-on-Trent, issues about disability benefit, migration, housing."
Tristram Hunt, Labour MP for Stoke Central
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Here's how tonight and tomorrow is looking and, if you want to keep up-to-date, the latest forecasts can also be found on the BBC Weather website.
Charlie Slater
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
We've had some pictures shared on Instagram with us of the skies above Staffordshire over the past few days.
This one's of a sunset over Stoke-on-Trent and has come from John Harding.
Image source, John HardingWhile Ed de Quincey shared this one of Sutton.
If you want to share a picture on Instagram, add the tag #bbcstoke, external to the picture description and then I can find it.
Image source, Ed de Quincey
Chris Long
BBC News Online
An RSPCA officer was called out to help a baby reptile by the side of a road, only to discover it was a toy crocodile.
Lauren Bradshaw approached with caution as she spotted something "basking in the sun" in Winsford, Cheshire.
Image source, RSPCABut after she picked it up, she soon realised it was "a plastic one made in China" and her snappy arrival had been in vain.
She said: "I reached out to pick it up and just burst out laughing."
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
This evening's headlines for you include:
- People living near a farm fire in Staffordshire, which has been burning for more than a week, have been told there's "no significant health hazards" from the smoke
- A motorbike passenger who was hurt in a crash in Stoke-on-Trent this morning is now in a , external"critical condition" in hospital, police say
- Most of the street lights in the east of Cheshire are going to be converted to LED at a cost of £9.5m, external
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The motorbike passenger who was hurt in a crash in Stoke-on-Trent this morning is now in a , external"critical condition" in hospital, police say.
The collision was on Beaconsfield Drive between a blue Yamaha motorbike and a white Citroen.
Staffordshire Police say the bike's passenger, a 26-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent, suffered serious head injuries in the crash.
Police have praised members of the public who helped them to apprehend two drunken men – one who had punched and smashed a window with his bare fist., external
Image source, Tamworth HeraldIf you're driving through Crewe this afternoon, one of the routes into the town, Weston Road, is going to stay shut until 18:00.
Cheshire East Council says staff will be resurfacing until then.
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Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Most of the street lights in the east of Cheshire are going to be converted to LED at a cost of £9.5m.
Image source, GoogleCheshire East Council , externalsays it'll take three years and will see 24,000 lights replaced on residential roads, starting this month
The authority says LEDs are more reliable and energy efficient than traditional light bulbs.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Liam Smith's loan spell at Crewe Alexandra could be over without him playing a competitive game for the club.
Image source, crewealex.netThe Newcastle United midfielder has been ruled out for the "foreseeable future" with an ankle injury and Alex manager Steve Davis says he's been unlucky with his injuries.
Quote MessageIf that injury is going to be two, three, four-months then it takes us to the January window so he's not going to be able to take part in any of the loan that we've had him here for. It's just unfortunate, he's a talented boy, he's had some bad luck with his ankle."
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
A new holiday village and leisure centre for the Staffordshire Moorlands could be approved this week.
Laver Leisure Limited has put forward revised plans to the district council, external for permission to build on the former Moneystone Quarry site near Whiston.
Image source, GooglePrevious 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.
Three parish councils also say they oppose the plans but they have been recommended by a council planning officer for outline planning permission to be granted - they go before councillors on Thursday.
Our BBC Weather Watchers don't just send us the local forecast from where they are, they also upload pictures from the area.
These came in this morning from users Winshill Boy in Burton and Jojo8 in Leek.
Image source, Winshill Boy
Image source, Jojo8
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News
The layout of a crossroads is putting lives at risk, people living in Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent have told BBC Radio Stoke.
A pedestrian crossing is too close to the junction of Weston Coyney Road and Weston Road and pedestrians don't feel confident using it, they say.
Image source, GoogleThe local resident's association is calling for the traffic lights to be moved.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it is reviewing and monitoring the situation but say improvements have been made.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The main headlines this afternoon:
- People living near a farm fire in Staffordshire, which has been burning for more than a week, have been told there's "no significant health hazards" from the smoke
- Two men have been seriously hurt in a crash between a motorbike and a car, external in Stoke-on-Trent this morning
- A new holiday village and leisure centre for the Staffordshire Moorlands, external could be approved this week
Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
A farm fire has been burning for more than a week.
People living near the fire, in Rugeley, Staffordshire, have been told there's "no significant health hazards" from the smoke.
Hundreds of tonnes of wood waste has been burning at a farm on Slitting Mill Road since 5 September.
Dermot Hogan from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say it's carrying out a "controlled burn" because putting the fire out could affect water supply.
Residents have complained it's unpleasant to live close to.
Dermot Hogan from the service says firefighters are working to minimise the smell.
Blessed with yet another year of dry and bright weather conditions, over 1100 runners took to the streets of Lichfield last Sunday as the 21st annual Lichfield 10K, external and Family Fun Run got underway.
Image source, Lichfield Mercury
