BBC Entertainment and Arts

Robbie Williams' daughter is proving his toughest critic, according to the Stoke-on-Trent-born pop star.

As he releases his 12th album and is honoured with a Brit Icon award, Robbie has revealed how his daughter was not that impressed with some of his earlier achievements.

Find out how she reacted to watching his famous Knebworth gig.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our headlines this morning:

- Cheshire East Council says it can't rule out job losses as part of its budget proposals, external

- A new rail franchise combining the current InterCity West Coast main line with HS2 high-speed services has been announced by the government

- A lantern parade will take place in Stoke-on-Trent this evening as part of events , externalwhich will see a 69ft-tall (21m) sculpture lit up for the first time

BBC Business News

A new rail franchise combining the current InterCity West Coast main line with HS2 high-speed services has been announced by the government.

Image source, PA

The new franchise will be called the West Coast Partnership and is scheduled to start on 1 April, 2019.  

The operator will be responsible for services on both the West Coast Main Line from 2019 and running the initial HS2 services in 2026.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The former Stoke City and West Ham manager Lou Macari is predicting a tough test for the Potters tomorrow when they play at the London Stadium for the first time.

Image source, Leon Neal/Getty Images

Stoke are looking to make it four Premier League wins in a row but West Ham have only lost one of their last six. 

The Sentinel

Drinker James Coxon crashed his van after drinking five pints while watching football at the pub., external

Image source, The Sentinel

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A lantern parade will take place in Stoke-on-Trent this evening as part of events , externalwhich will see a 69ft-tall (21m) sculpture lit up for the first time.

The city council boasts that the artwork, named "Golden", is "taller than the Angel of the North" and features more than 1,500 hand-blown glass prisms. 

It was paid for, the authority says, with £130,000 of money that came from developments in Chatterley Valley.

Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

It's situated on the former Goldendale East ironworks and the council says the flame-shape aims to symbolise the amber glow from the furnaces. 

Events are due to start at 18:30 with a lantern parade - the official lighting of the sculpture begins at 19:30.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A first look at our top stories this morning:

- Cutting council jobs would be a last resort, Cheshire East Council says, as it starts a consultation on plans to save more than £90m over the next three years , external

- More than half of all NHS Trusts in the Midlands are in deficit, with holes in their budgets totalling £200m, a BBC investigation has found 

- A lantern parade will take place in Stoke-on-Trent this evening, external as part of events that will see a 69ft-tall (21m) sculpture lit up for the first time 

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

A dry and bright start and you can see how the rest of the day will pan out in my forecast.

The BBC Weather website also has latest forecasts for Staffordshire and Cheshire if you need one at any other time.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Hello everyone, it's Friday and the sky looks to be brightening up ahead of the weekend and this was Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent just before 07:30.

We'll have a look at the weather forecast for the day shortly and you'll get updates through the day on the local news, sport, travel and more.

I'll also be putting up more of your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire - you can send those in on email or put on Instagram (with the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share), external.

We'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. 

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

Here's a look at how cold tomorrow's likely to be - get up-to-date forecasts from the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A woman's been given a suspended prison sentence after the RSPCA say she caused unnecessary suffering to two horses and a dog.

Claire Machin, 37, from Pinfold Avenue, Stoke-on-Trent was found guilty of three offences under the Animal Welfare Act.  

The RSPCA say they had two separate complaints over her pet dog, which was thin and had a huge untreated bladder stone, and two emaciated ponies in a field.

Machin was sentenced at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre to 24 weeks in prison, suspended, and banned for life from keeping any animals.

The RSPCA say all three animals have recovered and will be rehomed.

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening we'll hear from children who've called thieves "pathetic" for breaking into their special needs school. 

In three separate incidents in the last month, £10,000 worth of computers was stolen from Chasetown Community School. 

Staffordshire Police say they believe it is being deliberately targeted - more from 18:30 on BBC One.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Two men have tried to change a large number of fake £20 notes in a number of shops, external, police say. 

Image source, Press Association

Staffordshire Police say they've had reports of the duo going into stores in the Cannock area to try and swap them. 

Officers say they were last seen going into a shop on North Street at midday today and then left, heading towards the A5.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The leaves across Stoke-on-Trent's trees are changing from green to red, yellow and beyond - Alison Guest captured these ones in the city.

Image source, Alison Guest

While Lee Price snapped this on West Drive in Cheddleton and shared it via the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page., external

As well as Facebook you can send pictures of Staffordshire or Cheshire in on email or put on Instagram (with the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share, external).

Image source, Lee Price

Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our latest look at the day's headlines:

- Over £90m of budget cuts have been outlined by Cheshire East Council, external for the next three years

- A body that was found in a park is not that of missing Joshua Smith, external, police say  

- A woman has told the RSPCA she believes her pets are being deliberately targeted after the charity says two died from poisoning and two were injured by shots in the past year

Burton Mail

Thousands of pounds worth of iPhones and laptops have been stolen from the back of a lorry in Burton., external

Image source, Burton Mail

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The long-term future of Crewe Alexandra midfielder Danny Hollands hasn't been discussed yet, according to manager Steve Davis. 

Image source, crewealex.net

Hollands current deal at the club is due to run out in January.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman has told the RSPCA she believes her pets are being deliberately targeted after the charity says two died from poisoning and two were injured by shots in the past year.

Image source, RSPCA

The RSPCA says Biddulph resident Wendy Mountford's cat Minky, 12, died at the vets last month after suspicions she was poisoned near her home.

Twelve months ago, one of Wendy’s other cats Susie died from suspected antifreeze poisoning.

The charity says two of her cats have also been shot in recent weeks with one needing leg amputation surgery. 

BBC Radio Stoke

A woman suffered broken ribs after an assault outside a bar. , external

It was near the Association Bar on High Street, Burton on Tuesday morning, Staffordshire Police say.

Image source, Google

The force says she was talking to a man when a woman came over, shouted at her and attacked her. 

The victim also suffered cuts and bruises and needed hospital treatment.