Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This lunchtime's headlines:

- A plan to close beds at Bradwell Hospital in Newcastle next month is to be referred to the secretary of state

- The A500 at junction 16 has now re-opened following a serious crash this morning

- Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has revealed he turned down the chance to appear on I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes says Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam has earned his recall to the starting line-up.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live

The Daleian Singers, a male voice choir from north Staffordshire beat a truly international line-up in the North Wales Choral Festival, external at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on Saturday. 

Competing with choirs from England, Wales, Ireland and Poland, the Daleians came away with the trophy, external and a £500 prize cheque, exactly as they had done in the same festival last year.

Image source, Daleian Singers

The Sentinel

A couple face a 10-year ban on keeping dogs, external after leaving their pet in 'excruciating pain' for a week with a broken leg.

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Protesters have this morning handed petitions against the closure of Cheadle and Bradwell Hospitals to health bosses . 

Last month 47 beds closed in Cheadle, with 63 due to close in Bradwell next month.

Campaigners say NHS plans for patients to be treated at home are not safe, due to what they claim is a shortage of nurses.

The North Staffordshire CCG say no final decisions have been made regarding the beds at Bradwell. 

They'll temporarily close to new admissions on 18 December and people can have their say through an online survey, external and a series of public events.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live

A van driver has been seriously injured following a crash on the A500 in Barthomley. 

It happened shortly after 05:00, close to junction 16 of the M6 and involved a van and a lorry. 

The van driver has been taken to the Royal Stoke Hospital and the road has been closed as emergency services work at the scene. 

Image source, Google

 Motorists are still being advised to avoid the area.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live

There'll be no bush-tucker trial for Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant, who's revealed this morning that he turned down a six-figure sum to appear on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Meet Rebecca Done. She's been a Redcoat, spent time as a club singer and even recorded a Country & Western single.

She's also one of the youngest mayors to be selected, external in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

I caught up with her this morning to see how she's gone from Ye-haw to Hear-ye.

Sales of Rebecca's latest single, Country Girl, pays for a luncheon club where she also entertains local pensioners.

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Here are some of this morning's top stories:

- There's been a spate of accidents across the two counties this morning following sub-zero temperatures overnight, police say

- A Staffordshire drugs charity has told BBC Radio Stoke that so-called legal highs, external are a "growing enemy"

- Staffordshire digger firm JCB has announced one of its biggest deals of the year

BBC Radio Stoke

Shopowners on a Newcastle road claim they're on the verge of closing down because roadworks are cutting off access to their businesses. 

Severn Trent is replacing sewers on Watlands View in Porthill to prevent flooding to local homes. 

The diversion takes traffic away from a lot of the shops.

Severn Trent has apologised for the disruption but say the road is closed for people's safety. 

It says it has a loss of profits team who consider businesses claims for compensation. 

Midlands "Metro Mayor": what's the point of new-style regional boss?

BBC Weather Watchers

Some cloudy spots across Staffordshire and Cheshire this morning, but the sun is breaking through. 

Thanks to our Weather Watchers in Cheshire (top) and Northwich (bottom) for these pictures. 

Image source, Osmunda

Image source, Allotment David

BBC Radio Stoke

Staffordshire Police have arrested 24 people since so-called legal highs were outlawed this year.

Image source, Thinkstock

A new law came into force in May making it an offence to produce or sell new psychoactive substances, which were linked to more than 100 deaths in the UK last year. 

The rehabilitation charity, Voices, says they remain an "enemy" in the battle against drug addiction.  

BBC Radio Stoke

Here are some of the stories we're looking at this morning:

- Campaigners trying to stop beds from being closed at Cheadle and Bradwell hospitals are protesting in Stafford today

- Drugs charity says so-called legal highs are a "growing enemy" in Stoke

- A number of accidents reported after temperatures drop below freezing overnight

BBC Weather

After a cold night, it's another chilly morning but the sun will be out during the day. Highs of 8C (46F).   

Welcome to the Local Live service for Staffordshire and Cheshire on Monday morning. 

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens. 

If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @RadioStoke, external or message via Facebook, external.