Summary

  • Council tax rise planned in Staffordshire Moorlands

  • Parents thanked for loyalty to formaldehyde-affected school

  • Boy, 13, suffers burns 'carrying boiling water' at rugby club

  • Controversial road scheme to be scrapped

  • Train delays as lines blocked north of Stafford

  • Updates on Friday 2 December

  1. Your West Midlands Questions answeredpublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    All week you have been using Your Questions to ask about the West Midlands. Here are some of our answers.

    Read More
  2. Boy, 13, suffers burns 'carrying boiling water' at rugby clubpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A boy,13, has been taken to hospital after being scalded by boiling water in an accident at Lichfield Rugby Club, the fire service says. 

    Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says crews were called to the club on Tamworth Road just before 21:00. 

    Lichfield Rugby ClubImage source, Google

    They say the boy had suffered burns to his front and torso and they believe he slipped as he was carrying boiling water across the kitchen at the site. 

    Paramedics gave him first aid and he was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital, the fire service says. 

    I've approached Lichfield Rugby Club for any reaction and will bring you that as and when we get it.

  3. Watch: Christmas light display raises £17k for children's hospice.published at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Tim Wedgwood
    BBC Local Live

    A Christmas lights display on a house in Crewe's raised £17,000 for charity in the last three years.  

    Media caption,

    Christmas light display in Weston

    Organiser Graham Witter says he fundraises for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice because his late, disabled sister Jessica used to get respite care there. 

    He says he's always decorated the house at Christmas because she "loved colours, lights and sound".

    The hospice says it's used some of the money to fund new lighting equipment in the refurbished sensory room.  

  4. On Midlands Today from 13:30: Syrian settlers move to thank residentspublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    BBC Midlands Today

    On Midlands Today this lunchtime - as the battles continues in Syria, refugees from the war there are planning a special dinner to thank people who've helped them start new lives here. 

    A Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter stands near war-damaged silos and mills of Manbij (1 July 2016)Image source, Reuters

    One city in our region has had more Syrians settle in their area than any other UK city - now, some of those who've benefited want to say thanks. 

    We'll have the full story from 13:30 on BBC One.

  5. Watch: More lay-bys considered for 'smart motorways'published at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Peter Plisner
    BBC Midlands Today

    More emergency refuge areas could be added to motorways around the Midlands, where the hard shoulders have been converted into traffic lanes. 

    The section of the M6 between junctions 13 and 10a has already been converted to a "smart motorway" with the hard shoulder becoming a permanent lane, known as "all-lane running" .   

    Media caption,

    Jim O'Sullivan from Highways England

    However the overall scheme has been criticised by MPs because of a lack of places to stop.

    Now Jim O'Sullivan from Highways England says they are looking again at whether more lay-bys are needed in some places.  

  6. Inquest opens into death of girl, 2published at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    An inquest into the death of a two-year-old girl from Stoke-on-Trent has been opened and adjourned by the coroner. 

    The body of Macy Hogan was discovered at a house on Packett Street in Fenton in October.

    House with tape outside

    Her mother, Cody-Anne Jackson, 19, from Packett Street, has been charged with her murder. 

    She appeared at Stafford Crown Court last month and was remanded into custody. 

    The inquest has been adjourned until April.

  7. Road shut as level crossing 'fails'published at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    A road is shut in Nantwich because the level crossing has failed, police say.

    It's on Wellington Road.

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  8. Headlines: Formaldehyde-hit school set to reopen; 'smart motorways' could get more emergency lay-bys; Butland ready for Stoke City returnpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Here's a round-up of our main headlines this lunchtime:

    - A primary school that has been shut since October 2015 after high levels of formaldehyde were discovered will reopen to pupils in the new year, external

    - More emergency refuge areas could be added to motorways around the Midlands, where the hard shoulders have been converted into traffic lanes  

    - Stoke City's England goalkeeper Jack Butland is ready to make a delayed return after eight months out following surgery to repair a fractured ankle

  9. Watch: This afternoon's weatherpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Alex Hamilton
    BBC Weather

    You can also keep up-to-date on the latest forecasts for Staffordshire or Cheshire on the BBC Weather website.

    Media caption,

    Alex Hamilton

  10. Football: Stoke's Butland returns for U23 sidepublished at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has told reporters at this morning's press conference that Jack Butland's returning to action today.

    Jack Butland on stretcher at England gameImage source, Getty Images

    Butland has not played a competitive match for the club since breaking his ankle on England duty in March.

    Quote Message

    Jack Butland is playing for the U23s this evening at Reading, so we hope that goes well for him. The major doubt for tomorrow is Ryan Shawcross - he is still troubled by his calf. We will see how he is today."

    Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager

  11. Andrew Sachs: Your tributes to Fawlty Towers' starpublished at 10:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Lucy King
    News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

    You've been writing your tributes and thoughts on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page at the news that the Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs has died aged 86.

    The actor, who played hapless Spanish waiter Manuel in the BBC sitcom, died on 23 November and was buried on Thursday, his wife Melody said in an interview in the Daily Mail, external.

    On the Facebook page, Les Brigham says, external he was an "amazing actor" and David Coupe added:, external "What a loss. So funny." 

    His wife told the Daily Mail he'd been diagnosed with dementia four years ago and Richard Hewitt posted, external: "So sad to see such a fine man fall to dementia".

  12. News: Girl, 13, tells of grooming attempt; chemical leak-hit school to reopen; power cuts hits Cheshire schoolspublished at 10:16 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

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

    - A teenager from Stoke-on-Trent tells BBC Radio Stoke how she was the victim of attempted sexual grooming online

    - A primary school that has been shut since October 2015 after high levels of formaldehyde were discovered will reopen to pupils in the new year, external

    - Two schools and houses in part of Nantwich are without electricity this morning after a power cut, external, Nantwich Police say

  13. Chemical leak-hit school to reopen in new yearpublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A primary school that has been shut since October 2015 after high levels of formaldehyde were discovered will reopen to pupils in the new year.

    About 20 pupils fell ill at Flash Ley Community Primary School and Nursery in Stafford amid reports of a mystery smell.

    Flash LeyImage source, Google

    An investigation concluded that work to floor ducts last summer led to high levels of the chemical, Staffordshire County Council said. 

    Now the authority says work's been carried out to make the site safe and most classrooms are now finished and ready for pupils. 

    They say Flash Ley will reopen to pupils and staff on 6 January.

  14. Schools without electricity after power cutpublished at 09:38 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Two schools and houses in part of Nantwich are without electricity this morning after a power cut, Nantwich Police say.

    SP Energy Networks say engineers are on the way to investigate, external.

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  15. Snooker: UK Championship 2016 - Highfield and Gilbert out of tournamentpublished at 09:26 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Owen Phillips
    BBC Sport Online

    Stoke-on-Trent's Liam Highfield and Tamworth's David Gilbert are both out of snooker's UK Championship. 

    Media caption,

    Mark Williams v Liam Highfield

    Highfield, ranked world number 106, gave a spirited challenge to two-time champion Mark Williams before losing 6-5. 

    Meanwhile Gilbert lost 6-2 to Wales' Jamie Jones. 

  16. Teenager tells of online grooming attemptpublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016

    Emma Thomas
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    A teenager from Stoke-on-Trent has told BBC Radio Stoke how she was the victim of attempted sexual grooming online. 

    Amelia's mother contacted Staffordshire Police after someone approached the 13-year-old on social media, asking for intimate photographs of her body. 

    Person using laptopImage source, PA

    Her family are now calling for parents to be educated on the dangers children face on the internet. 

    Staffordshire Police say children should be told never to send a photo of themselves, external to someone they've met online.

    Quote Message

    They were making out they were my friend, saying that I had a nice profile picture and I thought they were my friend. Then it started escalating to something worse. They said did I want to come over - I didn't even know who they were."

    Amelia, Stoke-on-Trent teenager