A mother who stamped her 21-month-old daughter to death launches an appeal against her murder conviction.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You've been sending us some of your pictures of the recent frosty weather hitting Staffordshire and Cheshire.

This first one's from Darren Littlehales who took it at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas.

Image source, Darren Littlehales

While this frosty looking bit of countryside was taken by Jenny Oliver at Kinver Edge, Staffordshire.

Keep those great photos coming in and you can do that via email or why not put them on Instagram - just add the tag #bbcstoke, external if you agree to share the picture.

Image source, Jenny Oliver

The Sentinel

Violent Tracy Cutting attacked her ex-lover with pint glasses after going to a city centre pub where she was banned, external.

Image source, The Sentinel

Lynette Horsburgh
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man stole a cathedral's 19th Century Greek icon and left a cheap Christmas toy in its place, a court has heard.

Vasilijy Apilats, 61, of Crewe, admitted he took the painting from Chester Cathedral but said he bought it for £135 from two men he believed were cathedral officials.

Image source, Andy Gill

Chester Crown Court heard The Raising of Lazarus painting is estimated to be worth £2,000 and was probably made between 1870 and 1880.

Mr Apilats denies theft.

The trial continues with the jury due to visit the cathedral.  

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A wildlife centre in Cheshire says they're being inundated with unusually high numbers of hedgehogs because of the recent cold snap. 

Staff at RSPCA Stapeley Grange, Nantwich say they are "full to the brim" after their busiest year on record for the animals. 

They say they've seen over 800 come in and have 125 hedgehogs at the moment. 

The RSPCA says the undernourished hoglets have been born too late in the season to be ready for hibernation.    

BBC Travel

There's been an accident on the A511 Horninglow Road in Burton at the junction with Victoria Crescent.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The headlines this morning include:

- The Chief Constable of Cheshire Police is being investigated by the county's police and crime commissioner following an allegation about his conduct

- Councillors in Stoke-on-Trent have followed those at Staffordshire County Council by referring plans to close community hospital beds, external to the health secretary  

- A Peak District beauty spot where Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire meet is going to have £2.4m of lottery cash spent on it

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The Chief Constable of Cheshire Police is being investigated by the county's police and crime commissioner following an allegation about his conduct. 

Commissioner David Keane has ordered an independent inquiry into the claim surrounding Simon Byrne (pictured). 

The nature of the allegation has not been disclosed by the commissioner's office.

In a statement, Mr Byrne said he was aware of the investigation but didn't know the detail of the allegation so couldn't comment at the moment. 

He added he remained "focused on my work in keeping Cheshire safe".

The latest Christmas lights have been switched on in Staffordshire and Cheshire - these ones in Fenton last night by the Stoke-on-Trent City Council Lord Mayor

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A Peak District beauty spot where Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire meet is going to have £2.4m of lottery cash spent on it. 

Image source, Jon Kelso

The Peak District National Park Authority, external says the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund will be made available to local groups over the next five years.

They say it'll go towards working on issues like protecting habitats such as hay meadows and wildlife, including the curlew, at Three Shires Head.

BBC News UK

A dedicated football sex abuse hotline has received 860 calls in its first week, the NSPCC says.

Chief executive Peter Wanless said there had been a "staggering surge" in the number of people getting in touch.

Image source, Thinkstock

A total of 15 police forces - including in Staffordshire and Cheshire - are now investigating allegations of historical child sex abuse in football.

The inquiries come after several former players made allegations of abuse against football coaches.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our top stories this morning:

- A dedicated football sex abuse hotline has received 860 calls in its first week, the NSPCC says, as police forces, including in Staffordshire and Cheshire, investigate allegations of historical child sex abuse 

- A union claims people with terminal cancer and severe disabilities in Stoke-on-Trent are losing disability benefits because of changes to government assessments 

- Councillors in Stoke-on-Trent have followed those at Staffordshire County Council by referring plans to close community hospital beds, external to the health secretary

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

If you want to get a weather forecast for Staffordshire or Cheshire at any other time you can head to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Morning everyone and it's a slightly warmer start to the day but don't be fooled - as I found out, there are some icy patches around in Stoke-on-Trent and beyond today. 

This was Hanley just before 07:30 and we'll have Charlie Slater along shortly with this morning's video weather forecast.

There'll be other updates including your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire which you can send in on email or put on Instagram (with the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share), external.

A man stole a valuable 19th Century Greek icon from Chester Cathedral and left a cheap Christmas toy in its place, a court hears.

A police officer is hospitalised after being hit by a car while dealing with a "cowardly attack" by a man threatening him with a tree branch.

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.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A pioneering service offered in Stoke-on-Trent to patients with severe strokes is now being offered around the rest of the country, external, health bosses say. 

The University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust says it involves removing clots from deep within the brain, using a three-foot-long (0.91m) wire. 

Image source, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

They say 350 patients have been treated since 2009 and add that it lowers the risk of death.

The UHNM says the treatment now being rolled out across the country.

A former probation worker admits sending money to a nephew fighting in Syria, but denies knowing he was with Al-Qaeda.

Tamworth Herald

A police officer who was seriously injured after chasing a suspect along the A5 had just stopped a HGV lorry which had been stolen and had fake number plates, external.  

Image source, Tamworth Herald