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
Plans to add an extra lane to a stretch of one of the region's busiest roads have moved a step closer, external – after the project was awarded £2m.
Image source, The Sentinel
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
This morning's headlines include:
- Nine police forces, including Cheshire and Staffordshire, are now looking into allegations of historical child sex abuse in football
- Ambulance services covering Staffordshire and Cheshire lost thousands of hours to queuing outside hospitals last year, a BBC investigation has found
- A police officer was seriously injured in Staffordshire when he was hit by a passing car while being threatened with a tree branch
Lucy Martin
BBC Weather
A frosty start but it might start to thaw - here's my look at this morning's weather for the West Midlands.
You can get latest weather forecasts from the BBC Weather website.
Lucy Martin
BBC Travel
A lane is blocked on the A50 westbound in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent at the Tesco Roundabout, because of an accident.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Morning everyone, the frost seemed to double-down this morning across Stoke-on-Trent for a second start to the day - this was Shelton just before 07:30.
We'll find out if there's any sign of warmth in our morning weather forecast shortly and I'll also bring you news, sport, travel and other updates through today.
I'm also planning to showcase more of your photos of Staffordshire and Cheshire so please send those in on email or put them 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.
Some of the BBC Weather Watchers have braved the icy cold morning to take these photos.
The first was taken by Jon in Barlaston and the second in Congleton by Dawn Treader.
Image source, Jon
Image source, Dawn Treader
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking to raise council tax by 3% next year as part of its budget proposals.
That’s an extra £24 on a Band A property, and will be used to pay for social care for adults and children.
202 jobs are set to be lost, and 69 vacancies not filled. 100 jobs are going from the council’s much-trumpeted co-operative working scheme to help troubled families in the city.
But council leaders say they’re also recruiting 230 carers to look after people in their own homes, and this is a budget focussed on protecting the most vulnerable.
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
The emergency services in Cheshire have recreated their own mannequin challenge, external, where people freeze in the same position, to highlight their Christmas drink-drive campaign.
Take a look here.
Cheshire Emergency Services do the 'mannequin challenge' to highlight drink-driving
BBC News England
Former Crewe football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with child sex offences, the Crown Prosecution Service say.
The 62-year-old is accused of eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14.
The Crown Prosecution Service say it had received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police relating to allegations of historical abuse.
He is scheduled to appear before South Cheshire Magistrates' Court on 14 December.
Will austerity put paid to local councils playing to the gallery?
Read More
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The latest stories this Tuesday evening:
- Former football coach Barry Bennell, 62, has been charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14, the Crown Prosecution Service says
- Council tax is set to rise by 3% in Stoke-on-Trent. 200 jobs will also be lost at the city council
- A predatory sex offender who drugged two "young and vulnerable" teenage girls before having sex with them is jailed
BBC News England
Former football coach Barry Bennell, 62, has been charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14, the Crown Prosecution Service says.
We'll have more on this as it develops.
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
Four bunnies - three males and one female, all around five weeks old - have been found at the front door of a house in Curzon Place in Rugeley. They had been placed in two cat carriers.
The rabbits, who have all been treated for being underweight, are now being cared for at the RSPCA’s Burton branch.
They have been named Elmo, Ernie, Walter and Dory.
Image source, RSPCAQuote MessageWe don’t know where they came from and it is extremely concerning that someone would think that it is acceptable to dump animals in this way. These four baby rabbits were extremely vulnerable out in the cold on their own.”
Nicola Johnson, RSPCA Inspector
Anyone with information about how the rabbits came to be dumped should contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.
Listen to live BBC local radio commentary from the second round of the FA Cup.
Read More
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
A number of Stoke City players, including Jack Butland and Xherdan Shaquiri, have paid tribute on social media to footballers killed in a plane crash in Colombia.
Three days of national mourning have been declared in Brazil for the 76 victims of a plane crash which killed most of the Brazilian football team, Chapecoense.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
BBC Sport
The football child sex abuse scandal is one of the biggest crises in the history of the Football Association, says chairman Greg Clarke (pictured).
Former Crewe player, Andy Woodward, was the first to speak out about the abuse he suffered as a child by convicted paedophile and former Crewe coach Barry Bennell.
Image source, BBC SportGreg Clarke, FA Chairman
A predatory sex offender who drugged two "young and vulnerable" teenage girls before having sex with them is jailed.
Read More
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra manager, Steve Davis, says the club's involvement in football's sex abuse scandal is not an excuse for poor form on the pitch.
He's been speaking to BBC Radio Stoke.
Steve Davis on players being aware of club scrutiny
Temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing overnight.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
