BBC Local Live: Stoke & Staffordshire on Friday 13 January 2017

Summary

Tristram Hunt: 'Jeremy Corbyn not the reason I'm quitting'
Stafford's County Hospital: Consultant-led maternity 'not possible'
Baby born in back of police car after breakdown
Raccoon dog rescued from trap 'will make a full recovery'
Updates from Friday 13 January 2017

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

Met Office yellow weather warning in the West Midlandspublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice remains in the West Midlands.
The Met Office says:, external "A cold north to northwesterly airstream will maintain the risk of wintry showers through Friday night and Saturday morning. However, amounts of snow are likely to be very variable with some places remaining dry."
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
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’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Watch: This afternoon's weatherpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
After a snowy morning, here's how the afternoon is now looking.
You can also keep up-to-date with the BBC Weather website.
Media caption,
Alex Hamilton
All waste and recycling centres now open in Staffordshirepublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
All the recycling centres in Staffordshire are now open, the county council says, after earlier saying some weren't open due to the snow.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
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’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Watch: Children sledging in the snow in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
The snow's brought bad road conditions and school closures in Staffordshire and Cheshire this morning - but also enjoyment for some children in Stoke-on-Trent.
Here are some of the youngsters sledging down the slopes of this hill in Packmoor.
Media caption,
Children sledging in Packmoor, Stoke-on-Trent.
Jogger dies after being hit by carpublished at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A jogger has died in Tamworth after being hit by a car this morning. , external
Staffordshire Police say a grey Audi collided with a man who was out running on the A51 Tamedrive at around 07:00.
The force says the jogger was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tristram Hunt: MP brings 'widespread expertise' to museum jobpublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
BBC Politics
The Victoria and Albert Museum says Tristram Hunt, who's quitting as a Stoke-on-Trent MP, would bring "widespread expertise" to the museum.
The former TV historian was elected to represent Stoke-on-Trent in 2010 and was re-elected in 2015 with a majority of 5,179. UKIP came second.
Image source, AFP
In a letter to local party members, he wrote that few jobs would have made him stand down as an MP but the V&A post is "just that".
The museum's chairman Nicholas Coleridge said: "He has a highly compelling mixture of experience across public life, the arts, history, education and academia, and knows our collections well from his writing and broadcasting."
'Not possible' to return maternity services to Stafford's hospitalpublished at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
A review into whether maternity services could return to Stafford's hospital has concluded it would not be possible to safely bring them back.
Consultant-led services were moved from the former Stafford Hospital to the Royal Stoke Hospital in January 2015.
The government asked NHS England last year to undertake a review into the matter after recommendations from administrators of the former Stafford Hospital (now County Hospital) trust.
Today NHS England says it's concluded "it would not be possible to reinstate and safely maintain a financially viable consultant-led obstetric service at County Hospital".
Snow shuts more than 100 schools in Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
More than 100 schools had to be shut this morning in Staffordshire and Cheshire because of the snow.
The highest number was in Staffordshire, with the county council listing 56 as shut., external
Stoke-on-Trent had 47, external with five in Cheshire East. , external
Some schools said they might reopen this afternoon after taking a decision on the weather conditions.
Air ambulance ready for take-off... After some shovellingpublished at 10:33 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
The air ambulance team have had a busy morning getting the helicopter ready for take-off this morning.
Here's what it looked like first thing.
Image source, Midlands Air Ambulance
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
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’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Image source, Midlands Air Ambulance
Three things you wanted to knowpublished at 10:33 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
You have been using Your Questions to ask about the West Midlands. Here are some of our answers.
Read More
Weather: Waste service 'temporarily suspended' in Newcastle-under-Lymepublished at 10:25 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Bin collections have been temporarily suspended in the Newcastle-under-Lyme area of Staffordshire due to the weather conditions.
The borough council add that they are "unlikely" to get to the Logggerheads and Ashley area today., external
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
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’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Tristram Hunt quits: 'Frustration' with Labour after 2015 defeatpublished at 10:21 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
The Stoke-on-Trent MP Tristram Hunt, who's announced he's quitting as an MP, has sent a letter to local Labour party members saying he had "no desire to rock the boat".
The former shadow education secretary insisted anyone who interpreted his decision to quit that way is "just plain wrong".
Image source, AFP
However, in the letter, Mr Hunt said he had become frustrated over how Labour should respond to the shockwaves to have hit mainstream politics.
He wrote: "As I enter a new role as a public servant, I will be leaving partisan politics behind me and will work impartially as a museum director."
"I am sorry to put you, the party and the people of Stoke-on-Trent through a by-election."
Waste and recycling centres shut by snow in Staffordshirepublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Several recycling centres in Staffordshire won't be open today, the county council says.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
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’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Travel: Gritter used to treat M6 in Cheshire after oil spillagepublished at 09:57 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
A gritter's being used to treat the M6 northbound near Crewe this morning after a large oil spill.
Highways England says the spillage happened after an earlier incident between junctions 16 and 17.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
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’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Tristram Hunt standing down as Stoke-on-Trent MPpublished at 09:48 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Breaking
Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent
The Stoke-on-Trent MP Tristram Hunt has confirmed to the BBC that he's standing down as an MP to become the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Image source, PA
He says an announcement will be made later. Asked when he would actually stand down, he said he would talk to his local party next Friday.
Asked whether he was quitting because of his frustration with Jeremy Corbyn, he said: "It's about the opportunity to have one of the greatest museum jobs in the world."
More than 1,400 homes without power in Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
There are 716 homes without power this morning in the Blythe Bridge area of Staffordshire now., external
Western Power Distribution says it's looking to restore them by 10:30.
That's on top of the 722 homes without power in the Biddulph, Kidsgrove and Congleton area., external
Travel: A534 closed by crash in Tamworthpublished at 09:35 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
The A453 Bonehill Road in Tamworth's shut this morning due to a crash.
Police reckon the closure will be for a "few hours" - keep up to date with BBC Travel.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
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’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
'Very hazardous' road conditions in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshirepublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
The roads in parts of Stoke-on-Trent are "very hazardous" this morning, say police, due to the wintry weather.
One Staffordshire Police unit tweeted this photo of a crash in Birches Head., external
Image source, Staffordshire Police
Stoke-on-Trent buses being diverted due to snowpublished at 09:21 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
First Potteries bus says some of its services in and around Stoke-on-Trent this morning are being diverted due to the overnight snowfall.
The company is warning its customers to expect delays because of the "hazardous conditions".
There's a full list of affected routes on its website here., external
Your pictures: Snow fall across Staffordshirepublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Here's a great picture of the snow falling in Audley, Staffordshire, from Duncan Richardson, which he tweeted to @BBCRadioStoke., external
Image source, Duncan Richardson
While David Shingler tweeted this from Sneyd Street, Stoke-on-Trent, saying the snow "looks amazing".
Image source, David Shingler
And Sam Heywood-Cox tweeted this from Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme - saying the snow there is starting now to turn slushy.
Image source, Sam Heywood-Cox