Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A look at our top stories this afternoon:

- Almost a third of patients were not seen within the government's four-hour A&E target at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in November, the latest figures reveal, external

- A fire this morning at a garage in Newcastle-under-Lyme in which a Land Rover crashed into the building is now being treated as arson by police  

- A Christmas lights display on a house in Crewe has made more than £22,500 for charity this year, external

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Two hospitals in Staffordshire and Cheshire failed to meet their waiting time targets in November, according to the latest NHS figures, external. 

It comes as both the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Leighton Hospital in Crewe recorded an increase in the number of patients. 

The Royal Stoke had more than 14,000 patients come into its A&E department in November, with a further 4,500 attending the County Hospital in Stafford.

Across the two hospitals, 76% of patients were seen within four hours - but that figure drops to 67% when you look at the Royal Stoke alone. 

Meanwhile Leighton Hospital, Crewe saw almost 5,000 patients with 90.9% seen within four hours.

The government's target is for hospitals to achieve the four-hour target in 95% of cases.

The Sentinel

Work to improve one of the city's busiest roads will start , externalnext week.

Image source, The Sentinel

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The gritters are back out in Staffordshire this afternoon,, external the county council says, as snow is starting to fall in parts of the county. 

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

The authority says it has 40 gritters and 12 snow ploughs in case conditions turn severe.

It says gritters are treating "primary routes" this afternoon ahead of rush hour.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A fire this morning at a garage in Newcastle-under-Lyme is now being treated as arson by police. 

Staffordshire Police say the blaze started after a Land Rover crashed into the bottom of a metal staircase at Pool Street Garage at around 04:00.

Image source, Google

The fire then spread and damaged seven other vehicles. 

Officers say they now believe the Land Rover was deliberately set on fire - their forensic team has recovered the vehicle and are examining it.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City striker Peter Crouch has paid tribute to the former England manager Graham Taylor, who has died at the age of 72.

Crouch says he'll "always be thankful" because Taylor gave him his Premier League debut when they were at Aston Villa.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Compare the temperature where you are with more than 50 cities around the world, including some of the hottest and coldest inhabited places. 

Here in the West Midlands it's certainly not as cold as some places.

It's nothing compared to Baker Lake in Canada where it’s a rather nippy -37C and Moscow -8C. 

Click here to compare your local area to the rest of the world.

The wintry conditions have led to the closure this afternoon of the A537/A54 Cat and Fiddle road in Cheshire.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City's chief executive Tony Scholes says the club won't see any benefit from former midfielder Steven N'Zonzi making a big transfer deal this month.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke sold N'Zonzi two seasons ago for £7m to Sevilla but he's now reportedly being chased by Manchester City, Chelsea and Juventus for £25m, external.

However Stoke won't see any money from such a deal because there was no sell-on clause in the Sevilla transfer.

Crewe Chronicle

A university student who created a magical Christmas lights spectacular in memory of his beloved sister, has doubled his fundraising target and raised over £22,000 in one month., external

Nicola Beckford
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime, gritters are out on our roads with falling temperatures expected to bring snow to some parts of the region this afternoon. 

Crews worked through the night, including in Staffordshire, to make sure major routes kept moving in this morning's rush hour. 

We'll be reacting to the latest situation and looking at what the next few hours may bring, on BBC One from 13:30.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Several cars at a garage in Newcastle-under-Lyme have been damaged by a fire, external this morning, which started after a Land Rover crashed.

Staffordshire Police say they were called by the fire service just after 04:00 to Pool Street Garage where the cars were "well alight". 

Image source, Google

They say they were quickly put out and say the blaze started after the Land Rover collided with the bottom of a metal staircase at the garage and spread to around five other vehicles. 

The force says they're now investigating why the crash happened.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our headlines this lunchtime include:

- Almost a third of patients were not seen within the government's four-hour A&E target at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in November, the latest figures reveal, external

- Probation officers in Staffordshire are supervising up to 80 offenders at any one time - leaving the public at greater risk, a watchdog has warned

- More police patrols are going to be put on in a Staffordshire village after a "spike" in the number of burglaries, external

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

The snow has arrived in Staffordshire - it is currently snowing across the Staffordshire Moorlands. 

Flakes are coming down in the village of Flash and over the Roaches - picture from the webcam at Flash Bar Stores.

Image source, Flash Bar Stores

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

People in east Cheshire are being warned of snow showers through today and into tomorrow. 

The Met Office has issues a yellow weather warning, external for the north west and includes Cheshire East on its list of affected areas. 

It says there could be icy stretches on untreated roads and pavements and drivers may see more disruption tomorrow from further snow showers.

Image source, Cheshire East Council

Emergency repairs are taking place in Congleton today to repair a water main.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

The morning's turned more cloudy and rain's spreading in - here's a look ahead at this afternoon's forecast.

You can also keep yourself updated at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Probation officers are supervising up to 80 offenders at any one time - leaving the public at greater risk, a watchdog warns.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

Some probation officers in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are supervising up to 80 offenders at any one time, leaving the public potentially at greater risk, external, a watchdog has warned.

HM Chief Inspector of Probation Dame Glenys Stacey, who oversaw their latest inspection in 2016, highlighted large caseloads in a report on services in the area. 

Image source, Getty Images

In 2014, the government replaced probation trusts in England and Wales with 21 rehabilitation companies, made up of private firms and charities. 

Dame Glenys said the two organisations providing probation services in Staffordshire and Stoke need to improve the quality of their work. 

She added that rehabilitation firm was "making progress" and said it was "delivering some good results in places".

The Reducing Reoffending Partnership, which runs the services, says it welcomes the report and it'll use the findings to "strengthen its work".

BBC Weather

Some tricky driving conditions could be caused by rain turning to snow across the West Midlands this afternoon, evening and into tomorrow morning.

There could be an impact on schools, travel and services.

Keep across your local radio station for updated news.