BBC Sport

Stoke City aren't the only club being linked with West Brom striker Saido Berahino - Everton and Crystal Palace are also reportedly considering bids.

Image source, Getty Images

The Daily Mail says the striker is "increasingly confident" of securing a deal away from the club, who, the Mail say, would prefer a sale in January rather than a summer tribunal.

The want-away striker has played just four times for Tony Pulis' side in the Premier League this season and the club could accept bids of £10m.

Read more here., external

Satnam Rana
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening, we'll be seeing the works of a man who has been making a living out of dead trees for 15 years.  

I've been seeing what Robot Cossey has been up to in Hednesford, Staffordshire and why he's been making art works there in a park. 

See more from 18:30 on BBC One.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The Staffordshire-based digger maker JCB has won a deal worth £5.5m to supply a Scottish company with 100, external new machines. 

Lomond Plant in Falkirk has purchased the models, which have been manufactured at JCB's factories in Uttoxeter and Rocester.

Image source, JCB

Tamworth Herald

A man had a lucky escape after smashing through a car windscreen, external during a Tamworth collision.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The writer Arnold Bennett, who looks set to have a statue erected in his honour in Stoke-on-Trent, was the JK Rowling of his day and his books sold in huge numbers.

He was born in the city, the son of a pawnbroker, and grew up with a terrible stammer, dreaming of escape from the grimy area.

Bennett came to London aged 21, originally to be a solicitor's clerk, but won a literary competition and never looked back. 

He would go on to write smash hit plays, self-help guides and the novels for which he's best remembered - including The Old Wives' Tale and Anna of the Five Towns. 

His novels immortalised the Potteries and his reputation as a respected English realist writer was firmly established by his death in 1931.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A Congleton man has been charged with four counts of rape by Cheshire Police. 

The force says they're alleged to have happened at an address in the town last month. 

Officers say the 32-year-old was remanded into custody after appearing before magistrates this week and is next due to appear at Chester Crown Court next month.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

You can also get an update on the latest forecast for your part of Staffordshire or Cheshire from the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You keep sending in great pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire so let's have a couple more.

Chris Broad says he took this photo of "a lonely heron fishing on a frozen lake at Central Forest Park" in Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Chris Broad

While BBC Radio Stoke's Max Mallen took this of a "bird in flight near the Boat Inn on the canal tow path in Gnosall, Staffordshire".

If you've got a photo to send in of Staffordshire or Cheshire, you can do that on email or, if you use Instagram, put it there with the tag #bbcstoke, external.

Image source, Max Mallen

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Here's a last look at our main stories this evening:

- Unions are warning planned cuts to staffing and equipment at Cheshire Fire Service will cost lives 

- A cat has been shot and killed by someone using an air rifle in Staffordshire, the second such attack on a pet in recent weeks  

- High winds have swept across Staffordshire today and, in one case, lifted a van off the road in the Peak District

Staffordshire Newsletter

The online survey on children's emergency services at Stafford's County Hospital has now closed., external

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Staffordshire County Council insists the Shire Hall building in Stafford will not be closed, despite suggestions from campaigners.  

Campaigners claim the authority, external is starting to deliberately run it down, saying the library has moved out, a coffee shop has closed and space for artists has halved. 

Lead campaigner Lisa Henderson (featured in video) says visitor numbers to the building have fallen and they fear the art gallery will be shut and it'll be turned into conference and wedding reception venue. 

But the council's deputy leader, councillor Ian Parry, told BBC Radio Stoke they have no plans to close the Shire Hall on a permanent basis. 

He added they'll reveal proposals for its future, including a remodelling of the site, in the next couple of months.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The RSPCA says it's investigating two cases of cats being shot with air rifles in the Staffordshire Moorlands area within a month. 

Image source, RSPCA

They say in one case the cat, a two-year-old called Monty (pictured), died on Christmas Eve just hours after being shot in Cheddleton near Leek. 

The RSPCA says the second incident was earlier in December and the cat needed leg surgery after being hurt with an air rifle at close range.

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Image source, Midlands Air Ambulance

The Midlands Air Ambulance is getting £1m from the government from banking fines to help pay for a new helicopter. , external

The charity, which covers Staffordshire, says it means they can now place an order for a new £7m aircraft.

The RSPCA appeal for information after a cat is shot dead with an air rifle.

BBC Travel

The A34 Lower Heath in Congleton is partially blocked near the A536 Macclesfield Road junction due to a burst water main.

High winds lifted a van off the road in the Staffordshire Peak District. 

The gusts pinned the vehicle to a bank, lifting the wheels off the ground, near Leek on Wednesday.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale have added two players to their squad this afternoon.

The experienced midfielder Chris Eagles has arrived on a short-term contract after the 31-year-old was released by League Two side Accrington Stanley this week.  

Michael Brown has also brought in Derby's 20-year-old midfielder Callum Guy on loan until the end of the season.   

Image source, Pete Norton/Getty Images

Port Vale have also let the Liverpool defender Sam Hart (pictured) return to Anfield,, external cutting his loan spell short.

Hart made 16 appearances for the Valiants.

Port Vale sign ex-Manchester United winger Chris Eagles and bring in midfielder Callum Guy on loan from Derby County.

BBC Sport

Stoke City to finish this season outside the top 10 and in the bottom-half of the Premier League table. 

That's part of the verdicts of SAM (Sports Analytics Machine), the super-computer built by Ian McHale, professor of sports analytics at the University of Salford, together with his colleague Dr Tarak Kharrat.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Sport asked SAM to predict the outcome of every Premier League match between now and the end of the season on 21 May. 

They've calculated the final Premier League table and you can see all the conclusions here on the BBC Sport website.

BBC Travel

A lane is blocked on the A50 eastbound in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent between Heron Cross and Longton due to a broken down lorry.