Detective thought he'd never see rapist behind bars
Pair face no charge over Amazon depot fire
Firm look for public help to rebuild burnt down rabbit sculpture
Saido Berahino: Striker served eight-week FA suspension - Mark Hughes
Updates from Friday 3 February 2017
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.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has this afternoon confirmed Saido Berahino will be in his squad to face Everton on Wednesday.
Berahino joined the club earlier this month from West Bromwich Albion for £12m on a five-and-a-half-year deal.
Image source, Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A man needed 11 stitches for a head wound he suffered in an attack in Burton.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police says the 31-year-old victim was in Gordon Street on Sunday morning, walking home from the town centre, when it happened.
Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today
This evening on Midlands Today - it's been a weekend of controversy and confusion about who the American president, Donald Trump, wants to ban from travelling to his country.
Image source, PAHe says it's to protect Americans, but more than more than 1.3 million people have signed a petition urging the government to call off his state visit to the UK.
There are anti-Trump protests this evening in places including Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Birmingham - we'll have more from 18:30 on BBC One.
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough turns down the vacant manager's job at Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.
Read More
Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather
You can also keep up-to-date with the latest forecasts for Staffordshire and Cheshire on the BBC Weather website.
The latest West Midlands weather forecast
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Police say they had to abandon a chase of a car in Staffordshire "because of how dangerously it was being driven".
Staffordshire Police say their officers reported a stolen BMW was being driven "erratically" on 21 January towards Talke Pits on the A34 but gave up the pursuit.
Image source, GoogleThey say a driver then reported that their car had been hit at the junction of the A34 and Congleton Road.
The force says the 32-year-old woman behind the wheel was shaken by the collision but wasn't hurt.
Officers say the BMW was later found abandoned in Oaktree Lane after driving through Church Street.
BBC Travel
Disruption to trains between Rugeley Trent Valley and Lichfield Trent Valley's expected to last until the end of service, National Rail Enquiries says.
Get the latest on the BBC Travel website.
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Staffordshire Labour councillors have rejected , externalan "unacceptable" council tax hike of 4.95%.
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
Here's something you don't see every day - dogs being given first aid (albeit some of them may be made of plastic). , external
Image source, Staffordshire SARBut that's exactly what volunteers with Staffordshire Search and Rescue Team did at the weekend.
The organisation says their search dogs have to work on many different types of terrain and can get injuries from falls, bites and bramble scratches.
Image source, Staffordshire SAR
BBC Nottingham Sport
Nigel Clough has ended discussions with Nottingham Forest and will stay on at Burton Albion.
Image source, Empics
BBC Sport
Market Drayton Town have taken the unusual step of signing one of their players to a contract.
The club, who play in the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South, have been inspired by Cohen Bramall's move from Hednesford to Arsenal and say they need "to protect the club's interests when big name teams come knocking on the door to take our best players".
Image source, Market Drayton TownBramall played for Market Drayton early in his career and the club say they want to build on their "reputation as a club that builds young talent".
They believe winger 19-year-old Shaquille Whittingham is "one to watch for the future".
Quote MessageThere is a huge financial commitment to contracting players at this level but there is a contract for everyone at the club who can really show us their potential week in week out."
Rupert Dyke, Market Drayton Town Vice Chairman
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Here are a couple more photos from the many you've sent in of Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Lynsey Pace posted this on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page, external, saying it shows a foggy Rudyard Lake.
Image source, Lynsey PaceWhile Paul Guest shared this on Instagram of a sunset over Northwood with two silhouetted magpies in a tree.
If you want to share a photo you've taken in Staffordshire or Cheshire, you can do that via email or post on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share it, external.
Image source, Paul GuestFive out of eight shops searched hiding suspected illegal tobacco products.
Read MoreBBC Nottingham Sport
Sky reporting that Nigel Clough has turned down the Forest job...
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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’.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Our top stories this evening include:
- One of the victims of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash has said she would "be lying if I said I didn't consider suicide" after the accident
- Three people are in hospital after a car overturned outside a cemetery in Stoke-on-Trent, external
- Newcastle-under-Lyme strongman Eddie Hall says he's cemented his place in the strongman world by winning the British title for a fourth time in a row
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says the next few days will be crucial for the football club.
Image source, crewealex.netThe manager says he is hoping to bring in some new players before the transfer window shuts tomorrow and admits there's a lot of work to be done.
Quote MessageWe'll be working literally every hour, it's a big few days for this football club and, we've got enough quality, but one or two new faces would be welcome
David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Ritchie Rich used Your Questions to ask: "There are oatcakes in other parts of the UK, Scotland and Yorkshire - which one came first, Staffordshire's or the others?"
Well, for the Staffordshire oatcake, this BBC article says "there are in fact records as early as the 17th Century of the oatcake in Staffordshire".
So the question is, how far back do the others go?
Well, the "Welcome to Yorkshire" website pointed me to their earliest reference as being the 18th Century, external.
However, before people in Staffordshire start celebrating, I've found two websites , externalsaying the creation of Scottish oatcakes date, external "as far back as the 14th Century".
What do you want to know about Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire? Ask us here and your question could be making the news.
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Newcastle-under-Lyme strongman Eddie Hall says he's cemented his place in the strongman world by winning the British title for a fourth time in a row.
Eddie Hall on his "lifelong ambition" to be the World's Strongest Man
The 30-stone, 29-year-old, from Clayton, says he's now looking to win European's Strongest Man in April.
But he's told BBC Radio Stoke his main aim this year is to win the World's Strongest Man for the first time as it's his "lifelong ambition".
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale have signed the Queens Park Rangers winger Olamide Shodipo on loan for the rest of the season. , external
Image source, Ian Walton/Getty ImagesThe 19-year-old, who's made 14 first team appearances this campaign, has also played twice for the Republic of Ireland's Under-21 side.
Meanwhile, Vale goalkeeper Jak Alnwick is expected to have his £250,000 move to Glasgow Rangers confirmed later today.
