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
Plans have been lodged to build a "huge" housing estate in the open countryside on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent., external
Image source, The Sentinel
Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Police are investigating claims by the Labour Party that UKIP leader Paul Nuttall rented a house to mislead by-election voters about his home address.
On Wednesday, Labour said Mr Nuttall, a candidate for Stoke-on-Trent Central MP, used a house he had yet to stay in as his address on nomination papers.
Image source, Getty ImagesNow political website Guido Fawkes has reported, external Mr Nuttall "spent the night on a mattress on the floor" of the house.
UKIP said it was "entirely sanguine" all electoral law was "complied with".
You can read more about the Stoke Central by-election and a full list of candidates here.
Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
A 38ft (11.6m) high straw Peter Rabbit sculpture in Cheshire has been badly burnt in a fire.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service say they were called to Snugbury's ice cream factory in Hurleston, Nantwich just after 17:30 yesterday., external
The burnt-out Peter Rabbit sculpture
The firm says the sculpture took about 1,000 man hours to create and was to mark 150 years, external since Peter Rabbit's creator Beatrix Potter was born.
BBC Radio Stoke's John Acres says all that is left is the metal mesh sculpture, the straw covering has been completely destroyed.
The fire service says there'll now be an investigation into how it started.
Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Our top stories this morning include:
- Police are investigating claims by the Labour Party that UKIP leader Paul Nuttall rented a house to mislead by-election voters about his home address
- A man from Kidsgrove says he's being made homeless after his grandparents died over Christmas
- Firefighters have tackled a blaze involving a large, straw Peter Rabbit sculpture , externalat Snugbury's ice cream factory in Nantwich last night
Chairman Ben Robinson says he is "disappointed" by the turnout from Burton fans for their home matches this season.
Read More
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
A dry and bright start and here's a look at what's expected through the morning.
The BBC Weather website also has the latest forecasts which are regularly updated.
Charlie Slater
You have been using Your Questions to ask about the West Midlands. Here are some of our answers.
Read More
BBC Travel
There's slow traffic on the A511 Tutbury Road in Tutbury at the Anslow Lane junction, in the roadworks area.
It looks as if there is nothing too unusual happening on the roads today besides the general rush hour traffic.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Hello everyone, the skies are pretty clear this morning over Stoke-on-Trent and it's been a dry start to Friday - this was Fegg Hayes just before 07:30.
Charlie Slater will bring us this morning's weather shortly and there'll be news, sport, travel and other updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire through the day.
I'm also planning to share more of your pictures of the area so, if you've taken a recent one, send it on email or put it on Instagram, with the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share it., external
UKIP said it was "entirely sanguine" all electoral law had been "complied with".
Read MoreWe'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.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
One of Danny Pugh's former team-mates thinks the midfielder can still "do a job" for Port Vale at the age of 34.
Image source, Pete Norton/Getty ImagesPugh signed for Vale on transfer deadline day on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Andy Griffin played with him at Stoke City and reckons Pugh still has what it takes to play at League One level.
Quote MessageYou're talking about a player who really looks after himself. As far as I'm aware, I don't think he's had any really, really bad injuries in terms of ankles, knees and the Danny Pugh I played with was an exceptionally fit player."
Andy Griffin, Former team-mate
Jobless people across Tamworth could be forced to travel further to find work after plans have been announced which could, external see the town's job centre closed and merged with others.
Image source, Tamworth Herald
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Plans to bore two long holes under parts of Newcastle-under-Lyme i, externaln order to produce geothermal energy will be discussed this evening.
The aim by applicants, GT Energy UK, is to extract hot water from under the earth's surface.
This would then be passed through heat exchangers above ground to produce electricity.
The proposals, which go before the borough council's planning committee from 18:30, external, would see engineers bore more than 1km (0.6 mile) down.
If approved, one hole would go under Basford and the other under Wolstanton and Porthill.
BBC Midlands Today
A small corner of ancient countryside in Staffordshire could be changed forever, if plans for a new road go ahead. , external
Moseley Old Hall, in Featherstone, was where King Charles II hid, external from Oliver Cromwell's troops after he fled the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
Report on Moseley Old Hall on Midlands Today
But a new road could be built a few hundred yards from the site as part of a wider project, external for a new industrial park next to HMP Oakwood, on the site of an old munitions factory.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A betting shop has been robbed at knifepoint in Stoke-on-Trent., external
Staffordshire Police say it happened on Tuesday evening at the Coral store on Werrington Road, Bucknall.
Image source, GoogleThe force says two men walked in, threatened two members of staff with a knife, and made off with cash.
Officers say the shop workers weren't hurt.
Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this evening, we'll hear how there's an appeal in Staffordshire for more foster families to help care for asylum seeking children.
At the moment there are more than 80 such youngsters being cared for in the county as the M6 corridor is a regular dropping-off spot for traffickers.
We'll hear some of their stories from 18:30 on BBC One.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The glistening cobweb in this photo was taken by Robin Silvester in Lower Penn, Staffordshire, who shared the picture with us:
Image source, Robin SilvesterPenny Sargeant took this lovely shot of a sunrise at Blithfield Reservoir between Cannock and Uttoxeter.
Image source, Penny SargeantIf you want to share a photo you've taken of the area recently, send it in on email or, if you use Instagram, put it there with the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share it, external.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra defender, Ben Nugent, says the mindset of the players in the team has to be completely focused on winning games.
Image source, crewealex.netThe Alex head into this weekend's game at Exeter with just two wins from their last 24 matches.
Quote MessageWe've just been lacking that winning edge. I think we just need to just get our heads around the fact that now we need points, we need to just win games, no matter how, just win."
Ben Nugent, Crewe Alexandra defender
BBC Travel
There's very slow traffic on the A34 Queensway in both directions in Stafford around the A518 Lammascote Road junction, due to an accident.
