Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A final look for us at our main stories today and they include:

- Staffordshire Police has confirmed it's investigating an allegation of election fraud in relation to the Stoke Central by-election

- "An ocean" of rubbish has been fly-tipped in woodland in Staffordshire

- A betting shop has been robbed at knifepoint in Stoke-on-Trent, external

The car park in Stafford borders marshland on one side.

Express and Star

Around 100 jobs are at risk at the recently merged Stafford College, external as bosses look to make multi-million pound savings, it can today be revealed.

Image source, Express and Star

Relive the action as Nottingham Forest edge out Aston Villa, after Newcastle return to the top of the Championship.

Liam Barnes
BBC News Online

Train conductors have called off balloting for strike action on London Midland's services.

Rail union RMT said it was speaking to its 523 members over plans to hire security contractors on the company's trains.

Image source, PA

London Midland told the union it stopped using contractors last month.

RMT said the decision was "a major victory", while London Midland said it was pleased passengers would not be affected by "unnecessary" strikes.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

If you want up-to-date forecasts for your part of Staffordshire or Cheshire at any other time, head to the BBC Weather website.

BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Mrs Penberthy Photos

If you become a BBC Weather Watcher, not only will you keep us updated with the forecast from where you live, you can also upload photos to the website.

These two are from Mrs Penberthy Photos in Oakamoor, Staffordshire and Sky Watcher in Wybunbury, Cheshire.

Image source, Sky Watcher

Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Staffordshire Police has confirmed it's investigating an allegation of election fraud in relation to the Stoke Central by-election. 

The statement from the force reads simply: "We have received a report of an allegation of election fraud relating to the Stoke Central by-election. Officers will be investigating the circumstances."

The force has yet to confirm the nature of the claims made or which of the 10 candidates the claim relates to.

The city council, which will manage polling day on 23 February, says no objections were received prior to the nomination deadline, meaning all 10 candidates names will appear on the ballot paper. 

You can see a full list of the 10 candidates here on the BBC website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A lane that's been shut on the exit slip road of the M6 northbound at junction 15 for Stoke-on-Trent will remain closed until tonight, police say. , external

It's been closed after a lorry overturned and Central Motorway Police Group say they'll then shut the whole slip road tonight to recover the vehicle.

Image source, CMPG

They add that the driver only suffered minor injuries, external.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Drivers are being warned not to try to go through flood water on a lorry park in Stafford. 

Image source, Stafford Borough Council

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service had to rescue a man from a car, external after it got stuck this morning on the Doxey Road site. 

The borough council say the area is prone to flooding due to the neighbouring marsh land and that is why the lorry park at Doxey is shut., external

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live

"An ocean" of rubbish has been fly-tipped in woodland in Staffordshire. 

It's on woodland between Madeley and Betley at Bowsey Wood, which is owned by the Forestry Commission.   

The Deputy Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Simon White, says the rubbish, from all across England, includes surgical waste like bandages, dressings, latex gloves.  

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Here are the top stories we're looking at this afternoon:

- A dog has died after it was found emaciated, bleeding and tied to a road sign in Crewe  

- About 100 jobs are "at risk" at two colleges in Staffordshire, operators have announced, as part of £2m savings measures

- Train conductors have called off balloting for strike action on London Midland's service

BBC Travel

An overturned lorry's caused a lane to be shut on the northbound exit slip road of the M6 at junction 15, near Stoke-on-Trent.

BBC Two

The Potteries' answer to the Great British Bake Off returns for a second series tonight. 

Ten home potters come back to Stoke-on-Trent and compete to become the new champion of British pottery.

The judges, master-potter Keith Brymer Jones and ceramic-artist Kate Malone, scrutinise their work over three challenges. 

The Great Pottery Throwdown is back on BBC Two tonight from 20:00.

BBC North West Tonight

Women in Cheshire have picked up tools and taken to a shed to learn DIY , external- but also to get support for loneliness.  

They are taking part in an experiment run by Age UK, which has previously helped men to learn new skills and offer them company.  

Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

The number of people wanting to get on to a gaming degree at Staffordshire University, external has increased by 64%.  

There were only 55 students 12 years ago - now there are now 800 students across 29 courses.  

Dr Bobbie Fletcher from Staffordshire University says the West Midlands has the greatest number of games companies and the region could be called the "games engine" of the UK.  

Burton Mail

People living in and around Burton are being asked to change their waste disposal habits as council chiefs look to save hundreds of thousands of pounds, external per year with a new policy.

Image source, Stuart Wilde/Burton Mail

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

An investigation is being carried out after a cycle route in the Staffordshire Moorlands was blocked by a huge pile of waste, dumped by fly-tippers. 

Hundreds of plastic bottles, bags, and cans are part of the rubbish on the Biddulph Valley Way near Knypersley.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council says it's working with the owner of the land to get the rubbish removed "as quickly as possible". 

Mick Burns, who uses the route every day, told BBC Radio Stoke he discovered it at the weekend and was amazed at the scale of the waste.

BBC Midlands Today

This lunchtime on Midlands Today, a small corner of ancient countryside in Staffordshire could be changed forever, if plans for a new road go ahead. 

Image source, Google

The route is one of several options for a new industrial park, but it would cut through a piece of land which the National Trust says is of historical importance. 

We'll have more from 13:30 on BBC One.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man has suffered serious injuries after being hit by a motorbike, external in Cannock.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say the pedestrian was on John Street, at the junction of Cannock Road, on Monday evening when the collision happened. 

Officers say the local man, in his mid 30s, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he's said to be in a critical condition. 

The force says the motorcyclist, an 18-year-old man from Cannock, suffered minor injuries to his head and back and was taken to hospital as a precaution.