Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our top stories this morning include:

- Summer holidays could be cut for many school pupils in Stoke-on-Trent under new plans from the city council

- A huge pile of waste has been fly-tipped on a cycle path in the Staffordshire Moorlands

- A woman's been left "extremely shaken" after police say a man tried to carjack her vehicle in a Staffordshire village, external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Time now for more of your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire and this first one, of a slightly frosty Norton Canes, comes from Dave Beeson.

Image source, Dave Beeson

While Helen Morgan shared this photo on Instagram of "gorgeous colour one evening" on Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.

You can send your pictures in of Staffordshire or Cheshire on email or, if you use Instagram, put them there, adding the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share it, external.

Image source, Helen Morgan

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Campaigners from Staffordshire have travelled to Westminster today as MPs discuss controversial, external "shared spaces" for drivers and pedestrians in urban areas. 

Such schemes are already in place in locations including Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and Leek.

Shared spaces try to make drivers take more care by removing traffic signs, pedestrian crossings and even kerbs. 

Concerns have been raised over safety with campaigner Sarah Gayton from Leek raising issues over how blind people use them.

The Department for Transport has previously said it is up to local authorities to decide if such schemes are suitable taking "into account the needs of the whole community, particularly disabled people". 

The Women and Equalities Select Committee has been looking into the issue, external and today will hear evidence from Transport Minister Andrew Jones.

People in our area are being warned there could be gale-force winds on Friday., external

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning from 06:00 on the day, saying there could be gusts of around 50-60mph.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

The rain's been slowly clearing away this morning - here's the forecast for your afternoon.

The BBC Weather website also has regularly updated forecasts if you want one at another time.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe have signed Scunthorpe striker Jonny Margetts and Middlesbrough midfielder Callum Cooke on loan until the end of the season.

Image source, Rex Features

Margetts has played two league games for the Iron since arriving from Lincoln City in August.

Crewe will be the 23-year-old's seventh club since January 2016, having had loan spells with Stockport, Southport and Altrincham while at Tranmere.

Cooke, 19, is yet to play first-team game for Middlesbrough.

BBC Radio Stoke

A huge pile of waste has been fly-tipped on a cycle path in the Staffordshire Moorlands. 

BBC Radio Stoke's John Acres has been to the site on the Biddulph Valley Way and says it looks to be several bales of recycled waste.  

It was found on Saturday morning, say Staffordshire Police, who cordoned off the waste with police tape. 

They say it's now with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and we've asked them what they're going to do with it - they've yet to come back with a response.  

A day many Stoke City fans will want to know about, as BBC Archive tweets to mark the birthday of the wizard of the dribble himself, Sir Stanley Matthews.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport

Burnley midfielder Michael Kightly has joined Burton Albion on loan until the end of the season.  

Image source, Empics

The 31-year-old has made just nine appearances in all competitions this season for the Clarets, starting just once in the Premier League.  

Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The headlines this morning include:

- Summer holidays could be cut for many school pupils in Stoke-on-Trent under new plans from the city council

- Some Virgin Trains and CrossCountry services through Staffordshire and Cheshire will help pilot an "overhaul" of the ticketing system, under a trial scheme to simplify fares 

- Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra and Burton Albion all added to their squads as the January transfer window came to a close last night

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Summer holidays could be cut for many school pupils in Stoke-on-Trent under new plans from the city council. 

The authority is proposing reducing the current six weeks to five and adding the extra week to the October half-term holiday from 2018-19.

Image source, Getty Images

The council's written to parents, staff and governors asking for their views on the option of the change as well as keeping things as they are. 

Their consultation is set to end on 17 February.

Brian Milligan
Personal finance reporter

Some Virgin Trains and CrossCountry services through Staffordshire and Cheshire will help pilot an "overhaul" of the ticketing system, under a trial scheme to simplify fares.

Image source, Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, says the 16 million fares currently on offer are "baffling" for passengers.

It wants to ensure passengers are offered the cheapest possible fares.

The trial from May will particularly benefit people travelling between Scotland and south-west England - including on some Virgin Trains services on the West Coast Mainline.

CrossCountry Trains, an operator taking part in the trials, may eventually offer savings on other routes as well.  

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport

Port Vale have signed midfielder Danny Pugh on a permanent deal and Celtic goalkeeper Leonardo Fasan on loan until the end of the season.

Image source, Rex Features

Former Stoke City, Preston and Leeds man Pugh, 34, has moved to Vale Park after his deal at League Two Blackpool was terminated by mutual consent.

He has played 23 times this season and has signed until the end of the term.

Italian Fasan, 23, has yet to make a senior appearance for Celtic, but has regularly played for the Under-23 side.

He comes in after keeper Jak Alnwick left Vale to join Scottish Premiership side Rangers on Monday.

Delays on the northbound side of the M6 in Cheshire this morning are back to junction 18 near Holmes Chapel, after a break down between junctions 18 and 19.

BBC Travel

There's slow traffic and a lane blocked on the A38 southbound in Burton at the B5017 Shobnall Road junction, due to a broken down lorry.

The Sentinel

Police are hunting a robber who left staff terrified after smashing his way into a shop in the early hours before stealing cash, external from the till.

Image source, The Sentinel

Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Our headlines this morning include:

- Some Virgin Trains and CrossCountry services through Staffordshire and Cheshire will help pilot an "overhaul" of the ticketing system, under a trial scheme to simplify fares 

- An inquiry by MPs into "shared spaces" for drivers and pedestrians in urban areas, such as ones in Hanley and Leek, will hear evidence from Transport Minister Andrew Jones today, external

- Burnley midfielder Michael Kightly has joined Burton Albion on loan until the end of the season as the January transfer window ended last night

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A wet start for most places and here's how the rest of the morning's set to turn out.

You can also get forecasts from the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Good morning everyone, it's been a wet night and it's starting off drizzly this morning in Stoke-on-Trent - this was the scene by the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery at 07:30.

Charlie Slater will be here shortly with the morning's weather and there'll be updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire on the news, sport, travel and more.

I'm also on the look out for more of your pictures of the area - you can share them on email or, if you use Instagram, put them there with the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share, external.

Port Vale sign midfielder Danny Pugh until the end of the season and Celtic keeper Leonardo Fasan on loan.