Summary

  • Crewe's university campus to close

  • No arrests yet over giant bunny sculpture arson

  • Driver 'stopped by police 17 times in 12 months'

  • Repeat of Stafford Hospital scandal across the NHS 'inevitable'

  • Snow warning for Staffordshire and Cheshire

  • Updates from Friday 10 February 2017

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. Football: Stoke City boss says their fans 'always help the team'

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has praised his team's fans today, saying they play a big part in the side's success.

    A Stoke City scarf is held in the crowd during an FA Cup matchAlex Livesey/Getty Images

    He was speaking this morning after Arsene Wenger's criticised the Arsenal fans.

    I brought many teams here as an opposition and the support the home side got always helped the team - we still have that now. I remember coming here with Man City, Stoke went down to 10 men and still beat us. That was largely down to the support on the day."

    Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager

  2. Man 'stable' in hospital after motorbike fall

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A motorbiker who fell off his bike in Lichfield and suffered serious injuries remains in hospital in a stable condition. 

    Staffordshire Police say the 58-year-old was pulling out of Dimbles Lane on to Eastern Avenue yesterday morning when it happened. 

    The force says he suffered serious chest injuries and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by air ambulance. 

    Officers say no other vehicles are believed to have been involved.

  3. Four things you wanted to know

    You have been using Your Questions to ask about the West Midlands. Here are some of our answers.

    Read More

  4. Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election special on BBC One

    Patrick Burns
    Political editor, Midlands

    This weekend on the BBC Sunday Politics Midlands show, we're live with a special hustings event at Staffordshire University ahead of the crucial Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election. 

    The centre of Stoke-on-Trent from the BT building

    I'll be joined by the main candidates battling to win this seat following Tristram Hunt's decision to stand down. 

    You can see a full list of the candidates standing in the by-election here and our programme starts on Sunday at 11:00 on BBC One.

  6. Your say: 'Jack who?' - Stoke fans back rise of new goalkeeper

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Stoke City fans look to be happy with the news that their goalkeeper Lee Grant is relishing having to battle to keep his place in the team. 

    It's because Jack Butland, who had been expected to be the side's number one goalkeeper, is hoping to return to action soon after a series of injury setbacks.

    Lee GrantMark Thompson/Getty Images

    Kath Ramage posted on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page: "That is the aim of the game. Lee Grant has done really well and deserved his contract." 

    While user Bank Sy added: "Butland is going find it extremely hard to get in the first team when he recovers." 

    And Jo Copeland looked to have completely moved on to backing Lee Grant as he wrote: "Jack who?"

  7. On Midlands Today from 13:30: Grain lorry hits house and bird flu update

    Elizabeth Glinka
    BBC Midlands Today

    On Midlands Today this lunchtime, see how a lorry carrying 28 tonnes of grain ended up crashing into a house next to a level crossing. 

    The lorry after hitting house

    We'll also hear how there could be good news for poultry farmers in the Midlands after a serious outbreak of bird flu at the end of last year.

    Those stories and more from 13:30 on BBC One.

  9. Children's football matches set to be called off due to recycling plant fire

    John Acres
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    Hundreds of children are facing having their football matches moved this weekend after a major fire near their pitches in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Fire crews on Sunday at the blaze

    Firefighters have been at the scene of the Hanbury Plastics recycling plant fire in Milton since Sunday.   

    The matches normally take place at the nearby Hardman Football Development Centre in Milton but have been called off because of smoke.

    Organisers from the local branch of Lads and Dads football group say they are working to rearrange some.

    We'll be looking at about 300 to 350 players playing down at the Aardman centre this weekend that are all going to miss out on a game. It's not only the children, we have adults teams who play down there who will have to have their games moved."

    Dan Deary, Chairman of Milton Lads and Dads

  10. End of child migrant scheme 'dreadful'

    Liz Ellis
    Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

    A Staffordshire campaign group has criticised a government's decision to cap the number of child refugees allowed into the country. 

    Home Secretary Amber Rudd yesterday defended their decision to bring only 350 children to the UK, fewer than the 3,000 originally suggested. 

    Home Secretary Amber Rudd

    The Archbishop of Canterbury said he was "shocked", while Labour's Yvette Cooper described it as "shameful". 

    Theresa May says what the UK is doing to help refugees is "absolutely right". 

    The group Stafford Welcomes Refugees has labelled the government's actions as "dreadful".

    We believe if you leave those children where they are, then their only hope is to turn to people who will bend the law and who will take money to bring these children across."

    Tony Pearce, Spokesperson for Stafford Welcomes Refugees

  11. Watch: Cancer wig salon helps hundreds

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    A hair salon that provides wigs and support for cancer patients at Stafford's County Hospital says it has now helped 200 woman since opening last year. 

    The wig salon helping cancer patients

    The manager at Fresh Hair, Gaynor Muir, says they help women to come to terms with the impact of hair loss caused by their treatment. 

    The service is funded by the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust charity and provide wigs at the cost of prescription, around £69.  

  12. 'You can get so many benefits from it'

    #PeoplesCup

    Alex Scott urges you to sign up for the 2017 FA People's Cup

    England player Alex Scott "would've loved the opportunity to have a competition like this when I was younger".

    What's she talking about? The FA People's Cup - the country's biggest free five-a-side competition which gives you the chance to make your way to Wembley.

    "When I was younger, playing in a football cage, the dream was always to play at Wembley," adds Scott.

    "The FA People's Cup gives anyone the opportunity to sign up to a local team in your area. You don't have to rely on your mates.

    "It's a chance to meet different people, socialise in different environments. It's more than just signing up, you can get so many benefits from it."

    So what are you waiting for? Sign up for the FA People's Cup - but hurry as the deadline for entries is the 19 February!

  13. Football: Berahino not match fit says Stoke boss

    Mike Perkins
    BBC Radio Stoke sport

    The Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has told reporters this morning that Saido Berahino is not yet match fit. 

    Quote about Saido BerahinoMark Thompson/Getty Images

    Berahino came on in the 58th minute last week to face former club West Brom, and Hughes says he needs as much game time as possible.  

  15. Man suffers burns in house fire

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A man's been taken to hospital after suffering burns in a house fire in Stoke-on-Trent last night. 

    Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it was called to Rushton Road, Cobridge at 23:11.

    Rushton RoadGoogle

    Firefighters say they found the house was "well alight" when they arrived after the blaze had started on the ground floor.

    The man, who'd suffered burns to his face and arms, was taken to hospital. 

    The service says they concluded the fire started accidentally because of a defective gas pipe.

  16. Watch: Your pictures today of Staffordshire and Cheshire

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    I love seeing the range of pictures that you send in every day of Staffordshire and Cheshire - here are more of the great ones.

    Your pictures

    These ones include:    

    • Robin Silvester's picture of Lower Penn
    • Villager Jim snapped the robin in the Peak District
    • Craig Gibson took the photograph of the sun over the A53 near Loggerheads 
    • Tammy Mellor captured the blue sky over Leek
    • Ian Findlay photographed Stowe Pool in Lichfield

  17. Repeat of Stafford Hospital scandal 'inevitable'

    BBC News Health

    The man who investigated failings at Stafford Hospital has said the NHS is facing an "existential crisis". 

    Sir Robert Francis said the financial pressures on the NHS - together with the high levels of demand - had created an environment in which a care scandal equal to Mid Staffordshire was "inevitable".

    The heath service was "manifestly failing" to keep pace with demand, he told the Health Service Journal. 

    A&E performance chart

    The heath service was "manifestly failing" to keep pace with demand, he told the magazine. 

    In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mr Hunt said there was "no excuse" for some of the difficulties highlighted during the BBC's NHS week, and the government had a plan to help hospitals cope.

  19. Football: Midfielder 'could be key' to Port Vale's survival

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The former Port Vale striker Ray Williams has told BBC Radio Stoke he thinks the return of Sam Foley could be key as the team look to turn their form around. 

    Sam FoleyPete Norton/Getty Images

    The midfielder returned after three months out with an ankle injury in last week's game against Peterborough. 

    Vale go to Gillingham tomorrow having won just one of their last 11 games and are four points above the relegation places

    I was really, really pleased to see Sam Foley and what a performance he gave on Saturday. I think he'll play a big part in Port Vale's forthcoming fixtures."

    Ray Williams, Former Port Vale striker

  20. Future of Crewe's university campus set for final decision

    Phil McCann
    Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

    The future of Manchester Metropolitan University's (MMU) campus in Crewe will be decided later this morning. 

    In November, MMU's board of governors, which runs the Cheshire campus, said it is "no longer academically or financially sustainable".

    Crewe's campus

    They endorsed a preference to withdraw from the site and said then they would consult on the matter before making a final decision today. 

    But unions have threatened strike action over potential redundancies and will this morning be lobbying the university's governors before the meeting.