BBC Travel

It could be 17:00 this afternoon before disruption to rail services between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street is resolved, according to National Rail Enquiries.

It's due to a signalling problem near Runcorn and is affecting London Midland and Virgin Trains services.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

BBC Radio Stoke understands Crewe Alexandra have made an enquiry about the availability of the former Stoke City striker Peter Odemwingie. 

He is currently recovering from a calf injury and is unlikely to be fully fit before the end of the month.

Image source, Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The 35-year-old is a free agent having left Rotherham, meaning he can sign despite the transfer window being closed.

It's understood that Odemwingie is also considering interest from two clubs in League One.

BBC Travel

There's been an accident on the A525 Keele Road in Madeley Heath near the Watering Trough Bank junction.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A parakeet's had to be rescued from a magpie attack in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The RSPCA says the little red-crowned bird lost some feathers in the pecking on Scarratt Drive, Forsbrook last week. 

Image source, RSPCA

He was captured by a local man who saw the attack and stored in a shoebox until he was treated. 

The charity says they believe he's a pet, judging by his behaviour, and they are now trying to trace his owner.

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says he would have "liked a bit more time" to set up January signings.

Crewe Chronicle

Members of the University and College Union at MMU will lobby university governors tomorrow as they arrive for a meeting to decide the future , externalof the Crewe campus and its staff.  

Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke-on-Trent's Hackney Carriage Association says drivers having bricks thrown at their cars isn't a new problem. 

It comes as some drivers have told the Sentinel newspaper, external they are refusing to go to areas including Meir, Abbey Hulton and Bentilee after coming under attack from groups of children.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police has promised action, saying it's increasing patrols in the area and will be going into schools to speak to youngsters. 

Parvez Akhtar, chair of the association, told BBC Radio Stoke it's been an issue for some time for drivers.

BBC Sport

Port Vale's fixture against Shrewsbury Town next month has been brought forward a day. 

It'll now be played on the evening of Friday 17 March.

Image source, Getty Images

When the two sides met in November, they drew 0-0. Port Vale currently sit one place below Shrewsbury Town, separated by goal difference.  

BBC Midlands Today

This lunchtime on Midlands Today, we'll hear about a head teacher in the region who's written to parents warning them not to allow their sons or daughters out in the local area after dark.   

Image source, Sarah Hart

We'll also hear why a medieval church is a hive of activity today and why there's a deadline for historical experts over the site. 

Both those stories and more from 13:30 on BBC One.

Express and Star

The relocation of Wolverhampton University’s Stafford base has moved a step closer after plans were approved., external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You've been having your say on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page about plans by the supermarket giant Waitrose to shut its store in Leek, just three years after opening.

Image source, Getty Images

Wendy Leather posted, external: "Sorry it's having to close down but Leek is a small town and hasn't really the demand for all the big shops. Waitrose is quite expensive compared to the others in Leek." 

While Shirley Vyse wrote, external: "I do not find them any more expensive than what I pay for in Sainsbury's. You have to pay for quality. Shall miss the store, I love Leek".

And Keith Reynolds added, external: " With a huge Morrisons and Sainsbury's too...just too much competition. We only go in to use the Post Office!"

BBC Business News

The supermarket giant Waitrose has announced this morning that it's going to close up to five more shops, on top of the proposed closure of its Leek branch.

Image source, Getty Images

Potential job losses could be 498 across all six but the firm says it wants to open eight shops in 2017, creating nearly 600 jobs. 

Ben Stimson, Waitrose retail director, said: ​"We'd always try hard to avoid closing branches but we review how our shops are doing commercially and respond where we have to."

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man who was seriously hurt after his motorbike crashed in Lichfield could have been more seriously injured, but for his protective gear, external, paramedics say. 

Image source, Google

West Midlands Ambulance Service says his full leathers and helmet protected him.

It says no other vehicles are thought to have been involved in the crash on Eastern Avenue this morning.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The NHS trust running two of Staffordshire's A&E units has continued to miss government targets for dealing with patients within four hours., external

The latest figures show the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust saw 73.4% in that time in December - the target is 95%.

It follows similar figures of 76.0% in November and 76.5% for October. 

Across England, the average figure for December was 86.2% of A&E patients seen in four hours. 

January data leaked to the BBC shows this is expected to drop even more with January appearing to be the worst performing month in the past 13 years.

BBC Travel

London Midland is running a replacement bus service between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway due to a signalling problem at Runcorn.

The issue's also led to services being suspended on Virgin Trains West Coast between Runcorn and Crewe.

Express and Star

The relocation of Wolverhampton University’s Stafford base has moved a step closer after plans were approved., external

Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke

Youngsters who are reported to have thrown bricks at taxis in Stoke-on-Trent are being warned by police that they will be arrested if they're caught.

It comes after the Sentinel newspaper reported that drivers have labelled Bentilee, Abbey Hulton and Meir as, external "no-go areas" having come under attack there.

Image source, Google

In response, Staffordshire Police told BBC Radio Stoke that it looks like groups of school children are involved and incidents are happened on Friday and Saturday nights. 

The force says they're looking to step up police patrols and want to hear directly from taxi drivers who have been attacked. 

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City goalkeeper Lee Grant says he's looking forward to competing for the number one spot with Jack Butland when he recovers from an ankle injury.

Image source, Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

Butland says he is hoping for a return to action in the next couple of months, as he steps up his rehabilitation after several setbacks. 

Grant, who's a contender for player-of-the-season, says he welcomes the challenge of keeping his place in the team.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man's been flown by air ambulance to hospital after the crash in Lichfield this morning. 

West Midlands Ambulance Service say they were called at 07:27 to the A5192 Eastern Avenue to what's thought to have been a crash between a motorbike and a barrier. 

Paramedics say they had reports the victim had come off the bike and they say he's suffered what look to be serious injuries. 

They add that the Midlands Air Ambulance has taken him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You keep sending in great photos of Staffordshire and Cheshire so here's a selection of them:

These ones include:  

• Kerry Worrall's photo of a sunset in Norton Canes, Staffordshire
• John Birch snapped a sunrise in Great Wyrley, Staffordshire
• The swan flapping its wings was photographed by Chris Walton at Westport Lake
• Jon Kelso caught the clouds catching sunlight in Barlaston
• Jim Mills on Instagram shared his picture of Trentham Woods