PM's by-election Brexit letter criticised
Noel Edmonds super-fan's tattoo tribute
Council spends £75k tackling pigeons and gulls
Plans to rebuild giant Peter Rabbit sculpture welcomed
Updates from Friday 17 February 2017
Dozens of residents across Burton have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction after it was announced that they would have to change, external the way they dispose of their waste.
Image source, Burton Mail
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Here's a selection of more of your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire this Wednesday.
Your pictures
A rise in the number of burglaries around the time of two Hindu festivals has led police to warn people to be more careful where they keep valuable jewellery, external.
Staffordshire Police say thieves have targeted gold items around the festivals of Maha Shivaratri on 24 February and Holi on 12 March.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageWe want members of the public to enjoy festivities but keep their possessions secure too. The simple steps above can make a huge difference and deter opportunist thieves looking for valuables to sell on."
Supt Carl Ratcliffe, Staffordshire Police
The abduction of a child in 2001 sparked a national manhunt at the time.
The six-year-old was taken from Barton-under-Needwood and the case attracted a lot of media attention and featured on Crimewatch, but no-one was ever arrested at the time.
Image source, Helen TipperToday Arnold Baxter, 72, of Bath Street in Rugby, Warwickshire, was jailed for nine years after admitting charges of kidnap and indecent assault.
He admitted driving to the village in a black Ford Mondeo which had false registration plates, stolen from a car in Peterborough six weeks before the kidnap, and snatching the girl.
He assaulted her and dumped her in another village where she was found half an hour later by a passing motorist.
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News
About a fifth of jobs at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) in Crewe will go by summer next year, BBC Radio Stoke understands.
Officials say they'll try to minimise compulsory redundancies when the campus closes for good. , external
When staff at MMU Crewe were told the campus was closing last week, they were also told 80% of staff will stay in place until summer 2019, so all students can finish their courses there.
About 360 people work at the site on Crewe Green Road meaning around 70 jobs would go by summer 2018. It's not clear how many will go this year.
The University and College Union is balloting for strike action if compulsory redundancies aren't ruled out.
Arnold Baxter, 72, was caught when his DNA came up on a police database over a drink-drive offence.
Read More
Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
A Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election candidate has confirmed to the BBC that she was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.
It follows a complaint from a member of the public about her campaign leaflets.
Barbara Fielding, 78, is a retired book keeper and housewife from Draycott and is a first-time parliamentary candidate, standing in the election on 23 February as an Independent.
This afternoon she confirmed to me that she was arrested on Monday by officers from Staffordshire Police on suspicion of distributing material likely to incite racial hatred.
She's been released on bail until a date in March.
A full list of candidates standing in the by-election can be found here on the BBC website.
Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire and Cheshire's police forces saw increased levels of hate crimes in the first full three months following the EU referendum, according to new analysis.
The fresh data compiled by the Press Association comes from official statistics which include detailed figures for five core crimes which are deemed to be racially or religiously aggravated, ranging from assaults through to criminal damage.
Staffordshire Police recorded 237 hate crimes between July and September, a rise of 6%, while Cheshire Police recorded 195, an increase of 18%.
A majority of police forces in England and Wales saw rises with a total of 14,000 hate crimes recorded in the period.
The National Police Chiefs' Council say their own monitoring suggests incidents have levelled out after the summer's spike.
Sian Grzeszczyk
Staffordshire Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime, I'll have reaction from Stafford Crown Court as a man's been jailed today for the 2001 abduction and indecent assault of a child.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceArnold Baxter, 72, of Bath Street, Rugby had admitted to police he was guilty after being caught when his DNA proved a match after a drink-drive arrest last year.
I'll have reaction from the court and police from 13:30 on BBC One.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra took another huge step towards League Two survival with a 2-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers last night.
James Jones (pictured) struck a late penalty as the Alex made it back-to-back wins.
Image source, Nathan Stirk/Getty ImagesAdebayo Akinfenwa's 76th-minute strike appeared to have salvaged a point for the Chairboys after the striker's 12th goal of the season cancelled out Chris Dagnall's first-half opener.
But James' penalty three minutes from time secured the spoils for Crewe, who look a different proposition to the side which had limped on for 11 games without a win before their shock 5-0 demolition of Grimsby at the weekend.
Transport and engineering festivals in Crewe and Sandbach will feature a new roaming arts festival this year known as SpareParts: On the Move, thanks to a tie up, external with a similar event in Lancashire.
Sian Grzeszczyk
Staffordshire Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
The parents of a girl who was kidnapped in 2001 have spoken of their "relief" after the jailing of the man responsible.
A judge at Stafford Crown Court today sentenced Arnold Baxter, 72, of Bath Street, Rugby to nine years in prison for her abduction and indecent assault, after he'd admitted the offences.
The six-year-old was kidnapped from Barton-under-Needwood and her parents added their praise of police for their "tireless pursuit" of Baxter.
Her mother said they also had support from police "at this incredibly difficult time for my daughter and family".
Sian Grzeszczyk
Staffordshire Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
Arnold Baxter, from Rugby, who's been jailed today for the kidnap and indecent assault of a young girl in Staffordshire in 2001, was caught when his DNA came up on a police database.
The 72-year-old (pictured) had been arrested for a drink-drive offence last year and his DNA matched a sample taken from the girl's clothing 16 years ago.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceBaxter, from Bath Street, admitted he was guilty during a police interview and was given a nine-year prison term today.
His Honour Judge Eades described what happened as "every parent's nightmare" and said Baxter would be put on the sex offenders register for life.
A preview of the 23 February vote where Labour is looking to see off a UKIP challenge.
Read MoreSian Grzeszczyk
Staffordshire Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
A man has been sentenced to nine years in jail for the abduction and indecent assault of a six-year-old girl in 2001.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceThe girl was taken from Barton-under-Needwood, a village in between Lichfield and Burton-upon-Trent.
Arnold Baxter, 72, of Bath Street, Rugby had previously pleaded guilty to kidnap and indecent assault.
Khia Lewis-Todd
BBC Local Live
The England manager Gareth Southgate said Burton Albion's new community facilities will allow hundreds of children to get involved with football.
He opened the all-weather pitch next to the Pirelli Stadium yesterday.
It will be used by schools, clubs and Burton's Community Trust.
BBC Sport
Staffordshire will stage part of this year's 2017 Women's Tour again, organisers have revealed.
Image source, Women's TourIt's the second year the county has formed part of the race and this time stage two on 8 June will take the racers through Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
The five-stage event, won by Britain's Lizzie Deignan last year, will conclude in London on Sunday, 11 June.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale are now just two points above the relegation zone in League One after losing 2-0 to Millwall last night.
Image source, Pete Norton/Getty ImagesThe Vale are without a win since the start of the year and also saw defender Remie Streete added to their growing injury list as he was taken off in the first-half.
Millwall comfortably outplayed their visitors at The Den and strengthened their grip on sixth place with goals from Aiden O'Brien and Jake Cooper.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Unemployment in the West Midlands rose by 17,000 to 168,000 in the three months , externalto December, official figures show.
They show the region saw the largest jobless increase compared to the rest of the country - four other areas also saw rises.
Image source, DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty ImagesIt means the current unemployment rate in the West Midlands is 5.9%, the Office for National Statistics said.
That compares to UK unemployment falling in the same period by 7,000 to 1.6 million.
BBC Derby Sport
We will let you know what Nigel had to say about Burton's upcoming game with Norwich City later.
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