Election candidate Gareth Snell said he made the comments "years ago".

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning. 

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City's Joe Allen says he's relieved to have ended his spell without a goal after he scored the winner against Crystal Palace. 

Image source, Alex Morton/Getty Images

Allen's first goal in eight games helped Stoke to move back up to ninth in the Premier League.

BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening, we'll have more on the news that a BBC investigation's found customers of Tesco being short-changed by expired promotions which are still advertised on the shelves. 

The supermarket's promising to double-check its pricing. 

Plus with shoplifting reaching record levels, we'll hear from the Midlands shopkeeper forced to put bicycle chains on his fridges. 

Those stories and more from 18:30 on BBC One.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Once the weather gets better, 350 potholes-a-week will be repaired in Staffordshire, according to the county council.  

The authority says it's been recording them and its crews will start with the most urgent ones while also minimising disruption. 

On top of that the council says it will also be revamping the surface of 350km (217miles) of road to make them last longer.

Crewe Chronicle

Crewe is to get a town centre project manager and a dedicated "handyperson" to help boost the town centre.  , external

Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

Both sides of the A500 had to be closed in Stoke-on-Trent this afternoon say police because rubbernecking nearly led to more crashes. 

Staffordshire Police say a collision, at round 14:00 on the southbound side under Basford roundabout involving two lorries and a car, left a woman with several serious injuries. 

West Midlands Ambulance Service said her car had suffered "very considerable damage, external" and she had to be cut free. 

Police said they had tried to keep the northbound side of the A500 open but a lot of people were driving past and trying to see the crash, so they closed both sides.

Jenny Coleman
Reporter, BBC Local Live

A campaign is being launched to urge people across Cheshire and Merseyside not to take antibiotics unless they really need them - after the region was found to have one of the highest prescription rates.  

The drugs can help treat serious bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, and ward off infections during chemotherapy. But they are not effective for everyday viruses like colds or flu. 

It is estimated about 5,000 people a year die because antibiotics no longer work for some infections.

The NHS Antibiotic Awareness Campaign, external wants to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Here's my look ahead and you can keep up-to-date with forecasts on the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A one-year-old needed rescuing this morning from a kitchen in Staffordshire after a mother stepped into another room and the door handle broke off in her hand. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it was called at 10:10 to the High Town area of Hednesford as toast was starting to burn under the grill.

They forced their way into the kitchen to get to the baby. 

West Midlands Ambulance Service says it was also called and found the one-year-old was fine but was given oxygen just in case.

Staffordshire Newsletter

The first drop-in event about a master plan for the development of Cannock Chase will be held this week., external

Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

The Staffordshire county councillor in charge of health issues says cuts to drug and alcohol services in the county will have an affect on admissions to A&E departments. 

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke this morning, councillor Alan White said he understood the difficulties their cuts would have as his father "was an alcoholic".

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

It came as doctors raised concerns at the effects of the authority's 60% cut to the budget after a loss in funding. , external

The county council says it's still going to be putting £5m into drug and alcohol services and those "most in need will be seen".

Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke

The Labour candidate standing in the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election has apologised for posting a series of tweets which a political website called sexist. 

They've been highlighted by the site Guido Fawkes, external and included Gareth Snell calling panellists on the TV programme Loose Women "squabbling sour-faced ladies".

Image source, Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Mr Snell this afternoon released a statement saying he regretted writing the tweets and apologised for any offence caused. 

A full list of candidates standing in the by-election can be found here on the BBC website.

Tamworth Herald

Tamworth Police are hoping to track down the owner of some jewellery, external they recovered last week.

Image source, Tamworth Police

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A man "brandishing a kitchen knife" has robbed a bookmakers in Stoke-on-Trent, external. 

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police says the robber, believed to be in his 50s, went into the Coral branch in Waterloo Road, Burslem, just before 12:00.

Officers say he demanded money from the till and was given some bank notes before making his escape.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

 A woman's suffered multiple injuries in the crash this afternoon which involved her car and two lorries on the A500 under Basford roundabout, Stoke-on-Trent.

West Midlands Ambulance Service say she had to be freed via the driver's door and suffered injuries to her face, chest and stomach as well as a broken leg.  

Staffordshire Police say both sides of the A500 remain closed for collision investigation work. 

Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has described accusations he lied about being a survivor of the Hillsborough disaster as "an absolute disgrace". 

At the age of 12, Mr Nuttall was in the Leppings Lane end for the Liverpool v Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield's Hillsborough stadium in 1989, which turned into a disaster claiming the lives of 96 people.

It was, he has since said, "a day burnt permanently in my, and thousands of other minds".  

A newspaper had questioned whether he could prove it to be true, external.

A full list of the 10 candidates standing in the Stoke Central by-election can be found here on the BBC's website.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The A500 in part of Stoke-on-Trent's been shut both ways this afternoon, external after a crash involving two lorries and a car. 

Staffordshire Police says it happened just before 14:00 underneath the junction for the A53 at the Basford roundabout. 

Image source, Chris Stone

The force says the southbound side may be shut for some time, external. 

West Midlands Ambulance Service says the driver of the car, a woman in her 30s, is having to be cut free.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Allotment holders in Stafford say they are looking at installing CCTV cameras after a series of break-ins and an increase in vandalism. , external

Coton Fields has 150 plots and those managing it say it has been repeatedly targeted with three sheds burnt down in the past few months, toilets smashed and tools worth around £2,000 stolen. 

The owners of the site, the Burgesses, (or Freemen), of Stafford, say police have told them other allotment sites have been attacked and anyone with information's being urged to contact Staffordshire Police.

BBC Travel

The A500 D Road in Stoke-on-Trent is closed southbound at the Basford roundabout due to an accident.

A diversion is in place.