Summary

  • Woman killed in Storm Doris was from Stafford

  • Remains found in well confirmed as missing tourist

  • Labour wins Stoke Central by-election

  • 'Explosion' blows windows out of house

  • Updates on Friday 24 February 2017

  1. Football disorder assurance offered by Port Vale chairmanpublished at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Football fans scuffle with a steward

    Following the disorder at Bristol Rovers' away game last weekend, Port Vale's chairman has released a statement.

    He told the club's website, external CCTV footage had been reviewed and a "debrief with the police will take place to review all matters".

    Six people were injured and four were arrested following reports of pepper spray being used and supporters getting punched and pushed to the ground.

    Quote Message

    I would like to reassure everyone that myself, CBI (our security partners) and Staffordshire Police are currently investigating the disorder that took place in the away end during the game and in the car park afterwards. Safety of all supporters and staff remains of paramount importance to us.

    Norman Smurthwaite, Chairman, Port Vale FC

  2. Stoke City: Chairman has high hopes for academypublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City chairman, Peter Coates, hopes one day he'll regularly see up to five academy players graduate to the senior squad. 

    This season Julien N'Goy, Joel Taylor, Tom Edwards and Thibaud Verlinden have all been called-up to the first team. 

    Peter Coates

    The clubs under-18's are also in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup and Coates says the academy's future is bright.   

  3. Weather warning in place for 'strong winds'published at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    BBC Weather

    There’s an amber warning in place across the West Midlands for strong winds associated with Storm Doris. 

    Weather graph

    Gusts of up to 50-60mph and up to 80mph on higher ground are expected between 06:00 and 18:00 tomorrow, the Met Office is warning.   

  4. Your pictures: Stafford sunsetpublished at 10:38 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    One of the journalists here at BBC Radio Stoke took this lovely picture last night of the sunset over Stafford common. 

    If you have any pictures you'd like to share, sign up to become a BBC Weather Watcher here. 

    Sunset
  5. New shopping centre set for approvalpublished at 10:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Lee Blakeman
    Broadcast Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    Plans for a new shopping and leisure development in Stoke-on-Trent are being recommended for approval by city council officials. 

    Realis Estates wants to build on the site of the old bus station and East West centre in Hanley, in a move which the council says could create more than 650 jobs. 

    ProposalImage source, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

    The proposals go before the planning committee on 1 March, with a recommendation to give them the go-ahead, as long as work starts within three years.   

  6. Man temporarily blinded by a laser penpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Jack Dowling
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    A driver says he could have had a serious accident after he was temporarily blinded by a laser pen near a busy junction in Stoke-on-Trent.  

    Chris Stone had been driving along Waterloo Road when he saw a light shine on his bonnet and then lost sight for a few seconds on Monday night. 

    Ch Insp John Owen, from Staffordshire Police, has issued a warning about how dangerous shining a pen at drivers can be.

    Media caption,

    A man was temporarily blinded by a laser pen while driving in Stoke-on-Trent.

  7. Campaign to boost Stoke-on-Trent literacy levelspublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    BBC Radio Stoke

    A new campaign is aiming to improve literacy levels among children in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Children readingImage source, Thinkstock

    Stoke Reads is a ten-year joint initiative between the city council and the National Literacy Campaign. 

    The city has traditionally performed badly when it comes to reading standards and the hope is the initiative will help change this.

  8. Working on farm helps recovering addictspublished at 08:57 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    A Staffordshire farm is helping to support recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

    Farm

    The owners of Whitegate farm, outside Stoke-on-Trent, work with the Stoke Recovery Service and host groups of former addicts. 

    The scheme organisers say working with animals makes a real difference.

  9. No goals as Rams held by Burtonpublished at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Owen Bradley
    BBC Radio Derby Sport

    The first ever meeting between Derby County and Burton Albion at Pride Park didn't exactly produce a classic last night.

    Derby dominated possession but a gutsy performance from Burton saw the match finish 0-0.

    Darren Bent's overhead kick against Burton AlbionImage source, Getty Images
  10. Putin told to 'bot out' over political tweetspublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    UKIP has told Vladimir Putin to keep out of the Stoke Central by-election, after typically pro-Russian Twitter accounts turned on party leader Paul Nuttall.

    Vladimir PutinImage source, EPA

    The social media profiles have generally posted positive messages about the Kremlin's intervention in Syria while praising the Russian president, who has been accused of interfering in the US election.

    In recent days they've begun praising Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and tarnishing Mr Nuttall as he campaigns to become MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central.

    The accounts have accused the UKIP leader of wanting to privatise the NHS, which he denies. 

    A UKIP spokesman says they don't believe the people of Stoke are avidly watching Russian automated Twitter bots.

  11. Watch: Your latest 50-second weather forecastpublished at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    A cloudy day across the West Midlands, with outbreaks of rain for many, though some drier interludes are likely too. 

    Otherwise, breezy at first, especially in the south, though the winds will temporarily ease during the afternoon - highs of 11C (52F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands

  12. Burton fighter prepares Joshua for Klitschko clashpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Gavin Bevis
    BBC Local Live

    A boxer from Burton has been employed to help world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua prepare for the biggest fight of his career.

    Frazer Clarke

    Frazer Clarke (pictured) has been sparring with Joshua in Sheffield ahead of his Wembley bout with Wladimir Klitschko on 29 April.   

  13. Dream homes turn into nightmares due to 'smell of sewage, damp and mould'published at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Kevin Pashby
    BBC WM

    Residents living in new properties in part of Birmingham have told us their dream homes have been wrecked by the stench of sewage, damp and mould.

    Housing firm Bovis Homes has set aside £7m to compensate customers who were sold unfinished builds - or properties with electrical and plumbing faults.

    More than 1,500 people have joined the Bovis Homes Victim group on Facebook. 

    The house builders have properties for sale across the West Midlands including Great Barr, Redditch and Lichfield.

  14. Welcome to Stoke and Staffordshire Local Livepublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Monica Rimmer
    Journalist, BBC Online

    Good morning and welcome to the live update service for Staffordshire and Cheshire. 

    We'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, weather and travel between now and 18:00. 

    If you'd like to get in touch with us on any of our stories, you can tweet us, external, message us on Facebook, external and email

  15. Derby County 0-0 Burton Albionpublished at 22:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017

    Derby dominate but cannot find a way past a gutsy Burton side, who earn a draw from their first competitive game at Pride Park.

    Read More
  16. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017

    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.

  17. Biker injured in lorry crashpublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A 25-year-old biker has been treated for neck and back pain after a crash with a lorry in Leek.

    It happened before 09:00 on Stockwell Street at the junction with Ball Haye Road.

    Ambulance

    West Midlands Ambulance Service says the air ambulance was sent to the scene, but the motorcyclist was taken to hospital by road.

  18. Arrest after man spotted leaving Stafford shoppublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017

    A man's been arrested after police had calls about someone climbing out of the window of a Stafford antiques shop in the middle of the night.

    They were called to Welsh Rarebits on Sandon Road before 01:00, and detained a suspect nearby. 

    Staffordshire Police

    A 33-year-old from Stafford is being questioned on suspicion of three burglaries in the town in recent days.

  19. Amazon recruits more people to Staffordshire sitepublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Amazon says it now has more than 2,000 permanent workers at its Staffordshire distribution centre.  

    Amazon in Rugeley

    The online retail firm says more than 500 people who joined the Rugeley site on a temporary basis in the run up to Christmas are now moving into full-time roles.

  20. Watch: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    Cloudy sky and strong winds will mean a mild night with some rain and drizzle - lows of 10C (50F).

    You can get a detailed forecast here, including warnings of strong winds moving in on Thursday.

    Media caption,

    Sara Blizzard has your forecast