Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Cuts to drug and alcohol services in the area are "a concern" for Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The county council is reducing the treatment budget by 60% from April , external after it had its funding cut by the government.

Image source, PA

The authority has said it is still investing £5m a year into the services and those who need the most help will get it. 

PCC Matthew Ellis says he understands why the cuts were made but he believes it will have an impact on policing in Staffordshire.

BBC Sport

The Stoke City striker,  Wilfried Bony, says his exclusion from the team is a "crazy situation" after he turned down a move to China in the winter transfer window.  

The 28-year-old Ivorian joined the club on loan from Manchester City in August, but has scored just twice in 11 games and has not played since 27 December.

Image source, Getty Images

His contract allowed him to be sold to Chinese Super League clubs in January, but he choose to stay at Stoke.  

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Rain moving in this morning means it will be a thoroughly wet day with lots of showers and highs of 9C (48F).

The Sentinel

Motorists have expressed their frustration after being caught up in queues caused by overrunning roadworks on a bridge across the A500 , external .

Image source, The Sentinel

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Good morning everyone - the skies are looking grey over Stoke-on-Trent this morning and I'm expecting rain later.

We'll find out shortly if that is the case in our morning weather update and then there'll be news, sport, travel and other updates through today.

I'll also have more of your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire, so keep sending them in by email or put them on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share them , external .

Ivory Coast international Wilfried Bony says he turned down a move to china and wants to know why he's not being picked to play for Stoke City.

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. 

Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening we'll have more on the uncertain future of Lichfield Ladies rugby team. 

Image source, Shaun Botterill/Getty Image

It's after they were told by the Rugby Football Union they were left out of the first season of a new women's domestic competition. 

Plus, on World Book Day, we'll be seeing some of the many costumes children in the region wore to school. 

Tune in for those stories and more from our region from 18:30 on BBC One.

BBC Sport

A Staffordshire non-league footballer has been signed by Premier League side Burnley , but he has a link to England's glory day.

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Harry Flowers, 20, is the grandson of 1966 World Cup winner Ron Flowers (pictured, top right). 

He's joined the Clarets from ninth-tier Brocton, of the Midland League's top flight, on a contract until June 2018.

Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A campaign to keep Josiah Wedgwood's 1769 first-day vase in Stoke-on-Trent has been given £60,000 by Arts Council England. , external

The city council says that’s on top of local fundraising efforts which have raised £12,000 to try and put the master potter's vase back on display at the Potteries Museum.

However the authority says they still need to find more than £410,000 to meet the vase's auction price.

That's because there is a ban on it being exported but it is only in place until the middle of this month, unless the council can show there's a serious intent to raise the money.

BBC One

A Staffordshire man is set to receive a share of an estate worth around £325,000 after being tracked down by the BBC One show, Heir Hunters. 

Percival Overbury from Gloucester died in a nursing home aged 96 with no will and no next-of-kin. 

Robert Meek, from Rugeley, was one of 46 heirs discovered and featured on the BBC programme. 

The show also revealed a family link to the legendary 1960s record producer, Joe Meek, who was Robert's uncle.

BBC Weather Watchers

After the earlier rain and snow this morning, the sun came out across Staffordshire and many of our BBC Weather Watchers captured photos of the blue skies.

Here are two from users Dodger, in Shugboroug,h and Flying Ant, in Stafford.

Image source, Flying Ant

Image source, Dodger

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

Apart from a little showery rain, it should be dry this evening and for much of the night with clear spells.

However, it will turn cloudier towards dawn with some rain reaching southwestern parts, with lows of 4C (39F).

Tomorrow, after a dry start in the north, the rain in the south will spread to all parts through the morning.

Leek Post and Times

Work is to take place to make a busy crossroads safer., external

Michael Perkins
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The Crewe Alexandra manager, David Artell, says his players will need to use an expected big crowd at Portsmouth to their advantage on Saturday . 

Image source, Michael Steele/Getty Images

The home side has been averaging support of over 17,000 for their home games this season.

By comparison, Crewe's own ground, Gresty Road, has a total capacity of 10,153 and Artell says he doesn't want his players to be intimidated.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Eleven towns and cities have announced that they are all bidding to become the UK City of Culture in 2017 - three of them are the Midlands - Coventry, Hereford and Stoke-on-Trent.

Which town/city do you back though? What a dilemma to face, especially for one man 

Just look at some of the messages Robert has been receiving from the Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry City of Culture teams though...

Bravo! Now only five more months until the shortlist is announced. This could get interesting - "My town is better than yours" - anyone?

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Investigators say an explosion and fire at a house in Staffordshire which killed several pets  started accidentally. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say it is carrying out further investigations into the cause of last Friday's blast and fire on Lodge Road, Talke Pits.

The force of the explosion blew out the front windows of the property and killed two dogs, three cats and 12 rabbits, according to owner Alan Rhodes. 

He also said that he, his wife and grandson missed being at the home at the time due to putting the wrong fuel in their car.

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A former welder with JCB in Staffordshire has received a hero's welcome at his former workplace after coming back an FA Cup hero.   

Since leaving the firm's factory in Cheadle, 32-year-old Matt Rhead has gone on to play for Lincoln City. 

He was named man-of-the-match when they beat Premier League side Burnley in the FA Cup last month. 

They're now first non-league side in 103 years to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and will face Arsenal.  

Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Five fire crews had to be called to put out a fire on a canal barge in a Cheshire village last night.  , external

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service say the barge was on the canal by the Broughton Arms, Rode Heath.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

The service says it had to take cylinders out of the boat as they tackled the fire -  the barge also had tanks of diesel on board.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today Sport

The future of Lichfield Ladies rugby club is uncertain after they were left out of the first season of England's new women's domestic rugby union competition . 

The Rugby Football Union did not include Lichfield among the 10 teams, external who will be part of Women's Super Rugby from this September.

Image source, Google

The club says they are, external "extremely disappointed" and the decision means some of its top players, including England internationals, might have to leave the team.

The chair of Women's Premiership Group, Mark Francis, said in a statement , external the collective view of clubs was "total dismay" that Lichfield would not be part of the league.