Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A stretch of the A522 near Uttoxeter is going to be shut completely for weekend work later this month. 

Staffordshire County Council say the closure, between the evening of 24 March and 05:00 on 27 March, is to let them carry out final work before the new section fully reopens.

Image source, Google

The authority says the multi-million pound scheme has changed the layout of the A522 between the junction of Tunnicliffe Way and the main entrance to JCB World Parts. 

The work will let them start work on creating a new junction and bridge over the A50 in the future, allowing for house building, the council say.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale's injury worries continued at the weekend as Jerome Thomas (pictured) and Danny Pugh both failed to finish the game at Southend on Saturday.

Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Vale ended up with the home-grown trio of Nathan Smith, Billy Reeves and Dan Turner on the pitch.

However caretaker manager, Michael Brown, believes the introduction of the young players is a positive to take from the injuries. 

Russell Truran
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Parents in Cheshire say they're angry "red tape" has stopped their children performing at a show in Stoke-on-Trent. 

The Popera performance, organised by the Cheshire-based Love Music Trust, external , was due to be held at The Victoria Hall, Hanley.  

But the trust was told it needs to get a performance licence for each child and is now trying to hold the show at a school instead. 

In an email to parents, it says it's "extremely sorry" and anyone who'd bought a ticket for the event will get a full refund. 

Cheshire East Council say the performance licences are demanded now by the government, external - ministers say they made changes recently, external to "clarify" and "simplify" the system.

A five-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital after a collision with a car, the ambulance service say.

West Midlands Ambulance Service say the boy suffered "a suspected head injury" after the collision at about 08.45 on Shobnall Street in Burton-On-Trent.

Image source, Google

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime we'll hear how there's a race against time in Stoke-on-Trent to save a rare piece of Wedgwood pottery. 

They're trying to save one of the first vases ever made by Josiah Wedgwood himself. 

I'll have more from 13:30 on BBC One .

Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

A Stoke-on-Trent man says he's shocked his local neighbourhood centre says he can't now ride his mobility scooter inside so he can pick up his prescriptions. 

Ken Lunt says new rules at Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre mean he's got to leave his scooter outside because it's too fast and he was asked to walk instead.

Image source, Google

He says he can't walk very far and he can't use his arms so he can't now get to the health centre which is inside the building. 

BBC Radio Stoke has been told Ken can request a wheelchair, but he says it's ridiculous and he's not the only person to be affected. 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it will get back to the BBC as soon as it's looked into his claims.

Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke

A new "clay college" could be opened later this year in the same Stoke-on-Trent pottery that hosts The Great Pottery Throw Down .  

The charity "Adopt a Potter" is trying to raise £200,000 so it can train the next generation of potters.  , external

They say they're proposing opening a skills-based, full-time ceramics course, taught by potters, at the Middleport Pottery from September.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Delays to the completion of roadworks in part of Stoke-on-Trent are due to the council having to wait for utility companies to carry out their share of the week , external .

Image source, Google

The city council says improvements to Glebe Street, which started last September, need various companies to re-route supplies under the railway bridge.

The Hanley-bound side of the road is shut between Copeland Street and Leek Road as part of work to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City defender, Bruno Martins Indi, is an early injury doubt ahead of Wednesday's trip to Manchester City . 

Image source, Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The Dutch defender hadn't missed a minute of Premier League action until his second-half injury in the 2-0 win against Middlesbrough . 

However the Stoke manager, Mark Hughes, says he's optimistic the player be okay for the trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Khia Lewis-Todd
BBC Local Live

Burton Albion Community Trust chairman, John Jackson, told BBC Radio Derby: "Burton Albion, of all football clubs, is very community minded, as the club has supported us 110% of the way.

"They are the cornerstone of what it is that we achieve. 

"So we are proud to be apart of the Burton Albion football family."

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Parents, teachers and people living in part of Stoke-on-Trent are meeting this evening over safety fears over traffic outside a school. 

Sneyd Green Primary School , external doesn't have any dedicated parking for parents and concerns have been raised to BBC Radio Stoke about them parking on the residential street outside.

Image source, Google

Headteacher Rosina Lee says some drivers are also parking inconsiderately, making the problem worse, and they are worried it could lead to someone being hit by a car. 

They're holding a meeting tonight at 18:30 to try and find a solution.

Staffordshire Newsletter

The NFU has vowed to hold HS2 Ltd to the assurances it has made to mitigate the effects of construction , external on farm businesses.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Here are five of the best that I've picked out today of the many pictures you've shared of Staffordshire and Cheshire.

You can share your picture of the area by sending them  in on email  or, if you  have Instagram, share them there with the tag #bbcstoke, external  .  

Jonathan Baker
Reporter, BBC Radio Derby

Burton Albion football club members have been invited to the House of Commons today, after being named Midlands Community Club of the Year.

They won the award for their work in encouraging fans to have prostate checks on a match day.  

BBC News England

Survivors of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster will gather at a church service in Dover today to mark the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the vessel .

Only minutes after leaving harbour on 6 March, 1987, passenger ferry the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized. 193 people were killed in the tragedy.

Image source, PA

They included David Scott, who was 20, from Cheshire, Thomas Peach, who was 42, from Staffordshire and Ivy Jackson, aged 66, from Burton. 

After the disaster, a public inquiry confirmed the ferry had left with its bow doors open, allowing water to flood the car deck, and the crew member responsible for closing them was asleep at the time.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A Jeep has hit a fence and a Jaguar car has ended up on its roof in a string of crashes across Stafford this morning. , external

Staffordshire Police say between 07:00 and 09:00 they've had eight collisions reported to them in the area due to the frosty weather "hampering" driving conditions. 

The force say there don't appear to be any serious injuries in any of the crashes.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The future of children's emergency services at Stafford's County Hospital will be revealed later today. , external

Accident and emergency services at the hospital remain suspended for under-16s due to concerns about safety. 

The hospital trust said it decided in September to ask the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to carry out an independent review. 

This afternoon hospital bosses will discuss the RCPCH report and decide if they can safely reinstate the emergency service.

Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke-on-Trent long jumper,  Jazmin Sawyers, tweeted, external that she's "gutted" and "angry" to have missed out on a medal at the European Indoor Athletics Championships. 

Image source, Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

She made yesterday's final but finished sixth in the Belgrade event. , external

Britain's Lorraine Ugen won silver in the final., external

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a bright start, there may be a few scattered showers, but also some sunny spells, with highs of 11C (52F).

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

The Sentinel

Frustrated driving instructors  have called on highways authorities to clear up "confusing" junctions and stretches of road , external in north Staffordshire.

Image source, The Sentinel/Google