Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Several dozen cannabis plants have been found in a police raid in Tamworth., external

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police say they searched the house on Ridgewood Rise yesterday morning. 

The force says they're continuing to investigate after making the find., external

The Sentinel

Police have come under fire for introducing a £4.95 charge, external – to report lost property.

Image source, The Sentinel

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

The Stoke City boss Mark Hughes says his side "didn't rely on luck" in holding title-chasing Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

A win for City would have moved them above Tottenham and into second place but they could not find the attacking spark required to break down a well-drilled Potters side.

Too many misplaced passes meant Stoke were under little pressure for much of the match, and Manchester City's finishing was also wide of the mark when they did create chances late on. 

The outcome could have been worse for the home side had Mame Biram Diouf not scuffed an early shot from close range following Gael Clichy's slip. 

Bruno Martins Indi and Saido Berahino also had sniffs of goal when Manchester City left space at the back, but Stoke's main aim appeared to be a clean sheet and they accomplished that comfortably enough.

BBC Midlands Today

A special machine, completely built by 68 young apprentices, is being unveiled at Staffordshire-based JCB this morning.  

The digger firm say it's being shown as part of National Apprenticeship Week, external . 

It adds that the event will highlight the importance of careers in business, engineering and manufacturing. 

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Drivers are being thanked for their patience after a lorry fire caused major disruption on the M6 in Staffordshire yesterday. 

Highways England say they resurfaced two of the lanes northbound between junctions 14 and 15 last night , external and fully reopened the stretch for this morning's traffic.

Fire crews were first called out at around 05:13 on Wednesday to the blaze on the lorry, which was carrying tins of a sports drink powder, which then started to explode.

The whole carriageway northbound was shut until 11:41 yesterday when two lanes were reopened.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

A bright and sunny day ahead, with some scattered cloud and highs of 13C (55F).

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

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

We look like we're in for a pretty nice day on the weather front, given the bright and fairly clear conditions over Stoke-on-Trent this morning.

This picture's come from BBC Weather Watcher Dragonlady in Nantwich today.

Image source, Dragonlady

We'll have a good look at the weather forecast for today shortly and there'll be news, sport, travel and other updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire through the day.

I'll also feature more of your photos of the area so keep those coming in on email or, if you use Instagram, put the there with the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share it , external .

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his side "needed to be brilliant" to break down a Stoke defence which held them 0-0.

Mark Hughes says Stoke's performance in their 0-0 draw with Manchester City shows their "honesty" in responding to criticism.

Manchester City miss the chance to move to second in the Premier League as their game in hand ends goalless against 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. 

BBC News Scotland

A Staffordshire-born writer who's become one of Scotland's most accomplished playwrights is among ten women inducted into a hall of fame .

They've become part of the Saltire Society's "Outstanding Women of Scotland" group and were honoured at Glasgow Women's Library.

Jo Clifford was born in north Staffordshire in 1951, where she was raised as a boy - she has gone on to write more than 80 plays. 

The Saltire Society's Sarah Mason says Jo is a role model for transgender people in Scotland.

The society is a "non-political membership organisation celebrating Scottish imagination in all its forms". 

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A man has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap after a woman called them to say she'd been taken against her will in Uttoxeter.  , external

Staffordshire Police say they stopped the car in Stafford last night after getting the call from the vehicle.

The force says the man, in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and possession of an offensive weapon - he remains in custody. 

They add that they believe the man and victim were known to each other.

Dave Wade
BBC Local Live

Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with a robbery at a Co-op Travel in Glossop.

Staff were allegedly threatened by two men and assaulted and a large amount of cash was stolen in July last year.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Ian Cunningham, 37, from Stalybridge, is currently wanted in connection with the robbery.

He has connections to Derbyshire, Manchester, Staffordshire and Cheshire and is also wanted on recall to prison.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.

Image source, Google

Five people have been charged over the robbery on 29 July, including a 41-year-old man from Stalybridge, who's charged with robbery.

He's due to appear at Stockport Magistrates' Court on 20 March, alongside a 38-year-old man, from Hattersley, who's charged with assisting an offender, a 35-year-old woman, from Stalybridge and a 23-year-old woman from Mottram, both charged with Proceeds of Crime Act offences.

A 39-year-old man from Hyde was charegd with robbery and is due for a trial at Manchester Crown Court on 5 June.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri is available for his side's match against Manchester City tonight after missing five matches with a calf problem .  

Image source, Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

However, Marko Arnautovic, Glen Johnson and Bruno Martins Indi are doubtful, while Wilfried Bony is ineligible to play against his parent club.  

Manchester City have won three of their last four league matches against Stoke, scoring four goals in each victory.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Two hooded men have robbed a woman as she walked along a Congleton street, external , police say.

Image source, Google

Cheshire Police say the victim was with another woman on Fox Street on Saturday night when she was pushed by the pair, causing her to fall. 

Officers say they then stole her handbag leaving the woman shaken and bruised.

Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening - the latest on news that two people have died following a stabbing in part of the region. 

Stun grenades were used as police officers stormed a block of flats this morning. 

We'll have the very latest on BBC One from 18:30.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

You can also get the latest forecasts for your part of the West Midlands by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Westminster's sodden village green on a Budget Day of mixed metaphors

Ged Scott
BBC Sport

Crewe defender Zoumana Bakayogo has earned himself a new extended deal after triggering a contract clause.

The 30-year-old left-back has had a one-year extension automatically added to his existing contract after making 35 first-team appearances this season.

Image source, Empics

Bakayogo, who was born in France and has scored once in 57 games for the Alex, is now tied to Crewe until the summer of 2018.

He moved to Gresty Road in January 2016 after a two-year injury-enforced absence from the game.