Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Delays are continuing after a lorry fire on the M6 in Staffordshire this morning,  with heavy traffic reported around Stafford, external as drivers try to avoid the motorway. 

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say they were called at 05:13 to the northbound carriageway between junctions 14 and 15. 

Highways England say the northbound carriageway is still closed as they work to clear and repair the route, and that surrounding roads remain "heavily congested".

The Sentinel

The 70mph speed limit is to be reduced on part of the A500., external

Image source, The Sentinel

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

We've just heard from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service that the lorry involved in a fire on the M6 this morning near Stafford services wasn't carrying dog food. 

The service says they've now been able to inspect the load closer and it was tins of a sports drink in powder form which "exploded". 

The load also contained Easter eggs (which melted, unsurprisingly), floor tiles, grain and white goods.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The M6 northbound in Staffordshire between junctions 14 and 15 could be shut until at least 12:30 today. 

It's after a lorry fire near Stafford services, external at about 05:30 which saw smoke billowing across the motorway.

The HGV was carrying a load including dog food and police say at one stage tins were "exploding" across the M6, external . 

Highways England say trapped traffic has been released, external but a "complex recovery" and possible resurfacing could see the carriageway shut until 12:30.  

BBC Derby Sport

Jamie Ward won't be returning to Forest when they play Burton on Saturday after picking up his tenth booking last night, according to Brewers manager Nigel Clough.

"Wigan vs Bristol City on Saturday is a huge game. We've got two games coming up at home which are massive for us, " he added at a press conference this morning.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

A nine-strong drug network peddling cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy and masterminded from a prisoner behind bars has been busted, according to police.

Tavaseen Iqbal, who since December 2015 has been serving six years in jail for firearms and drugs offences, used phones smuggled into HMP Featherstone near Wolverhampton to pull the strings, according to police, external .

Image source, West Midlands Police

On the other end of the line, his cousin Saif Iqbal, from Ransom Road in Foleshill, Coventry, co-ordinated the supply chain and managed "safe houses" from which the drugs were distributed, officers said.

A trio kept the drugs supply flowing around-the-clock, according to West Midlands Police, including Haroon Tasharat, 33, from Dunbar Avenue, Rohan Patel, 22, from Alum Close and Mahmud Ali, 23, from St Georges Road.

Brothers Dahiru Barka (28), Elijah (19) and Samuel Enenche-John (22) allowed their Humber Avenue home to be used to weigh and bag-up orders, according to police.

Seven of them were arrested in raids on 13 July 2016. Rohaib Iqbal, Saif Iqbal's brother, was arrested in September after picking up the reins of the business following the earlier raids, and Patel was arrested later after returning from abroad. All nine have now been jailed for a combined 40 years, police said.

BBC Business News

Businesses across the Midlands are hoping for good news when the chancellor stands up to deliver his budget later today. 

It's thought Philip Hammond may include news on investment in transport and training as part of what the government is calling the "Midlands Engine", a plan to support the economy outside London.

How to follow Budget on BBC:

• Watch  Budget special  on BBC Two and BBC News from 11:30
• Follow live coverage on the  Business Live page  from 06:00

Lynette Horsburgh
Reporter, BBC News Online

Trains will be running from Crewe in and out of Liverpool Lime Street today , for the first time in over a week.  

The railway station has been shut since 200 tonnes of debris fell on to all four tracks on the approach into the station on  28 February.

Image source, Network Rail

Services had been expected to resume on Thursday but Network Rail said it would reopen a day earlier than planned.

Trains from London Midland, Virgin Trains East Midlands, Northern,and TransPennine Express will be operating to and from the station again.  

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Part of the M6 in Staffordshire could remain shut for several hours today after a lorry fire near Stafford services this morning. , external

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say the fire, between junctions 14 and 15 northbound at around 05:30, saw smoke billowing across the carriageway.

Image source, Highways England

The service say the lorry was carrying white goods, grain and some dog food and the driver was out of the vehicle at the time and just suffered shock. 

Investigations will start when the fire is fully out - it started at the back of the lorry and early indications are it was "to do with the brakes", a spokesman said. 

One of the lanes of the M6, external may need resurfacing.

Police say a 48-year-old woman is being held on suspicion of human trafficking offences.  

Her arrest is part of an investigation into human trafficking which began a year ago, after police visited a nail bar in Bath city centre.

As a result of work by Avon and Somerset Police, their probe has been widened to include police detective work in Staffordshire, Cheltenham and London.

BBC News Travel

There's slow traffic on the A41 southbound at the A518 Stafford Road (Mere Park roundabout) 

Traffic is heavier than normal, in part because of traffic diverting off the M6 because of a lorry fire near Stafford services on the northbound carriageway. 

Dave Wade
BBC Local Live

Burton Albion held Sheffield Wednesday to a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. 

Here's what Nigel Clough had to say...

Jackson Irvine's first-half volley was enough to keep Burton three points clear of the relegation zone.  

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Our region will stay mostly cloudy and damp today , though Shropshire and Staffordshire will probably stay dry. 

It will feel milder with temperatures up a few degrees compared with yesterday. Highs of 11C ( 52F).

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Two lanes of the M6 motorway remain shut this morning after a major lorry fire near Stafford Services. 

Image source, CMPG

Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) say they were called out at around 05:30 , external and the entire northbound side had to be shut between junctions 14 and 15.

It appears the lorry was carrying dog food as CMPG tweeted, external at 07:06 that some of the "tins of dog food are still exploding".

Image source, Highways England

Highways England said at just before 07:30 that , external they had opened one lane past the scene.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Morning all, it's a grey start to the day in Staffordshire and Cheshire on the weather front.

BBC Weather Watcher Snow Crystals has uploaded this picture from Newcastle-under-Lyme, also showing queuing traffic southbound on the M6.

Image source, Snow Crystals

We'll have a full look at the weather shortly, along with the situation on the M6 after a lorry fire - plus more updates through the day for this area.

I'll also have more pictures you've sent in of Staffordshire and Cheshire, so keep those coming on email and Instagram, external .

Jackson Irvine's volley earns Burton a fourth successive Championship draw in a gutsy display at Sheffield Wednesday.

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

Express and Star

Shire horses will be the mane attraction at an upcoming event, external in Staffordshire – and putting away a pint of ale proved small beer for one of the animals.

Image source, Express and Star

BBC Radio Stoke

A woman has been found with serious head injuries at her home in Stoke-on-Trent.

Police say she was discovered at the bottom of the stairs at the property on Walton Crescent in Longton on Saturday night. 

Officers say they've made an arrest in connection with the investigation, external .

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live

A Flood Alert has been issued by the Environment Agency for the Rivers Churnet, Tean, Dove and Sow.  

Flooding is possible for low-lying land and roads.

The Environment Agency highlighted the following areas that could see some flooding, external :

Leek, Rocester, Adderley and Spath on the River Tean, Waterhouses, Milford and Penkridge.

Image source, Matthew Wells

Further heavy rain is forecast overnight tonight causing river levels to remain high.

The advice is to 'be prepared'.