Leek Post and Times

Four new business units are to be constructed in Cheddleton after being given the green light by planners., external

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Toxic waste has forced the closed a road in Stoke-on-Trent after fly-tipping was found to contain asbestos.   

The city council say the rubbish was dumped overnight on Hollywall Lane, Tunstall. 

They say specially trained contractors are being brought in to clear the waste.  

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

On Your Questions , Shirley asked: "I read a book many years ago which said one of the villages in Stoke-on-Trent had a name change due to a violent battle in the civil war. Red Street?"

Well, we asked the top history experts in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and the overwhelming response was "no".

Jon Goodwin, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's archaeology expert says he has "no records of a Civil War engagement in Stoke-on-Trent or in any of the surrounding villages". 

He says that there was only one set-piece battle in Staffordshire during the conflict - Hopton Heath (near to Stafford) on 19 March 1643. 

Andrew George, Principal Archivist at Staffordshire Record Office, added that, in terms of Red Street, "some sources suggest that the name came from a struggle between the Saxons and the Danes".

If you've got a question about Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire to pose, ask us here and your question could be making the news.

Staffordshire Newsletter

The Velociraptors, a Midlands-based quidditch team, has won the British Quidditch Cup, based in Rugeley., external

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A large number of cannabis plants and bags full of cannabis have been seized in police raids in Stafford today. , external

Staffordshire Police says it searched four houses on Rosewood Gardens, Campion Grove, Barnes Road and Sidney Avenue before 10:00.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The force says officers also found two safes containing Class A and B drugs and in another house "a considerable number" of cannabis plants. 

They've made two arrests - a 30-year-old man and a 45-year-old man, both on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A 30-year-old from Crewe is still in custody after armed officers arrested a man with a machete yesterday afternoon., external

Image source, Cheshire Police

Cheshire Police says it followed reports of a man threatening people on Newdigate Street in Crewe town centre. 

Arresting officers say a machete was found down the man's trousers.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A former nightclub in Newcastle-under-Lyme is set to get a new lease of life as a facility to help people with dementia.

Image source, Google

Specialist care operator Belong says it wants to use the Maxims building to create a place where people with the condition can feel , external at home. 

The group's got £1.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund to start to revamp the site after the nightclub shut in 2006. 

Belong says overall it is planning to put a new care village for 72 residents on the site.

It says it's using the lottery cash towards creating a gallery to exhibit public art and works from local artists and is working on the idea with the local museum and New Vic Theatre.

BBC News England

A man and woman have been arrested in connection with the death of a five-year-old boy from Tamworth in a suspected drowning. 

Image source, Family handout

Charlie Dunn died in hospital after being found submerged in a lake at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire on 23 July. 

The couple were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence and child neglect.

The man, in his 30s and the woman in her 20s were arrested in Staffordshire. 

An inquest into Charlie's death was opened and adjourned until April.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

The manager of a Staffordshire football team once dubbed the " worst in the country, external " says he never expected they'd turn their fortunes around so dramatically. 

In February 2014, Tunstall Town ended a six-and-a-half-year, 171-game winless run  with a victory to stop a losing streak which dated back to 2007. 

Now the team are unbeaten this season in their league and in two cup finals, the first of which is tonight. 

Tunstall will  take on Brereton Social in the Division 2 League Cup Final., external

Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today

This lunchtime on Midlands Today, we'll hear from the mother whose 12-year-old son wasn't wearing a seatbelt when he died in a car crash. 

She's now helping police in the region raise awareness of the dangers.

We'll also look at news that one of our Midlands' councils is looking to bring in on-the-spot fines for anyone caught fly-tipping.

Those stories and more from 13:30 on BBC One .

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A woman's said to be in a stable condition in hospital after being hit by a car in Stoke-on-Trent. , external

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say the 79-year-old victim collided with a Nissan Qashqai on Friday evening on Chell Heath Road. 

The force described it as a "serious" crash and say they had to shut the route for around four hours.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A shop worker and a lorry driver have been attacked by three men during a robbery at a service station in Uttoxeter , external this morning. 

Staffordshire Police say the trio went into the BP Euro Garage on the A50 at around 00:45.

Image source, Google

Officers say one of them jumped over the counter and threatened the assistant, hitting him on the head and face. 

A lorry driver who was inside at the time was also punched in the face, the force says. 

They say the three men then made off with cigarettes, cash and scratch cards.

Kevin Reide
Midlands Today

Dozens of Stoke City fans turned out at the weekend to salute their League Cup winning side from 45 years ago.  

The city council organised a recreation of the Potters' victory bus parade , external from 1972. 

Back then Stoke had been the underdogs when they beat Chelsea 2-1 to win the trophy. 

Most of the team from that day took part in the parade to re-enact their celebrations.  

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

We've had more of your pictures come in of the area and here are five I've picked out.

You can keep sending your ones in on email or put them on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke, external if you agree to share them.

Phil Maiden
BBC Sport

The Burton Albion manager says he's pleased his side have improved their defending late on in games.

Image source, Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Nigel Clough says part of the reason the Brewers are fighting relegation in the Championship is that they conceded goals late on in matches.

At the weekend, Burton held on for a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest to move ahead of their opponents in the table.

BBC News England

Train passengers in Stoke-on-Trent have faced disruption this morning, external due to a 24-hour strike involving Northern Rail. 

Staff with the RMT union are striking over plans to make trains driver-only-operated.

Management at Northern Rail, which runs services between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester, say they want a negotiated solution and deny jobs will be lost. 

The firm is running only 40% of its normal services with trains running on its busier routes between 07:00 and 19:00.

Northern said it would run 300 rail replacement bus services.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Former football coach Barry Bennell has appeared before magistrates in Crewe charged with 12 fresh counts of historic child sexual abuse .

Wearing a blue jumper and appearing via video link from Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, the 63-year-old, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and that he understood the charges against him.

Mr Bennell was living in Milton Keynes at the time of his arrest.  

He was remanded in custody to appear before Chester Crown Court on 22 March.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

An unusual sports contest in Staffordshire, inspired by author JK Rowling in her Harry Potter books, has been won by a team from Nottingham. 

The sport of Quidditch held it fourth British Quidditch Cup, external at Rugeley Leisure Centre with teams from across the country taking part. 

The winners were Nottingham-based Velociraptors QC who beat Bristol's Brizzlepuffs in the final.  , external

The game sees players taking on the same roles as in the game in the Harry Potter books with players holding broomsticks while taking part. 

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Plans to build a £40m new road in part of Stoke-on-Trent will go on show for the first time today., external

The city council want to construct the route from the A500 to Festival Way in Etruria Valley.

Image source, Google

They say it'll cut congestion with a long-term aim to create new jobs and employment around the area, which is currently a retail and business estate.

On top of the council's plans, Highways England at the same time wants to widen the A500 between the Porthill and Wolstanton junctions. 

The first of four drop-in events about the plans start today with the council aiming to start work in April 2018.

The rapper will play two dates in the UK in mid-August in Staffordshire then Essex.