Woman dies after hit by car
Refugee praises "good hearts" of Stoke-on-Trent
Stafford hosts 'largest Shire horse competition in the world'
Football: Stoke's Butland 'out on the grass' after almost a year out
Updates on Friday 17 March 2017
Cheshire Search and Rescue team has been awarded a share of a £913,000 grant by Maritime Minister John Hayes. , external
Image source, Nantwich News
Image source, Carla Sienna RafeThe daffodils and plants are starting to burst into life and colour across Staffordshire and Cheshire and our BBC Weather Watchers are snapping pictures of them.
These two are from users Graham's vista in Shuttington and Carla Sienna Rafe in Clifton Campville.
Image source, Graham's vista
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
We're going to have some rain moving in from the north overnight and there could be some showers tomorrow too.
Check out the latest forecast for your area .
Shefali Oza has your forecast
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue ServiceCheshire's fire service has released pictures of one of its search and rescue dogs in action, on the day he gets given a bravery award.
Border Collie Bryn's worked for 10 years with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and will tonight be officially given an Order of Merit by the PDSA animal charity , external .
Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A town centre market could be handed over to a private company to run as the local council says it's not performing well, despite a recent revamp.
Officials are advising Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council that the historic market needs a "shot in the arm" to stop it sliding into long-term decline.
The authority says it hopes an external operator will attract more traders and customers.
The plans will be discussed by councillors later this month.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
The Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says he thinks Jordan Bowery's goal against Crawley on Tuesday night will be the first of many.
Image source, crewealex.netThe 25-year-old has received criticism from some fans for his lack of goals, but Artell says he is working hard.
Quote MessageHe's been terrific, I'm delighted he's scored and got that monkey off his back because he works so hard for the team."
David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The fire service has confirmed the blaze crews have been tackling this afternoon at a derelict Stoke-on-Trent pub's, external believed to be arson.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says the fire at the Red Lion on Ruxley Road, Bucknall, is now under control.
Firefighters carried out an investigation and think it was deliberately started, so have handed it over to the police.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Cannabis plants with an estimated street valuie of £10,000 have been seized , external by police officers.
Staffordshire Police say they were searching a house on Market Street, Cannock yesterday afternoon but found nothing at that address.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceHowever, the force says, while they were there, officers smelt cannabis from a nearby house.
They searched that place and found 15 cannabis plants, adding that a man found there is "helping police with ongoing inquiries".
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceLeek Post and Times
Tributes have been paid to a man who was at the centre of the fight to save Leek's floral roundabout. , external
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
As fire crews tackle a pub fire in Stoke-on-Trent this afternoon, police say they've been called on to make sure people are kept safe at the scene.
Staffordshire Police's Central Response team's tweeted, external this photo of the scene at the Red Lion on Ruxley Road, Bucknall.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
The first floor and roof of a derelict pub in Stoke-on-Trent's, external "well alight" this afternoon.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service say they were called to the Red Lion on Ruxley Road, Bucknall at 14:28.
They've sent the aerial ladder platform along with crews from Longton, Hanley and Burslem to tackle the blaze.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A motorcyclist from Crewe has been seriously injured after a collision with a Land Rover., external
Cheshire Police say the man was airlifted to hospital yesterday evening after the crash on the A54 between Middlewich and the M6 at junction 18.
Firefighters say the biker had to be freed from a hedge.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Homes in part of Nantwich are without water this afternoon after damage to the mains network on Whitchurch Road, United Utilities says. , external
The firm says it has sent engineers to get the water flowing again as soon as possible.
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Judge says "sensitive" evidence from two prosecution witnesses will be for jurors' "ears only".
Read MoreAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
Jurors have been warned by a judge in a terrorism trial that secret evidence will be strictly "for your ears only" as they were sworn in.
The trial of four men at the Old Bailey, including two from Stoke-on-Trent, accused of planning terrorist acts will be held partly behind closed doors as "sensitive" evidence is heard from two unnamed prosecution witnesses.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe jurors were told by Mr Justice Globe that they would be in contempt of court if they talked outside their group about what they'd heard.
The four accused are: Naweed Ali, 28, of Evelyn Road, Sparkhill; Khobaib Hussain, 24, also of Evelyn Road, Sparkhill; Mohibur Rahman, 31, of High Lane, Stoke-on-Trent; Tahir Aziz, 37, of Wulstan Road, Stoke-on-Trent.
The four deny engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between 25 May and 27 August last year.
The jurors were told the trial will continue on Tuesday.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
As you keep sending in great photos of the area, I love picking out five and showcasing them here.
You can send your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire in on email or put them on Instagram, adding #bbcstoke, external as a tag to show you agree to share them.
Your pictures
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
No court action will be taken against a UKIP campaigner who was caught urinating on a wall in Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffordshire Police say the incident happened last month during the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election.
Image source, PAUKIP has always maintained that the man in question had a prostate problem.
The man has now apologised, say Staffordshire Police, adding that, following an investigation, "in agreement with all parties the matter was dealt with by way of community resolution".
BBC Radio Stoke has contacted UKIP and are waiting for its response.
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime we'll have news of a multimillion-pound plan to prevent overcrowding on trains in the West Midlands.
The Midlands Rail Hub includes a variety of measures, aimed at providing much needed additional capacity over the next decade.
We'll have more and if officials can deliver on their promises from 13:30 on BBC One.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale's caretaker manager Michael Brown says he inherited an unfit squad from previous manager Bruno Ribeiro.
Image source, Pete Norton/Getty ImagesVale have suffered with injuries this season and, after Tuesday's defeat at Northampton, have two more players receiving treatment.
Michael Brown told BBC Radio Stoke that the players' fitness has been a big problem.
Police smashed a window to free a dog locked in a hot car parked at a branch of McDonald's.
Image source, GoogleIt happened in Bassetts Pole where Birmingham meets Staffordshire and Warwickshire.
The small dog had been left in the unattended vehicle with all the windows closed, parked in direct sunlight, at about 12:30 yesterday, said Warwickshire Police which was alerted by a member of the public.
The owner, found in a nearby business, was cautioned and reported for the offence of causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
