Tamworth Herald

Two men who were seen brawling in a Tamworth street have been arrested in connection with a recent burglary, external .

Russell Truran
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

People in Newcastle-under-Lyme have reacted with anger after being told that the borough council will no longer collect bins and recycling boxes from some private roads.  

The authority says it's after one of its bin lorries recently almost fell over. 

People will instead have to drag their bins to the end of their roads and the council says it has plans in place to help affected residents. 

But a number of them have told the BBC the changes are more dangerous and are penalising elderly residents.  

BBC News Travel

Drivers are being warned to take care on Weston Road, Crewe due to a burst water main.

BBC North West Tonight

A search and rescue dog from Cheshire, which helped to find casualties after Nepal's earthquake two years ago, has been given a bravery award.   , external

Bryn, a Border Collie, has served with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service for more than 10 years , external . 

He's now been given an Order of Merit by the PDSA animal charity.  

Relive Friday's Championship action, as Bristol City thrash Huddersfield and Reading win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Express and Star

A leisure centre that shut when Staffordshire University moved from its former campus has been saved by Chinese investors. , external

Image source, Express and Star

Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The National Memorial Arboretum has revealed plans to build a new £8m events facility at its Staffordshire site.

The Alrewas-based charity says it expects to attract half a million visitors a year by 2027. 

A new visitor centre (pictured) opened last year following investments, including £3m from Staffordshire County Council. 

The charity made a presentation to the authority yesterday, external , but the council is yet to confirm whether it will make another investment in Alrewas.  

Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The rail route linking Stoke-on-Trent to Crewe and Derby is failing to meet demand, according to local business groups.

The Chambers of Commerce for Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire have written to the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, asking for government intervention.

Image source, Google

They say they want ministers to speed up journey times and encourage more frequent departures on train timetables.

In the letter, they say increased popularity of the route exceeds capacity. 

BBC Radio Stoke has approached the government for reaction and, when we get it, we'll bring it to you.

Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Volunteers hoping to reopen a centre for disabled children say it could welcome back youngsters from as soon as next month. 

The North Staffordshire Special Adventure playground in Newcastle-under-Lyme closed last year due to a lack of funding. 

Image source, Special Adventure Playground

At the time, trustees said it had been "struggling financially for some time". 

Since then the site's former staff have founded a charity called Our Space , external which has joined forces with a dementia support charity to lease the building from the borough council.

It's told BBC Radio Stoke it hopes paperwork will be completed this month, allowing refurbishment and a reopening as early as April. 

The Sentinel

Pensioner Annie Hodgkinson died after tumbling down stairs and fracturing her skull at a Tenerife hotel. , external

Image source, The Sentinel

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says finishing eighth in the Premier League this season would show massive progress by the team. 

Image source, Paul Gilham/Getty Images

They're currently chasing West Bromwich Albion for that place having only ever finished as high as ninth. 

With 10 games to go , Coates told BBC Radio Stoke his intention is for the club to keep moving forward. 

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

Staffordshire Police has become the 12th force to have sent files to the Crown Prosecution Service, as part of investigations into allegations of overspending during the General Election in 2015.

Image source, Getty Images

It is in relation to expenses claimed by the Cannock Chase MP Amanda Milling. 

Police are looking into whether strict spending limits in target seats were breached, during the Conservatives' "battle bus" campaign. 

The CPS will now decide if charges should be brought.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A public appeal by a wildlife trust to raise funds to buy a piece of Staffordshire land to "secure a future for upland wading birds" has raised more than £52,000., external

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust says the birds, such as lapwing, snipe and curlew, are on the brink of disappearing in the county.

Image source, RSPB

They say since 1985 local populations "have plummeted" and they want to buy around 30 acres of Staffordshire Moorlands land called Hazel Barrow. 

The trust says the land contains habitats which such wading birds need to live and breed. 

They've launched a fundraising webpage aimed at raising £108,000 to buy the land and have reached 48% of their total.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Not as nice as yesterday, with some fog around first thing, then a cloudy day with the potential for drizzle later on with highs of 11C (52F).

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

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Hello everyone, it was a bright start to the day but it's been turning cloudy in Stoke-on-Trent over the BBC Stoke HQ.

Before the cloud came in, BBC Weather Watcher Darkula took this picture over Longport.

Image source, Darkula

You can see the full weather picture shortly and we'll also have the day's news, sport, travel and more over the next few hours.

You can also be part of it as we want more of your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire so send those in on email or put them on Instagram, external  (adding the tag #bbcstoke).

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. 

Rachael Lazaro
Reporter, BBC News Online

Cheshire East Council wants to double the number of people cycling in the borough by 2025.

Image source, Cheshire East Council

 A cycle-friendly network has been designed (pictured) with routes connecting key places. 

The council will work with partners and local cycling groups to deliver the cycling strategy over the next 10 years.

Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening we'll hear from parents from Stoke-on-Trent who struggle to hug their child because of a rare disease. 

Poppy Lovatt was born with a condition known as "butterfly disease" which means she has very fragile skin. 

We'll hear how this has affected her family and what they're doing to help others with the disease - on BBC One from 18:30.

Lichfield Mercury

A seriously ill little girl from Burntwood has had her greatest wish granted – to become a zookeeper for the day., external

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A man's been jailed for stealing £35,000-worth of alloy wheels from cars on a garage forecourt in Crewe.

Cheshire Police say the thefts happened last December , external and Scott Meakin was caught the second time he tried to target the Audi dealership.

Image source, Cheshire Police

The 28-year-old from Royton, Oldham was today jailed for four years at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to four counts of thefts from motor vehicles. 

Detectives say they proved he'd also been present during similar thefts at Audi garages across the North West of England.