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
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
It will be a clear and settled start to the evening. It will feel cool under clear skies, allowing areas of fog to develop through the early hours. However, it should remain dry for most - lows of 4C (39F).
Tomorrow will be much cloudier, with outbreaks of light rain expected through the afternoon.
Latest weather forecast for the Midlands
Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby Sport
Burton Albion will wait on the fitness of Marvin Sordell, pictured, and Luke Varney ahead of the visit of Brentford on Saturday.
Both strikers were substituted through injury during the win over Nottingham Forest.
Image source, Getty Images
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Shopkeepers in Leek say plans to extend the town's market, external haven't been thought through.
The district council's proposals are to expand the site down Derby Street to meet at Market Street.
The plan would mean closing parts of Derby Street and Russell Street, which a number of shopkeepers and shoppers say will impact on other businesses.
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council says it always intended to put stalls in the streets concerned and that the road closures are necessary to do so.
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
The sister of one of the men who were driving the train involved in the Great Train Robbery has visited the scene of the crime for the first time.
In August 1963, a gang of men escaped with £2.6m from the Glasgow to London mail train .
Nancy Barkley visits site of Great Train Robbery
Two men from Crewe, Jack Mills and David Whitby, were driving the train at the time - Jack Mills was struck over the head during the robbery and never worked again.
He died in 1970. David Whitby, 26 at the time of the attack, also never recovered from the ordeal and died from a heart attack eight years later, his family said.
Today his sister Nancy Barkley and her family saw where the crime happened for the first time, describing it as an "incredible" and "very emotional" visit.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Staff at a warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent had a shock when a praying mantis turned up hidden inside a container from India. , external
The RSPCA says its officers were called to the JCB warehouse on Lowlands Road last Friday after the discovery.
Image source, RSPCAThey say staff had trapped the insect in a box after it had travelled around 4,800 miles across the world.
It has now, the RSPCA says, been taken to a specialist exotics centre in the city.
An appeal to keep the rare pottery in Stoke-on-Trent is extended after reaching a third of its target.
Read MoreAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
Two men armed with a baseball bat have stolen cash and cigarettes totalling £8,000 from a Co-op store. , external
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say they went into the High Street branch in Pattingham at around 05:45 today.
Officers say they threatened staff with the bat and then locked them in the toilet while they stole the cash and cigarettes.
Staffs Live
A charity in Newcastle-under-Lyme has launched a new service , external to help poor families who are struggling to feed their children.
Image source, Staffs Live
Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
The parents of a little girl with a rare skin condition say they want to help others who suffer with the disease.
Poppy Lovatt's mother Kim
Poppy, 5, from Stoke-on-Trent has epidermolysis bullosa (EB) which is sometimes called "butterfly disease".
It means her skin is so fragile that it can blister with the slightest of touches and her family have to wrap her legs in bandages and take extreme care when hugging her.
Her mother Kim Lovatt says they are working with Debra, the EB charity, external , to promote awareness of the disease.
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
A deadline to prevent a rare piece of Wedgwood pottery from leaving the UK has been extended after a £90,000 donation. , external
The Friends of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, need to raise £482,500 to buy the First Day's Vase, external .
Wedgwood vase campaign
It was one of the first pieces to be made by Josiah Wedgwood when he opened the factory in 1769.
The latest donation's come from the Art Fund and means a temporary export band, which initially ran out yesterday (14 March), has now been extended to 14 July.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A burglary suspect was chased through marshes by police officers, external this morning after reports of a break-in in the Staffordshire Moorlands
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceStaffordshire Police says a house was broken into on Glastonbury Close, Stockton Brook, external at around 11:00.
Officers say a 40-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested in connection with the burglary after a chase through "swampy fields".
They then revealed on Twitter their dirty trousers after the pursuit.
Facebook
More Facebook response, external to our story about a cat being put in a bag and dumped in a Burton field.
Karen O'Donnell said: "This makes my blood boil."
Brian Gamble posted: "I hope she finds a good home and soon."
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Here are another five of the pictures which you've sent in of Staffordshire and Cheshire.
To share your recent photos of the area, share them via email or put them on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share, external .
Your photos
Buses are set to replace trains between Four Oaks and Lichfield Trent Valley after a signalling fault left some lines blocked.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
The Stoke City defender Marc Muniesa says he's been inspired by his best friend at Barcelona to recapture his best form.
Image source, Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesSergi Roberto (pictured) scored the winner for the Catalan side against Paris St-Germain last week , after previously struggling to get into the team.
That has encouraged Muniesa to fight for his place in the Stoke side.
Quote MessageYou have to play whatever if you want to get games so he is my reference because he was not playing in a big team, I'm not playing here so I have to try to do the same as him."
Marc Muniesa, Stoke City defender
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
We think that might be enough water if you're taking part in the Stafford Half Marathon this weekend.
A record 4,000 people will take to the streets, external of the county town this Sunday from 10:00, external , beginning from Stafford Street.
Image source, Stafford Half MarathonOrganisers have today posted on Facebook that they've had 10,000 bottles of water delivered for the runners. , external
BBC Radio Stoke will be covering the race from 09:00 this Sunday.
Facebook
Victoria Plum got in touch via Facebook, external after reading our story about a cat being tied in a bag and dumped in a Burton field.
She wrote: "Where are these people's head's at?"
Image source, RSPCA
Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today
This lunchtime on Midlands Today - how thousands of jobs could be created in part of the region through a regeneration plan.
Image source, Glenn Howells ArchitectsPlus we'll have the latest unemployment figures and news of a pension protest by car workers in the Midlands.
Those stories along with your lunchtime weather forecast on BBC One from 13:30.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Burglars have broken into a house in Staffordshire , external that was in the middle of being renovated following a fatal house fire.
Staffordshire Police say Colin Dunn died in the blaze at the home on Six Ashes Road, Bobbington in November.
Image source, GoogleThe force says his widow was preparing to move back in having lived there for 32 years.
Officers say the burglary happened between Thursday and Monday and the thieves took TVs and a watch which has sentimental value for Mrs Dunn.
Staffordshire Police say she's been left "deeply distressed and affected" by the burglary.
More than 20 litter louts have been fined in Stafford already this month, external .
