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
Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today
More on the Staffordshire farmer who has lost most of his herd of dairy cattle after they tested positive fore bovine TB.
We also take a look at the report into 'squalid' conditions at HMP and YOI Swinfen Hall and find out why Shopshire Council is taking the government to the High Court.
More on these stories on BBC One at 18.30
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Newcastle Borough Council has defended its decision to fine a woman, external for feeding pigeons by putting bread out on the street near her home.
The woman was initially fined £50 on 8 September after a council officer spotted her leaving bread out near her home on Castle Hill Road in the town.
The authority increased it to £75 when she didn't pay and the matter was due in court last Friday. However she decided to pay the fine before the case was heard.
Image source, Getty ImagesWatch Final Score and follow reaction from five Premier League matches, with the relegation battle under the spotlight.
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Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
The new MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central has described the Potteries as the "best place in the UK, if not the world", during his first speech in the Commons.
Gareth Snell won the seat in a by-election last month. The former MP, Tristram Hunt, resigned to run the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Image source, PA
Orla Moore
BBC Local Live
A senior British Army officer has faced a court marshal at Colchester Garrison, external after paying his sons' school fees with taxpayers' money.
Brig Charles Beardmore, 51, is believed to be the most senior officer to face an Army court martial since 1952.
He admitted negligently performing his duty at an earlier hearing . The court martial heard there was no suggestion of dishonesty.
Image source, PA/Chris RadburnProsecutor Col Nigel Jones said Brig Beardmore, of the Defence Medical Services in Whittington, Staffordshire, had claimed so-called Continuity of Education Allowance for his two sons - without declaring that his wife had not been living at the same address as him for more than 90 days in a single year.
Brig Beardmore was sentenced to "forfeit all seniority" by a board of three Army brigadiers.
The punishment means he doesn't lose his rank - but falls to the back of the queue for promotion and benefits.
He was also ordered to pay a service compensation order of £11,750 to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) within 14 days.
Image source, PABrigadiers, external are senior to colonels - and outranked only by generals.
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
A motorcross bike failed to stop after a collision with a woman on a mobility scooter in Stoke-on-Trent, say police.
It happened yesterday afternoon on Dawlish Drive, external in Bentilee. Officers say she wasn't seriously hurt, but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
They're appealing for witnesses.
Image source, GoogleCharles Beardmore is believed to be the most senior officer to face an Army court martial since 1952.
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BBC News England
Figures obtained by the BBC show ambulances were called to trampoline parks in the UK more than 300 times in 12 months.
According to figures from 13 ambulance trusts - One park, Flip Out Stoke, based in Stone, called out an ambulance more than once a week on average.
Paramedics attended 17 times in 109 days - once every six days - following its opening in December 2015.
In a statement to the BBC Flip Out says safety is its number one priority.
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences in Uttoxeter.
Police say the pair, a 40-year-old man and 38-year-old woman, were detained after a raid on Chaffinch Drive at 08:00.
Officers say the arrests are part of the second day of its 50-50 operation, external in which the force is spending the next 50 days targeting specific types of criminal activity across Staffordshire.
Image source, GoogleThese two photos were taken within 20 minutes of each other, one in Alsager (top) and the other in Leek (below).
They show we've been getting some varied weather across the area - with blue skies and wispy cloud for some of us and grey cloud for others.
Image source, Deneb
Image source, Videoman
Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
T he Howard League, external has issued a harshly worded response to Tuesday's report into 'squalid' conditions at HMP and YOI Swinfen Hall, near Lichfield.
The national charity for penal reform points to some officers, particularly those with less experience, drawing batons to resolve incidents where there were not enough staff to intervene.
Image source, HM Inspectorate of PrisonsQuote MessageIt is scandalous that the young men in Swinfen Hall find it easier to get drugs than showers. Their clothes are dirty. Their cells are squalid. They spend the working day cooped up in filth. What hope do they have on release?"
Frances Crook , Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform
The Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke says the arrival of a new governor will help to set a new direction for the prison but that the prison needs to rethink its approach and raise expectations among both staff and prisoners.
Twenty-one people have been fined so far this month for dropping cigarette butts in Stafford town centre.
That's according to the borough council which says the men and women - aged between 16 and 79 - have each been fined £75.
Image source, PA
Twitter
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue has told us that they're dealing with a large fire where 68 bales of hay are alight.
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Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today
A Staffordshire farmer loses his cattle herd after an outbreak of bovine TB and a warning over internet scams.
All this and more on Midlands Today, BBC One at 13.30.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe manager David Artell hopes lessons have been learned from Saturday's defeat to Newport, as his side go to Crawley tonight.
The Alex lost 2-1 at the weekend and missed the chance to go 10 points clear of the relegation places.
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio Stoke
Time is running out to stop a vase made by Josiah Wedgwood going abroad.
The First Day's Vase was made to mark the opening of his factory in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent. in 1769.
It was on loan to the Potteries Museum, but last year it was sold to a foreign buyer.
Today is the final day to raise the £482,000 needed to keep it in the country.
Image source, WedgwoodThe amount raised so far stands at just over £83,000.
Rebecca Wood
BBC Weather
When the going gets tough, the tough get checking the weather forecast, or at least those who want to pick a winner at the races do.
As Cheltenham Festival 2017 gets under way, BBC Weather's Rebecca Wood explains about having a flutter in the wind and more.
How the weather can leave your Cheltenham Festival tips under a cloud
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale can climb out of the League One relegation zone with a win at Northampton tonight.
Vale start the game two points behind Oldham who are currently fifth from bottom.
Image source, Getty ImagesFull commentary of tonight's game will be on BBC Radio Stoke 94.6FM and Freeview Channel 734.
Thanks to Weather Watchers Dodger for this one of Stowe and to Dawn Treader for taking the one below of Congleton.
Image source, Dodger
Image source, Dawn TreaderWe love to see your pictures so email , tweet us on @RadioStoke, external or message via Facebook, external .
