Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

East Staffordshire District Council is one of just 22 local authorities in England to freeze council tax.   

Image source, PA

The Press Association's analysed all 353 local authorities in England and found nine out of 10 local authorities are raising their tax from April.

East Staffordshire is among 22 that are freezing tax in 2017-18, with just one authority, East Hampshire, planning to cut the amount. 

The Local Government Association said the increases nationally didn't mean they'd prevent further cutbacks. 

The Department for Communities and Local Government said councils had had almost £200bn over four years and should be keeping bills down.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Port Vale manager Michael Brown says he thinks it would be an unbelievable achievement by his players if they stay in League One.

Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The Vale are one point from safety with eight games to play after Saturday's 0-0 draw with MK Dons. 

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Books of condolence have been opened in three places in Cheshire , external for the people who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Westminster last week .

Image source, PA

Cheshire East Council says the books are available for members of the public to sign during office hours. 

The authority says they are at its receptions at the Municipal Offices in Crewe, the council's headquarters in Sandbach and at Macclesfield Town Hall.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You keep sending in great pictures of the area and here are four more that you've shared.

If you've got one to send in, do it via email or, if you are an Instagram user, put it there with the tag #bbcstoke., external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Paul Hand asked, on Your Questions : "How do I locate a family in Stoke-on-Trent?"

Well, outside of the phone directory for current names, the other way would be via the local archive services.

In Stoke-on-Trent they suggest using online services such as The Staffordshire Collection on Findmypast which contains parish registers, marriage bonds , external and more.

The Staffordshire archive service also suggest, apart from their online services, planning a visit to the record office to track down more details. , external

If you've got a question about Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire to pose, ask us here .

BBC North West Tonight

A man who was given a kidney by his best friend says he feels "100% better" and is considering a charity skydive.  

Andy Clewes from Crewe had the transplant in Manchester after his friend Helen Crowther from Runcorn agreed to become a donor. 

The 46-year-old suffered chronic kidney disease since birth and was on the verge of needing dialysis treatment. 

Mr Clewes and Ms Crowther, 45, are now planning "a curry and a few beers" to celebrate the successful procedure, which was carried out in January.  

A man and woman are questioned and bailed by police following three robberies in Shropshire.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A Stoke-on-Trent school says it's excluded 12 pupils after they refused to do as they were told by staff, following an argument between two pupils. 

In a statement, Birches Head Academy says it happened on Thursday after they'd decided to cut lunch short after the "altercation".

Image source, Google

The school says that, while staff had dealt with that incident, it started to "create sides" between a few students who then refused to listen to staff when the end of lunch bell was rung 20 minutes early. 

Head teacher Kerry Dixon says one teacher was taken to hospital after slipping and suffering a shoulder injury while opening the school doors. 

The 12 students have been excluded from the academy "for varying lengths of time".

BBC Midlands Today

Over 300 tonnes of commercial waste, illegally dumped in Staffordshire countryside, is set to be cleared., external

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

The county council says the waste was dumped in Gladings Wood, Madeley Heath in January, blocking a car park and a right of way. 

Staffordshire Police are investigating, while the authority says it will be co-ordinating the clear-up.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City goalkeeper Lee Grant says they shouldn't underestimate Leicester City this weekend. 

Image source, Mark Thompson/Getty Images

The Potters are back in action on Saturday after the international break and Grant told BBC Radio Stoke that the players will need to be on top form.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

North Warwickshire District Council is one of just 22 local authorities in England to freeze their council tax. 

Image source, PA

Only one of the 353, East Hampshire, is reducing the charge from next month, saying it has taken "balanced risks" with its finances to buck the national trend.

In Coventry, council tax bills will rise by 4.9% and around 4% across the rest of Warwickshire.

The Sentinel

A derelict piece of land in the city centre has been put up for sale again., external

Image source, The Sentinel

Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist

Army veterans, who have taken over the pub their regiment was formed in, say it took just two weeks to raise £65,000 to buy the lease on it. 

It was in 1705 that the Staffordshire Regiment was formed in the King's Head in Lichfield. 

But, when veterans heard the outgoing landlord was retiring and that there were rumours it was going to be turned into a bed and breakfast, they sprang into action. 

Having paid the money, at the weekend they held a procession to mark the opening of the Bird Street-based pub.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A lovely day in store, with plenty of blue sky and sunshine around with highs of 14C (57F).

You can find a detailed forecast for your area here.

Former members of the Staffordshire Regiment are running the Kings Head, where it was founded 312 years ago.

Police release CCTV footage of the suspect they believe carried out all three attacks within hours.

Carlisle see their winless run in League Two extend to seven games as Crewe secure victory at Brunton Park.

Port Vale moved to within a point of safety in League One after holding MK Dons to a goalless stalemate.

Watch Final Score, listen to Radio 5 live commentary and follow all the Premier League action as it happens.

The motorway is now fully open but long delays remain, Highways England say.