Cup of tea chat led to WW2 medal honourpublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
Harry Gould, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, transported supplies to Allied troops following D-Day.
Read MoreSummary
M6 closed in Staffordshire due to 'unsafe' bridge
Man took wedding ring off the fingers of 98-year-old bedridden woman
Former Bishop of Lichfield, Keith Sutton, dies
D-Day veteran awarded French honour
Updates on Friday 24 March
Cup of tea chat led to WW2 medal honourpublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
M6 closure: Traffic 'crawling' on diverted routepublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveRoutes around the M6 in Staffordshire between junctions 14 and 15 are reportedly already getting congested due to a full closure of the motorway.
Image source, Jill HoodHighways England says traffic is being diverted via the A34 and A500 , external while work is carried out to remove panels from an "unsafe" bridge.
Stone Borough Councillor Jill Hood says she lives, external on the A34 through Stone and tweeted to say traffic is "stationary" with vehicles "crawling" through the town.
Don't forget the clocks go forward this weekendpublished at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
The lighter nights are on the way. Get ready to say hello to British Summer Time on Sunday.
BBC Weather tweets this simple reminder. There's always a bit of confusion around on social media about when it falls.
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End of twitter postM6 closure: Crane needed to remove panels from bridgepublished at 08:38 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA closure of the M6 in Staffordshire this morning, external is likely to stay in place until later today.
Image source, Jon KelsoHighways England say the stretch between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent is shut because checks found some long, heavy panels need removing from under the A51 bridge.
The bridge itself is "structurally sound", it says.
Highways England say a crane is going to needed to remove the panels as they each weigh 190kg (418lbs) - traffic is being diverted via the A500 and the A34.
Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterAfter some early cloud it should be a bright day with plenty of sunshine and highs of 13C (55F).
Don't forget you can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.
Media caption, Latest weather for the West Midlands
'Unsafe bridge' closes M6 in both directions in Staffordshire published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeBridge repairs above the M6 mean the motorway has been closed in both directions between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent. , external
Image source, Jon KelsoCentral Motorway Police Group said the closure was due to an, external "unsafe bridge".
Highways England say it could be shut through the morning for emergency work , external at the A51 bridge, north of Stafford services, between junctions 14 and 15.
They say the problem was discovered in the early hours of this morning and there are long queues in both directions on the M6, with many surrounding routes already congested.
Here's Friday's live coverage for Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveMorning everyone, on the eve of British Summer Time starting this weekend, with the clocks going forward, it's a bright and sunny start to the day in Staffordshire and Cheshire.
BBC Weather Watcher Gadjet took this over Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, GadjetCharlie Slater will have a full weather forecast for today shortly and there'll be plenty of updates on the day's news, sport, travel and more through today.
You can also keep sending in your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire on email or, if you are an Instagram user, put them there and add #bbcstoke so I know you agree to share them. , external
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
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.
'Cost-saving' new streetlights with £7.8m price tagpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio StokeNew streetlights will save taxpayers in Stoke-on-Trent £830,000 a year, according to the city council.
Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilThe authority is installing 27,000 LED lamps in streets across the Potteries , external to reduce light pollution and carbon taxes.
The council says the project will cost £7.8m to install with an estimated lifespan of up to 20 years.
Football: Injury-hit Port Vale facing 'very thin' squad for MK Dons published at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokePort Vale are waiting to discover the extent of injuries to striker JJ Hooper and captain Ben Purkiss.
Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesHooper was injured in the warm up at Coventry on Tuesday, while Purkiss left the pitch in the second-half.
Caretaker manager Michael Brown told BBC Radio Stoke the squad is very thin at the moment as they prepare to face MK Dons on Saturday.
On Midlands Today from 18:30: London attack investigation focuses on West Midlands published at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayOn Midlands Today this evening, we'll have the latest as the West Midlands has become the focus of police investigations, following the terror attack in Westminster yesterday.
Image source, PASearches have been carried out by police and the London attacker's been identified as most recently living in the region.
We'll have the very latest on BBC One from 18:30.
Tamworth mum finds long-lost footage of dead daughterpublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
An overwhelmed Tamworth mum has spoken of her Mother's Day miracle after finding footage , external of her "little girl" playing with school friends - almost 40 years after she tragically died of a brain tumour.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldVideo: Your overnight weather forecastpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands TodaySome clear spells this evening, before cloud builds giving us overnight lows of 4C (39F).
You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.
Media caption, BBC Midlands Today's Rebecca Wood has your forecast
'Dementia-friendly' sculpture carved at parkpublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA "dementia-friendly" sculpture has been created at a park in Staffordshire. , external
Cannock Chase District Council says it's been made at Hednesford Park by the same sculptor who carved recent woodland sculptures at the same site.
Image source, Cannock Chase District CouncilRobot Cossey's design includes a collection of forget-me-nots which the authority says it the recognised emblem for dementia-friendly communities.
The council says the sculpture now sits along the route of dementia-friendly walks which are held weekly in the park.
Bed delay transfer figures reveal Stoke-on-Trent among worst affected published at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Daniel Wainwright
Data unit - English regionsNew research by the BBC shows Stoke-on-Trent is among the worst areas in England for the delayed discharge of hospital patients.
The problem, also known as bed blocking, is caused when a patient is well enough to leave hospital but can't, because there's a lack of social care to support them.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn Stoke-on-Trent, there were 40 days lost per 1,000 people aged 18 and over between April and January.
The Local Government Association said under-funded authorities had placed care providers under "huge pressure".
The government said the difference "of over 20 times between best and worst councils is unacceptable".
Eight NatWest branches to shut in Staffordshirepublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeEight NatWest branches are set to shut in Staffordshire, owner RBS revealed today, blaming a "dramatic shift" in banking.
The firm says branch transactions have fallen 43% since 2010 and online and mobile transactions have increased by more than 400%.
Image source, NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Staffordshire branches scheduled to shut in October include:
- Biddulph
- Burslem
- Cheadle (Staffs)
- Hanley Festival Park
- Rugeley
- Campbell Place, Stoke
- Stone
- Trentham
Horse dealer sentenced after admitting keeping animals 'in squalid conditions' published at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA woman's been convicted of animal cruelty offences for keeping horses and donkeys in what Staffordshire County Council has called , external "squalid conditions".
The authority says Jackie Johnson was a horse dealer who kept the animals in poor conditions, in dirty stables with no outside shelter.
They say in an investigation with partners including the RSPCA and police they found one pony collapsed in a field and a second injured pony, both of which had to be put to sleep.
Image source, Staffordshire County CouncilThe council says it also took away four horses, several of which were also euthanised.
Johnson, 54, of Stadmorslow Farm in Harriseahead pleaded guilty to 10 offences under Section 9 and Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for animal cruelty and failing to provide a duty of care to the animals under her control.
She was given 12-week suspended sentences for each offence, fined nearly £3,500 and banned from keeping horses, donkeys and ponies indefinitely, although she can apply to vary that order after three years.
BBC Weather Watchers: Stowe and Leekpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Springtime and some sunshine coming out in these two pictures, picked out from the many uploaded by our local BBC Weather Watchers .
They've been taken by Staffordshire users Dodger in Stowe and Videoman in Leek.
Image source, Dodger
Image source, VideomanPolice hunt flasher after indecent exposure near factorypublished at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio StokeA man's indecently exposed himself to two women in Cheadle., external
Staffordshire Police say it happened near the JCB factory on Leek road yesterday evening.
The force says the man had pulled up alongside the women in a small red van.
Football: New deal for Crewe goalkeeperpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2017
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeGoalkeeper Ben Garratt has signed a new contract with Crewe Alexandra that'll keep him at the club until 2019. , external
Image source, crewealex.netThe 22-year-old's previous deal had been set to expire this summer.
Over the past four years he's appeared 141 times for the Alex in League One and League Two.
