New 24-hour emergency mental health team for Staffordshire
Colleges complete merger with 11,000 students
Football: Burton's Ben Turner banned for racial abuse
Saido Berahino: Former manager Tony Pulis says 'life is too short' to dwell on the past
Updates from Friday 31 March 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
You can also keep up-to-date with the latest weather for your part of the region through the BBC Weather website.
Charlie Slater
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
It's an umbrella kind of start to the day, wet and grey over Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent this morning.
We'll have a full look at your weather forecast in a moment and there'll be news, sport, travel and more through the day.
Keep sending in your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire on email or, if you use Instagram, pop them there with the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them , external .
That's all from our live team today - we're back from 08:00 on Wednesday.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet thinks Saturday's clean sheet could prove to be a massive boost, as the team battle to avoid relegation.
The 0-0 draw at home to MK Dons saw Vale keep their first clean sheet in nearly three months.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageIt's a big positive, especially when we've not kept a clean sheet for so long. Doubt can creep in about if you can actually keep a clean sheet
Deniz Mehmet, Port Vale goalkeeper
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A Stoke-on-Trent GP is backing an NHS review into some drugs and supplements being available on prescription.
NHS England is working on new guidelines in an attempt to save money, with gluten free food, Omega 3 and some painkillers possibly being affected.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageIt's happened in the past where some drugs do get withdrawn, but it's good this is being looked at nationally, because doing it on a local level doesn't always work
Dr Steve Fawcett , Clincial Director of Acute Care at Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Group
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
There is plenty of cloud and some showers forecast overnight, but temperatures won't drop much below 9C (48F).
Tomorrow will be another cloudy day, but the rain should go.
Charlie Slater with the weather forecast for the West Midlands
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City Chief Executive Tony Scholes says finishing ninth in the Premier League for the last three seasons has made it easier to attract new players.
Stoke are coming to the end of their ninth season back in the top tier of English football.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageIf you're able to demonstrate a track record, which we now have, of doing well in the Premier League, then that does help in attracting new players."
Tony Scholes, Stoke City chief executive
You can find out more at BBC Stargazing Live
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Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire Police has been patrolling near a Stoke-on-Trent primary school this afternoon following earlier reports of a person with an offensive weapon.
It's said to have taken place in an area near Packmoor's Ormiston Academy.
Image source, GoogleA man, arrested at Stafford services in connection with the reports, remains in police custody.
After months of work over the winter, the Lyneal Trust charity has been able to launch its new canal boat.
Lyneal Trust charity launches new canal boat
It will be used to offer trips to older people and to people with disabilities and it is the third in the charity's fleet.
Cheshire East Council will decide tomorrow whether or not to build eight houses on the free car park at Browning Street, in Crewe. , external
Engine of the North, one of the council’s own companies, has applied for permission to build the properties.
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A Stoke-on-Trent hotel says it faces unwanted expense in replacing coin-operated lockers - because the new £1 piece doesn't fit them.
Image source, Royal MintThe owners of the Tollgate Hotel, in Trentham, say they're having to pay out hundreds of pounds to replace them.
Quote MessageWe totted it up and it looks like we're going to have to spend about £600 of expenditure to replace all the items [that are coin operated].
Adrian Oldfield , Manager of the Tollgate Hotel
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe captain George Ray says he was prepared to quit the club this season due to a lack of first team football.
The defender found himself surplus to requirements until David Artell replaced Steve Davis as the manager.
Image source, EmpicsQuote MessageI wanted to leave. I couldn't see myself playing, so with six months of my contract left I thought it best to go
George Ray, Crewe Alexandra defender
The mother of a six-year-old girl tells how her daughter became part of her own fairytale after she found a wallet in a supermarket.
Read More
Sally Swinfen
BBC Radio Derby newsreader
Do you despise using public toilets?...unless you're desperate that is.
Well, East Staffordshire Borough Council has won Best Loo of the Year thanks to how sparklingly clean they are kept.
Organisers behind the scheme have promoted the authority to its toilet Premier League, ranking it 16th alongside City of London and West Oxfordshire District Council.
Image source, East Staffordshire CouncilMother-of-three Tania Hewitt says her 10-year-old son has been excluded from school activities – because his hair is dyed blond, external .
The 30-year-old claims Bradley has been stopped from going rock climbing, swimming and to a Birmingham science fair due to his hairstyle.
Yoxall residents are calling for “transparency" from Staffordshire County Council following their calls for a 7.5 tonne weight restriction along the A515. , external
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Drivers in the Staffordshire Moorlands are unhappy about fines at a supermarket car park.
Image source, GoogleAldi, in Leek, offers two hours' free parking once drivers register their numberplates, but people are still receiving fines regardless of whether they visit the store or not.
Sylvia Mellor says she is too scared to shop there because of it.
ParkingEye, the company running the car park, says it encourages people to appeal.
Quote MessageI've spoke to no end of people and they all say they're frightened to park there, even disabled people are frightened to park there
Sylvia Mellor, Leek shopper
Newport Advertiser
The A41 was blocked near Newport this morning after a crash between two lorries and a car., external
Benefit cheat Linda Harrison has walked free from court - despite duping the state , external out of more than £61,000.
