Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Expenses claims for the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election candidates reveal they spent a combined total of almost £500,000 campaigning to be elected MP . 

UKIP's Paul Nuttall's outgoings came to the biggest proportion of that total, standing at just under the £100,000 limit each candidate is allowed to spend. 

His outgoings included £6,000 on bodyguards, £3,000 to rent a former pie shop in Hanley as his headquarters during the campaign and £46 on beer mats.   

Image source, Getty Images

The winning candidate, Labour's Gareth Snell, spent the second-most at almost £90,000 which included £39 on a "six towns quiz", after his UKIP opponent failed to name the six towns of the Potteries. 

By contrast, the Greens' Adam Colclough invoiced no expenses at all.  

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Investigators say a fire late last night at a pizza takeaway in Leek was started deliberately. , external

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says two crews were called to Pizza Line on St Edward Street at 22:47. 

Image source, Google

BBC Sport

Referee Keith Stroud has been forced to apologise after he "misapplied the law" in Newcastle United 1-0 Championship victory over Burton Albion. 

The Magpies won despite having a Matt Ritchie penalty disallowed when Stroud deemed that Dwight Gayle encroached. Instead of ordering a retake, the referee awarded a free-kick to the visitors.

Ritchie eventually settled the game with a curling shot from 20 yards.   

Image source, PA

Confusion surrounding the decision was eventually settled when Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body which oversees refereeing, issued a post-match statement about the 29th-minute penalty incident. 

"As Matt Ritchie took the kick, Dwight Gayle encroached in the penalty area. An indirect free-kick was awarded to Burton, but the laws of the game state that that the penalty kick should have been retaken. 

"Unfortunately the referee has misapplied the law. Keith and his team are understandably upset at the lapse in concentration and apologise for the mistake."

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

A man's in hospital with suspected broken ribs after a crash on the M6 which paramedics say " could've been much worse, external ". 

West Midlands Ambulance Service says it happened on the northbound side at junction 15, the Stoke-on-Trent turn-off.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

They say it involved the 59-year-old's Ford Ka and a truck which led to the car spinning around and ending up on the slip road. 

The ambulance service says, despite the damage to his car, the driver's door could be opened and the man got out unaided. , external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Work on the latest phase of a wider £10m revamp of Stoke-on-Trent's city centre has begun today.   , external

The city council's spending £2.5m on road, pavement and street furniture from Stafford Street up to Albion Square and Crown Bank and around Lidice Way near the bus station in Hanley. 

The authority's expecting the latest stage to be completed this autumn.  

Lichfield Mercury

Here's this week's front page, external which includes the story "MIU could be safe".

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

More than 40 soldiers' names from World War One are going to be added to a memorial in Uttoxeter. 

The town council says over 230 of the town's men and one woman died during the conflict.

Image source, JCB

However they say it's been discovered, through the efforts of two local researchers, that dozens of names are missing from the cenotaph. 

Now the council says locally based digger-maker JCB is funding three more bronze plaques for the memorial, which will be put up once they've got listed building consent.

BBC Sport

Stoke City striker Saido Berahino's foundation failed to pass on funds raised at a 2015 event for WaterAid, the charity claims. 

WaterAid says it "has not received any money" from a dinner the player hosted in Mayfair in May 2015.  

Image source, Getty Images

The Charity Commission is "deciding if there are regulatory issues to assess".

The new agent of ex-West Brom striker Berahino declined to comment. However, BBC Sport understands the dealings with WaterAid were arranged by the 23-year-old's previous representatives.

At this stage, the Charity Commission is not conducting a formal investigation.  

Cannock Mercury

A motorcyclist has suffered potentially serious injuries, external after a collision on the A5 threw him 15 meters from his bike.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

BBC News England

As a father has lost his legal challenge against a fine for taking his daughter on an unauthorised term-time holiday, the BBC's been analysing unauthorised absences from schools in England. 

Almost a million children missed at least one day of school in England, despite the threat of fines.

Image source, DGL Images

In Staffordshire, family holidays made up more than two fifths of all missed school sessions, at 41%. 

The Department for Education said unauthorised absences damage children's life chances.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You've been continuing to send in more great photos of this area and here are five more that I have picked out.

To get your pictures to me, drop them to me on an email or, if you use Instagram, put them there and add the tag #bbcstoke to show , external you agree to share them.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The former Port Vale striker Tom Pope says he thinks the club's caretaker manager Michael Brown should be named as the club's permanent manager. 

Image source, Pete Norton/Getty Images

Brown has been in charge on a caretaker-basis since Bruno Ribeiro left at the end of December. 

Pope told BBC Radio Stoke that, despite the club still fighting relegation, Brown is the man to take them forward and wouldn't hesitate to improve the team.

Newcastle overcome a controversial disallowed penalty to beat Burton and go back to the top of the Championship.

BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime, hear why an NHS physiotherapist from the region is facing deportation back to India despite a national shortage. 

Plus why it's getting harder to spot a hedgehog in the West Midlands and how the Grand National could prove a big day for one of our tiny villages. 

Those stories plus your lunchtime weather on BBC One from 13:30.

Saido Berahino's foundation failed to pass on funds raised at a 2015 event for WaterAid, the charity claims.

Two bikers have been injured after a main road in Cannock saw two crashes "within moments" of each other. 

West Midlands Ambulance Service says the crashes happened yesterday afternoon on the A5, in each case involving a car and a motorbike.

Both motorcyclists were injured, one possibly seriously, medics said.

As referee Keith Stroud apologises for "misapplying the law" in Newcastle's game with Burton Albion, do you know what to do in these other we ask what you'd do in other football scenarios.

Staffs Live

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell visited his former high school to see the progress being made by the Discovery Academy in Bentilee , external .  

Image source, Staffs Live

Staffordshire Newsletter

The new Friends of Stafford Group will host a meeting with Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy next week, which businesses and the general public are welcome , external to attend.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A business group in the Staffordshire Moorlands says it fears the closure of Waitrose in Leek will affect other traders. 

Image source, Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Yesterday the supermarket confirmed it will shut in September, saying the store has always run at a loss. 

Staffordshire Moorlands Chamber of Commerce, external says the news is a bitter blow to the town, and has written to the company asking it to rethink the decision.