Summary

  • Police dismiss claims parts of Stoke-on-Trent like "a war zone"

  • Burton and Crewe get slice of £100m A&E cash

  • Blocked driveway note met with anger

  • Hidden 19th Century washroom set to open to public

  • Updates from Friday 21 April 2017

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. Adam Peaty back in the pool defending title

    Tim Wedgwood
    BBC Local Live

    Staffordshire Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty will begin the defence of his British breast-stroke title this morning. 

    The 22-year-old is the world record holder as well and won the 100m title in Rio last summer. The British championships in Sheffield will also act as a qualifier for the world contest later this year.

    Adam PeatyGetty Images

    Positive though this time is, you know, I'm the Olympic champion and world champion, European champion and commonwealth champion. I've got the world records in what I'm swimming and that's probably what my competitors are thinking so it's kind of their worry to worry about that and my confidence to gain really.

    Adam Peaty, Olympic swimming champion

  2. May would be 'crazy' not to call election, says academic

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Theresa May has announced that she is calling a general election for the 8 June.

    In a statement outside 10 Downing Street she said it was in the national interest.

    Mrs May had previously said there would be no election until 2020 - but she said that she had now reluctantly come to the conclusion that it was the only way to guarantee certainty and stability for the years ahead.

    A Stoke-on-Trent academic says the latest poll ratings for Labour mean she would be "crazy not to chance her arm."

    Theresa MayGetty Images

    She could well be in a position where she's down to a tiny handful of Tories to get legislation through and if this is the case, in the middle of the Brexit negotiations, then clearly that presents her with some difficulties.

    Professor Martin Parker, Professor of Culture and Organisation, University of Leicester

  3. Your pictures: Oh, what a beautiful morning

    BBC Weather Watchers

    On such a glorious morning you've done us proud with your pictures.

    Thank you to Weather Watchers Jon for this picture in Barlaston (top) and to Dodger for one taken in Stowe (bottom).

    BarlastonJon
    StoweDodger

  4. Arsonists target business and delivery trucks

    Ros Chimes
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Staffordshire Police is looking at CCTV footage following an arson attack at a Newcastle business over the weekend. 

    Vandals caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to delivery trucks and the roof of HMS Staircase Specialists on the Croft Road Industrial Estate.

    Damage to roof

    We didn't load the wagons up ready for Tuesday's deliveries because it was a long weekend so all the staircases were all stacked inside - so that was one consolation.

    Harry Murray, Owner

    Damage to roof

  5. Knifepoint robbery alongside canal

    Tim Wedgwood
    BBC Local Live

    A man's been robbed at knifepoint while walking along the Caldon Canal near Hanley Park.

    He was approached by two people who threatened him with what police describe as a pocket knife or multi-tool weapon.

    The victim had his mobile phone and keys stolen.

    Police say the man was assaulted but wasn't injured in the attack on Saturday afternoon.

    Hanley Park

  6. Hannah Bladon stabbing: 'Attacker attempted suicide'

    Khia Lewis-Todd
    BBC Local Live

    Israeli authorities have said they're moving away from treating the death of a Burton woman as an act of terrorism.

    Hannah Bladon, 20, was stabbed and killed on a tram in Jerusalem on Good Friday.

    According to the Jerusalem Post, Jamil Tamimi, 57, attacked the 20-year-old student as part of a failed suicide attempt.

    Tamimi is due to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

    Hannah BaldonPA

    Ms Bladon was studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at the time of her death and had been taking part in an archaeological dig that morning.  

  7. Council denies 'illegal' charges to dispose of waste

    Tim Wedgwood
    BBC Local Live

    Staffordshire County Council has denied charging people to dump DIY waste at its tips is illegal. 

    Labour has accused the authority of breaking the law with the £3 charges for certain items. The council says they were introduced to reduce the cost to the taxpayer of processing waste. 

    There's a real grey area about what is defined as non-household waste and we've said that, free of charge up to a certain weight, you can go and take a small bag of waste in but if you start doing trade waste there's always been a charge.

    Philip Atkins (Conservative), Leader, Staffordshire County Council

    Waste sitePA

    Councillor Susan Woodward, leader of the Labour opposition group on the council, disagrees with the charges.

    It's what it says on the tin - it's DIY, do-it-yourself household waste, and residents are entitled to have their household waste disposed of free of charge.

    Susan Woodward (Labour), Leader of the opposition on Staffordshire County Council

  9. Statue to honour munitions workers in Staffordshire

    Britain's munitions workers are to be honoured with a statue at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, thanks to a campaign run by BBC Hereford & Worcester. 

    More than a million people worked in terrible conditions to supply shells, bombs and bullets for the allied troops, including at factories in Rotherwas in Hereford, and Blackpole in Worcester.

    munitions workerGetty Images

    Hundreds were killed by explosives or suffered from diseases caused by the chemicals they were handling. 

    Rob Flello MP, the chairman of the parliamentary munitions group, says they need to raise £250,000 for the statue and plinth.  

  10. Watch: Your 50-second weather forecast

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    After a chilly start, sunshine will turn a little hazier later in the afternoon as a veil of cloud moves in from the northwest. 

    It will be a dry day with light winds across the board - highs of 12C (54F).  

    Weather for the West Midlands.

  11. Good morning from the Staffordshire & Cheshire newsroom

    Welcome to the Local Live service for Staffordshire & Cheshire on Tuesday morning.

    We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens.

    If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @BBCRadioStoke or message via Facebook.