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
"Excited and scared" is how a Tamworth man feels after signing up to run this year's London marathon in memory of his father who died of cancer, external.
Image source, Tamworth Herald
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City's goalkeeper Jack Butland says he is hopeful the club will now start to see the best of Xherdan Shaqiri.
Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesThe Swiss international scored a goal-of-the-season contender against Hull last week, having not played during February and March because of an injury.
Quote MessageHe's had his ups and downs with injuries and it's really difficult when you're in and out of the team, back and forth with injuries to get any kind of momentum but he seems to have come back from this one fresh and sharp."
Jack Butland, Stoke City goalkeeper
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A Tamworth man's started a jail sentence after faking VAT returns which tax officials say saw him steal over £265,000 over four years.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) say Adam Lapworth created a fake firm and made false VAT returns.
Image source, GoogleLapworth, 32, of Orton Road, Warton, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false VAT returns and two of knowingly being concerned in fraudulent activity with a view to obtaining payment.
He was given a 30-month jail term at Birmingham Crown Court for the tax fraud and a concurrent eight months in prison for the tax credit fraud.
Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
The Conservative MP for Stafford, Jeremy Lefroy, is calling on Brexit negotiators to protect the NHS from a staffing crisis.
It comes after figures earlier this year revealed a drastic reduction in the number of nurses from the European Union applying to work in the health service.
Image source, ThinkstockThe number of EU nationals registering as new nurses in England dropped by 90% since the Brexit referendum, figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council showed.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which employs more than 300 EU medics at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, says it's accepting overseas applications following a recruitment drive in 2016.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £100,000, external have been seized in a raid in Staffordshire.
Image source, Staffordshire PolicePolice say they were tipped off by the public and raided a house on St Andrew Close, Hednesford yesterday afternoon.
Officers say they found more than 70 cannabis plants, adding that no arrests have so far been made in connection with the raid.
BBC Sport
Burton Albion must pay £5,000 and Huddersfield have been fined £12,500 after admitting a Football Association charge of failing to control their players.
Image source, Rex FeaturesThe charge related to an incident which led to Huddersfield's Dean Whitehead being sent off during a 1-0 defeat at the John Smith's Stadium on 1 April.
Whitehead was given a second yellow card after a clash with Tom Flanagan.
Huddersfield have been handed a bigger fine after being punished for a similar incident against Leeds in February.
The FA said, external players failed to conduct themselves "in an orderly fashion" around the 88th minute of the Championship match.
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
A machete, a hammer, a Mercedes and a toy gun have been seized, external after two reports of men fighting in the street in Stoke-on-Trent last night.
Staffordshire Police says armed police were called first called to Nelson Street, Fenton and then Rochester Road, Sandford Hill and are linking both incidents.
Detectives say windows were smashed at a house on Rochester Road and six men, aged between 18-23, remain in custody after being arrested on suspicion of affray.
The force says patrols are being stepped up in the areas over the next few days.
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
Bosses at Stoke-on-Trent factory say they're hoping to get permission within weeks to be able to open a hidden 19th Century workers' washroom to the public.
It's been found underground at Middleport Pottery after volunteers at the site shared their memories of its existence.
Hidden washroom at Middleport Pottery
Officials at the site say it's thought it was built in 1888 and was bricked up in the 1950s or 60s. , external
Now they've found it, they say they're hoping to get planning consent within weeks so they can restore and open them to the public.
Reports said some of the men were armed with bats, poles and what was described as a gun.
Read MoreLeek Post and Times
A decision to shut two sexual health clinics in the Staffordshire Moorlands has led to fears for vulnerable people using the service., external
Nick Clitheroe
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime we'll be hearing of the many tributes being paid to the Midlands footballer Ugo Ehiogu who's died.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe was 44 and played more than 200 games for Aston Villa.
Tributes have been paid from across our region and I'll have more from 13:30.
BBC Sport
Three-time elite BMX world champion Shanaze Reade has retired from competitive cycling.
The Crewe-born rider finished sixth in the London 2012 Olympic final having placed first, second and first in the three heat semi-final.
Image source, Getty ImagesShe dominated the international BMX scene during her BMX career, winning the junior title in 2006, and then the elite title in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Reade also enjoyed success on the velodrome boards, winning the team sprint title in 2007 and 2008 alongside Victoria Pendleton.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A biker's died in the crash this morning on the A523 between Bosley and Leek.
Staffordshire Police say they were called at around 07:15 and found a flatbed truck and a Yamaha motorbike had collided.
They say the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.
BBC News Travel
The A523 between Leek and Bosley has now officially reopened after the earlier crash, Staffordshire Police tweet:
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A local hospice could see a massive £130,000 shortfall this year from its flagship fundraising Midnight Walk because so few women have signed up to take part in the Crewe and Nantwich event. , external
Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
The Stoke City boss Mark Hughes says the death of the former Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu is a "tragedy" and "shocking news".
Image source, Getty ImagesHe's died at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday.
Ehiogu, who was Spurs' Under-23s coach, was capped four times by England.
The Stoke manager says he faced Ehiogu during his playing days.
Quote MessageHe was a big strong guy, a big athlete, and you knew when you went up against him it was always going to be a difficult game. That is why, when these things happen, it is even more shocking, because you remember them in their prime. It is a real shame."
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
A family watched in horror as their car turned into a fireball just metres from the house after arsonists struck in the middle of the night., external
Image source, The SentinelAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
A woman's survived after her car hit a bridge and caught fire in Staffordshire. , external
West Midlands Ambulance Service say it was "well ablaze" when they arrived at the site on the A5 between Gailey and Weston-Under-Lizard last night.
Image source, GoogleThey say the woman, thought in her 30s, was out of the vehicle when they got there after a passing lorry driver and another motorist stopped and pulled her free.
Paramedics treated her for a slight loss of consciousness and a broken leg along with burns, before she was taken to hospital.
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
An investigation into what the police call a major illegal waste dumping operation in Staffordshire and beyond is expected to last for many months.
It follows raids across the country yesterday, three of which were carried out by Staffordshire Police and the Environment Agency at addresses, external in Stoke-on-Trent, Draycott in the Moors and Cheadle.
Image source, Environment AgencyThe Environment Agency says two people have been arrested nationally in connection with the investigation for offences relating to the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.
The agency says this investigation, external started last summer and is calling it "complex".
Gary Smee
BBC Sport
At the Premier League last night both Stoke-on-Trent darts players were beaten by Dave Chisnall.
Image source, Harry Trump/Getty ImagesThe St Helens thrower beat Adrian Lewis 7-3 before thumping six-time champion Phil Taylor 7-2.
Before his loss to Chisnall, 16-time world champion Taylor won seven straight legs to beat Scot Gary Anderson 7-4 to remain in the hunt for a play-off spot in his final season before retirement.
