BBC Local Live: Staffordshire & Cheshire on Friday 21 April 2017

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

Football: Stoke boss prepares players for shake-up in positionspublished at 10:27 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
The Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has hinted that he may try using players in different positions if the chance presents itself.
Image source, Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Stoke go to Swansea on Saturday looking for points to secure a top 10 finish.
Defender Marc Muniesa featured in midfield against Hull last weekend and Hughes admits he may get another opportunity soon.
Quote Message
It's something that, as a staff, we've talked about for a long time. The opportunity presented itself to just pop him into a midfield position and it's something we might look at again."
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
Bank accused of installing 'anti-homeless rocks'published at 09:58 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
People in Stafford are accusing the Co-op Bank of cementing rocks into the ground outside one of its branches to stop homeless people from sleeping there.
John Lynch was among the people to spot them on Greengate Street and told BBC Radio Stoke he thinks they were put up in the past few days.
Image source, John Lynch
Stafford Borough Council says the work has not been done by them.
BBC Radio Stoke has contacted the Co-op Bank but it's yet to confirm what the rocks are there for.
Quote Message
My concern was, has this been done deliberately to stop the homeless having some shelter and to move them on to a different area, which personally I find morally reprehensible."
John Lynch, Local resident
'Life changing moment' for Harry Branchampublished at 09:36 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
Khia Lewis-Todd
BBC Local Live
Here's the lucky lad who was given a gold medal by Adam Peaty after his win on Tuesday.
Harry Brancham from Rampton in Nottinghamshire was in the crowd when Peaty gave him the medal.
The 10-year-old said he has been inspired to follow in Peaty's footsteps.
His parents Andrew and Becky told Radio Derby that this had been a life changing moment for him.
"I don't think that Adam can possibly comprehend what this meant to him.
"Harry went to see Adam Peaty swim - he's his idol and he loves breast stroke, it's his favourite.
"I wish I could encapsulate what this has meant to him - he's absolutely made up."
Landlady attacked outside pubpublished at 09:19 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
The Sentinel
Landlady Gill Mathews has spoken of the terrifying moment a drinker launched himself at her in a beer garden, external - after she'd warned him over "mouthing off".
Image source, The Sentinel
Travel: A53 partially blocked at Market Draytonpublished at 08:55 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
BBC News Travel
Slow traffic has been reported on the A53, which is partially blocked westbound at Newcastle Road.
It's after an accident between Loggerheads and Market Drayton.
Fujitsu workers in Crewe in 48-hour strikepublished at 08:53 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Workers at Fujitsu's site in Crewe are walking out today as part of a 48-hour strike., external
The dispute at the electronics giant is over cuts to jobs and pensions.
Image source, Getty Images
The Crewe site will be joined by fellow Unite members in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester.
Around 169 people work for Fujitsu in Crewe.
Listen: The boy awarded Olympic champ Adam Peaty's medalpublished at 08:23
Paulette Edwards
Presenter, BBC Radio Sheffield
Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty has been competing at the British Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield this week - and it's an event which has proved memorable for one young fan.
Peaty was in complete control as he cruised to a comfortable win in the 50m breaststroke final - and then he gave away his gold medal to one lucky boy.
Harry, from Retford, told me how it had been to get a medal from his sporting hero:
Video: What's the weather got in store today?published at 08:20 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
After a cloudy and mild start to the day with some light drizzle, we can expect a dry day with highs of 15C (59F).
You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.
Media caption,
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Welcome to Thursday's live coverage for Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 20 April 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Morning everyone, it's a grey start to the day and there's been some rain overnight in Stoke-on-Trent.
It's also looking grey in Cheshire - BBC Weather Watcher Sky Watcher uploaded this photo this morning from Wybunbury:
Image source, Sky Watcher
A full weather update will be on the way shortly along with updates on the day's news, sport, travel and more.
You can send in comments and pictures via email or you can share your photos of the area on Instagram, external, adding the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them.
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 19 April 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.
Watch: Patchy rain possible in some areas across the West Midlandspublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
Cloud will thicken this evening, though southern parts of the region will see late sunny spells.
During the night the cloud will spread southwards and become thick enough for a little light rain with lows of 6C (43F).
Media caption,
Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands
Student flats plans for Grade II listed buildingpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
A Grade II listed building in Newcastle-under-Lyme could be turned into student flats if plans are approved next week. , external
The Orme Centre nearly became student apartments last year but the borough council wasn't happy with the architecture and potential impact on street parking in the area, so turned the application down.
Image source, Google
This year, developers are back with plans for 96 flats and this time they say they'll put up nearly £100,000 to enhance and maintain Queen Elizabeth Park and £50,000 to pay for a Resident Parking Zone. , external
The plans will be considered on Tuesday by the council's planning committee
Football: Stoke 'hopeful' on Joe Allen's hamstring recoverypublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
The Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen will resume training tomorrow after missing the weekend win over Hull City with a hamstring strain.
Image source, Mark Robinson/Getty Images
Glenn Whelan is also expected to be available after overcoming a virus.
Manager Mark Hughes told BBC Radio Stoke they'll know more about Allen's condition within the next 24 hours.
Quote Message
Hopefully he'll be OK. He hasn't got up to full speed yet so that's the test always with a hamstring. But he's hopeful of taking part with the squad tomorrow."
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
On Midlands Today from 18:30: The cost of culling cattlepublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Nicola Beckford
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this evening, two cattle breeders in our region say compensation for farmers whose livestock is affected by TB isn't nearly enough.
Last month, one farmer in Staffordshire had almost his entire herd slaughtered to stop the disease spreading.
They claim they get back just a fraction of their value - we'll have more and the reaction from the government from 18:30 on BBC One.
Travel: Problems on the rails between London and the West Midlandspublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
London Midland, external and Virgin Trains, external are warning passengers of major disruption to and from London Euston this evening.
It's due to a line side fire near South Hampstead which has damaged signalling equipment.
Services running from Euston to the West Midlands will be cancelled, delayed or revised.
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BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Staffordshire's countrysidepublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
BBC Weather Watchers
We've picked a couple of countryside views from the photos uploaded today by our BBC Weather Watchers in Staffordshire and Cheshire.
These two are from users Vulcaster in Whitmore and AppyIppy in Ipstones.
Image source, Vulcaster
Image source, AppyIppy
'No plans' to reverse Staffordshire NatWest closurespublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Stone and Cheadle's MP says NatWest has told him it will teach people how to bank online before it closes the town's branches.
Sir Bill Cash says he's also been told they'll be introducing a community banker once the buildings close, but there are no plans to reverse the closure decision.
Image source, Google
Owner RBS blamed a "dramatic shift" in banking, with branch transactions falling 43% since 2010.
Almost 160 RBS and NatWest branches across the country are set to shut.
Grazing cows 'saving taxpayers hundreds of pounds a year'published at 16:58 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
A herd of cows is continuing to save money in Stafford, a council claims, by cutting grass on a nature reserve which would otherwise need a mower. , external
Media caption,
The cows in action
The 10 Red Poll cattle are from a nearby farm and will spend the next six months grazing on the Barlaston and Rough Close Common Local Nature Reserve.
Stafford Borough Council's responsible for maintaining the area and claim the cows, now in their 10th year on the site, are saving them hundreds of pounds a year.
Staffordshire MP voted against the general election motionpublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
The Newcastle-under-Lyme MP Paul Farrelly was among just 13 MPs who voted against Prime Minister Theresa May's call for a snap general election.
The House of Commons overwhemingly backed the PM by a margin of 522 votes to 13, above the two-thirds majority needed, as Labour and the Lib Dems supported the move.
Image source, HoC
The next general election had been expected in 2020, but the Fixed Term Parliaments Act allows for one to be held earlier if two-thirds of MPs back the move.
Mr Farrelly was among nine Labour MPs to vote against the prime minister.
Man charged with attempted murderpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Breaking
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A man's been charged with attempted murder after another man, external was found with serious stab wounds in Burton.
Staffordshire Police say the 36-year-old victim, who's from the town, was reported hurt early on Sunday morning near the canal near Abbots Fold Court.
Officers say he's in a stable condition in hospital.
The force says a 23-year-old man from Birmingham's been charged with one count of attempted murder and will appear before magistrates tomorrow.