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. Will Labour have to fight to keep its seats in the West Midlands?

    BBC Midlands Today

    Our top story this morning: Labour could have a fight on its hands if it's to hang on to its key marginal seats in the West Midlands, latest polls suggest.

    The party is trailing by more than 20 points compared to the Conservatives.

    Yesterday Prime Minister Teresa May said she intended to call an election in June.

    Prime Minister Teresa May outside Downing StreetGetty Images

    While Labour would appear to have work to do, the Liberal Democrats say they're excited by the prospect of a snap election.

    You can follow live coverage and reaction of the announcement on BBC News' dedicated live page.

  2. Watch: A dry and bright morning ahead

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    A chilly but largely bright start to the day. Staying dry but the skies will gradually turn cloudier into the afternoon. 

    There will still be some spells of sunshine, these best in the south, where it will feel pleasant - highs of 12C (54F).

    Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands

  3. Good morning - here's Wednesday's live coverage for Staffordshire and Cheshire

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Hello everyone, there's plenty of blue sky in between the clouds over Stoke-on-Trent this morning.

    BBC Weather Watcher Cloboff was up even earlier to get the sunrise over Stafford in this photo:

    StaffordCloboff

    A full look at this morning's weather forecast shortly along with plenty of updates through today on the area's news, sport, travel and more.

    Keep sending in your photos of the area too and I'll feature as many as I can - do that via email or, if you are an Instagram user, you can put them there with the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them.

  4. Johnson signs new Stoke contract

    Stoke City defender Glen Johnson signs a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2018.

    Read More

  5. Good evening from the Staffordshire & Cheshire newsroom

    That's it for live updates from us today, but keep an eye here for any breaking local news throughout the night. 

    We'll be back at 8:00 tomorrow. 

  7. Staffordshire referee selected for both legs of the FA Youth Cup final

    BBC Radio Stoke Sport

    Staffordshire-based referee Oli Langford will be taking charge of the FA Youth Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester.

    Taking place across two legs, Oli and his team will visit both Stamford Bridge and Manchester City's Academy Stadium tonight (7.45pm) and Wednesday 26 April (7.45pm).

    Oli LangfordStaffordshire FA

    I'm always pleased to receive any FA appointment but to receive the call for such a prestige final was a real proud moment and in all honesty a complete surprise. Previously the game has been refereed by a Premier league referee so it was pleasing not just for myself but also recognition for Select Group 2 Officials that we have been chosen to oversee the final.

    Oli Langford, Referee

  8. Discarded cigarette cause of care home fire

    Tim Wedgwood
    BBC Local Live

    A fire at a care home in Tamworth in which 25 residents were evacuated on Saturday night was caused by a discarded cigarette, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said. 

    Seven people were taken to hospital, two in a serious condition, after the fire at Standon House Care Home. 

    Standon House Care HomeStaffordshire Fire and Rescue

    This was a significant fire which will have been incredibly distressing to residents, particularly those who were within bedrooms near the fire.

    John Kitchener, Station manager

  9. Watch: Forecast for this evening and tomorrow

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    The sun will stay out across most of the region, but it will start to cloud over in Shropshire this evening. 

    The cloud will gradually spread over the whole region during the night but southern counties will stay clear long enough for frost to form. Lows of 5C (41F).

    Charlie Slater has your forecast

  10. Heard of Korfball? Neither had we.....

    Ros Chimes
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    The sport, which originated in Holland, is taking off in Staffordshire.

    A Newcastle-under-Lyme club is on the lookout for new players to join the ranks.

    Take a look at the video to find out more about it. 

    Castle Korfball Club looking for new members

    The Castle Korfball Club meets at Newcastle College on Tuesday evenings between 20:00 and 22:00 and they'd love to welcome anyone to come along to give it a go.

  11. Support for the Prime Ministers' decision to hold General Election in June

    Phil McCann
    Political Reporter, BBC News

    Stafford's Conservative MP Jeremy Lefroy says the decision to hold a General Election in June isn't opportunism on the part of his party as Labour trails in opinion polls.

    The Prime Minister - who's previously ruled out the idea - says she's reached the decision "reluctantly" because of divisions at Westminster over Brexit.  

    Ballot box

    The Prime Minister has always taken the view that the national interest must come first, the national interest is that we need a stable government, of whatever kind, that must have the backing of the people. Since the last General Election the country has taken a huge decision to leave the European Union. It's vital that whoever takes the country forward has the backing of the people and the only way to get that is with a General Election."

    Jeremy Lefroy, Conservative MP for Stafford

    Crewe & Nantwich Conservative MP Edward Timpson says a snap election is "only way to guarantee certainty and security for local families and local jobs."

  12. Man arrested after he locks himself inside container at fishing pond

    BBC Radio Stoke

    A wanted man locked himself inside a metal fishing container at Sammie's Pool, off Fenpark Road in Fenton.

    Sammie's PoolGoogle

    In what police say was a "dangerous incident" witnesses describe the man locking himself inside the green container (pictured above) before the fire service had to come to cut the door off.

    Officers say a 36-year-old remains in custody on suspicion of a variety of offences including burglary, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

  13. Stabbing victim Hannah Bladon 'a joy to teach'

    Khia Lewis-Todd
    BBC Local Live

    Earlier on we told you about Hannah Bladon from Burton who was killed on a tram in Jerusalem on Easter Sunday. 

    Over the weekend tributes poured in for the 20-year-old from her family, school and her regular church.

    Annabel Stoddart, headteacher at Abbot Beyne School, said: "Abbot Beyne School are shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Hannah Bladon. 

    "Hannah left Abbot Beyne in August 2015 to follow her dreams. She had always wanted to study Theology and the University of Birmingham offered her a scholarship to do this. 

    "Hannah was a lovely young lady - determined, hardworking and a joy to teach."

    Hannah BladonPA

    The Rev Michael Freeman said Hannah was an active member of St John's Church, Horninglow, where the community was "shocked and saddened" by her death.

    "We, an extended family, are doing all we can to support her close family and friends in their devastating grief," he added.

  14. Forty motorists fined £70 on Newcastle's King Street car park after new charges brought in

    The Sentinel

    Motorists are furious after being 'unfairly' handed £70 parking tickets after a council brought in charges on Saturdays.

    Parking meterThe Sentinel

  15. Spate of prestige car thefts across county

    Jack Dowling
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    Five homes in Staffordshire were burgled over the Easter period - for keys to cars.

    Vehicles were taken from the Newcastle, Lichfield and Cannock areas between Thursday 13 April and today.

    Among the five cars stolen were an Audi A5 convertible, Mercedes AMG A45 and a Range Rover VRM.

    And just after 05:30 today offenders stole a white BMW 435 from an address in Lichfield.

    Prestige carGetty Images

  16. Plaudits for scheme to get nurses back into the profession

    Tim Wedgwood
    BBC Local Live

    A scheme run by Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which encourages former nurses to return to practice, has been nominated for two national awards. 

    The Pick Up Your Pin programme was launched in 2015 and guarantees entrants a full or part-time position, after successfully completing the course.

    Leighton Hospital sign

    What we felt with this group of staff is that this was an untapped resource that was there and would be a fairly quick turnaround really from recruitment to supporting people with the right kind of educational update.

    Sue Hamman, Head of Nursing at the trust

  17. Adam Peaty qualifies for final

    Staffordshire swimmer Adam Peaty has qualified for tonight's 100m breaststroke final, after winning his heat.

    The 22-year-old is the world record holder and will aim to defend that title at the world contest later this year. 

    Adam PeatyPA

  19. Calling election is a 'vanity project' says Stoke-on-Trent MP

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, Ruth Smeeth, hasn't minced her words over the Prime Minister's decision to call a General Election, saying it's "ludicrous".

    She said Theresa May could have saved the country millions of pounds by having it on the same day as the local elections in a few weeks.

    Ruth Smeeth MP

    I think this is a vanity project. I think this is totally and utterly ludicrous from the Prime Minister and is about her and her legacy, about what she can do as PM and her political achievements rather than what the country needs which, in the run-up to Brexit, is a period of stability.

    Ruth Smeeth, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North