Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening, more on the news that a breast surgeon who carried out "completely unnecessary" operations has been convicted of intentionally wounding patients. 

Image source, SWNS

Ian Paterson, 59, carried out "extensive, life-changing operations for no medically-justifiable reason".

We'll have full reaction from 18:30 on BBC One.

Burton Mail

Efforts are under way to repair a roof and ceiling of a historic church after it was damaged in a storm late last year., external

Matt Sandoz
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The big weekend is almost here for Port Vale fans, when their side need to win at Fleetwood Town to have any realistic chance of staying in League One.

Ahead of the match, their caretaker manager Michael Brown says if they do survive, it'll be a "great achievement" for his players. 

Meanwhile the former Stoke-on-Trent MP Joan Walley, a lifelong Port Vale fan, says the whole of Burslem is backing the side.

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A plane with a banner flew above Stoke-on-Trent today to mark the city submitting its bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021.  

Today's the deadline for all towns and cities to submit the 30-page document.

It outlines the key elements of the bid and why each place believes it deserves the title.

Staffordshire Newsletter

Hopes have been raised that a village near Stone's main entrance road will not be closed for three years while work on the controversial HS2 project takes place., external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

People caught fly-tipping in the Stafford area could be hit with £400 fines as the local authority looks to combat rising reports of rubbish being illegally dumped. 

Image source, Stafford Borough Council

The borough council's cabinet's meeting next week, external to look at giving the power to its officers as a deterrent to small-scale fly-tipping. 

The authority says reports of fly-tipping have risen from 352 in 2012-13 to 539 in 2015-16 but, in that last year, just seven cases led to people being charged and fined.

BBC Weather Watchers

Some flashes of colour and bright spells in the cloud today as our two picks show from the photos uploaded by the BBC Weather Watchers in Staffordshire.

These are from users Angus and me in Hednesford and Dave-Stoke in Mow Cop.

Image source, Angus and me

Image source, Dave-Stoke

Tom Turrell
BBC Midlands Today

A BBC investigation has found that the number of incidents of tools being stolen from vans in Staffordshire has risen by almost two-thirds in the last three years.

There were 473 thefts in 2014-15 and last year that number had increased to 774. 

Tradespeople are calling it an "epidemic" which is putting their livelihoods at risk.

Many have told the BBC they think criminals are buying locksmith tools off the internet and using them to gain access to vans without breaking in. 

Staffordshire Police says it has vehicle protection advice on its website but hasn't yet responded directly on the increase in thefts to BBC Stoke.

Express and Star

Fly-tippers across Stafford are set to be hit with £400 fines under new powers., external

You don't even need to be a football team to play in the FA People's Cup.

LBoro Rangers are a group of university students who are taking part in the Higher Education category......

Catch up with what's been going on in the FA People's Cup so far - and follow live coverage of the FA People's Cup finals on Sunday, 30 April and Monday, 1 May.

BBC Politics

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has repeatedly refused to answer where he will stand in the upcoming election, saying he will make the announcement "tomorrow".  

But according to the Daily Telegraph's chief political correspondent, Stoke-on-Trent Central is not among the listed options. Mr Nuttall came second in a by-election for the seat in February. 

Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist

A Staffordshire woman says she feels "pure hatred" to a breast surgeon who has today been convicted of intentionally wounding patients in "completely unnecessary" operations. 

Ian Paterson, 59, was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent, relating to nine women and one man. 

Image source, Gavin Dickson

Frances Perks from Burntwood was referred to him when a lump showed up on a mammogram and he urged her to have a double mastectomy or risk "full-blown cancer". 

She had her left breast removed and underwent eight other operations at the private Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, West Midlands. However, she later learned that none had been necessary.

Mrs Perks says the effect on her life has been devastating as the stress caused her to leave her job and the financial hardship meant she had to sell her house.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

This weekend is a massive one for fans of Port Vale as the club still have a slim chance of avoiding relegation from League One. 

As ever with football and these situations, it's a little complicated and not all in the Vale's hands - so we've run through all the scenarios:

Image source, Getty Images

Victims of rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson tell of the devastating impact he had on their lives.

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A Stafford bank's been criticised for a lack of care after installing metal bars outside its front door.

The Co-op Bank on Greengate Street was criticised last week for installing large rocks outside to stop homeless people sleeping there and now bars have also been put up to block a covered area.

The Co-op Bank says the moves are part of measures taken to address anti-social behaviour issues.  

BBC Sport

The Stoke City manager Mark Hughes says he wants the club to finish their season in the top 10. 

Image source, OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

The Potters are currently 11th, a point behind Watford and Southampton.

Stoke's recent record though is patchy, with one win in seven matches as they head into their home game with West Ham.

Nicola Beckford
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime, we'll hear how the number of incidents of tools being stolen from vans in the Midlands has almost doubled in the last three years, a BBC investigation's found. 

Image source, West Midlands Police

It's thought criminals are buying locksmith tools from the internet and using them to get into vans.

We'll have more from 13:30 on BBC One.

BBC Radio Stoke

A number of people in part of Stoke-on-Trent have told BBC Radio Stoke they're constantly having to deal with rats running around their streets.  

People in Middleport say empty, boarded up homes are to blame for lots of fly-tipping which they say is encouraging vermin. 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it recognises the negative impact empty homes can have and have asked any concerned people in Middleport to call them.  

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Drivers are being warned this lunchtime to avoid a road in Stoke-on-Trent after a crash in which a motorbiker's suffered, external a "serious injury".

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police says it's happened in the last hour on Shelton New Road and the road's shut between Victoria Street and Brick Kiln Lane.

They say the crash involved a car and a motorbike and are calling on drivers to find alternative routes.

Midfielder Jackson Irvine says Burton have defied the critics who felt the club would not survive in the Championship.