Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.
Summary
Biker's death leaves 'a big void that will never be filled'
Arson warning after Cannock Chase 'targeted'
'Significant job losses' expected by union over campus closure
Michael Brown: Port Vale name caretaker boss as manager
Updates from Wednesday 3 May 2017
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Hundreds of plants found in suspected cannabis farmpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeA suspected cannabis farm has been found in Crewe, external.
Image source, GoogleCheshire Police say they believe they've found hundreds of plants during a raid at an address on Prunus Road yesterday afternoon.
Officers say two men, aged 17 and 31, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of cannabis production and have been released under investigation.
Wednesday's selection of audience photos of Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe photos have kept coming in over the bank holiday, showing off Staffordshire and Cheshire and here are six I've picked out.
To send your recent pictures in, put them on an email or put them on Instagram, external, adding the tag there of #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them.
Media caption, Your pictures
On Midlands Today from 18:30: Major trauma centre rated 'best in country'published at 17:49 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayOn Midlands Today this evening, we'll have more on the news that a major trauma centre in Stoke-on-Trent has been rated the best in the country for saving patients' lives.
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End of twitter postPlus, as Port Vale appoint their caretaker manager Michael Brown to the post full-time, we'll hear from the man himself.
Both those stories and more on BBC One from 18:30.
Weather: A cloudy night and more sunshine tomorrowpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayIt's going to be overcast again tonight, but we should see some sunshine across the region tomorrow.
Media caption, Shefali Oza has your forecast
Football: Berahino targeting Stoke goals before England returnpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeThe Stoke City striker Saido Berahino said he wasn't fazed by having the England manager Gareth Southgate watch him during Saturday's 0-0 draw against West Ham.
Image source, Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesBerahino is the third highest goalscorer in the England Under-21s' history, in a team that was managed by the current England boss.
Despite not scoring for Stoke since his £12m switch from West Brom in January, Berahino says he's not thinking about a return to international football just yet.
Spandau Ballet singer agrees to be festival patronpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC Midlands TodayThe singer Tony Hadley has agreed to become patron of the Lichfield Festival. , external
Image source, Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesFestival organisers say it's the first arts charity which the Spandau Ballet singer has been asked to support.
They added that a third of the tickets for this year's event, taking place from 7 July,, external have already been sold in just a few weeks.
BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Sunshine blooms in Staffordshirepublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Today's sunshine has encouraged more BBC Weather Watchers to take pictures of flowers across Staffordshire being in bloom.
These two are from users Ukjay in Longton and Thornhill Watch in Hednesford.
Image source, Ukjay
Image source, Thornhill WatchBiker's death leaves 'a big void that will never be filled'published at 17:26 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe family of a motorbiker who died in a crash with a car says his death has left a "big void, that will never be filled, external".
Conna Stewart, 24, from Norton Canes, was riding on the A5 at Watling Street, Weston-under-Lizard, when the collision happened, police said.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceHe was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a statement, his family says their "world fell apart" at the news, adding that Mr Stewart had "lived life to the maximum".
Your say: Views as trauma centre named best for saving livespublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveYou've been having your say on the news that a major trauma centre in Stoke-on-Trent has been rated the best in the country for saving the lives of patients.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands Major Trauma Centre has the best total rolling survival rates of any adult major trauma single site centre since 2013.
On the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page, Frank Darlington posted, external: "They saved my live on 1 April, my heart did stop. Thanking all the staff at the hospital."
While Joan Hudson wrote, external: "So good to hear positive news about our local hospital. Well done to everyone working there."
And Vince Thompson added, external: "They do a great job keep up the good work."
Arson warning after Cannock Chase 'targeted'published at 17:05 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC Midlands TodayFirefighters have issued a warning after dozens of fires have been deliberately started on grassland in Staffordshire since March. , external
Media caption, Fires on Cannock Chase
The county's fire service says areas of Cannock Chase including Gentleshaw Common have been targeted.
It says dry vegetation in the area is increasing the risk.
Head injury patients from Cheshire team up for fundraising Snowdon climbpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
A wheelchair-bound south Cheshire man is to climb Snowdon to raise funds for Head Injured People in Cheshire. , external
Image source, Nantwich NewsFootball: Burton midfielder gets trio of awardspublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveBurton Albion midfielder Jackson Irvine has picked up a trio of awards in the club's end of season awards., external
Image source, Nathan Stirk/Getty ImagesHe was named Players' Player of the Year, the fans' Player of the Season and got the side's Top Goal Scorer Award.
The Goal of the Season Award went to Michael Kightly for his finish against Norwich.
Travel: M6 delays after crash near Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
A two-vehicle crash on the M6 northbound between junctions 15 and 16 is already causing delays back to junction 15 near Stoke-on-Trent, Highways England says.
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End of twitter postFootball: Michael Brown confirmed as Port Vale's permanent managerpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokePort Vale have confirmed this afternoon that caretaker manager Michael Brown has been confirmed as their permanent first-team manager., external
Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesHe had become the Vale's caretaker manager after Bruno Ribeiro's resignation on 26 December.
The club says Chris Morgan and Ned Kelly have been appointed as his assistant managers., external
University launches new partnership with brewerypublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Calum McKenzie
BBC Local LiveA new partnership means a brewery will be funding part of students' degree fees at the University of Nottingham.
Image source, Science Photo LibraryMolson Coors, which produces drinks including Carling, Cobra and Rekorderlig, has agreed to fund 50% of two students' tuition fees who are studying on the brewing science postgraduate masters degree.
This partnership, which is in place for three years, will also see the students take part in a placement at the company's base in Burton.
Anyone thirsty yet?
Caretaker boss Brown named Vale managerpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BreakingPort Vale appoint caretaker boss Michael Brown as their new manager, despite their relegation to League Two.
Read More'Significant job losses' expected by union over campus closurepublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA union says it's been left "shocked" at the news South Staffordshire College is shutting its Cannock Campus. , external
The college revealed the decision yesterday, just four years after a £6m revamp of the site, external.
Image source, GoogleIt comes after a proposed merge with Walsall College fell through and the college admits "financial pressures" have forced it to relocate services and provision to neighbouring campuses.
The college hasn't said what jobs are affected but Unison says it is expecting a "potentially significant number of job losses" when the site shuts at the end of this summer.
Suspicious package revealed to be 'just a bag of rubbish'published at 15:29 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA suspicious package which led to a McDonalds being cordoned off and bomb disposal experts being called out, external has turned out to be a bag of rubbish.
Staffordshire Police and firefighters were called this morning to Station Street after reports of the package inside the restaurant.
The force has since tweeted that there was no risk to the public as it turns out it was "just a bag of rubbish, external".
Trauma centre best for saving livespublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
More people treated at the major trauma centre survived than expected.
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