BBC Local Live: Staffordshire & Cheshire on Wednesday 3 May 2017

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

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

Power cut hits more than 840 homes in Staffordpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
More than 800 homes are without electricity this afternoon, external.
Western Power Distribution says it's working to get power restored by 16:00.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Three arrests after armed police called to 'wildlife shooting'published at 14:40 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Three teenagers have been arrested after police say they had reports of people shooting at wildlife with a gun. , external
Staffordshire Police say armed police were called yesterday evening to Borrow Pit Lake next to Tamworth Snowdome.
They say they've also recovered an air gun, adding that the three teenagers have now been released from custody and remain under investigation.
Your questions: Yam Yams in Cannockpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Robert asked on Your Questions: "Why do my workmates call people from Hednesford and Cannock 'yammies'?".
Well, it's generally thought people from Cannock and the surrounding area are known as Yam Yams, because of the phrase with which they reply to the question "how are you?".
They'll say: "'yam orite, yam" (think about it!).
Image source, Google
Yam Yams is more often used as a term for people from Wolverhampton, Walsall and Dudley - but if anyone's calling people in Cannock or Hednesford Yam Yams, that's why.
If you've got a question about Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire to pose, ask us here and your question could be making the news.
Bomb disposal team called to suspicious package report in a McDonaldspublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Bomb disposal experts have been called out after a suspicious package was found inside a McDonalds in Burton. , external
Staffordshire Police say they and the fire service were called just before 11:40 to Station Street.
The force says no-one's been hurt but the immediate surrounding area's been evacuated and they've cordoned off the restaurant.
7/7 hero selected as Labour candidate in Cannock Chasepublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Express and Star
London bombing hero Paul Dadge has been selected to fight the Cannock Chase, external seat for Labour in the General Election.
A50 set for five night closures for bridge workpublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Jennie Aitken
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Building work on a new bridge over the A50 in Staffordshire means the road will have to close overnight for five nights from next month. , external
The county council says it means shutting the westbound A50 between the B5030 roundabout at Uttoxeter and the A521 roundabout at Blythe Bridge.
Image source, Google
They say it'll be for five consecutive nights from Monday 5 June to Friday 9 June and the eastbound carriageway won't be affected.
It's all part of the council's overall plan to upgrade the junction with the A522.
On Midlands Today from 13:30: Local elections and railway developmentpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime, as voters prepare to go to the polls tomorrow in Staffordshire, we've been speaking to candidates ahead of the county council elections.
Plus news of a major new railway development project and your lunchtime weather update, all on BBC One from 13:30.
7/7 rescuer to stand in general electionpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Paul Dadge said he was "extremely proud" as he announced the news on Twitter.
Read More
No joy for peregrine falcon spotters at Staffordshire beauty spotpublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Peregrine falcons are not nesting at a Staffordshire beauty spot, external, despite a charity having new kit and cameras to track their progress.
Image source, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust was given £10,000 to set up web cameras, new telescopes and a shed to shelter volunteers.
Today though, the trust says it's extremely disappointed that the peregrine pair aren't nesting on the Roaches this year, external and the equipment will now be stored until next year.
Cricket: Stoke-on-Trent player gets first Warwickshire contractpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A cricketer from Stoke-on-Trent has been offered a first deal by county side, external Warwickshire.
Image source, Dave Thompson/Getty Images
The club says seam-bowler Mitchell Spencer, 24, has been given a three-month contract after impressing in 2nd XI games last year along with a pre-season tour in the winter.
Council asked to back Bentley Masterplanpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Crewe Chronicle
Cheshire East Council is being asked to back a masterplan which outlines how the Bentley Motors’ factory in Crewe could look, external in the future.
Stoke-on-Trent named best city for 4G mobile download speedspublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC News UK
Stoke-on-Trent is the fastest city for average 4G mobile download speeds across the UK, a report says.
Consumer group Which? and analyst OpenSignal have measured data from mobile phones across 20 cities in the UK.
Image source, AFP
They've named Middlesbrough as the best city in the country for mobile 4G coverage and Bournemouth the worst.
But they also named the Potteries as the best for average 4G download speeds.
Football: Port Vale 'expected to confirm Brown as permanent manager'published at 10:49 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale are widely expected to confirm caretaker manager Michael Brown as their permanent manager at a press conference this afternoon.
The club has only revealed that the press conference will be held at 14:00, external and added "further information to follow accordingly".
Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty Images
However BBC Radio Stoke's Port Vale commentator Lee Blakemen says he would be "amazed, external" if it wasn't to name Brown as permanent manager.
He took charge as caretaker manager after Bruno Ribeiro's departure on Boxing Day - Vale have won just four times in 22 league matches in 2017.
Politicians woo voters ahead of 4 May pollpublished at 10:29 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC Politics
Political parties are taking to the streets in the last day of campaigning ahead of Thursday's local elections.
A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland on 4 May.
Image source, Getty Images
They include all 62 at Staffordshire County Council and there are also two borough council by-elections in Stafford.
The poll will give voters a chance to deliver verdicts on the major parties before the general election, which is being held on 8 June.
Footballer's wife set on dispelling the WAG tagpublished at 09:44 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC Radio Derby
The wife of former Derby County captain Shaun Barker has said she wants to change perceptions of footballer's wives., external
Image source, Getty Images/BBC
Rebecca Barker, who enjoyed baking in her spare time, is celebrating six months running her own cafe in Quarndon, near Allestree.
"I'm often judged before I'm met because people expect a certain thing and I'm a surprise which Shaun loves," she told BBC Radio Derby.
"We kind of sat down and had a conversation and said it is my time now to have a job and a career."
Shaun Barker has spent this season playing for Burton Albion., external
The 34-year-old centre back has also played for Blackpool and Rotherham in a 16-year professional career.
Hospital bids to open 'temporary' car park for another two yearspublished at 09:40 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
The Sentinel
Families are fighting plans to continue to operate a "temporary" car park at Staffordshire's biggest hospital for another two years., external
Image source, The Sentinel
Football: New Port Vale chairman wants more fans at games for 'big bucks'published at 09:17 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale's new chairman Tony Fradley has told BBC Radio Stoke he's doing what's best for the club by taking over now.
Norman Smurthwaite announced yesterday he was standing down as chairman after four years in the role and last night it was discovered Tony Fradley had replaced him.
Image source, Pete Norton/Getty Images
Vale's four-year spell in League One ended with relegation on Sunday.
Mr Fradley says it's crucial fans keep coming to games and to keep money coming into the club.
Quote Message
The only way we'll get big bucks is if people start coming through the turnstiles. We're going to do things [towards that], we'll see how things go, we might have to change and adapt."
Tony Fradley, Port Vale's new chairman
Trauma centre rated best 'for saving lives of patients'published at 08:48 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
BBC Midlands Today
A major trauma centre in Stoke-on-Trent has been rated the best in the country for saving the lives of patients.
The unit is based at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and treats patients from as far away as north Wales and the Peak District.
According to the latest statistics, for every 1,000 people treated at the centre in the last four years, 13 more survived than expected.
The figures have come from the Trauma Audit and Research network, external, an independent monitor of trauma care in England and Wales.
Their data also show the figure for the Royal Stoke rose to 15 extra survivors per 1,000 in 2015-16.
Watch: Latest weather forecastpublished at 08:21 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
It's shaping up to be another nice morning - find out what the weather has in store.
Media caption,
West Midlands Weather
Welcome to Wednesday's live coverage for Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 08:08 British Summer Time 3 May 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
It's a bright, sunny start to the day across Stoke-on-Trent and it looks like that's the case across Staffordshire.
That's because this photo's from Newcastle-under-Lyme and was taken today by BBC Weather Watcher Snow Crystals.
Image source, Snow Crystals
A full weather update will be published shortly and there'll be news, sport, travel and other updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire through today.
You can also keep sending in your photos of the area and we'll feature as many as we can - do that via email or put them on Instagram with the tag #bbcstoke, external.