A two-for-one deal has been launched to sell tickets to the Staffordshire V Festival online.

Ticketmaster has launched the 72-hour flash sale - acts including, external P!nk, Jay Z, Ellie Goulding and Madness will feature over the two-day festival on 19 and 20 August.

The festival is held simultaneously at Weston Park near Shifnal and Hylands Park in Chelmsford, with live acts taking to the stage at one venue on Saturday and the other venue on Sunday.

V Festival is the biggest annual music festival in the West Midlands. 

Last year up to 90,000 revellers gathered to see headlines acts including Justin Bieber and Rihanna.

Naomi Cornwell
Reporter, BBC North West Tonight

The jury at the inquest into death of Roy Tomlinson who was found dead after going missing from a care home in Nantwich has been sent out to consider a narrative conclusion.

The coroner has directed them not to criticise the police, saying insufficient evidence to indicate police activity was linked to his death.

Andy Murray is Mark Lawrenson's opponent for this week's Football Focus Premier League predictions and he tips Chelsea to wrap up the title with a win against West Brom on Friday.

Hundreds of people gathered in Hanley last night to cheer on cyclists taking part in the Tour Series.

Ten teams of five raced around Hanley for 60 minutes, passing the Town Hall and Potteries Shopping Centre among other sites in the centre.  

Here's the moment Brenton Jones crossed the finish line first last night.

Last night was the second in the series - today it is in Northwich, external, before it moves on to Wembley Park, Croydon, Bath, Motherwell, Aberdeen, Durham and ending in Stevenage on 29 May.  

Olympic champion Katie Archibald rode to victory for Team Drop last night., external

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The top sport stories for Stoke and Staffordshire that we're covering this morning include:

• Stoke City forward Xherdan Shaqiri thinks the team have what it takes to beat Arsenal in their final home game of the season tomorrow

• The Port Vale manager says Enoch Andoh is still a long way from being ready to return to first-team football
• Player recruitment for next season is already gathering momentum, says Crewe boss David Artell 

The Sentinel

A thief has been jailed after stealing dog leads and collars worth more than £1,400 from Pets at Home., external

A park kiosk which has stood for more than 40 years will be demolished after the council approved a major revamp in Stafford.

More than 1,100 signatures were raised to save the kiosk in Victoria Park which sells ice creams, drinks and refreshments.

A £2.5m revamp will include a new amphitheatre and cafe, the demolition of the park aviary and greenhouse (pictured), as well as a refurbished toilets and bandstand, alongside a new maintenance depot.  

Kev Simcock, who runs the current cafe, said: "It's reasonably priced, affordable, we've got such a nice friendly atmosphere in the park.

"I've got a pretty good reputation and it's really friendly. I couldn't even afford the rent for a new cafe, never mind make a profit. Whoever does - good luck to them."  

Here's a plan of the park:, external

Stoke's £18.3m record signing Giannelli Imbula could leave this summer, manager Mark Hughes says.

Burton Mail

A Burton woman who was inspired by a family member's bravery after undergoing several surgeries, external to repair a cleft lip has helped three children to smile again after raising money with a bingo event.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Drayton Manor Theme Park is closed for a third day following the death of an 11-year-old after falling from the river rapid ride on Tuesday. 

The park, based in Tamworth, says health and safety inspectors are on site carrying out investigations. 

A statement on its website says:, external

Staffordshire Police says it expects the post mortem of Evha Jannath, from Leicester, to be carried out on Monday.

The closure is unprecedented in the park's 67-year history and it is not yet clear when it will re-open.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Expect a mixture of light rain and thundery showers with some slightly brighter spells and highs of 18C (64F).

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Welcome to Stoke and Staffordshire Live on Friday morning. 

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens. 

If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @bbcradiostoke, external or message via Facebook, external.

A teenager asks David Cameron to "take some responsibility" for Brexit during a walkabout in Nantwich.

Legoland Windsor and Alton Towers are among venues to close rapids-type rides after a girl's fatal fall.

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.  

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes believes that high expectations are to blame for fans' frustrations. 

Stoke face Arsenal on Saturday and with two games to play, they could still finish as high as eighth and as low as 17th. 

Hughes has responded to questions about discontent from the stands after the Potters slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Image source, Getty Images

Hear more on your team on BBC Radio Stoke's Sport at Six.

A man has been jailed for four years for causing the death of a boy in Endon. 

Jak Griffiths, 14, from Cheddleton, was injured in a crash involving two cars and a tractoron 20 June 2016 on the A53 Leek Road.

Jak, a passenger, later died in hospital and four others required treatment.

Image source, Google

Liam Williams, 20, from St Edward Street in Leek pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to death by dangerous driving, serious injury by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst uninsured and unlicensed.

Today, he was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and given a five-year driving ban with an extended re-test. 

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Three men have been arrested after armed officers were sent to a street near Hanley Park last night.

Police say the three men, one man aged 46 from Newcastle, and a 39 and 42-year-old from Hanley were detained on College Road about 21:00.

Officers say a car was stopped following reports of a disturbance on Clayton Road (pictured) in Newcastle earlier in the evening.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say they are being held on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Weather

It's going to be another mild night and the warm weather should continue tomorrow, but there's a chance of some showers in the morning.

A post-mortem examination following Evha's death is expected to be carried out on Monday, Staffordshire Police said.

The force said officers were still working alongside Health and Safety Executive staff on the investigation at the theme park.