Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

After a very chilly start, Wednesday will be dry with light winds and plenty of warm sunshine for all of us. 

A few fair weather clouds are likely to bubble up through the afternoon - highs of 19C (66F).

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to the Local Live service for Staffordshire and Cheshire.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens between now and 18:00. We'll also have the latest developments on Drayton Manor, after an 11-year-old died after falling off one of the rides yesterday. 

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

Police say the girl was on a school trip when she fell into the water on the Splash Canyon ride.

Live updates have finished for the day but stories will be added automatically through the night. 

We'll be back from 08:00 on Wednesday with more live news, sport, travel and weather.

Clare Lissaman
BBC News Online

The death at Drayton Manor follows a string of incidents at UK theme parks which have hit the headlines, including: 

• June 2016: Eight children and two adults were injured after a rollercoaster derailed and crashed at the M&D's park near Strathclyde Park, Motherwell

• May 2016:  The Velociraptor rollercoaster at Paultons Park, Hampshire, broke down a week after opening.  About 20 people were evacuated after what a spokesman said was a "minor fault". The ride re-opened later that day

• June 2015:  Sixteen people were injured on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers, including two teenage girls who needed leg amputations. A carriage had crashed into a stationary car. Operator Merlin admitted health and safety breaches and was fined £5m

• June 2006: Firefighters rescued eight children and four adults trapped 40ft (12m) above the ground on the Terror Rack ride at the Pleasure Island park in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

• July 2005 four people were injured when a car came off its track at Ocean Beach amusement park in Rhyl, north Wales, when they were hit by another car

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

"It is absolutely sad and shocking news to hear how a day of adventure has ended in such tragedy for this young girl," said councillor Philip Atkins, Staffordshire County Council leader. "Our thoughts are very much with her family and friends this evening. 

"Drayton Manor Theme Park was opened as a family business back in 1949 and I know the Bryan family, who are still involved with the park today, will be absolutely devastated by this accident and will undoubtedly do all they can to help find out how this tragic accident occurred."

The 11-year-old girl died after falling from a rapids ride at the theme park.

The Splash Canyon attraction was shut on Tuesday after the girl, who was on a school trip, fell into the water.

The death of a school girl following a fall at Drayton Manor follows a number of high profile incidents at UK theme parks, including the Smiler rollercoaster crash in June 2015, which left five people seriously injured. 

However, the last death at a theme park in the country is believed to have occured 13 years ago.  

Hayley Williams (pictured), who was 16, fell 120ft (37m) to her death from a ride at Oakwood theme park near Tenby in west Wales in 2004.  

Image source, Williams family photo

The Hydro Ride was closed for a year after the incident before opening with enhanced safety restraints.  Hayley's family told the BBC in 2015 how they have struggled to come to terms with the death of their "amazing" daughter. 

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

Caroline Greenway told BBC News she was at the park for her son's fourth birthday.

She said: "We saw the air ambulance fly over as we were in the zoo. When we walked into the park, there was police, security and members of staff surrounding the area."

Image source, JADE BRAHAM/PA

She added: "Staff looked visibly upset and worried. When I asked if everything was ok, they replied they were unable to comment.

"We were not asked to leave the park, but part of the park near to Splash Canyon had been sectioned off by police.

"When we left the park, we had a clear view of the air ambulance parked up."

An 11-year-old girl on a school trip has died after falling into the water at the Splash Canyon ride:

• The ride opened in 1993
• It is described as a river rapids ride on circular boats
• It comprises 21 boats with a maximum capacity of six people per boat
• There is a height restriction. You must be taller than 90cms (2.9ft) to ride and anyone shorter than 1.1m (3.6ft) must be accompanied by an adult
• The 286 acre-theme park was opened to the public by the Bryan family in 1950 and is run today by second and third generation family members

Lisa Wright
Journalist, BBC News Online

Kenneth Lucas, who's 58 and a plant operative who lives locally, said he was "saddened" by the news.

He said he had heard the fire engines passing on their way to the park.

"I feel sorry for the parents and for the person who was in charge of the girl that died," he said. "It's a tragedy."

An 11-year-old girl has died after falling from a rapids ride at Drayton Manor theme park.  

An 11-year-old girl has died after falling from a rapids ride at Drayton Manor theme park.  

George Bryan, park director, gave this statement. 

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

The victim is an 11-year-old girl believed to be from the Leicester area.

She was on a school trip and fell into the rapids at the Splash Canyon ride.

The girl was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital at about 14:20.

Image source, David Charles

She was confirmed dead shortly after arrival at the hospital.  

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed of the incident.  

The park closed at 17:00. 

Sarah Portlock
BBC News Online

Tom Goodwin had been on Splash Canyon and was exiting the ride when he saw "security on a buggy" followed by an ambulance. 

"Another ambulance was followed by a police car," he said.

"It felt like within five or six minutes the scene became a lot more rushed - people were wondering why so many emergency vehicles were around, the helicopter was circling, trying to find a place to land, which it did quickly."

Image source, Steven Crook

"The area was cornered off, Shockwave and G Force closed, the rest of the park kept going at the time. We had been on the ride literally 15 mins before." 

Describing the ride Mr Goodwin said: "It's a rapids ride made up of a large rubber rings used as a boats, there are a few steps down into it, you sit quite sunken into the boat with a large metal ring in front of you.

"It goes along a large channel of water, goes quite quickly and you can bump into the wall.

"I've been asked if it's a fierce ride - I would say it is not a fierce ride."

Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News

Despite the death of an 11-year-old girl who fell into the water at one of the rides, the park remained open until its usual closing time of 17:00. 

New visitors were prevented from entering the park at about 16:00, however guests at the on-site hotel were allowed to remain.

It is not known if the site will be open to the public on Wednesday.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

BBC Midlands Today reporter Liz Copper is at Drayton Manor but said the park is "now closed" and there is a "heavy security presence". 

She added there were lots of coaches queuing up ready to take people home from the park. 

An 11-year-old girl on a school trip has died after falling into the water at the Splash Canyon ride.

Image source, ThemeParks.ie

Lisa Wright
Journalist, BBC News Online

An 11-year-old girl has died on a school trip after falling from a rapids ride at Drayton Manor theme park.  

Abdul Hasil, 30, from east London was on a day trip to the park.

He said: "We were panicking... we saw the fire brigade and then a police car. It's very unusual to see this kind of thing in a theme park."

"[Staff] closed it all down (around the ride) and said we couldn't go in."

He added that not knowing what was happening "increases the panic, especially after what happened with the Smiler at Alton Towers".

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

"It’s with great sadness that we have to report that a young girl has passed away at Birmingham Children’s Hospital following an incident on one of our rides this afternoon.

"Our staff were alerted that an 11-year-old girl had entered the water. 

"Trained park staff were immediately on scene attending to the patient. West Midlands Ambulance Service arrived and airlifted her to hospital.

"We are all truly shocked and devastated and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this tremendously difficult time."

The statement was read by company director George Bryan.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
BBC News

George Bryan, a company director at Drayton Manor, was visibly upset as he addressed the media. 

He said it was with "great sadness" they confirmed a young girl passed away at Birmingham Children's Hospital this afternoon after falling into the water at a ride.

He added his thoughts are with "family and friends at this tremendously difficult time".

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

George Bryan, director of Drayton Manor Theme Park, said he was "truly shocked and devastated" by the death of an 11-year-old girl who fell from the Splash Canyon ride.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

West Midlands Ambulance were at the scene of the incident at Drayton Manor theme park in under ten minutes. 

A spokesperson says a "first resource was on scene within seven minutes". 

An 11-year-old girl on a school trip who'd fallen into the water at a ride was airlifted to hospital, but later died, police say.