National Rail says disruption on services between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley following the discovery of a World War Two bomb is set to last all day.

The device was found at a construction site in Priory Road, Aston, which runs parallel to a stretch of the Cross City line.

Trains between the stations are being delayed by up to 15 minutes or cancelled.

Details on tickets and replacement bus services here, external.

Matt Sandoz
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The British showjumper, Emily Gilruth, is set to leave intensive care after she was injured in a fall at the Badminton Horse Trials on Saturday.

The 40-year-old, who is based near Malpas in Cheshire, fell from her mount Topwood Beauand and was airlifted to Bristol's Southmead Hospital. 

British Eventing said last week she suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Bomb disposal experts are at a site in Aston where an unexploded World War Two device was found earlier, police say.

The location, a construction site in Priory Road, has had a 500m safety perimeter created around it and homes have been evacuated.

Parallel to it is a stretch of the Cross City rail line which runs between Lichfield and Birmingham, causing service disruption, including cancellations, external.

The Aston Expressway has also been closed in both directions.

A woman who had to pay more than £1,100 after dropping a cigarette butt in Hanley, says the negative publicity she's received has ruined her life.

Chelsie Lawton was spotted committing the offence by an environmental crime officer outside the Intu Potteries shopping centre last September. 

The 26-year-old was then taken to court and ordered to pay the fine after she failed to resolve an initial fixed penalty charge.

Burton Albion winger Lloyd Dyer signs a new one-year contract with Nigel Clough's Brewers - at the age of 34.

A crossbow has been removed from the scene of a seven-hour siege in Stoke-on-Trent.

Armed officers and negotiators were sent to a flat in Norton in the early hours, to reports a man was threatening to harm himself. 

Local roads were closed, as the incident on Pointon Grove was brought to a safe conclusion around 10:00, as a man was detained under the mental health act.

"Long" traffic delays are expected after the discovery of an unexploded World War Two device in Aston earlier that has led to the evacuation of neighbouring homes.

All entry and exit slip roads at Aston Expressway are closed following the find at a construction site in Priory Road.

The Cross City rail line which runs between Lichfield and Birmingham is also facing disruption - a stretch of the route runs parallel to the area to which bomb disposal experts have been called. London Midland has the latest service news here, external.

Police have linked the "emergency incident" affecting today's Cross City rail services between Birmingham and Lichfield to the road closures both ways at Aston Expressway - they say an unexploded World War Two device is behind the disruption.

The device was uncovered at a construction site in Priory Road, Aston, earlier.

Officers were called at about 09:45 following the discovery, with a 500m safety perimeter put in place as a precaution.

Police say it's meant "a number of businesses and houses" in the area have been evacuated "and the A38 Aston Expressway has been closed in both directions".

A statement added: "It is understood that some train services will be affected as the train lines run parallel to the A38."

Bomb disposal experts have been informed.

A motorbike ride on the third anniversary of the death of Stephen Sutton has raised £5,500 for the charity he supported.

Before his death from cancer on 14 May, 2014, the 19-year-old from Staffordshire helped raise about £4m for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Image source, Sutton family

He became well known after posting a picture online of his "final thumbs up" from a hospital bed.

His mother Jane said it was fantastic to see events still happen in his name.

BBC Radio Stoke

A man from Nantwich, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease, has received hundreds of birthday cards after his wife appealed through social media.

Image source, Bailey family

Damien Bailey, who turns 38 today, was diagnosed with the illness in 2015. 

His wife Claire fears it could be his last birthday and wanted to arrange something extra special to mark the occasion.

BBC Radio Stoke

The trust that runs two hospitals in Stoke and Staffordshire says the majority of its systems are now up and running following Friday's cyber-attack on the NHS.

The University Hospital of North Midlands Trust, which runs Royal Stoke University Hospital and the County Hospital in Stafford, says only minor parts of its network are still affected. 

Patients are being advised to attend appointments as planned and no operations have been cancelled.  

A council initiative, external, launching this week, could see vacant buildings in Staffordshire become business hubs for small and medium sized enterprises.

Image source, PA

The Rural Enterprise Programme will make grants of up to £65,000 available to businesses that can demonstrate they will create jobs if they were to move into a refurbished building. 

Empty properties in all areas of Staffordshire will be made available under the scheme.  

A series of walks and volunteer opportunities will be held in the summer to raise awareness of Cannock Chase's military history.

Image source, Cannock Chase AONB

The events will focus on the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, which trained new recruits in the area between 1917 and 1919.

The new mayor of Stafford has been sworn into office. 

Image source, Stafford Borough Council

Councillor Aidan Godfrey officially took on the new role at the annual mayor making ceremony at the Gatehouse Theatre. 

His chosen charities are Staffordshire Women's Aid and Community Link Stafford and District.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City defender Eric Pieters says the squad is disappointed they will miss out on a top-10 finish for the first time in four seasons. 

Image source, Getty Images

The Potters lost 4-1 to Arsenal on Saturday, leaving them on 41 points - one short of their worse ever season in the Premier league, with one match to go.

It's the first time they've failed to achieve a ninth placed finish since manager Mark Hughes took over in 2013.

Staffordshire Police say an incident in Norton has ended "safely" after armed officers responded to an incident at a flat in Pointon Grove.

Several roads in the area have been shut since about 03:00.

A man has been detained for treatment and assessment under the Mental Capacity Act following police negotiations.

Patients are being advised to turn up for hospital appointments today unless contacted and told otherwise.

Image source, WEBROOT

It's after NHS services across the country fell victim to a cyber-attack on Friday. 

Royal Stoke University Hospital, the County Hospital in Stafford and Leighton Hospital in Crewe all faced disruption over the weekend due to a malware attack which prevented computer users from accessing their terminals unless they paid a ransom.

Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Leek Town are targeting Neil Baker as their new manager, BBC Radio Stoke understands.

Image source, Getty Images

It's after the Staffordshire Moorlands non-league club last night announced they have parted company with the managerial duo of Anthony Danylyk and Paul Donnelly. 

Baker is currently the head of recruitment at Crewe Alexandra but is keen to make a return to management. 

The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest discovery of Anglo Saxon gold ever found in Britain, is up for a public vote. 

Treasure 20, external is an online poll celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Treasure Act - the law requiring people to report their finds.

Voting ends at midnight tonight.

Image source, BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Firefighters have been tackling a fire at a bungalow in Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent 

They were called to Albany Street shortly before 21:00 last night. 

It's believed the fire started accidently after a frying pan was left on the hob and the home owner fell asleep.

They were woken by their smoke alarm and managed to escape, the fire service said.