Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

Brexit proved a hot topic at last night's BBC Radio Stoke general election debate in Newcastle-under-Lyme between the three candidates standing in the poll.

All of them were asked how they thought the issue would affect the area:

• Nigel Jones for the Liberal Democrats said the area would hit by the loss of trade and new tariffs, affecting jobs and the economy
• Owen Meredith for the Conservatives said he would use feedback from local businesses to influence Brexit negotiations to help Newcastle-under-Lyme
• Labour's Paul Farrelly said what was needed was a strong Parliament to hold the prime minister to account to get the best deal out of Europe

You can see the whole debate on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page here, external.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A motorbiker's been seriously hurt after crashing with a car in the Staffordshire Moorlands, external.

West Midlands Ambulance Service says the collision happened near the Rose and Crown pub on Rudyard Road, Biddulph Moor last night.

Image source, Google

They say the crash was so severe, the biker's helmet had cracked in the collision.

Paramedics treated him for injuries to his head, arm and legs and he was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Crewe Chronicle

Shift workers won’t be able to get to work and pensioners won’t have a way of getting to the shops if Cheshire East presses ahead with cuts to bus services, opposition councillors claim., external

Eight men are jailed after police seize drugs, money and Rolex watches from their homes and cars.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A sports centre is going to be shut by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, because it's expected to cost £2.4m to repair and keep it going over the next seven years.

It's not yet clear if it will be replaced by a new centre.

The site on Fourth Avenue, Kidsgrove will need £400,000 in the next year alone, the local authority says.

Image source, Google

Councillors say a building survey found the Kidsgrove centre, which opened in 1976 and contains a gym and two swimming pools, external, is deteriorating and costing more to maintain.

The authority says a new building at nearby King's School means it's no longer needed for school swimming but it hasn't yet worked out how to meet the "health and well-being needs" of local residents.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The ringleader of a drugs gang in Staffordshire tried to swallow a sim card to dispose of evidence as police went to arrest him, external, police say.

All eight of the group (pictured) have been jailed after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in the county.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police says their leader, 33-year-old Dharmesh Patel from Bilston, tried to run away as they arrested him and threw away parts of a mobile phone.

He received the longest sentence of 12 years and six months at Stafford Crown Court.

Tamworth Herald

Footage has been shared online of a driver performing a dangerous manoeuvre in the car park of a busy restaurant in Tamworth., external

BBC Midlands Today

Stoke-on-Trent's most famous pottery brand Wedgwood will showcase specially designed flower pots at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year.

The Royal Horticultural Society was founded by Josiah Wedgwood's son John in 1804.

This year, to mark the connection between the two, external, a special tea conservatory will be at the world famous show, along with pots giving a modern take on Wedgwood's Jasperware.

Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today from 13:30, I'll be live in Stoke-on-Trent at a family-run business that's showing off a new, multi-million pound headquarters today.

Image source, Google

Valentine Clays has been based in Hanley for 37 years and I'll have more from 13:30 on BBC One.

Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live

Adam Peaty has won Britain's first gold medal at the Japan Open swimming.

Image source, PA

The Olympic champion from Uttoxeter, who trains in Loughborough, took the top prize in the 100 metres breaststroke.

BBC Weather Watchers

Last night was clearly a cracker when it comes to the sunset and our BBC Weather Watchers uploaded pictures from across the area.

These two are from Staffordshire users Ashmo in Stone and Christine in Audley.

Image source, Ashmo

Image source, Christine

BBC Sport

The Stoke City boss Mark Hughes says his club are in discussions with Bruno Martins Indi's parent club Porto about the Dutch defender.

Image source, Getty Images

Indi, who is on loan from FC Porto until the end of the season, has been a near-regular in the first team this season.

BBC News UK

Rolf Harris has been released from Stafford Prison.

The TV entertainer is currently on trial on four counts of alleged indecent assault against three teenagers between 1971 and 1983 - but has been appearing via video link.

Image source, PA

Mr Harris, who denies all charges, will attend the trial at Southwark Crown Court in person from Monday.

Jurors have already been told that Mr Harris, 87, was convicted and sentenced following a trial in 2014.

The current trial, which began on 15 May, is not sitting on Friday.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A gang who police say hid crack cocaine inside Kinder eggs have been jailed for between four and 12 years each., external

Image source, Thinkstock

Staffordshire Police says the eight conspired to supply crack cocaine in Hednesford, Cannock and Rugeley in 2014 and 2015.

The force says officers seized thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash in searches after they made the arrests.

All eight had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and crack cocaine:

• Dharmesh Patel, 33, of Shale Street, Bilston, was jailed for 12 years and six months
• Martin Charleton Kelly, 44, of Holyoake Place, Rugeley, was jailed for eight years and one month
• Christopher Mayers, 30, of Cedar Crescent, Rugeley, was jailed for six years and three months
• Leon Morton, 30, of Hazel Grove, Bilston, was sentenced to four years in prison
• Daniel Nelson, 36, of Barracks Lane, Walsall, was jailed for four years and six months
• Matthew Adderley, 37, of Waterbrook Way, Cannock, was sentenced to four years in jail
• Jamaine McFarlane, 31, of Bilston, was sentenced to six years in prison
• Andrew Junior Chambers, 45, of no fixed abode, was jailed for six years and three months

Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist

It had the lowest turnout of any constituency in the UK at the 2015 general election.

But fresh from a by-election and a fired-up electorate which overwhelmingly backed Brexit, could June's ballot see Stoke-on-Trent Central voters turn up in better numbers at the ballot box?

Image source, Gavin Dickson

I've been in the centre of the city getting the opinions of people on the street and what issues are firing them up.

You can read more here on the BBC website.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale's new signing, returning striker Tom Pope, says he feels they can bounce straight back from relegation.

Pope, 31, has agreed a two-year deal with the club he supported as a boy, having left for Gigg Lane in 2015.

The Vale have been relegated back to League Two but their new signing says they just need a few more signings to get back to League One.

The Sentinel

Mother-of-three Michelle Jones has spoken of her "death sentence" after being diagnosed with cancer for a second time., external

Image source, The Sentinel

Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The three candidates hoping to become Newcastle-under-Lyme's next MP went head-to-head last night in a BBC Radio Stoke general election debate at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.

Among the questions they faced from the audience were ones on Brexit, the high-speed rail project HS2 and legalising cannabis.

All three candidates were also asked how they would tackle long waiting times at A&E and bed shortages at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

• Paul Farrelly for Labour said more use should be made of community hospitals to ease the pressure on the bigger hospital.
• For the Conservatives, Owen Meredith said he saw one way to support the Royal Stoke would be to invest further in the NHS through a "strong economy and the proceeds of taxation".
• Nigel Jones for the Liberal Democrats said his party would raise income tax to help fund the NHS and social care.

You can see the whole debate on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page here, external.

Jennie Aitken
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Charity shops in Newcastle-under-Lyme have told BBC Radio Stoke they feel they're being targeted by shoplifters.

Staff say more people than ever are stealing, with an incident almost every day.

Image source, Google

Three stores have also been broken into so far this year - the local Cancer Research shop and the local branches for the Salvation Army and the Douglas Macmillian Hospice.

Staffordshire Police say they know charity shops are vulnerable and have patrols in the town centre.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Some dry weather around today, but also the possibility of heavy and thundery showers this afternoon with highs of 15C (59F).