Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

It looks like there's been a bit of rain around in Staffordshire this morning, certainly BBC Weather Watcher Snapdragon captured some raindrops in Burton:

Image source, Snapdragon

There'll be a full look at the whole day's weather forecast in a few minutes and there'll be news, sport, travel and other updates through the day for Staffordshire and Cheshire.

And if you take photographs of the area, why not share one with us - we'll feature as many as we can, use email or Instagram to get them to us, external (us the tag #bbcstoke on Instagram).

What will tempt the voters to turn out in the city that shies away from the ballot box?

A rider who suffered severe head injuries at Badminton Horse Trials has shown enough progress to be transferred to a hospital closer to home.

Emily Gilruth, 40, was being cared for at Bristol's Southmead Hospital following the fall, but is now being treated on a neurology ward in Stoke-on-Trent.

Her family said she's now able to complete some tasks by herself and is progressing more each day.

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 Sport

The Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough says defender Shaun Barker is a valuable squad member, following the news he's signed a new six-month contract.

Image source, Empics

The 34-year-old's deal is the third short-term contract he has signed since joining the Championship club last summer after four injury-plagued years.

Barker only made five substitute appearances, but helped the Brewers avoid relegation.

Express and Star

A burglar branded ‘the lowest of the low’ broke into and ransacked the Burntwood home of a man who had died from a drug overdose just weeks earlier, external, an inquest heard.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A hundred years after the site was used to train hundreds of thousands of troops to fight in World War One, Cannock Chase's role in the conflict's going to be marked this summer.

Staffordshire County Council will hold a two-day event from 24 June to pay tribute to the area's history and its role at the time.

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

During WW1, two military camps on Cannock Chase trained soldiers from across the UK and abroad to fight on the front line. , external

The council says this summer's commemoration event will feature a WW1-era field hospital, films of the time and recreations of training methods of the time.

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening - it's been credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives in the Black Country.

But the building in Staffordshire has been abandoned and neglected for years - however it could be about to be saved.

I've been to find out more and you can see my report from 18:30 on BBC One.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

Plus you can use the BBC Weather website to get the latest forecasts at any other time.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has told BBC Radio Stoke he wants to keep his head of recruitment Neil Baker at the club, after he was linked with a return to Leek Town, external.

Image source, crewealex.net

It's understood that the non-league side are hoping to appoint their new boss by the end of this week.

Baker has served under five managers during his time at the Alex.

Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

The wife of a Nantwich man who has Motor Neurone Disease says a birthday card appeal for him has brought the "outside world in".

Claire Bailey had asked people to send cards for Damien's 38th birthday on Monday, over fears it could be last.

She says she wanted to make it extra special and they received almost 700 cards.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The landscape of Staffordshire and Cheshire features in some of your photos sent in today, along with some wildlife.

To send your photos in of the area, email them or put them on Instagram with the tag #bbcstoke, to show you agree to share them, external.

Gary Smee
BBC Sport

When Phil Taylor puts away his darts for the final time after the 2018 PDC World Championship, an era of sporting greatness like few others will come to a close.

Image source, Harry Trump/Getty Images

The former sheet metal worker from Stoke-on-Trent has won everything the sport has to offer multiple times - setting records which may never be broken.

The 16-time world champion announced in January that 2017 would be his final year on the circuit after three decades of darting dominance.

Today, the 56-year-old will take part in his last Premier League play-offs against the top-three ranked players in the world.

Port Vale re-sign striker Tom Pope, two years after he left the club to join Bury.

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A man from the Staffordshire Moorlands has told BBC Radio Stoke that he feels more people will die on a route in the county if the speed limit isn't dropped.

Robert Capewell lives on the A522 near Cheadle and says he's seen five vehicles crash into his front garden in the last 17 years.

He says, in one case, he discovered a person dead in one of the cars.

Staffordshire County Council says it's looking at reducing speed limits at locations along the road and will consider other things such as additional road signage.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale have re-signed striker Tom Pope just two years after he left to join League One side Bury., external

The 31-year-old scored 69 goals in over 160 appearances in his first spell at the club.

Image source, Pete Norton/Getty Images

Staffordshire Newsletter

Lorries thundering along a rural road near Eccleshall as early as 03:00 have prompted residents to move bedrooms in a bid for a more peaceful night's sleep, external.

Experienced centre-half Shaun Barker signs a new six-month contract with Championship side Burton Albion.

BBC Weather Watchers

The sunshine's made a welcome return today and our BBC Weather Watchers have been snapping pictures already this morning.

These two are from Staffordshire-users Chrissi in Kinver and Wendles in Yoxall.

Image source, Chrissi

Image source, Wendles

Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The candidates battling it out to win the Newcastle-under-Lyme seat in the general election on 8 June will be part of a debate this evening on BBC Radio Stoke.

Image source, Google

The three candidates, Labour's Paul Farrelly, the Conservative's Owen Meredith and the Liberal Democrat's Nigel Jones will take questions from a live audience.

It will be held at Newcastle-under-Lyme College and can be heard on air from 19:00 and will also be streamed live on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page, external.