BBC Radio 4

A heads-up if you missed it, but last night Radio 4's Front Row programme visited Stoke-on-Trent as the city is marking the 150 years from the birth in the area of novelist Arnold Bennett.

In his lifetime Bennett was so famous the Savoy Hotel named an omelette after him but his star has waned in recent times.

However, with this anniversary, the city is marking it with a range of events including an adaptation of his novel Anna of the Five Towns which you can hear about on the iPlayer.

Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City's new signing Darren Fletcher says his age won't be an issue when it comes to improving the team.

The 33-year-old joined from West Bromwich Albion yesterday, signing a two-year contract.

Image source, Stoke City

Fletcher made 45 appearances for West Brom last season scoring two goals.

He's been backed by Potters boss Mark Hughes who told Stoke's website, external that his new signing still feels he can get even more success in the game, despite his age.

BBC News England

A Staffordshire woman says she's been helped by horse therapy.

Angela Clutterbuck, from Lichfield, says she's experienced Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to overcome difficulties with confrontation.

The therapy helps people overcome their fears and increases their confidence by having them in the same field stroking and speaking to them.

Angela says she found it daunting at first, being in the same field as the horse, but admits it has helped her with her issue.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A Stoke City flag that was taken to the International Space Station has now returned to Staffordshire after travelling about 78 million miles.

Astronaut Tim Peake took the flag to space in 2015 after a campaign by Stoke fan Andy Rushton.

A year after returning to Earth, it's now been posted back to Andy who says he wants to give it to the club.

He says he also hopes Tim Peake will make a trip to the Bet365 stadium next season.

The Sentinel

Residents have been urged to write letters of objection after fresh plans were drawn up to build 100 luxury homes in the open countryside., external

Image source, The Sentinel

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Almost 700 drivers have been caught using their phone while driving in Staffordshire and Cheshire since harsher penalties were introduced in March.

From 1 March, punishments for using a phone at the wheel doubled to six points and a £200 fine.

Image source, PA

In the three months since they came in, Staffordshire Police caught 290 people and Cheshire Police 401.

In Staffordshire, the force says 179 were caught in March during a "zero tolerance approach", adding that before they'd expect to catch around 60 drivers a month.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Here's how your Friday is looking on the weather front - keep up-to-date with the latest forecasts on the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

It's a grey start to the day in Stoke-on-Trent - here's a photo capturing it from BBC Weather Watcher LG76.

Image source, LG76

Charlie Slater will have a full weather forecast for Friday shortly and you'll get the latest updates through today on news, sport, travel and other issues.

That'll include more of your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire so keep those coming on email or via Instagram, external, adding the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them.

Angela experiences Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for the first time. She is using it to help overcome anxiety.

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.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Crewe Alexandra keeper Ben Garratt says the club's signings of Chris Porter (pictured) and Jordan Bowery will add goals to the squad.

Image source, crewealex.net

Porter agreed a two-year deal yesterday and became the club's third new signing of the summer.

Bowery's signing was announced last week and he'd previously scored twice for Crewe in a loan spell.

The Alex scored 58 times last season and Garratt says he expects that figure to improve next season.

Lichfield Mercury

A seldom-seen watercolour painting of Lichfield Cathedral by JMW Turner, which is currently on display there, Turner is to be sold at London's world-famous Sotheby's auction house in July., external

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening we're looking at transport - an important issue for many voters in the run-up to next week's general election.

All the parties have been making pledges on transport and we'll be examining what some of them are on BBC One from 18:30.

Facebook

You've been having your say on news that a gold medal-winning Paralympian was refused entry to The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers because she only has one arm.

Claire Cashmore, who was born without a left forearm, was told she could not go on the ride for safety reasons.

Bosses apologised but said the policy was in place in case the ride had to be evacuated.

Image source, PA

On the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page:

Adam Kingston posted, external: "I think it is disgusting for Alton Towers to say that she is not allowed on the Smiler ride, I think it is ridiculous because she won a medal at the Olympics Games."

While Steve Corbishley wrote, external: "It all depends on the harness. Alton Towers has to be safety conscious for all riders."

A reminder, especially for those living in the Crewe and Nantwich area, that the candidates battling it out to be the constituency's next MP in the general election next week are debating on BBC Radio Stoke tonight.

It's live from 19:00 and we'll recap what happens and the main points on the live page tomorrow

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It's going to be a fine night across the region, but we are forecast some colder weather and rain tomorrow.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale supporters will need to be patient over new signings coming to the club over the summer, according to chief executive Colin Garlick.

Image source, Port Vale FC

The Vale managerial team say they need to build a new "spine" to the team before next season after releasing 13 players.

Mr Garlick told BBC Radio Stoke it's the time of the year when the power is in the players' favour.

Perry Spiller
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

More from the BBC Radio Stoke debate today between the four candidates vying to be Stoke-on-Trent North MP after next week's general election.

They were all asked how they would regenerate the towns of Burslem and Tunstall.

And they were also asked if a vote for each of them was also a vote for their respective party leaders.

Stoke have signed midfielder Darren Fletcher on a free transfer from West Brom on a two-year deal.

BBC Sport

Stoke City have signed midfielder Darren Fletcher on a free transfer from West Brom on a two-year deal.

Image source, Stoke City

The 33-year-old Scotland captain made 97 appearances for the Baggies after joining from Manchester United in 2015.

"This is a new challenge for me now and I like to think I respond well to new challenges," Fletcher told Stoke's website., external

Fletcher will officially join Mark Hughes' side on 1 July when his contract at The Hawthorns expires.