Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

The BBC has learned that the M6 Toll has been sold.

The road, which bypasses the most congested parts of the M6 through Staffordshire and the West Midlands, was put up for sale by its Australian owners last year.

The new owner is an investment group called IFM, external, which is owned by several pension funds.

IFM already runs a number of toll roads around the world and has some other big investments here in the UK.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a bright start there's the possibility of some light showers around lunchtime, before a warm and sunny afternoon.

The pollen count is expected to be very high and top temperatures expected of 20C (68F).

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

The BBC has learned that the M6 Toll has been sold.

The road, which bypasses the most congested parts of the M6, was put up for sale by its Australian owners last year.

The new owner is an investment group called IFM, which is owned by several pension funds.

IFM already runs a number of toll roads around the world and has some other big investments in the UK.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Morning everyone, it's looking like being another lovely day with plenty of sunshine for Staffordshire and Cheshire.

BBC Weather Watcher Thornhill Watch took this in Hednesford:

Image source, Thornhill Watch

We'll have a full look at the day's weather shortly, including the pollen count, and there'll be updates on today's news, sport, travel and more through the day.

You can also send in your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire on email or Instagram (adding the tag #bbcstoke) , externaland I'll feature as many as I can.

The Kent, Cheshire and Cambridgeshire forces have been criticised by police watchdog the HMIC.

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.

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

Children at a dance class near Wolverhampton have become television stars after being featured in an eight-part documentary series.

Baby Ballroom on Channel 5 Star follows the children as they train and take part in junior dancing competitions.

The group, based in Wombourne, have impressed the show's producers so much there may even be a second series.

BBC Radio Stoke

Our political editor Patrick Burns has been analysing just what impact our regional marginal seats had in last week's election.

If Theresa May had managed to get just a few hundred more people to back her party, eight seats could have swung from being holds for other parties.

They include Newcastle-under-Lyme where Labour MP Paul Farrelly clung on by just 30 votes.

Read more from Patrick here and there'll also be more analysis this weekend in the Sunday Politics usual 11:00 slot, on BBC One on Sunday 18 June 2017.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A man's been arrested in Staffordshire after reports of him waving what was thought to be a sword in the street.

Staffordshire Police were called to the Wesley Street area of Blythe Bridge just before 08:30 and they say they found it wasn't a sword but the cover for a martial arts one.

Officers say the 31-year-old remains in custody on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and common assault.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A mother says she wants to keep the memory of her son alive after he died from an undiagnosed heart condition earlier this year at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.

Jake Dean, 20, collapsed in a stairwell at the site in February, was taken to hospital but died there.

This week, after fundraising events, the college donated more than £1,600 to the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity., external

The cheque was given to his mother Janine, who told BBC Radio Stoke it would go towards screening as many hearts of young people as possible.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A man's needed hospital treatment for a neck injury after being attacked in a Staffordshire pub.

Staffordshire Police were called to the Bulls Head Inn on the High Street, Alton on Friday night.

Image source, Google

West Midlands Ambulance Service says its staff were also called and found a GP who was in the pub was already helping the victim - his injuries aren't life-threatening.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm and released under investigation.

Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening, we'll have more on the children at a dance class in Staffordshire who've become TV stars.

And how people from our region are seeing some of their British seaside visits turned into a new piece of theatre.

Both those stories and more from 18:30 on BBC One.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

We're expecting another muggy night, but it should be a bit cooler tomorrow, with more cloud around.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Here are six photos showing off Staffordshire's gorgeous countryside as sent in by you the audience.

If you've taken a recent photos of the area and want to share it, send it in on email or put it on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share it, external.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The fire at an abandoned warehouse in Lichfield involving around 500 tonnes of waste was started deliberately, the fire service says. , external

At its height, Staffordshire Fire Service had 65 firefighters at the blaze in the former GKN site at the Crossfield Industrial Estate.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

They say their investigation concluded this afternoon it was arson and they still have fire crews working to put the blaze out this evening, although it is under control.

The service says, as a result, they're also still advising nearby people to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed if they are affected by the smoke.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Lichfield Mercury

Emergency services are tackling a huge fire which tore through a Lichfield warehouse on Tuesday evening., external

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

The final plot of land at an industrial estate has been sold with Staffordshire County Council claiming the area will generate hundreds of jobs. , external

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

The authority says businesses have already started working at Kingswood Lakeside in Cannock in the past few months.

It says just three of the sites at the industrial estate, which is on a former opencast mining site, could create up to 800 jobs when they are fully up and running.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The Environment Agency says it's checking for any pollution following a 500-tonne rubbish fire in Lichfield.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Staffordshire Fire Service says dozens of firefighters spent most of the night tackling the blaze at the former GKN warehouse at the Crossfield Industrial Estate. , external

The agency says it's been monitoring the impact of water running off from the fire into the nearby Mare Brook., external

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

BBC Weather Watchers

The sunshine's been out and Staffordshire has been bathing in it, including our BBC Weather Watchers.

Here are two of their photos today, from users JR in Gnosall and Windy Bindy in Branston.

Image source, JR

Image source, Windy Bindy

More than 900 homes are without power this afternoon in the Cheddleton and Werrington areas of Staffordshire, according to Western Power Distribution.