Death probed after Stoke hospital fire
Hospital trust suffers 'cyber incident'
Man who 'drove at traffic marshal to miss queue' avoids jail
Road closures warning for Staffordshire triathlon
Updates from Friday 16 June 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
It's not just us humans enjoying the sunshine today.
Guy Lingford's emailed in this photo from the Winterley fishing pool, near Crewe, where he says he's spotted "sunbathing turtles".
He's a bit surprised: "We still can't work out how they got here as they are not native to this part of Cheshire!"
Image source, Guy Lingford
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A cyclist is in a critical condition in hospital after he became trapped under a car in a collision in Stafford., external
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance ServiceStaffordshire Police say yesterday afternoon's crash happened at the junction of Crooked Bridge Road and Corporation Street.
They say firefighters had to free the man from under a black Ford Focus before he was airlifted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
A driver says he ended up with almost 200 nails in his tyres after driving along the A500 after a lorry spilled its load of nails across the carriageway.
The A500 northbound at Etruria was closed yesterday while the nails were cleared and assistance given to other vehicles that had punctured tyres.
Motorists face tyre damage
Martin Beard told BBC Radio Stoke he was heading from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester Airport and found they were in his rear tyres just before getting to the airport.
He says a garage discovered 88 nails in one tyre and 97 in another and it cost almost £300 for new ones.
Highways England says safety is their top priority and they worked hard to clear the road of an debris and get it reopened.
Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire's top fire officer says her staff are working to get more sprinkler systems into high-rise buildings in the county, speaking after the huge fire at a tower block in London.
Several people have died after the blaze raged through the night in the Grenfell Tower.
One eyewitness said he saw people blinking lights within the building
Staffordshire Fire Service says it's spent the past nine months working with housing association providers to identify "high risk" sites which they feel should have sprinklers.
They say those sites are above five floors and the equipment would make them safer for both residents and fire crews if a fire broke out.
Quote MessageWe've been working very closely with the city council in respect of some low-rise flats within the Hanley area that are currently being retro-fitted with a sprinkler system. This is a long-term project, it's not something that can, unfortunately, happen overnight so we will continue to push that locally."
Becci Bryant, Staffordshire Fire Service Chief Fire Officer
Those Midlands marginals have a whole new meaning in hung parliament.
Read MoreThe mother of a man who was fatally stabbed outside a Burton nightclub has told, external how the "hurt is always there" seven years on and how she is determined to "carry Connor's smile" with a special tribute.
Image source, Burton MailNesting birds - we guess that's one big excuse for Staffordshire Police's road unit not to clean their cars or bikes.
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Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
An 11-year-old girl was "flipped into the air" as she was hit by a car in Stoke-on-Trent., external
Staffordshire Police says she was crossing at the junction of Chell Heath Road and Hayes Street in Bradeley when it happened on Friday afternoon.
Image source, GoogleThey say the car was going at low speed and the girl suffered bruises and grazes to her elbow, knee and chin
The force says the driver stopped to apologise and then drove off and they want to track him down.
Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
The Motorhead star Lemmy, who's going to be honoured with a blue plaque in his honour in Stoke-on-Trent, was something of a rock legend.
With his mutton-chop whiskers, facial wart and high microphone position, he was in his time one of the most recognisable figures in the music business.
He was born Ian Fraser Kilmister in Burslem on 24 December 1945 and acquired the nickname Lemmy while at school, although he purported to have no idea where it came from.
Cheshire East won’t be axing the free school bus from Willaston to Nantwich in September because Network Rail hasn’t yet confirmed whether it is safe for children to use the London Road level crossing as a walking route. , external
Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime, we'll hear how children at a dance class in Staffordshire have become television stars.
It's after the youngsters in Wombourne featured in an eight-part documentary series.
I've been finding out more and you can catch that from 13:30 on BBC One.
London 2017
Image source, So Let's Go Running BexleyRunners taking part in a Team Personal Best event with So Let's Go Running Bexley
This summer, London is hosting the biggest global sporting events of the year - the 2017 World Athletics and Para Athletics Championships - and the organisers have launched a scheme to get people involved in athletics right around the country.
It's called Team Personal Best and the idea is that local sports clubs or community groups across the UK sign up and put on events with an athletics theme.
It doesn't have to be a track-and-field meet - it can be a fun run, family sports day, even an event screening or bake sale with activities. There's a list of suggestions on the TeamPB submission page, here., external
Event participants are then encouraged to share their athletic achievements - no matter how big or small - with the hashtag #TeamPersonalBest to build a nationwide buzz around the championships.
You can find events near you here, external and if you want more information about how to get started in athletics, check out our Get Inspired guide.
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
People in Kidsgrove objecting to the closure of the town's sport centre say they'll try and set up a trust to take it over.
It's due to close at the end of this month after Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council said earlier this year that it can't afford to maintain or repair the building.
The authority put the cost at £2.4m over the next seven years while Staffordshire County Council, which actually owns the building, also says it's too costly to keep open.
Hundreds of people have signed a petition opposing closure, external and a public meeting was organised last night.
Quote MessageThere's no question that the view that people had [at the meeting] was that they want the leisure centre to remain a viable part and an integral part of the community in Kidsgrove."
Lionel Burch, Newcastle-under-Lyme councillor for Kidsgrove
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City are still hopeful of landing the Hull City teenage defender Josh Tymon.
Image source, Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesThe England youth international is being earmarked as a long-term left-back replacement at the Bet365 stadium.
The 18-year-old has already made four Premier League starts for the Tigers, featuring in games against Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceThe cause of a fire at an abandoned industrial site in Lichfield, which saw around 500 tonnes of waste ablaze, is being investigated. , external
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says, at its height last night, about 65 firefighters were tackling the blaze at the former GKN warehouse at the Crossfield Industrial Estate.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance ServiceThey say the building had about 5,000 tonnes of baled waste inside and around 10% was on fire when they arrived after 19:22.
West Midlands Ambulance Service, who were also called, say it was under control by 01:00 and fire crews are still at the scene this morning.
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Hundreds of people from the Staffordshire Moorlands turned out last night for a meeting over the future of the Leek Moorlands Community Hospital.
Feelings have been running high over the site with fears it could close later on this year, external as services there are being restructured.
The meeting was organised by the leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
It was so packed at St Edward's Church of England Academy, people stood in the playground to hear what was going on.
At the event, North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said the hospital would not shut this year and that a consultation would soon be held about services provided at the hospital.
BBC Sport
Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell is considering an attempt to sign former England international Wes Brown, reports BBC Radio Stoke.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 37-year-old ex-Manchester United and Sunderland defender is being released by Blackburn Rovers, who opted against offering a new deal after relegation from the Championship.
Artell says his club must decide whether the Manchester-born Brown, who has made 456 career appearances, would be the right signing given his age.
Quote MessageShould he be on our list? Give me a good reason why he wouldn't be. Is he right for us at 37? That would be the big question mark, I suppose. But he certainly ticks all the other boxes."
David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager
Takeaway worker Zahid Zaman has told how he feared for his life when he was attacked by up to 15 men wielding knives, bats and an axe, external as he returned from making a delivery.
Image source, The SentinelAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
Unemployment in the West Midlands has risen, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show, external, despite a fall nationally.
Between February and April, there were 6,000 more unemployed people in the region than November to January, giving a total of 166,000.
Image source, Jack Taylor/Getty ImagesAcross the UK, for the same period, there were 50,000 fewer people out of work with 1.53 million unemployed.
The West Midlands figure is also higher than the year before, with an increase of 6,000 compared with February to April 2016.
BBC Entertainment and Arts
Motorhead star Lemmy will be celebrated with a blue plaque in his honour in Stoke-on-Trent, thanks to nominations made by BBC local radio listeners.
Forty-seven plaques will be unveiled on BBC Music Day this Thursday, recognising pioneering musicians and music venues around the UK.
Image source, PAThe frontman was born Ian Fraser Kilmister in Burslem on 24 December 1945.
Lemmy's will be celebrated at Port Vale FC, which has adopted Ace Of Spades as its unofficial anthem.
