Summary

  • Social care plans 'cost Conservatives a lot of support' - Stafford MP

  • Neck-and-neck Newcastle-under-Lyme race settled by 30 votes

  • Masked men attack homeowner after breaking in

  • Tokyo 2020: Mixed events would add 'fun' element to Olympics – Adam Peaty

  • Updates from Friday 9 June 2017

  1. On Midlands Today from 18:30: Top cycling hits Staffordshirepublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Dan Pallett
    BBC Midlands Today Sport

    On Midlands Today from 18:30, we'll have a round-up of the visit of the Women's Tour to Staffordshire.

    The tour in Hanley

    World and Olympic cycling champions were in the county as the race, which is just four years old, held its second stage.

    I've been in Stoke-on-Trent all day and will bring you all the highlights from 18:30 on BBC One.

  2. IPCC probe into girl's arrest by Staffordshire Police in Burtonpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    The police watchdog says it wants to find people who may have filmed or photographed the arrest of a teenage girl in Burton. , external

    The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) says it happened when Staffordshire Police went to an incident on Princess Street on 1 May.

    Princess Street, BurtonImage source, Google

    They say officers used pepper spray after a crowd gathered and add that they are now investigating the police's interaction with the girl.

    The IPCC says the issue was referred to them by Staffordshire Police and officer bodycam footage shows several onlookers recorded it on their mobile phones and now they want the footage.

    Staffordshire Police says it will not be commenting as the investigation is ongoing.

  3. Football: Stoke goalkeeper urges England to win under-20 World Cuppublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland's urged the England under-20s, external to "bring home" their World Cup.

    It comes after the team reached the final of the competition for the first time by coming from behind today to beat Italy.

    The England under-20s playersImage source, Getty Images

    England finished top of their group, which included a thumping 3-0 win over six-time champions Argentina.

    Butland, who played seven times for the under-20s, external, urged the side to keep up their momentum and return with the trophy.

  4. Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    There may be a few showers at times this evening and overnight, although it will be a largely mild and dry night overall.

    However, there will also be some showers which may become more frequent in the early hours. Lows of 12C (54F).

    Media caption,

    Weather for the West Midlands.

  5. BBC Weather Watcher photos: Staffordshire's grey cloudspublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Grey clouds around for much of this morning in Staffordshire and our BBC Weather Watchers have been reflecting that in their photos.

    These two are from users Birdseyeview in Leek and Bucko in Uttoxeter,

    LeekImage source, Birdseyeview
    UttoxeterImage source, Bucko
  6. We may struggle to keep Irvine - Cloughpublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Championship club Burton Albion may find it difficult keeping Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine, says boss Nigel Clough.

    Read More
  7. Gang of men and women 'attack man by pub'published at 17:07 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    A man's been seriously hurt after being attacked by a group of men and women outside a Stoke-on-Trent pub., external

    Georgia BrownsImage source, Google

    Staffordshire Police says the assault on 28 May was by the Georgia Browns in Church Street.

    The force says the attack started by that pub and continued across the road towards the near Wetherspoon.

    Officers say the victim needed hospital treatment for his injuries but was discharged later the same day.

  8. Hospital and university fires 'linked'published at 17:03 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the back-to-back blazes.

    Read More
  9. Theme park defends Sikh religious knives policypublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    BBC WM

    Drayton Manor Theme Park has defended a decision to refuse entry to a Sikh group who were wearing religious knives.

    Management of the attraction near Tamworth told BBC WM that the blades, which are called kirpans, have not been allowed to be worn in the park for a number of years because they pose a health and safety risk.

    Drayton Manor theme parkImage source, Google

    They add that members of the Sikh community are instead offered a necklace to wear in exchange for the Kirpan, which is handed over for safe keeping during their visit.

    The park said it was "regrettable" that a Sikh visitor group on 2 June refused their offer and was then denied access.

  10. Women's Tour in Staffordshire: Moment Amy Pieters won stagepublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Here's video showing the moment Dutch cyclist Amy Pieters won stage two of the Women's Tour in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

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  11. Arrest in connection with hospital and university arsonspublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 8 June 2017
    Breaking

    Phil Bowers
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    A man's been arrested by police after two fires in Stoke-on-Trent that are both being treated as arson attacks. , external

    Staffordshire Police says the first blaze yesterday afternoon was in first floor toilets in Staffordshire University's Beacon Building at around 16:45.

    The force says the second, at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, happened at about 18:00.

    Officers arrested a 39-year-old man in Manchester on suspicion of committing arson with intent to endanger life in connection with both incidents.

  12. Election 2017: How to follow on results nightpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    BBC Politics

    Today is polling day in the general election and people across Staffordshire and Cheshire will be casting their votes.

    Once polls close at 22:00, the BBC will have full coverage of the results on TV, online, social media and radio.

    Polling station sign in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent

    On the website you can follow the latest developments and the find out the result in your own constituency.

    Find out all you need to know about the general election, including why it was called, in our giant Q&A. And here is a full guide to the party manifestos - setting out their policy pledges and plans.

  13. Fires at hospital and university 'believed to be linked'published at 16:11 British Summer Time 8 June 2017
    Breaking

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The fire at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, which is being treated as arson, is now being linked by police to another one at Staffordshire University on the same day.

    The blaze at the hospital happened at around 18:00 yesterday and saw patients evacuated from the site for several hours.

    Staffordshire University sign on College Road

    Staffordshire Police says they think it may be linked to another deliberate fire at around 16:00 at the university's campus on College Road.

    In that case, Staffordshire Fire Service were called to a fire in a toilet ceiling but say no-one was hurt.

  14. House cordoned off after body findpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Phil Bowers
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    Police car on Church Avenue

    A house in Stoke-on-Trent remains cordoned off this afternoon as police investigate the death of a woman. , external

    Staffordshire Police says her body was found at the house on Church Avenue, Baddeley Green.

    Forensic van parked on street

    A 51-year-old man remains in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

    When I visited the scene there was a definite police presence on the street with a police forensic van parked outside.

  15. Dozens send live fire footage with smartphone app in first monthpublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    Footage sent in to West Midlands Fire ServiceImage source, West Midlands Fire Service

    A smartphone app that allows callers to send live footage of a fire to West Midlands Fire Service's control room has had 50 uses by members of the public in its first month., external

    The fire service says the aim of 999Eye is to help crews across Staffordshire and the West Midlands deal more efficiently with major fires.

    One of West Midlands Fire Service's control room operatorsImage source, West Midlands Fire Service

    They say it's been designed to help the service calculate how many fire engines need to be sent to an incident.

    However the service says callers in need of help should still get in touch by 999 first.

  16. Hospital arson leaves fire service 'deeply concerned'published at 15:27 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Lucy King
    News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

    The fire service says it's "deeply concerned" that a fire at the Royal Stoke University Hospital was started deliberately.

    Patients outside the hospital last night

    Styaffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says one man was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation at the scene.

    Eyewitness Paul Bradbury, who had gone to the site to visit his mother, said people were "dragged outside in their beds and on mattresses" and "it was quite surreal to see".

    Quote Message

    The fact that this fire was deemed to be deliberate is very concerning and we are working closely with Staffordshire Police to aid in their investigation into this incident."

    Rob Berber, Deputy chief fire officer

  17. Women's Tour in Staffordshire: Stage two won by Amy Pieterspublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Stage two of the Women's Tour event in Stoke-on-Trent's been won by Dutch cyclist Amy Pieters. , external

    The race started at 11:00 and headed out from Hanley into the Staffordshire countryside, winding through Stafford, Stone and Uttoxeter before returning to Hanley.

  18. Women's Tour in Staffordshire: The home stretch to Hanleypublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Crowds turned out this afternoon in Staffordshire to see the Women's Tour as it wound its way back from Uttoxeter towards the finish in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

    Having set off from Hanley, the route took the top riders through Stone, Stafford and Rugeley.

    Women's tour heads through StaffordImage source, Staffordshire County Council

    They then swept through Rocester, past where JCB are based, on their return to Stoke-on-Trent:

    Riders going past JCB diggers in RocesterImage source, Women's Tour
  19. How the BBC reports polling daypublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Election 2017

    The BBC, like other broadcasters, isn't allowed to report details of campaigning while the polls are open.

    The BBC is required by electoral law to adopt a code of practice, ensuring fairness between candidates and that is particularly important on polling day.

    BBC newsroom

    The code of practice is contained in more detailed election guidelines which are written and published for each election - and they include guidance on polling day, here.

    On polling day specifically, the BBC doesn't report on any of the election campaigns from 00:30 until polls close at 22:00 on TV, radio or bbc.co.uk or on social media and other channels.

    Read more on what the BBC does today here.

  20. Women's Tour in Staffordshire: Dissecting the pelotonpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    BBC Radio Stoke

    If you haven't been to see a top cycling event before, you might be a little surprised to see the movable convoy that the race brings with it.

    In front of the dozens of cyclists are vehicles carrying organisers, judges, media and police.

    They're followed by team support vans, TV crews, race doctors... and just about everything else you could imagine.

    An image of the pelotonImage source, Women's Tour