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Updates from Friday 9 June 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Here are a few facts you may not know:
Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
Services at the Royal Stoke Hospital have mostly returned to normal after last night's suspected arson attack., external
A small fire led to hundreds of patients and staff being evacuated with some people being wheeled out on their beds.
Image source, Paul BradburyBosses at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said patients were returned to wards by 23:15.
Jen Lawton's daughter Imogen was in hospital and told BBC Radio Stoke they had to wait four hours before getting back inside.
Quote MessageIn the end, we ended up having to take Imogen outside, wrapped her up well, umbrella and had to walk all the way round from A&E to the main entrance because there were beds at the entrances."
Jen Lawton, Mother of patient
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A man's had his ear bitten off in an attack at a petrol station, external in Rugeley.
It happened at the Esso Service Station on Western Springs Road on 27 May, Staffordshire Police says.
Image source, GoogleThe force says the 22-year-old victim was attacked and suffered serious injuries to his ear, needing hospital treatment in Nottingham.
Officers arrested a 21-year-old man from Bloxwich on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and he's been released under investigation.
Staffordshire Police says it doesn't know if the man's ear was reattached.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Continuing our mention of the return on Twitter of the #DogsAtPollStations hashtag, BBC Radio Stoke's Lee Thomas sent us this from his morning in Cheshire.
Image source, Lee ThomasThe Eccleshall Community First Responders have been awarded the 2017 Queens Award for Voluntary Services, external
Sarah Bishop
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime, we'll have more on a new smartphone app that's been launched by one of our region's fire services.
Called 999eye, they say it lets people send live footage of fires to the control room so they can work out how many fire crews to send in Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
I've been finding out how it works and you can see more from 13:30 on BBC One.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A man's been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in Stoke-on-Trent, external.
Staffordshire Police says emergency services were called this morning to Church Avenue, Baddeley Green.
Image source, GoogleThey say they found the body of a 43-year-old woman and have cordoned off the area.
Officers arrested a 51-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent and he's still in custody.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The fire at the Royal Stoke University Hospital's being treated as arson.
Patients were taken outside Royal Stoke University Hospital in their beds after the fire broke out in the main building at about 18:00 on Wednesday.
Image source, Paul BradburyThe hospital declared a major incident and patients returned to wards by 23:15.
Staffordshire Fire Service confirmed this afternoon that they believe the fire was deliberately started.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The Women's Tour race is currently snaking its way around Staffordshire, coming from the start in Hanley and going through Stone, Stafford and Uttoxeter before heading back.
The official twitter account for the Tour says most of the riders are still packed together, external although two did fall in a crash in Stone but are back riding, external.
Image source, Alex Hughes-JohnsonAlex Hughes-Johnson was among the many watching the race, either from their houses or the side of the route and took the picture above.
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Large crowds turned out, despite the grey, overcast weather, to see the riders start stage two of the Women's Tour race in Hanley.
BBC Radio Stoke
People in Kidsgrove say there's been a surge in anti-social behaviour in the area, including objects being thrown from passing cars around the town.
The local neighbourhood watch Facebook page now contains a list of posts about pedestrians being pelted with eggs., external
Those behind the page say they are hoping to meet with police this week to discuss their issues.
Staffordshire Police hasn't yet responded to the concerns raised in Kidsgrove to BBC Radio Stoke.
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
And they are off!
Stage two of the Women's Tour has started from Hanley and is heading out into the Staffordshire countryside.
It's expected to finish back in Hanley this afternoon at around 15:00, race organisers say.
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John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
The riders have gathered in Hanley, preparing to start at 11:00:
BBC Politics
People across Staffordshire and Cheshire are heading to polling stations today to cast their vote.
But there are things you can and can't do when you are in there.
Image source, AFPThe BBC website has been looking at questions like: "Can you take a selfie?"; "can you tweet about voting?" and "can you bring a pet?".
You can find answers to those and other questions on the website here.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Barriers have been put up in the centre of Stoke-on-Trent as Hanley prepares to host the start and finish of stage two of the Women's Tour event. , external
Workers have been busy since the early hours of this morning getting things together as the biggest women's cycling race in the UK comes to town, starting at 11:00.
Preparations for Women's Tour
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
With polling under way in the general election, the popular Twitter hashtag of #DogsAtPollStations has returned.
During the EU referendum last year and at the local elections earlier this year, many tweeted pictures of their dogs under that hashtag.
Image source, Ros ChimesIt's already proving popular on Twitter this morning, external including from BBC Radio Stoke's Ros Chimes.
If you want to join in, follow the BBC advice on how to safely take photos at polling stations and use the hashtag #DogsAtPollStations with a location in Staffordshire and Cheshire and tweet to @BBCRadioStoke, external.
All patients have been allowed back into Royal Stoke University Hospital following a fire last night., external
Image source, The SentinelBBC Politics
Polling stations have opened across Staffordshire and Cheshire for voting in the general election.
Across England, there are more than 2,700 candidates vying for 533 seats out of the UK's total of 650.
Registered voters are able to cast their ballots to choose their Members of Parliament from 07:00-22:00.
Counting will then take place overnight, with the winners declared in the early hours of Friday.
There'll be full coverage through the night of the results in Staffordshire and Cheshire on the BBC website, BBC Radio Stoke and BBC TV.
Matt Lee
Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Stoke
The biggest women's cycling race in the UK is coming to Stoke-on-Trent today.
It's stage two of the Women's Tour event over a 144km (89 mile) route across Staffordshire.
Image source, Julie KellerHanley is hosting both the start and the finish of the race, external and there are several road closures, which the city council has details of here, external.
Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma claimed a solo victory on the opening stage in Northamptonshire yesterday.
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
The accident and emergency unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital has reopened after a fire broke out last night.
Dozens of patients were "dragged outside in their beds and on mattresses" when it started near the A&E.
Image source, Paul BradburyThe hospital declared a major incident at around 18:00 and six fire engines were sent to the scene - the cause isn't yet confirmed.
Bosses at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust have apologised to patients and say they had all returned inside by 23:00., external
