Summary

  • Man jailed for 'child-like' sex doll import bid

  • Crewe crane collapse: Killed men identified

  • Hugh Grant offers £1,000 for return of WW2 veteran's medals

  • World Transplant Games competitor 'didn't expect to be here'

  • Updates from Friday 23 June 2017

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. Crouch's snap with lofty pals goes viral

    The Stoke City striker's tweet has been favourited over a quarter of a million times...

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  2. Blackpool sign Crewe full-back Turton

    League One side Blackpool sign Crewe full-back Ollie Turton on a two-year contract, with the option of a further year.

    Read More

  3. Sun's rays on mirror almost causes house fire

    Sunlight reflecting off a mirror caused a plant and window sill to smoulder, firefighters say.

    The homeowner’s daughter raised the alarm after smelling smoke at the house in Audmore Road, Gnosall.

    Burnt plantStaffordshire Fire and Rescue

    Staffordshire Fire and Rescue’s Carmel Warren said: “Sunlight can be extremely powerful and if it is reflected off the surface of a mirror it can produce enough heat to ignite flammable materials.

    “The occupant of this home was very lucky that the consequences were minimal and the incident only burnt the plant and window sill.

    “It is vital that people ensure that reflective items such as mirrors are not placed in direct view of sunlight.

    “Special care should be taken with curved shaving or make-up mirrors which can magnify the sun’s rays onto combustible items such as blinds, curtains or bedding, causing them to ignite.”

  4. Don't make £10m police cuts, new chief urges

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The new Chief Constable of Staffordshire says cuts of £10m to the police need to be reviewed.

    Gareth Morgan says that's the savings expectation on the force over the next three years to balance the budget.

    Chief Constable Gareth Morgan

    It's important for the Government to pause and see whether policing continues to be at the forefront of making savings. Staffordshire has made its contribution to those savings. We're in a very different place than where we were five years ago.

    Gareth Morgan, Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police

  5. Family upset at driver sentence

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    The family of a Stoke-on-Trent boy killed by a driver last year say they're disappointed with his sentence.

    Seven-year-old Kayden Dunn was hit by Shakeeb Zamir's car on Repington Road in last April. He died in hospital.

    Zamir pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was jailed for 12 months.

    Kayden DunnFamily photo

    We thought he was going to get a lot longer than he did - so it was a kick in the teeth really.

    Tonie Cleverly, Kayden Dunn's mother

  6. Hot weather warning issued

    Hot weather forecasts have prompted Public Health England to issue advice to beat the heat.

    Its amber warning is declared when there is a 90% probability of a heatwave.

    Children and the elderly are being warned to keep cool and hydrated.

    Here's the Met Office with more...

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  7. Port Vale sign Bury goalkeeper

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Port Vale have completed the signing of the former Bolton and Bury goalkeeper Rob Lainton.

    The 27 year old has signed a two year contract at Vale Park.

    Rob LaintonGetty Images

    He becomes just their second signing of the summer following the arrival of Tom Pope last month.

  8. Your pictures: Another hot and sunny day

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The fields across Shropshire are looking very dry after the recent hot weather and it's going to be hot again today.

    Here's how it's looking in Tibberton near Newport. Thanks also to BBC Weather Watcher, Shropshire Lass for this lovely picture of Ludlow bathed in sunshine.

    TibbertonGrannyAnne
    LudlowShropshire Lass

  9. New cladding on city flats 'not same as Grenfell Tower'

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council says high-rise flats being re-clad in parts of the city are not using the same materials used on the Grenfell Tower in London.

    There are six 12-storey blocks off Bucknall New Road in the city.

    Grenfell TowerGetty Images

    The council began a renovation programme over a year ago and have re-clad one of the six buildings so far. Work is continuing on the others.

    The council also says it is working to make sure tenants are fully up-to-date on what to do in the event of a fire.

  10. Staffordshire watermill on Royal Mail stamps

    A Staffordshire watermill is set to feature on new stamps released by the Royal Mail.

    The Cheddleton Flint Mill is one of the watermills that will form part of the new collection.

    The postal service said it wanted to celebrate the rich agricultural and industrial heritage of the landmarks.

    Stamp

  11. Thousands expected for Royal Cheshire Show

    Lamont Howie
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Around 80,000 people are expected at the Royal Cheshire Show in Tabley, which starts today.

    Ferris wheel at Cheshire Show

    There's thousands of animals on show, over 200 horse classes and a 35-metre high Ferris wheel.

    The focus of this year's event centres on the four seasons of farming.

  12. Former Vale defender tipped to return

    Graham McGarry
    BBC Radio Stoke Sport

    BBC Radio Stoke understands that Port Vale will sign former defender Joe Davis from Fleetwood Town on July 1st.

    Joe DavisGetty Images

    The 23-year-old, who progressed through the youth system at Vale Park, has agreed a two year deal.

    It comes after he negotiated his release from Fleetwood, where he was still under contract.

  13. Firefighters tackle blaze at former church

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Four fire crews were called to the site of a former Methodist Church in Nantwich last night

    Firefighters in Nantwich

    Around 20 firefighters were called to the scene of the fire. The building, on Hospital Street, is being converted in to luxury flats.

  15. Your pictures: Calm Hednesford and leafy Congleton

    BBC Weather Watchers

    BBC Weather Watcher Thornhill Watch sent in this lovely picture from Hednesford, Staffordshire.

    It looks very calm and peaceful.

    HednesfordThornhill Watch

    Fellow BBC Weather Watcher Dawn Treader sent in this great picture from Congleton, Cheshire.

    If you have a picture you'd like to share, you can sign up to the BBC Weather Watcher site here.

    CongletonDawn Treader

  16. Petition to increase sentence of driver who killed child

    BBC Radio Stoke

    More than 1,000 people have signed a petition to increase the prison sentence of a driver who killed a young boy in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Kayden Dunn, 7, was hit by Shakeeb Zamir's car on Repington Road, Snyed Green last April and later died in hospital.

    Kayden DunnFamily picture

    Zamir pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was jailed for 12 months.

    Kayden's mum, Tonie Cleverly, says the sentence is far too short.

    BBC Radio Stoke contacted both the Crown Prosecution Service and the Sentencing Council, both said they were unable to comment on specific cases.

  17. Video: Your 50-second weather forecast

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    Another warm and sunny day but expect some cloud to build, with highs of 28C (82F).

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  18. Welcome to Tuesday's live coverage

    Good morning...

    We'll see whether it will be another scorcher with a full weather forecast shortly, followed by news, sport, travel and other updates throughout the day.

    You can also send in your photos of the area on email or put them on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke to let us know you wish to share them on our live page.

  19. Our live coverage across the day

    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.

  20. Agricultural show expected to draw thousands

    BBC Radio Stoke

    Thousands of people are expected to descend on a small area of Cheshire over the next two days for the Royal Cheshire County Show.

    Last year's showRoyal Cheshire County Show

    Last year, 75,000 visited the event and final preparations are being put in place for this year's show.

    Organisers say there be hundreds of animals on show, local and regional food producers and a 35m (115ft) high ferris wheel.