BBC Local Live: Staffordshire & Cheshire on Friday 7 July 2017

Summary

Girl dies in school trip crash
Drugs gang jailed for more than 21 years
Arrest after reports boy, 4, 'grabbed' as sat in car
Updates on Friday 7 July 2017

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

On Midlands Today from 18:30: Firm fined over hot tub deathspublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Joan Cummins
Midlands Today reporter
On Midlands Today this evening from 18:30, we'll hear from the families of those affected by a Legionnaires disease outbreak in Stoke-on-Trent.
It happened in 2012 and, today, hot tub sales firm JTF's been fined £1m after two men died from the disease and 20 others were affected.
The business had already admitted a health and safety breach - we'll hear from them and relatives after today's sentencing on BBC One from 18:30.
Football: Port Vale boss aiming for more leaders in his sidepublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale manager Michael Brown says his club needs more leaders on the pitch.
Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Brown signed the former Bury captain Anthony Kay last week and says that was because of his leadership qualities as well as his football ability.
The Vale boss admitted though to BBC Radio Stoke that he has struggled to bring in some players following the side's relegation to League Two.
Quote Message
We've missed out on a couple lately that have gone to League One. We had agreements in place, you can't do any more, players saying they are coming and then they go to League One. But that's the nature of where we are, we got relegated and that's the difficulty."
Michael Brown, Port Vale manager
Five of the best of audience photos of Staffordshirepublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Here's a good way for me to start the week - picking five of the best photos from all the ones sent in recently by yourselves of Staffordshire.
You can send your local pictures in on email or, if you use Instagram, put them there, external and add the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them.
Media caption,
Your pictures
Family get specialist support after woman died in wall crashpublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
The family of a woman who died when the car she was in crashed into a dry stone wall is being supported by specially trained police officers. , external
Staffordshire Police says the red VW Passat hit the wall off B5053 Bottom Lane at the junction with Blakelow Road and Fairview Road in Onecote near Leek on Sunday.
Image source, Staffordshire Police
The force says Amy Louise Savage, 22, was a passenger inside it and died at the scene.
A 30-year-old man from Biddulph was taken to hospital where he's described as being in a stable condition with chest injuries.
Officers say they arrested a 26-year-old man from Leek at the scene and now say he's been released, pending more inquiries.
Murphy rejoins Burton from Leedspublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Midfielder Luke Murphy rejoins Burton Albion from Championship rivals Leeds United on a season-long loan.
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Leeds midfielder back with Brewerspublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live
Burton Albion have re-signed midfielder Luke Murphy on a season-long loan from fellow Championship side Leeds United.
The 27-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at the Pirelli Stadium and Brewers boss Nigel Clough said he was "delighted" to welcome him back.
Image source, Burton Albion
Man 'punched to ground' in street attackpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A man's been punched to the ground in an attack in Burton.
Image source, Google
The victim was hit twice on the side of the head in the assault on 26 June.
Officers say that caused him to fall to the ground on Melbourne Avenue and he was then hit two more times on the back of his head.
Weather: Warm and humid weather on its waypublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Lucy Martin
BBC Weather
We're due a mild night and the weather is forecast to get warmer as the week progresses and temperatures could reach 24C (75F) by Thursday and Friday.
Media caption,
Lucy Martin has your forecast
Legionnaires' sentencing: 'He's not my father anymore'published at 17:25 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Joan Cummins
Midlands Today reporter
Media caption,
David Cull, family member
The son of one of the people affected after being exposed to harmful levels of Legionella bacteria from a hot tub in Stoke-on-Trent says "he's not my father anymore".
David Cull was speaking after JTF was today fined £1m at Stafford Crown Court, after admitting a health and safety breach.
Two men died and 20 others were affected and, after today's decision, the company's solicitor Richard Hollier said JTF had the "deepest regret" over what had happened in 2012.
Media caption,
Richard Hollier, JTF Solicitor
Bird trapped by fishing line rescued by fire crewpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A water bird had to be freed by fire crews after getting trapped in reeds and fishing wire, external.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service
Staffordshire Fire Service says the RSPCA called them to a pool off Godwin Way, Trent Vale yesterday morning.
They say firefighters freed the moorhen using a sled and left it in the care of the charity.
Government back to school on fundingpublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
School funding is set to force yet another government rethink.
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Masked men 'set fire to woman's front door'published at 17:10 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Two masked men have set fire to the front door of a house in Crewe, external while a woman was inside, according to police.
Image source, Google
It happened on Wistaston Road early this morning.
Officers say the woman, in her 20s, managed to escape unharmed, although the door was damaged by the blaze.
Plans 'could create about 6,500 jobs'published at 17:02 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
A £500m scheme could see a hotel, office space and new homes in Stafford, the borough council says.
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Hay and straw fire still burning in Lichfieldpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Drivers in part of Lichfield are warned about smoke still coming, external from a massive fire at the weekend.
Media caption,
The fire in Lichfield
Staffordshire Fire Service says they found a large amount of straw and hay "well slight" when they arrived off Fisherwick Road early on Sunday morning. , external
They reckon it covered around 40m by 50m and was 10m high and, at its height, they had four hoses pumping water on.
The service still has crews there, checking if they fire is still going in places and says drivers should be cautious about smoke still drifting from the site.
Controversial housing development at farm set for final approvalpublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Burton Mail
The final seal of approval is set to be given to a controversial housing development which was first given the initial green light three years ago., external
Bus passengers to quiz firmspublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
The organisers of a public meeting about Stoke-on-Trent's bus services say people need more of a say in how they're run.
Staff from D&G Bus, First Potteries and the city council will be at the event on Wednesday at the main concourse of Hanley bus station. , external
The group Bus Users UK has organised it and says it'll allow people to ask questions on how current services run and what can be improved.
Quote Message
The people riding the buses, they'll know if a bus is running late, it's because of a certain set of traffic lights or it's because there's always the kids coming out of school; they'll also know what it's like to be sitting on that bus, is it clean?"
Dawn Badminton-Capps, Bus Users UK Director for England
BBC Weather Watcher photos: Blue patches among cloudy skiespublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
BBC Weather Watchers
It's been a pretty cloudy morning but there are patches of blue sky about and many of them, in Staffordshire and Cheshire, have been spotted by our BBC Weather Watchers.
These two photos are from local users Sky Watcher in Wybunbury and Windy Bindy in Branston.
Image source, Sky Watcher
Image source, Windy Bindy
Video assistant referee system pointless says former Stoke playerpublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
BBC Sport
The use of video technology at the Confederations Cup has been criticised by a former Stoke City player, following Germany's 1-0 victory over Chile in Sunday's final.
Chile defender Gonzalo Jara appeared to elbow Germany's Timo Werner in the face during the game, but got only a yellow card, even after the video assistant referee (VAR) system was used.
Image source, Getty Images
There were several contentious moments involving VAR at the tournament.
Danny Higginbotham, the former Stoke defender, tweeted, external: "VAR will only work with factual decisions, not subjective ones. Blatant red card but when based on a ref's opinion, VAR pointless."
Fifa's head referee Busacca admitted "many aspects should be improved" in the VAR system.
Biker hurt after hitting van's windscreenpublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A motorbiker is in hospital after a crash with a van in Stoke-on-Trent.
West Midlands Ambulance Service says it happened on Bemersley Road, Ball Green around 07:30 this morning.
They say the 21-year-old biker was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital with multiple injuries.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service
Football: Former player demands top-four league ambition from Stokepublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 3 July 2017
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Former Stoke City midfielder Alan Hudson says he believes the club should be targeting a top four finish in the Premier League.
Image source, Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The Potters have spent over £50m on players in the last 18 months, one factor why Hudson believes the club should be aiming higher.
Following last season's 11th-placed league finish, Hudson says the team should be doing much better.