Mum and step-dad deny manslaughterpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Charlie Dunn, five, drowned in a lake on a visit to Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire last year.
Read MoreSummary
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
Mum and step-dad deny manslaughterpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
MP claims evidence of voter fraud in Cheshirepublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeA Cheshire MP claims voting fraud took place in her constituency at the general election.
Image source, PAAntoinette Sandbach was speaking in the House of Commons where other members also claimed students had voted both at home and at university.
Quote MessageIn my constituency of Eddisbury, there was clear evidence of double registrations even within the constituency. Does the minister agree that we should have a central system that flags up people who are double-registered wherever they are in the country?"
Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury
Both Cheshire West and Cheshire East Councils have been asked to respond to her concerns and we'll bring those to you when we get them.
In the House of Commons, the government minister ruled out a central system.
Quote MessageWe're not intending to introduce any central registration system that would cost upwards of £80m but we are interested at looking at this issue, this is a serious issue. I'm meeting the electoral commission and look forward to taking forward proposals in due course."
Chris Skidmore, Constitutional Affairs Minister
New £30k scanner to change babies' livespublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
A new £30,000 scanner is changing the lives of babies at Stafford's County Hospital., external
Fire danger from cannabis factories' 'dodgy' power set-upspublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveNeighbouring houses in part of Stoke-on-Trent have been at risk of fire due to overloaded plug sockets at three cannabis factories, external, police say.
More than 200 cannabis plants were seized, Staffordshire Police says, from three separate addresses in the city over the past two days.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceIn each case they say they also removed potential fire hazards due to the "dodgy electrical set-up, external" which they say were a "clear fire danger".
Officers say one man's been arrested and reported for summons for drug offences.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceCrimewatch appeal over stolen £11k lanternspublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA fresh appeal's been made through the BBC's Crimewatch programme to try and find thieves who stole art deco lanterns worth about £11,000 from a Staffordshire school.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police says the theft happened in March at Chancel County Infants School, Rugeley, external but, so far, they've not been able to trace the criminals or the lanterns.
They say the objects have been part of the school since it was built in the 1930s.
Tymon leaves Hull City to join Stokepublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Defender Josh Tymon turns down a professional contract with Hull City and returns to the Premier League to join Stoke City.
Read MoreFootball: Stoke sign defender Tymon from Hullpublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeStoke City have confirmed they've signed teenager full-back Josh Tymon from Hull City., external
Image source, Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesThe 18-year-old left-back started four Premier League games for Hull having made his debut for the Tigers last season.
Electric fencing to go up on Cannock Chasepublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Invisible electric fencing could be put up around part of Cannock Chase under plans to allow more cattle on to the land., external
Image source, Express and StarTurner painting of Lichfield Cathedral sells for almost £400kpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveLichfield Cathedral is in line for windfall of almost £400,000 after a painting of the site by JMW Turner sold at auction. , external
Image source, Sotheby'sThe watercolour, which shows the cathedral as viewed from over the Minster Pool, has been in private collections since the 19th Century artist died.
It was being auctioned today at Sotheby's, with all proceeds going to the upkeep of the cathedral and its surroundings. The final "hammer price" was £380,750, including buyer's premiums.
Pair in court over Charlie Dunn Bosworth Water Park lake deathpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Amy Harris
Reporter, BBC East Midlands TodayThe mother and stepfather of a five-year-old boy from Tamworth who drowned in a lake have appeared in court charged with his manslaughter.
Charlie Dunn (pictured) was found submerged in a paddling area while on a day out at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire on 23 July.
Image source, Family HandoutLynsey Dunn, 28, and Paul Smith, 36, have been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.
They are also accused of five child cruelty offences alleged to have taken place between March 2012 and July 2016.
Mr Smith has also been charged with two counts of witness intimidation alleged to have taken place in March and June this year.
Both defendants deny all charges and are due to reappear in court at the end of November in Birmingham.
Crowdfunding campaign for new World War One memorialpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA crowdfunding campaign is trying to raise £12,500 for a new memorial in tribute to New Zealand soldiers who trained on Cannock Chase in World War One.
Image source, Staffordshire County CouncilStaffordshire County Council says it's partnered up with the Friends of Cannock Chase and says £1,000 has already been secured from the New Zealand government.
The authority says the crowd-funding would cover the costs of designing, building and installing the memorial on Cannock Chase.
During WW1, more than half a million men trained on the area including the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
Runners 'out of pocket' after cross country races cancelledpublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WMSome runners say they have been left out of pocket after they travelled to Cannock Chase to take part in cross country races that never happened.
There were 10km and 20km runs due to take place last Sunday, organised by XC Events, but the runners have told BBC WM they were cancelled without notice.
Image source, GoogleQuote MessageWe knew something was the matter straight away because there weren't any signs or anything saying anything about the race. We ended up speaking to some other people there that said they'd been there as well for an hour, two hours."
Kirsty O'Connor, Wife of runner
BBC WM has approached XC Events, who are listed as being based in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent for comment, but hasn't been able to reach them.
Their website has been taken down, external and their mobile phone number is dead.
West Midlands MEP in party leadership bidpublished at 13:41 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
A West Midlands MEP has announced he is standing to become the next leader of UKIP.
Bill Etheridge has called himself the party's "libertarian candidate", and is aiming to succeed Paul Nuttall, who quit as leader after poor results in the general election.
The deadline for candidates is the end of July, with former leader Nigel Farage ruling himself out.
Six great photos from our audience of Staffordshire and Cheshirepublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveYou've been sending in great photos showcasing Staffordshire and Cheshire and here are six I've picked out today.
To send your photo of the area in, put it on an email or put it on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke, external to show you agree to share it.
Media caption, Audience photos of Staffordshire and Cheshire
Wedgwood vase campaign succeeds with £267k donationpublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
BBC News UKA campaign to keep a rare Wedgwood pottery vase in Stoke-on-Trent succeeded after the National Heritage Memorial Fund stepped in with a grant of up to £267,500.
The total needed to buy the First Day's Vase was £482,000 and the donation from the fund to make up the shortfall came just days before a deadline to raise the money was due to expire.
A temporary export bar was placed on it by the government in December after it was sold at auction to an overseas buyer in 2016 - that was then extended until 14 July.
The 10in high (25.4cm) vase was made by Josiah Wedgwood on the opening day of his factory at Etruria, Staffordshire, on 13 June 1769 and is one of only four that survive.
Two of the others are owned by the Victoria and Albert Museum, while the third remains in the Wedgwood family, the city council said.
New Riding for Disabled Group to launch in Nantwich and Crewepublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
A new Riding for the Disabled (RDA) group is to launch in Crewe and Nantwich as part of an agreement with Reaseheath College. , external
Cat recovering after deep wound to neck, says RSPCApublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA cat found hurt with a deep wound to its neck in Congleton is recovering at a local animal centre. , external
Image source, RSPCAThe RSPCA says it doesn't know how the one-year-old, named Buddy, was hurt but it may have been inflicted by a human as it doesn't look like an animal wound.
Staff say the injury was so deep that vets could see his jugular vein but is now doing "really well".
Weather: Yellow warning for rain tomorrowpublished at 11:27 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
The Met Office says "two waves of thunderstorms are expected to affect the West Midlands on Thursday, external".
It is warning "20 to 30mm (1 - 1.2in) of rain may fall within an hour and perhaps 50 to 80mm (2 - 3in) in two or three hours".
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End of twitter postBlind WW2 veteran set for replacements to missing medalspublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA blind veteran who lost four World War Two medals at a motorway service station in Staffordshire is going to get a set of replacement ones.
Alfred Barlow, 95, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, was returning from a pilgrimage to Normandy, France, on 8 June when he noticed they were missing.
Image source, Blind Veterans UKHe was at Norton Canes Services, near Walsall on the M6 Toll.
Among others, actor Hugh Grant offered a reward for their safe return.
Mr Barlow will be given the replacement medals at a ceremony today at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Assembly rooms revamps gets £365k arts fundingpublished at 10:27 British Summer Time 5 July 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveWork to redevelop the Tamworth Assembly Rooms has been given £365,000 by Arts Council England.
Image source, Tamworth Borough CouncilThe arts and music venue, which first opened in 1889, is currently closed for a large-scale redevelopment.
Tamworth Borough Council says the money from Arts Council England will go towards making the building more energy efficient to cut running costs.
