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
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A teenager suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car in Lichfield. , external
West Midlands Ambulance Service says it happened on Eastern Avenue yesterday afternoon.
The boy had suffered head injuries as well as fractures to his arms and legs.
Police have arrested four men after a mountain of rubbish was dumped on wasteland., external
Image source, The Sentinel
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A search has been launched for the relatives of a Stoke-on-Trent soldier killed in World War One who had lain in an unmarked grave for decades.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD)'s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre says the remains of James Joseph McLynn from Hanley were only identified this year at a Belgian cemetery.
Image source, The National Archives UKHe died in heavy shelling in Belgium in October 1918 but his body wasn't found then and it wasn't until this year that the MoD says new "convincing" evidence confirmed he was buried at the cemetery. , external
They say his grave will be rededicated later this year and it wants any relatives to be there.
BBC Midlands Today
A painting of Lichfield Cathedral by the early 19th Century artist JMW Turner is to be sold at auction in London today., external
The watercolour has been in private collections since the artist's death in 1851.
It was on display at the cathedral last month, external as part of an exhibition showcasing Turner's work in the city.
Auctioneers Sotheby's say they expect it to fetch as much as £800,000, with all proceeds going to the cathedral.
BBC News UK
A rare piece of Wedgwood pottery will return to Stoke-on-Trent after an appeal raised £482,500 to buy it.
The First Day's Vase had been on loan to the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery for 35 years.
But it was withdrawn by its owner and sold at auction to an overseas buyer in 2016.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Friends of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery have now raised the purchase price to keep the vase in the city.
Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather
It will be dry today with sunny spells across the board. With light winds, it will feel warm in the sunshine, particularly towards the south. Highs of 25C (77F).
Weather for the West Midlands.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Morning everyone, it's a sunny start to the day and this was taken just before 07:00 by BBC Weather Watcher Gadjet in Stoke-on-Trent:
Image source, GadjetThere'll be a full weather forecast coming up shortly for today and, through the day, there'll be news, sport, travel and other updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire.
You can share your comments and photos of the area on email or, for pictures, upload them to Instagram and tag #bbcstoke, external in the description to show you agree to share them.
The First Day's Vase will return to Stoke-on-Trent after a fundraising appeal reaches its target.
Read MoreHighball bouncing bombs are not on public display - they are all at the bottom of a loch.
Read MoreOfficers opened up a teddy bear in the search despite being aware of its contents, it is alleged.
Read MoreWe'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.
Emma Thomas
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Stafford's MP is calling for the town's A&E unit to be protected, enhanced and funded.
Conservative Jeremy Lefroy says the likes of Stafford and Burton are critical to allowing hospitals like Royal Stoke to deal with major trauma cases.
Quote MessageI do recognise the concern at his own hospital, which he campaigns for extremely vigorously, and I want to assure him I will be watching very carefully what happens there."
Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary
A shop in Rugeley was targeted last night by three people who climbed over the counter and made threats to staff, external before leaving with cash, police say.
One was armed with a screwdriver.
They struck just before 20:00 at a Spar store on Green Lane.
Image source, Google
Lucy Martin
BBC Weather
There's good news and bad news.
The good news is we're forecast a hot end to the week.
The bad news is that we could see heavy, thundery showers on Thursday night.
Lucy Martin has your forecast
A motorcyclist has been taken to Royal Stoke Hospital after he was found under a car after a crash in Keele this afternoon.
Paramedics say the car, on Three Mile Lane, had to be jacked up so he could be freed.
Crewe Alexandra sign midfielder Brad Walker on a two-year contract from Hartlepool after agreeing a compensation package.
Read More
John Acres
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Four men have been arrested in connection with the discovery of bales of waste dumped in Keele, near Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Police say they were called to Pepper Street yesterday evening and found large amounts of waste being unloaded from a truck - two men were arrested at the scene.
Officers say a large number of bales were already at the site and, while guarding it this morning, another two trucks arrived - and both drivers were detained.
One suspect is from Stoke-on-Trent, two are from Leeds, and one from Northern Ireland.
Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live
The MP for Crewe and Nantwich is asking the Schools Minister to visit local schools - claiming one primary is having to cut six teaching assistants due to a lack of funding.
Labour's Laura Smith highlighted a school in Crewe which she says is having to let go the only assistant who can speak Polish - just as 23 non-English speaking children are about to start.
The new MP for Crewe and Nantwich claims hers is the worst-funded constituency in Cheshire.
Image source, Jonathan WhiteLaura Smith, before becoming an MP, campaigning for better school funding in Cheshire
The Government says the existing system is "unfair", but moves to change it have prompted opposition from MPs worried that schools in their area will lose out.
The minister, Nick Gibb, says the government's changing the rules to help schools which have lost out.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A 27-year-old woman whose body was found at a flat in Stoke-on-Trent a week ago has been identified by police.
The death of Victoria Bennett - who was from the city - is being treated as unexplained, with a post-mortem examination due to take place.
A 31-year-old man arrested in connection with the discovery of her body at a flat on London Road in Stoke was released under investigation.
Plans which will see Lichfield's historical records moved to a new multi-million pound history centre in Stafford, external are moving forward with key partners and a design team for the building now on board.
Image source, Staffordshire County Council via Lichfield Mercury
