Barry Bennell sex abuse trial set for January
Cheshire CCG given 'inadequate' rating
Election candidate charged over blogs
Kurt Zouma: Chelsea defender joins Stoke on season-long loan
Updates on Friday 21 July
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
After a cloudy and wet start we can expect a fresher brighter afternoon, with some sunny spells and highs of 20C (68F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Morning everyone, it's a damp, drizzly start to the day in Stoke-on-Trent and it looks like that is reflected across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
BBC Weather Watcher Angus and Me took this in Hednesford this morning:
Image source, Angus and meWe'll have your full weather forecast for the day shortly and there'll be news, sport, travel and more for this area through Thursday.
I'll also happily take more of your photos of the area - send those in on email or put them on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke, external to show you agree to share them.
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.
Liz Copper
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this evening, we'll have more on the news that a businessman appeared in court today, charged with manslaughter.
It's over the deaths of two men killed when a fire broke out at his fireworks warehouse in Stafford nearly three years ago.
I was in court and I'll have more on what happened on BBC One from 18:30.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Work starting next week on a new cycle way, speed "cushions" on a road and upgrades to bus stops in Newcastle-under-Lyme will make the area safer for pedestrians, it's claimed.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire County Council's carrying out the work from 24 July on Knutton Road and Ashfields Road between Newcastle-under-Lyme college and the centre of town.
The authority says the work will also see a zebra crossing turned into a parallel crossing for both people on foot and cyclists to use and should all be completed before students return in the autumn.
They say there'll be some footpath closures and two-way traffic lights while work's ongoing but the aim is to make the area safer for pedestrians.
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
We could see some more rain this evening, but it's going to remain warm overnight - with temperatures as high as 15C (59F).
And looks like it's going to be a wet end to the week.
The weather forecast for the West Midlands with Rich Davis
Aleena Naylor
BBC Radio Derby newsreader
It's a title previously held by Andrew Flintoff and Prince Charles, but now the MP for Burton and Uttoxeter has been named Beer Drinker of the year.
The title's been bestowed on Andrew Griffith by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group - which he's also been made an honorary life president of.
Image source, Conservative Party
BBC Radio Stoke
A road in Nantwich has been shut for most of today, external after a water main burst.
Image source, Nantwich NewsUnited Utilities were first called to Middlewich Road at 06:50 and say they had got people's water supply reconnected by around 13:00., external
But the firm says the repair to the water main itself is "complex" and it's taking them several hours to repair it, forcing the road to remain shut.
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
People are being warned of the dangers of burning rubbish, after a burn in Crewe got out of control and spread to a hedge., external
Image source, GoogleCheshire Fire Service says the large blaze was started on purpose off Christleton Avenue last night but inadvertently spread to nearby bushes.
The brigade says it was near the railway line but drifting smoke didn't affect trains.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Some stunning pictures now and they've all come from you, our audience, who keep sending in great photos of Staffordshire and Cheshire.
You can share yours by email or, if you use Instagram, put them there, external with the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them.
Audience photos
Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
A decision will be made tonight on whether houses could be built on land on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Planners want to include an area of countryside in Leek, known as The Mount, for future development - despite strong local objection.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Moorlands District Council has been set a government target to build 320 new homes in the area every year up until 2031.
Objectors say it's over-development of The Mount, external and the area wouldn't cope with the increase in traffic but the planners say it's not green belt land and is needed for housing.
The council's assembly will meet this evening to discuss the plans., external
Emma Thomas
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
Image source, Home videoThe mother of a former soldier from Staffordshire who took his own life is taking legal action against the NHS.
Angela Aleksejuk from Hilderstone claims mental health teams were too slow to diagnose her son's post traumatic stress disorder, despite four suicide attempts.
She says father-of-three Aidan Knight, who'd served in Iraq, was found dead in April 2015 in Crawley, just days after going to A&E to ask for help.
The Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, which runs services where Aidan was living in Crawley, has apologised and says it's made changes including dedicating a staff member to managing the referral process.
Quote MessageI'd just like each of them [at the NHS Trust] to just, on one occasion, think differently because their thoughts may stop one other mother burying a child."
Angela Aleksejuk, Mother of Aidan Knight
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A motorbiker has died after colliding with a van near Tamworth.
West Midlands Ambulance Service says it happened just before 11:00 at the junction of the A4091 and Salts Lane, Drayton Bassett.
Image source, GoogleThey say, when they arrived, people were trying to resuscitate the biker after he'd suffered serious injuries and their medics took over, but the man died at the scene.
The service says the 47-year-old van driver suffered some minor injuries.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Plans to cut speed limits, extend cycle routes and tackle more potholes are among £35m of transport proposals approved for Staffordshire today.
The county council's cabinet's agreed on a package of schemes for the next year., external
Image source, GoogleThey include cutting the speed limit on the A522 and A52 between Cheadle and Cellarhead after community concerns due to recent crashes including, external three fatal ones in the past five years.
The authority also plans to improve access to Rugeley's railway station and improve transport around Tamworth and Burton town centres.
They say they'll also put an extra £5m towards getting rid of "lower risk" potholes.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A duckling's been rescued after getting stuck in underground pipes after an RSPCA officer played duck noises from her phone to draw it back into the open.
The charity says they were called to the Amington Industrial Estate on Sandy Way, Tamworth on Thursday after the animal had fallen down a drain.
Image source, RSPCAThey say he was so far in the pipes they couldn't see or reach him, only hear him.
But the RSPCA says their officer, Cat Strawford, decided to play duck sounds from a YouTube video and that drew the duckling out.
Quote MessageThe sound must have echoed all the way down the pipes, and next thing I know the duckling came running out and I caught him with my net!"
Cat Strawford, RSPCA Animal Collection Officer
Cheshire East looks set to drive forward a bid to host a stage of next year’s Tour of Britain, external.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
People heading to this year's RHS Flower Show Tatton Park are being urged to follow official event signs and not their sat nav.
Image source, Tatton ParkWith the five-day event under way today, Highways England says routes to the park will have changed compared with last year, following the opening of the new A556 link road in March., external
As a result, they say the A50 through Mere crossroads - where it met the old A556 - can't be used as a route to the show this year, despite what sat navs may say.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Image source, Tamworth Borough CouncilA bus shelter in Tamworth's been given more than a new lick of paint - it's been covered in wildlife images thanks to a community arts project. , external
The borough council says the site on Peelers Way, Kettlebrook now has pictures of birds including a kingfisher and a great spotted woodpecker.
Image source, Tamworth Borough CouncilThey say they were painted by local artist Simon Wingfield as part of the council's Art in Unusual Spaces project , externalwhich is due to officially kick off this autumn.
Several other bus shelters will feature in the future of the scheme - this one's the first as they say it's on the route of the Heart of England in Bloom judges who visited this week.
Veronika Pugaciova was hit by a car as she left a van, police say, as investigations continue.
Read More
BBC News England
Ian Lock, 42, is a critical care paramedic for Midlands Air Ambulance. He has been with the service since 2009 when he joined because he wanted a new challenge.
On his first mission he remembers going to a road accident in Coventry and recalls: "All the existing guys who'd been on for a while were so calm and I was a bit like a new boy with wide eyes thinking what on earth have I done, why am I here and how am I here and how I am going catch up with them?"
Mr Lock is in our 24 hours in England feature - where we take a look at people going about their lives.
Use #24HoursInEngland , externalon social media to share your stories.