Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Well it started so well - it was dry over Stoke-on-Trent when I left for work but, by 07:30, rain was starting to fall across the city.

We'll have a full look at the morning's weather forecast shortly and there'll be updates on the day's news, sport, travel and more through the day.

I'll also showcase more of your photos of Staffordshire and Cheshire so please keep sending those on email or, if you are an Instagram user, you can put them there with the tag #bbcstoke,, external to show you agree to share them.

Cheshire East Council says it "systematically manipulated" data to make the results look better.

Owners were out when lightning struck at this house in Staffordshire.

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.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra's James Jones and Jordan Bowery are hoping to be fit for the opening game of the season against Mansfield.

Both have recovered from hernia operations and are now back in training.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Eight men have been arrested in Stoke-on-Trent this afternoon in connection with a series of drug offences.

Warrants were carried out in Shelton, Burslem and Sneyd Green. Staffordshire Police say a large quantity of cannabis has been seized, and more raids are due to take place later.

Staffordshire Police say a large quantity of cannabis has been seized, and more raids are due to take place later.

Francis Lovelock, 64, was found at the property in Stretton on Saturday.

The fire service says crews are tackling a serious fire caused by a possible lightning strike.

Firefighters are expected to be at the scene of a fire at a Staffordshire house after it was struck by lightening earlier today.

The owner, Simon Stanley, has told the BBC the fire service say they'll be at the site for some time after the initial call out at 1:30pm this afternoon

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

It will be a cloudy day for most of us tomorrow, with some rain around the region.

Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Firefighters say it'll take several more hours to deal with a fire at a house in Staffordshire that was struck by lightning.

Crews are still at the detached house on Chatcull Lane near Cotes Heath after they were called out at lunchtime.

The councillor did not attend meetings for six months, while receiving nearly £3,000 in allowances.

Riyah Collins
BBC West Midlands

Disruption on the London Midland Cross City line in Birmingham is now expected to continue until the end of the day.

Image source, PA

Overhead wire problems between Gravelly Hill and Four Oaks are affecting services between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley.

Replacement buses will be available for passengers at stations along the route.

National Rail is advising compensation may be available to passengers and they should keep their tickets in order to make a claim.

Burton Albion striker and club record signing Liam Boyce is to miss "most of the season" with a serious knee injury.

Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

The owner of a house in Staffordshire that's been struck by lightning says he's devastated by the resulting fire.

Crews were called to a large house on Chatcull Lane near Cotes Heath at around 13.30, and the roof is still well alight.

Cannock Chase District Council has confirmed one of its members has been removed after she failed to attend a series of meetings.

Joanne Christian represented the Hednesford South ward on Cannock Chase District Council since she was elected in May 2015.

She hadn't attended a meeting for the last six months.

Image source, Cannock Chase District Council

The council itself says she would have received half the £5,300 allowance she would have been entitled to for that period.

Riyah Collins
BBC West Midlands

There are no trains from Birmingham New Street towards Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield due to overheard wire problems on the London Midland Cross City line, Network Rail says.

Image source, PA

The problems are between Gravelly Hill and Four Oaks stations.

Replacement buses will be available for passengers at some of the stations along the route

Trains leaving New Street for Lichfield are cancelled until at least 16:20.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Four fire crews are at the site of what's said to be a large fire at a house in Staffordshire, believed to have been started by a lightning strike.

Firefighters were called out at 1:30pm to a large detached house on Chatcull Lane near Cotes Heath. The roof of the house is described as "well alight".

The fire service says it's isolated the gas mains, and that four breathing apparatus equipped officers are helping to fight the flames.

A roof is said to be well alight after a house near Coates Heath, Stafford, was struck by lightning earlier this afternoon, according to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Detainees in Staffordshire Police custody are likely to be held "safely and decently" according to the latest inspection.

Prison and police inspectors made unannounced visits to the force's custody suites across the county - including Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Getty Images

There were though concerns over how prison staff used force and the accountability surrounding it, CCTV monitoring didn't comply with professional guidelines , and health services lacked clinical scrutiny.