Mother says MoD apology over Iraq death 'bitter sweet'
Staffordshire Police officer disqualified for drink driving
A teenager tried to smuggle 200 pills into V Festival
Updates on Friday 18 August 2017
Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke
People in the Stafford area are being warned counterfeit bank notes are "being passed around" the area.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceStaffordshire Police say the warning comes after the fake notes were found to be in circulation in the town centre. , external
They're urging shopkeepers and customers to check their change.
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
People are being warned to try not to walk around on their own at night, external after a woman was raped in the centre of Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police says it's now checking CCTV footage after the victim says it happened on Bethesda Street, Hanley at around 04:00 on Sunday morning.
She's described the offender as an Asian man of slight build with short hair, around 5ft 5in (1.65m). , external
As it investigates, the force says people should stay safe at night by also staying in well-lit areas and letting people know where they're going.
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale's manager Michael Brown has dismissed speculation surrounding Nathan Smith and Hull City.
Image source, Clint Hughes/Getty ImagesRumours surfaced last week that Hull's scouts were in attendance during Vale's loss at Leeds.
But Brown dismissed the rumours as untrue following Vale's 3-2 defeat against Wycombe.
Quote MessageI think whoever wrote the article's probably the only person who knows about it. Agents don't know anything about it, clubs don't know anything about it, player doesn't know anything about it so whoever wrote that one, I wonder where he's got it from."
Michael Brown, Port Vale manager
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The fire service in Cheshire says it is looking to recruit more women and more people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in its latest recruitment campaign. , external
Today, they've opened the first stage of the application process and say their aim is to find around a dozen full-time firefighters.
The service says they want to get a "broader range of applications" and says the initial stage will be open on their website until the end of the month.
BBC Sport
The Burton Albion manager says he thought the sending off of Jackson Irvine was "harsh" in their 4-1 defeat at Hull City.
Image source, Nathan Stirk/Getty ImagesIrvine had equalised for the Brewers but was then given a second yellow card in the first-half.
Hull scored three times after the break against the 10-men of Burton.
Quote MessageIt was very encouraging how we played in the first half up to the sending-off. The second one was not a booking, I thought it was harsh. The first booking was petulant and I have told him."
Nigel Clough, Burton Albion manager
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
There's some stunning wildlife photos in our latest pick of great pictures taken in Staffordshire - a deer, butterfly and rabbit all make appearances.
You can share your photos of Staffordshire and Cheshire via email or put them on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke, external to the description to show you agree to share them.
Audience photos
Follow text and BBC Radio 5 live reaction as former Real Madrid winger Jese scores on his debut to earn Stoke a 1-0 win over Arsenal.
Read MoreBurton manager Nigel Clough describes Jackson Irvine's red card during his side's 4-1 defeat at Hull on Saturday as "harsh".
Read More
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A man's needed rescuing from a canal in Staffordshire, external after getting stuck in undergrowth.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Fire Service says they were needed at the site off Bucknall New Road, Hanley at 11:15 today.
They say the man had climbed out of the water, but was trapped from fully getting out because of the undergrowth.
BBC Sport
The Stoke City striker Joselu looks to be heading for the bet365 Stadium exit door as Newcastle look close to signing him for a reported £5m.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 27-year-old, who has played at Real Madrid, Celta Vigo and Hoffenheim, joined Stoke for £5.75m from German side Hannover 96 in June 2015.
Spaniard Joselu spent last season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna, scoring six goals in 24 games.
Former Spain Under-21 international Joselu, who made two appearances for Real Madrid, scored four goals in 27 appearances in his only season in the Premier League for Stoke.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra's manager David Artell has heaped praise on the performance of teenager Harry Pickering.
Image source, crewealex.netThe 18-year-old left-back made his full league debut in the 1-1 draw with Newport on Saturday.
Quote MessageHe didn't look a fish out of water at all. He put a little ball in behind the defence in the first-half that probably nobody else spotted on the whole pitch and he's just dinked it into the striker's path and he's in and that's Harry. He's unfazed by anything."
David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager
Relive the action as Burton Albion come from behind to beat Birmingham City for their first victory of the season.
Read More
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime, we're reporting on the cost of rural crime as new figures show there's been a 20% rise across the West Midlands in the first six months of this year.
Criminals are targeting tools, 4x4s and livestock and we'll have a look at what's being done to try and reverse that trend on BBC One from 13:30.
BBC News Travel
And another one.
A lorry's overturned on the A543 between Faddiley, near Nantwich, and the A49 in Ridley.
Cheshire Police says they've had to temporarily close the road , externalso it can be recovered.
Image source, Cheshire PoliceAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
A man's suffered multiple injuries after a lorry overturned on the A50 in Stoke-on-Trent this morning.
Staffordshire Fire Service says they cut the victim free after it happened on the eastbound side near the Stoke City football stadium just before 11:00., external
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceWest Midlands Ambulance says the air ambulance was called out and landed at the club.
However they say the man in his 40s was taken to hospital by road.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross says his future is the club's hands.
Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesThe 29-year-old has been a mainstay in the Potteries since his move from Manchester United in 2008.
Shawcross is out of contract at the end of this season.
BBC Midlands Today
Nearly 150,000 children in the Midlands are at risk of going hungry over the summer holidays, according to a Stoke-on-Trent MP. , external
Ruth Smeeth, Stoke North Labour MP
It comes as a pilot scheme involving the city council and local schools is aiming to serve 10,000 meals in the area to youngsters who'd normally get a free school meal.
It's being funded by charities and businesses but the Stoke North Labour MP Ruth Smeeth says she wants the government to foot the bill.
The Department for Work and Pensions says it is committed to tackling child poverty and disadvantage.
A woodland alongside the A500 is set to be protected – to stop developers building on the site., external
Image source, The SentinelBBC Midlands Today
Train passengers travelling between Rugeley and Walsall over the next fortnight are being warned to expect disruption.
Image source, GoogleLondon Midland says a £100m project by Network Rail to electrify the Chase Line got under way yesterday. , external
It means replacement buses are being laid on between Rugeley Trent Valley and Tame Bridge Parkway from today as foundation work is carried out.
BBC Sport
Stoke City are set to announce the loan signing of Paris St-Germain's former Real Madrid striker Jese Rodriguez, according to the Daily Telegraph's Midlands football reporter John Percy., external
The 24-year-old is understood to be undergoing a medical this morning with a view to signing until the end of the season.
Image source, Getty Images