Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 BST 21 August 2017
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.
Summary
Cannabis, cocaine and thousands of pounds in cash seized in raid
Former head 'admitted changing pupil's exam answers'
Severe delays as pop fizzes on to motorway
Updates on Friday 25 August 2017
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 BST 21 August 2017
On Midlands Today from 18:30: A piece of football historypublished at 17:57 BST 21 August 2017
Laura Mcmullan
Reporter, BBC Midlands TodayOn Midlands Today this evening, we're looking at something rather special in the footballing world, especially if you're a Stoke City fan.
The first professional contract signed by footballing legend Sir Stanley Matthews with the Potters is going up for auction.
I've been finding out more, including how much the "Wizard of Dribble" was first paid and you can see the full story from 18:30 on BBC One.
Football: Crewe manager pushes players for more winspublished at 17:54 BST 21 August 2017
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra manager David Artell says his players need to get into the mindset of winning games.
Image source, Nigel Roddis/Getty ImagesThe Alex are 10th in League Two and remain unbeaten after three league games.
Quote MessageSome of these lads haven't been used to winning games of football and that's what we've got to get to. It's got to be that mindset of every game, we're going to win the game. When we get that right, we'll be difficult to stop because we've got some really, really good players."
David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager
Boys arrested over garage 'arson'published at 17:45 BST 21 August 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA teenager and an 11-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a garage fire in Crewe at the weekend.
Cheshire Police says the building on Collins Street was well alight when they and the fire service arrived yesterday morning. , external
They say they now believe it was started deliberately and arrested the 11-year-old and 16-year-old on suspicion of arson as well as other offences including theft.
The pair have now been released under investigation.
New distribution centre planned in Lichfieldpublished at 17:40 BST 21 August 2017
Plans for another big new distribution centre near Lichfield have been announced - potentially creating 250 to 300 jobs., external
Football: More signings promised by Port Vale bosspublished at 17:34 BST 21 August 2017
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio StokePort Vale manager Michael Brown says there'll be more signings made by the club before the transfer window deadline at the end of the month.
Image source, Clint Hughes/Getty ImagesBrown has already made 16 additions to the squad since the end of last season.
The Vale have so far won one and lost two games in League Two since the season started.
Quote MessageWe know we have to strengthen up until the end of the month. We're certainly working to do that, we've got a couple of things going on but if that's up until the last day of the window, then that's where it'll be."
Michael Brown, Port Vale manager
Weather: More cloudy weather to comepublished at 17:29 BST 21 August 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterThere will be more cloud around tomorrow and maybe some rain later in the day, but it should be getting drier and warmer as the week goes on.
Media caption, Afternoon weather forecast for the West Midlands
Stanley Matthews' first Stoke City contract up for auctionpublished at 17:22 BST 21 August 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe first professional contract signed by Stoke City legend Sir Stanley Matthews is being put up for auction this week.
Image source, General Photographic Agency/Getty ImagesHansons Auctioneers say the deal from 1932 saw Matthews get a £10 signing-on fee with weekly wages of £5 a week during the season.
They say the contract, along with another from 1935, ended up with Stoke City supporting brothers David, Andy and Graham Lockett, who say they'd love to see them at the British Football Museum.
The auction's being held tomorrow., external
Rugby union: Lichfield trio set to start England semi-finalpublished at 17:16 BST 21 August 2017
BBC SportThree Lichfield players will start for England in their Rugby World Cup semi-final with France in Belfast tomorrow.
After rotating his squad throughout the pool stage, this is the strongest England team named by head coach Simon Middleton in the tournament.
Image source, David Rogers/Getty ImagesThe Lichfield trio are Emily Scarratt, Natasha Hunt (pictured) and Amy Cokayne, while fellow Lichfield players Justine Lucas and Harriet Millar-Mills are on the bench.
England v France is the second of Tuesday's semi-finals, with New Zealand taking on the USA at 17:00.
BBC Weather Watcher photos: Cows and flowerspublished at 17:07 BST 21 August 2017
Our BBC Weather Watchers don't just upload pictures showing the skies over Staffordshire and Cheshire but photos of great views and scenes in the area.
Here are two, one from user P Arlour in Stafford and the other from Bucko in Uttoxeter
Image source, P Arlour
Image source, BuckoFootball: Stoke transfer critics 'way out of order'published at 16:58 BST 21 August 2017
BBC SportThe Stoke City manager's described criticism of the club's transfers this season as "way out of order".
Image source, ROLAND HARRISON/AFP/Getty ImagesStoke have recruited forward Maxim Choupo-Moting and midfielder Darren Fletcher on free transfers, and defender Kurt Zouma and Jese on loan.
The only fee paid is the £7m for defender Bruno Martins Indi and some fans have told BBC Radio Stoke they expected more.
Quote MessageHopefully this year the squad is as strong as it has ever been. There's been criticism about investment, which is way out of order. If at the end of window you are stronger than at the start, then you've had a good window."
Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
'Knife held to man's throat' in park attackpublished at 16:41 BST 21 August 2017
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeA man's had a knife held to his throat and then hit with a baton in an attack in a park in Stoke-on-Trent. , external
The 61-year-old was walking home from a night out in Hanley on Friday with a friend, police say, when it happened in Central Forest Park.
Image source, GoogleOfficers say a woman came up to the pair, claiming a man had hit her in the face.
A man then came up and grabbed the 61-year-old by the throat, holding a knife there, causing a small cut.
The force says the attacker then hit him across the shoulders with some sort of baton before both he and the woman made off.
Appeal over video showing 'sheep being thrown into field'published at 16:27 BST 21 August 2017
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio StokeAn appeal's been launched for more information about a video circulating on social media, external which appears to show an injured sheep being thrown into a field.
The RSPCA says it's been told the incident is believed to have been filmed near Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, RSPCAThe video shows a man carrying a sheep up a lane and then throwing the animal into a field where it lands on its back.
The charity described the footage as "upsetting", saying the sheep looks to have a broken leg as it struggles to stand but it isn't clear if it suffered the injury before or after being thrown.
The RSPCA says it wants to know more about what happened and Staffordshire Police says it is supporting their appeal for information., external
Image source, RSPCAGarage fire cause investigatedpublished at 16:14 BST 21 August 2017
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThe cause of a garage fire's being investigated in Crewe. , external
Cheshire Fire Service says the building on Collins Street was well alight when they arrived yesterday morning.
Image source, Cheshire Fire ServiceThey say they cordoned it off and worked to protect an on-site workshop.
The service says the Environment Agency was also called out as water was running off the area and into a nearby brook.
Cash machine ram raids 'could be linked'published at 15:54 BST 21 August 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveTwo ram raids on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border involving diggers may be linked to a series of cash machine raids elsewhere in the country.
Earlier this month, police in the East Midlands said they believed a string of such incidents on the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire border showed a "distinctive focus".
Media caption, Raiders rip out cash machine in Leicestershire
They said the offences almost always happened in the early hours, involved the use of a digger, a pick-up truck to take the cash machine away and then a car as the final getaway vehicle.
The two linked ones in the West Midlands happened in Kings Bromley on 2 August followed by a robbery in nearby Hatton the next day.
Today, Staffordshire Police says it's working with the forces in the East Midlands to establish if they are all linked together or not.
Media caption, JCB used in botched Kings Bromley cash machine raid
Horse rescued after getting stuck in ditchpublished at 15:24 BST 21 August 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceFour fire crews has to be called out today to rescue a horse that had got stuck in a ditch.
Staffordshire Fire Service says they arrived at around midday to the area on Leek Road, Endon., external
They say the mare, Lilly, was rescued, checked over by a vet and is now "one happy horse, external".
Your say: The landmarks that mean you're nearly homepublished at 14:59 BST 21 August 2017
FacebookWe asked you on the BBC Radio Facebook page what are the landmarks that mean you're near the end of your journey home to Staffordshire and Cheshire?
It was after, at the weekend, BBC News posted a story about the sights across the country which loom large above the landscape and make us think that home is near.
Michelle Bird wrote, external: "Always see a sign for Nantwich and then I know I'm on the right route to Stoke-on-Trent."
Martyn Dixon posted, external: "Years ago it was the head gear and towers of Hem Heath and Florence collieries northbound, just before junction 15 on the M6."
Nadine Lindsey responded, external: "Well, it's always been Rugeley Power Station. When they demolish those cooling towers it will be a sad day!"
And Patricia Smith added, external: "Jodrell Bank means not long to go."
Still no interest in £1m restaurant and apartment planpublished at 14:34 BST 21 August 2017
A new development which includes restaurants, shops and 24 apartments could be coming to Burton town centre - if someone buys the site. , external
Image source, GoogleMan wants to thank woman for 'long shot' hat rescuepublished at 14:09 BST 21 August 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveWhen your favourite hat gets whipped off your head while on a canal journey you don't think you'll get it back, do you?
That's what David Innes thought when he was on the Oxford Canal on 16 August - the clothing got snagged on a low-hanging bramble and was left behind.
Image source, David InnesBut he says he then later got chatting to a woman who was taking her boat, called Beagle, back in that direction and asked her to look out for it.
He says he thought it was a "long shot" but, having gone to sleep on his boat, he woke to find his hat on the cabin with a note saying "mission accomplished".
David told the BBC he only knows the woman as "Sue from Staffordshire" who works in Oxfordshire but goes home to Staffordshire at weekends and wants to send her a thank you message.
Image source, David InnesWildlife and sunsets in Monday's selection of audience picturespublished at 13:47 BST 21 August 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LivePlenty of wildlife in today's selection of photos which have been sent in by you, our audience.
If you've got a photo - of any subject in Staffordshire and Cheshire - which you've taken recently, send it in on an email.
Or, if you use Instagram,, external pop it there with the tag #bbcstoke in the description so we know you agree to share it.
Media caption, Audience photos
