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

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. 'Glass cleaner' thrown at teenagers after argument

    Vicky Norton
    BBC Radio Stoke

    Two teenagers needed hospital treatment after a liquid, thought to be glass cleaner, was squirted at them in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

    It happened last night on Barracks Road near Dominos Pizza, police say, when there was an argument between a group of teenagers and a man and a woman.

    Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-LymeGoogle

    Officers say the couple then left in a blue Peugeot and, as they did, the woman threw the liquid at the teens.

    Two teenagers were taken for treatment but have been released as they didn't suffer any visible injuries.

  2. 'Stowaway' gecko provides surprise holiday souvenir

    Sarah Robertson
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    A tiny lizard's turned up in a holidaymaker's luggage in Congleton, Cheshire.

    The RSPCA says it thinks it stowed away from the Canary Islands.

    The tiny gecko lizardRSPCA

    The charity says Sophie Williams found the gecko as she was unzipping her suitcase on Sunday at home in Field View Road.

    She says her husband trapped him in a container and they called the RSPCA, which says he's thought to be about two weeks old and is now set to be given to an experienced carer.

  3. Pavements to become artworks for international festival

    Chris King
    Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    An international pavement art festival's taking place in Crewe this weekend.

    Chalk drawing already done at Crewe train station

    Cheshire East Council says "Chalk It Up" is being held on the Market Square over the bank holiday.

    Around 30 artists from around the world are taking part, the authority says, with the pavements "becoming the canvas" for their works.

  5. Five-week park closure defended

    Sarah Robertson
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    A five-week closure of a popular Newcastle-under-Lyme park from today is being defended on safety grounds.

    Queens Garden, Newcastle-under-Lyme

    The borough council says it is spending £189,000 on work in Queens Gardens including better seating, upgraded paths and revamping the bandstand.

    The work's set to finish before the new nearby development Castle House opens and the authority says the closure has to happen to keep residents safe.

    We need to make sure that everyone is safe while the work is going on and that means, unfortunately, closing the gardens for a short time. However, I'm sure the final results will be well worth this small inconvenience."

    Ann Beech, Newcastle-under-Lyme councilllor

  6. 'Anti-terror' camp aims to tackle extremist 'misconceptions'

    John Acres
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    The organisers of an "anti-terror" training camp at Keele University for 500 young British Muslims this weekend say they want to directly tackle misconceptions used to "lure" them to extremism.

    The British Muslim organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran UK is behind the event, called Al-Hidayah 2017.

    Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-QadriAl-Hidayah

    They say they'll hold workshops on issues including counter-extremism and mastering social media.

    There'll also be a keynote speaker, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri (pictured), who organisers describe as an authority on Islam.

    Dr Qadri will tackle head-on some of the fundamental ideas that form the ideological pathway to extremism which include the misconstrued theological ideas about jihad and the misinterpretation of the Quranic verses of the sword used by extremists to justify their violence."

    Shaykh Rehan Raza, Spokesperson for Minhaj-ul-Quran UK

  7. Football: Fletcher 'won't be fazed' on West Brom return with Stoke

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Stoke City manager says he's confident midfielder Darren Fletcher will not be put off when they travel to his former club West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

    Darren Fletcher in Stoke City shirtDavid Rogers/Getty Images

    The 33-year-old joined the Potters on a free transfer in June, having made 97 appearances for the Baggies.

    We view it as a tough fixture just like many other sides. In previous seasons we haven't performed so hopefully that changes. I don't think Darren Fletcher will be fazed by returning to The Hawthorns at the weekend."

    Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager

  8. August Bank Holiday: No removal for M6 roadworks

    Lee Blakeman
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A 20-mile stretch of roadworks in Cheshire on the M6, from junctions 16 to 19, are going to stay in place this bank holiday weekend.

    Work on the M6 near Crewe

    It comes despite a Highways England pledge to remove or complete 98% of all roadworks on motorways or trunk roads for the three-day weekend.

    The organisation says, over the work on the M6 in Cheshire, that it always tries to minimise disruption for bank holidays but it isn't possible to remove all roadworks for safety reasons.

  10. 'Anti-terror' camp for Muslims to be held at university

    James Bovill
    Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News

    An "anti-terror" training camp for young Muslims is taking place at Keele University this weekend with the aim of trying to stop them from turning to violent extremism.

    Keele UniversityGoogle

    Five hundred Muslims, some as young as 14, will spend three days at the site, hearing from leading Islamic academics who say they reject terrorists, the horrific attacks they carry out and the extreme ideology that led to the rise of so-called Islamic State.

    Organisers Minhaj-ul-Quran UK say they want to tackle misconceptions about Islam that are used to radicalise young British Muslims.

    They say one of the world's leading moderate Islamic scholars will give the event's keynote speech at the event, which is called Al-Hidayah 2017.

  11. Today's weather in 50 seconds

    Alex Hamilton
    BBC Weather

    The sun's out already for much of the West Midlands - here's how the rest of Friday is looking.

    Alex Hamilton

    You can keep yourself updated at any other time by getting the latest forecast for your area from the BBC Weather website.

  12. Welcome to Friday's live coverage

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Morning everyone, the sun is again shining over Stoke-on-Trent and it looks like everywhere else too, judging by this Hednesford photo from BBC Weather Watcher Thornhill Watch...

    HednesfordThornhill Watch

    We'll have a full look at the morning's weather forecast shortly and we'll have updates throughout the day on Staffordshire and Cheshire's news, sport, travel and more.

    You can get involved by sharing your photos of the area via email or put them on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke so we know you agree to share them.

  13. Girl who fled Iraq gets nine GCSEs

    Zainab Fhadal arrived in Stoke-on-Trent three years ago only speaking a little English.

    Read More

  14. Our live coverage across the day

    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.

  15. On Midlands Today from 18:30: GCSE results and paramedics on TV

    BBC Midlands Today

    On Midlands Today this evening, we've been hearing some inspirational stories from pupils in Stoke-on-Trent who've been getting their GCSE results.

    Zainab getting her GCSE results

    And we'll hear how real stories of paramedics here in the Midlands are set to grip viewers of a new BBC One series starting tonight.

    Get both those stories and much more from BBC One at 18:30.

  16. Football: Crewe aiming to continue unbeaten run in Port Vale derby

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Crewe Alexandra's goalkeeper Ben Garratt says they won`t be changing their build-up this week ahead of Saturday's derby game at Port Vale.

    Ben Garrattcrewealex.net

    The Alex go into the match unbeaten in their opening three league games.

    It's the first derby between the two sides since April 2016 after the last one saw the Vale relegate Crewe.

    I certainly missed them, missed them last season so I'll be looking forward to it and I'm sure all the lads will be made aware of how important it is."

    Ben Garratt, Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper

  18. New shops pledge for Staffordshire town centre

    Sarah Robertson
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    Despite a number of stores closing and leaving Newcastle-under-Lyme in recent weeks, a leading business group has told BBC Radio Stoke new shops will open before Christmas.

    Centre of Newcastle-under-Lyme

    At least three businesses have moved to the new development at Trentham Gardens, while others, like the Bacon Shop, have shut completely.

    There are other people looking at Newcastle and I know there are other retailers and stores opening before Christmas within Newcastle. It's an ongoing thing but yes, I think, as an area, we could do more to encourage other people in."

    Paul Collins, Manager of Newcastle-under-Lyme's Business Improvement Group

  19. Vale sign ex-Millwall midfielder Worrall

    Port Vale sign midfielder David Worrall on a two-year contract following his release by Millwall.

    Read More

  20. Football: Former Millwall midfielder becomes latest Port Vale signing

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Port Vale say they've signed the former Millwall midfielder David Worrall on a two-year-deal.

    David Worrall with Port Vale shirtPort Vale FC

    The club says it's subject to EFL approval and the 27-year-old's made over 300 career appearances at club's including Bury, West Bromwich Albion and Shrewsbury Town.