Crewe to be transformed by £48m plans
Nursery being 'creative' on care costs
Road reopens after weeks of repairs
Updates from Friday 1 September 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Today's selection of pictures you've sent in are book-ended by two superb shots of sunsets in Staffordshire.
You can share a photo taken recently in this area by popping it on an email or posting it on Instagram, tagging it with #bbcstoke, external so I know you agree to share it.
Audience photos
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today
The West Midlands will have a completely dry and rather chilly night with long clear spells.
Some mist patches may develop, especially in rural parts of Shropshire and Staffordshire - lows of 10C (50F).
Weather for the West Midlands.
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
It's taken several weeks, but the A530 Middlewich Road near Nantwich is fully open now, after it was badly damaged by a burst water main.
Cheshire East Council spent the time rebuilding supporting walls and protecting underground cables. This afternoon the council tweeted that it was fully open. , external
Image source, Cheshire East Council
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
A nursery manager in Staffordshire says staff have had to be "creative" with the funding to cover the cost of extra free childcare.
Lynsey Hurst
From today, about 7,000 families in the county are eligible for 30 hours' free childcare a week rather than 15.
The government says it's paying councils more than the average cost of providing childcare, but some campaigners say the increase is not enough.
Lynsey Hurst, who runs Reach for the Stars in Biddulph, says the firm is being careful with its money, but is coping.
Crewe's head of recruitment and former assistant manager Neil Baker leaves after 23 years at Gresty Road.
Read More
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Plans to transform the centre of Crewe are about drawing more people into the town, according to one of the people behind them.
Artist's impressions of plans for Crewe
Today, Cheshire East Council revealed its detailed proposals to spend £48m, external on revamping the Market Hall, Royal Arcade and bus station.
Planned new facilities include a cinema, restaurants and shops. If they are approved later this month, the authority is aiming to get them finished by Christmas 2020.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra's manager David Artell has told BBC Radio Stoke that some clubs contacted midfielder George Cooper directly over a possible transfer.
Image source, crewealex.netThe Alex received five offers for Cooper on deadline day but he will remain with the club until January at least, which is when the next transfer window opens.
Artell says he's disappointed with the way some teams approached the 20-year-old.
Quote MessageThose other clubs, their staff members have been phoning him up directly, which I think is disgusting, but that's the way it goes, not going to cry over that, that's the nature of football. But, unless the valuation is what we've put on his head, he remains a Crewe player."
David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A stag's been rescued by firefighters this morning after it had got tangled up in wire near Congleton. , external
Image source, Cheshire Fire ServiceCheshire Fire Service says the wire had got around the animal's antlers and jaw on Clough Road, Wildboarclough.
The service says a vet gave the stag a sedative while crews untangled it. It then woke up and returned to the wild.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A six-week consultation has started over plans by the Post Office to move a branch in Crewe inside a shop., external
Image source, GoogleIt says it wants to relocate the current West Street branch inside the McColls store on the same road.
The Post Office says it'll mean longer opening hours and a more modern branch - the consultation ends on 11 October.
If they go ahead, the branch would be relocated over the Christmas period., external
BBC Sport
A Stoke City teammate of goalkeeper Jack Butland has questioned why he's not been picked to start for England against Malta in tonight's World Cup qualifier.
Image source, Getty ImagesJoe Hart will be in goal to begin the game with manager Gareth Southgate saying he's "our best goalkeeper at the moment".
Stoke's Butland played a half in England's most recent game, June's friendly defeat by France.
Quote MessageI think Jack Butland is the best goalkeeper. And, as England are playing two sides they should beat comfortably, why not give him or the next keeper after Joe Hart the chance to play in two World Cup qualifiers?"
Charlie Adam, Stoke City midfielder
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Soldiers from the Mercian Regiment will march through Tamworth this weekend, external to mark 10 years since they were formed in the town.
Image source, Mercian RegimentBack on 1 September 2007, a parade held at Tamworth Castle marked the formation of the Mercians from three other regiments, including the Staffordshire and Cheshire regiments.
The army says the soldiers will march through the town tomorrow with bayonets fixed, led by their regiomental mascot as part of the annual We Love Tamworth day, external.
There have been a few showers around this afternoon but there's been some sunshine too and even the cows have been enjoying it in Branston, Staffordshire.
BBC Weather Watcher Windy Bindy too this photo - to become one of our volunteers too, head to the website and sign up.
Image source, Windy BindyThese are the shocking images of two cars destroyed by arsonists in a spate of incidents involving Tamworth motor garages., external
Image source, Tamworth HeraldAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
A lot of drugs, a weapon and two cars have been seized by police trying to stop items being smuggled into two Staffordshire prisons., external
Image source, PAThe county's police force spent more than three hours yesterday searching cars and visitors heading into HMP Oakwood and HMP Featherstone.
They say they arrested five people and reported two for offences including conveying drugs into prison and possessing an offensive weapon.
BBC News UK
Every week, BBC News publishes a gallery of readers' pictures on a set theme.
This week, it is "holidays" and include one from Phil Calvert of his son "attempting to stop an ice-cream van" near Leek.
Image source, Phil CalvertYou can see the whole gallery here on the BBC website.
BBC Sport
As the dust settles on this summer's transfer window, it's been revealed Stoke City are one of four Premier League clubs to receive more in transfer fees than they spent.
Among the Potters' biggest payouts were the £18m they paid Tottenham to sign defender Kevin Wimmer and £7m to get Bruno Martins Indi from FC Porto.
Image source, Getty ImagesBut they also made several free transfers and loan moves including for Kurt Zouma and Jese Rodriguez (pictured).
Plus they sold players like Marko Arnautovic for £20m, Joselu for £5m and Jon Walters for up to £3m.
Film lovers have been given a glimpse of what Stafford’s new cinema complex will look like when it is finally finished., external
Image source, Express and Star
BBC Radio Stoke
Thousands of books, maps and manuscripts, some dating back centuries, have been removed from Lichfield Cathedral's library ahead of roof repairs, external.
Those involved say it took 400 hours to take the contents out of the Chapter House library.
Image source, Lichfield CathedralThe works include a 15th Century illuminated copy of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.
The cathedral says, now the books have been removed, they expect to get the roof repairs finished in March.
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
More than 40,000 people are expected to visit the Nantwich Food Festival this weekend,, external with police saying they're trying to minimise congestion in the town.
Image source, Nantwich Food FestivalOrganisers say over 200 exhibitors will be in the town with the three-day event starting today.
Police in Nantwich are urging drivers to follow their signs for the best routes, external to the festival.
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Image source, Cheshire East CouncilA main road near Nantwich that's been closed for over a month after a burst water main is finally due to reopen this afternoon, external, .
Major repairs were needed by Cheshire East Council as both sides of the A530 Middlewich Road needed replacing, supporting walls needed to be rebuilt and underground cables protected., external
Image source, Cheshire East Council
