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
We go for a stunning sunset and some of Stoke-on-Trent's heritage in today's selection of pictures sent in by you, our audience.
If you've got a local photo of Staffordshire or Cheshire to share you can send it in on email or put it on Instagram, adding the tag #bbcstoke, external so I know you agree to share it.
Audience photos
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
Any remaining daytime showers will fade away during this evening, leaving a dry night with clear spells for all.
Under the clear skies it will be another chilly night, with a few mist or fog patches possibly forming - lows of 10C (50F).
Weather for the West Midlands.
BBC Radio Stoke
The father of a guitarist from Viola Beach hopes a festival to be held in their memory will inspire young people interested in a career in music to "follow their dreams".
Cheshire-based River Reeves, Kristian Leonard, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin (pictured left to right) were killed in a car crash in Sweden last year along with their manager Craig Tarry.
Ben Reeves, the father of 19-year-old River Reeves, has organised RivFest 17 with headliners including Maximo Park and Billy Bragg playing at Priestley College in Warrington on Saturday.
Ben Reeves
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City's latest signing says club came highly recommended from former Potters' player Marko Arnautovic.
Kevin Wimmer
Defender Kevin Wimmer joined for £18m this week from Tottenham.
The Austria international says he got advice before joining the Potters from international teammate Arnautovic.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Train passengers are being warned of changes to services between Crewe and Mancheste, externalr due to industrial action tomorrow and Monday.
Arriva Rail North along with Merseyrail and Southern RMT staff will walk out from Friday 1 September with the last strike on Monday 4 September.
Image source, Northern RailThe England-wide strikes are the latest in the row over driver-only-operated trains.
Because of them, Arriva Trains Wales says services between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly will make extra calls at stations including Sandbach and Holmes Chapel.
Owen Bradley
BBC Radio Derby Sport
As expected, it’s been quiet at Derby so far. Youngsters Timi Max Elsnik and Kellan Gordon have joined Swindon on loan, but that’s been it for the Rams. I wouldn’t rule out a couple of dominoes falling later in the day though.
It’s a bit more interesting at Burton Albion. The Brewers are definitely chasing a couple of players, including Sheffield United defender John Brayford (pictured right).
If Nigel Clough gets his man, it would be the fourth time he’s signed him.
Image source, Getty Images
James Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News
The leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is proposing a motion of no confidence in health bosses who have closed community beds at Leek Moorlands Hospital.
Image source, GoogleSybil Ralphs is describing a consultation by North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as "shambolic, external".
The motion is set to go before a full council meeting next Wednesday evening.
The CCG says the future of all five community hospitals in the area is part of an NHS England review and the public can have their say between October and December.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A load of plasterboard has been dumped on a village lane in Staffordshire.
Lichfield District Council tweeted about it today, external, saying they're investigating who fly-tipped it on Peggs Lane, Elford.
Image source, Lichfield District CouncilA car enthusiast has been left "gutted" after mindless vandals smashed up a classic police car at a Tamworth business., external
Image source, Tamworth HeraldJames Bovill
Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News
Staffordshire County Councillors have unanimously rejected a proposal that could see the county's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis take over the county's Fire Authority., external
Mr Ellis has submitted plans to the government that could give him the power to set the fire service's budget but councillors say he should only be given a role on the current fire authority instead.
The Conservative leader of the council Philip Atkins says it's not a personal attack on fellow Conservative Matthew Ellis and he wants to see all the emergency services working more closely together.
Quote MessageWhat we're saying is let's do this a step at a time. Actually, what we have been arguing in there today is that the full government's model, including the ambulance, perhaps is one thing that should be looked at."
Councillor Philip Atkins, Staffordshire County Council leader
Today's move doesn't mean an end for Matthew Ellis' idea - a consultation on it lasts until 8 September and then it goes to the Home Office to make a decision.
Liz Copper
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
The head of a health watchdog says she wants to see care homes become "embedded" in their local communities.
Care home
It comes as her organisation, Healthwatch Staffordshire, says it wants more time and funds invested on activities for residents, external in the county's nursing and case homes.
Chief executive Jan Sensier says she doesn't think that means spending "loads more money", but about staff "thinking differently".
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Five weeks of roadworks on a junction of the A38 in Staffordshire are set to finish this weekend., external
The county council says it's spent £500,000 on improving roads which are part of the junction at Barton-under-Needwood.
Image source, GoogleThat's included resurfacing the B5016 Station Road and three roundabouts on to the A38.
But the authority says that's not the end of work at the junction as they say Highways England are planning bridge works at the site next year.
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
An elderly woman's been left with "nasty injuries" after what police have called a "particularly cruel and violent burglary".
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceThey say two men went into her house on Ashwood, Stoke-on-Trent last Thursday night, external and took the rings off her fingers while they restrained her.
She was then tied up with cord from her dressing gown and a towel put over her head while the pair ransacked her home, taking more jewellery and cash.
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A bat has had to be put to sleep after being found in Burton with "horrific injuries" caused by a fish hook., external
Image source, RSPCAThe RSPCA says the animal was found dangling on a fishing line from a tree at Branston Golf and Country Club last week.
The charity says the daubenton bat was taken to their Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich where they found the hook had gone through a cheek, tongue and then the other side of its face.
They say that the injuries were so severe it had to be put to sleep.
Traders on a Lichfield industrial estate have come together in an urgent appeal to Staffordshire County Council to repair the many potholes, external which lie along its access road.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryAllen Cook
BBC Local Live
A man's been arrested , externalafter the death of a lorry driver this morning in a crash on the A50 near Uttoxeter.
It happened near the JCB Services World Parts Centre at Beamhurst at about 10:00 and his vehicle overturned after colliding with another lorry.
Image source, GooglePolice say they've arrested a 48-year-old man from Dunstall on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Staffordshire Police says officers are moving traffic off the westbound carriageway and will have diversions in place while the area remains cordoned off.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam says he thinks the club has done great business in this transfer window.
Today is deadline day with the window due to close at 23:00.
Image source, Stoke CityStoke have signed seven players in total, with Kevin Wimmer (pictured) the latest, and are unlikely to further add to their squad today.
Some Stoke fans have criticised the club for not appearing to spend big on players, but Adam told BBC Radio Stoke they've spent more than people may think.
Quote MessageYou think we've signed a couple of players on free transfers but the wages will probably be big so the club have spent money but we've not paid money on transfer fees."
Charlie Adam, Stoke City midfielder
Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live
A lorry driver has been killed, external after his vehicle overturned in a crash with another lorry on the A50 near JCB in Uttoxeter this morning, West Midlands Ambulance Service has just confirmed.
The service said the man died from his injuries at the scene.
The driver of the second lorry suffered minor injuries in the crash, which led to the westbound carriageway being closed shortly after 10:00.
Liz Copper
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime, we'll have more on calls for care homes to do more so residents are "living and not just existing".
It's come from a Staffordshire health watchdog and they say they've found inconsistencies in a number of homes in the county.
I'll have more from 13:30 on BBC One.
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Burglars have swiped jewellery and watches after breaking a hole in the roof of a jewellers in Crewe., external
Image source, GoogleCheshire Police says it happened on Tuesday evening at the store at Crewe Indoor Market.
The force says it's checking through CCTV footage after the burglars fled the scene.
