BBC Midlands Today

Conservative councillors who won seats and control of councils in Staffordshire in this month's elections need to deliver on their promises, the leader of county council said.

The Tories took control of Cannock Chase District Council for the first time and increased their majorities on Tamworth Borough Council and the county council.

Alan White, leader of the county council, said the results had taken them by surprise but they now had to work on their pledges.

"The state of the roads is something we need to be addressing, we need to be making sure our social services are being run efficiently, our children's services are being run efficiently," he said.

Alan Pearson, a former Labour councillor, was one of those swept away by the Tory success, losing his Hednesford North seat.

He said his party had to be clearer on their policies: "If you put 'vote Tory' and a blue badge on anybody who walks by, they would have got in."

BBC Weather

After a largely dry start showers will develop for many areas, with some potentially thundery at times.

The showers will eventually die away leaving a dry evening with highs of 15°C (59°F).

The victim is in a serious condition in hospital, Staffordshire Police says.

A gang who stole from Beeston Castle and Roche Abbey are ordered to give up their metal detectors.

Lucy Letby is accused of killing eight infants while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

A rare woodpecker has been spotted in woodland on the Staffordshire/Worcestershire border.

Image source, Mathew Lissimore

Image source, Matthew Lissimore

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the least common of the species in Britain, was captured by photographer Matthew Lissimore at the Kinver Edge woodland, cared for by the National Trust.

Ewan Chapman, National Trust lead ranger at the site said: "This species of Woodpecker has been in decline in Britain since the 1970s.

"The loss of ancient woodland habitat, removal of deadwood and competition from other species have all contributed.

"The way we’re managing the woodland at Kinver Edge is helping to support these rare birds," he added.

A third protest is being held outside the site of a landfill in Staffordshire, as it begins taking waste again.

Walleys Quarry in Silverdale, which has been the focus of community anger over many years, put some of its work on hold voluntarily because of the thousands of complaints about the smell.

It says the capping, gas management and engineering works will carry on to try and reduce the odour.

The site's owner, Red Industries, says the waste part of its work has been planned in full consultation with the Environment Agency and the volumes it will take are within the permit conditions.

Read more on the story here:

• The landfill smell uniting a community in anger

BBC Weather

Widespread showers will develop throughout the day with highs of 8°C (46°F).

The results of the two remaining police and crime commissioner elections for the West Midlands are due today.

Votes in the contest for the posts in West Mercia and Warwickshire will be counted this morning.

It comes after Labour's Simon Foster won the vote for the West Midlands force and Conservative Ben Adams was elected in Staffordshire.

The Conservatives also regained the Cheshire PCC role.

The latest news and updates from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Services were halted for part of the day when the track was blocked between Duddeston and Aston.

Conservative John Dwyer returns as the police and crime commissioner five years after being ousted.

Olivia Lyons hails win as Conservatives take 12 of the 13 wards up for contention.

Labour's Steve Rotheram, who was elected as the area's first metro mayor in 2017, retains his post.

Mr Adams takes over from fellow Conservative Matthew Ellis, who had held the role since 2012.

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Conservative Ben Adams has been elected Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) in Staffordshire.

He gained 56% of the vote as the party retained the post.

PFCCs are elected representatives who work to ensure police forces and fire services are running effectively.

Initially established as Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), they replaced police authorities in 2012 and were intended to bring a public voice to policing.

The government said they were not there to run local police forces but to hold them to account and respond to the needs of the public.

In Staffordshire, the PCC also took over responsibility for the fire service in 2018.

Matthew Ellis, elected last time around, announced he would step down and fellow Tory Ben Adams takes over.

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

We’re waiting for the full results for the first round of voting for Staffordshire's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner

But if the East Staffordshire results are anything to go by, we might not have to go to the second round.

The Conservative candidate Ben Adams has 14,480 votes in East Staffordshire.

His next nearest challenger, Labour’s Tony Kearon, has 7,886.

There were also 3,012 votes cast there for Independent Deneice Florence-Jukes and 1,188 for Lib Dem Richard Whelan.

The Reform UK candidate Michael Riley got 607.

But these are just the votes for East Staffordshire, not the whole county, so that picture could still change.

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Away from the council elections, counting is now starting in the race for Staffordshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Burton Town Hall is the venue for the declaration which will be this afternoon.

Matthew Ellis, Conservative, has held the role since its creation in 2012 - but he is stepping down.

PFCC turnout for this election across the county is 29%.

Results of and reaction to council, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections.

A probation officer says he did not know about an MI5 probe into Usman Khan, who killed two people.