A pub linked to an outbreak of coronavirus is going to have its licence reviewed.

Staffordshire Police visited the Crown and Anchor in Stone, Staffordshire, on 18 and 19 July following social distancing concerns.

Twenty-two people linked to the pub tested positive for Covid-19 out of about 1,000 people who were tested.

Stafford Borough Council says the venue was ordered to carry out a "stringent" risk assessment and a deep clean before reopening.

The pub's licence will be reviewed in November and the authority says revoking it is an option., external

BBC Radio Stoke

Closing JCB factories down as part of another national lockdown in England would be a blow to hundreds of supply firms, according to the company's chairman.

Image source, JCB

Lord Bamford said he was against the idea of a "short, sharp" lockdown such as Wales has announced as "all that does is it pushes it on to another day".

The firm has 10 plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham in north Wales and announced 950 job cuts in May as a result of falling demand caused by the pandemic.

JCB is recruiting again, but Lord Bamford said the idea of another lockdown would be a blow beyond just the digger maker.

"I just don't want to close our business down. It's not just our business, it is 350 other suppliers in Britain, it affects them," he said.

Residents argue Halton and the wider Runcorn area should not be subjected to the toughest rules.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

From the Stoke-on-Trent Live page today:

• Entire year group sent home from Staffordshire high school due to coronavirus, external
• Man taken to hospital after medical incident on building site scaffolding, external
• Police find 22 crack cocaine wraps after raiding Stoke-on-Trent hotel room, external

Shropshire patients who have had suspected strokes are being taken to Wolverhampton or Stoke.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Hospitals in some parts of the East Midlands are reporting a sharp rise in Covid-19 patients.

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS trust said, external it has seen a "significant" increase in admissions and in response is asking visitors not to attend except in specific circumstances.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS trust said, external it has seen "one of" its highest rises in the past 24 hours.

The trust, which is caring for 131 people including nine at Bassetlaw Hospital, warned patients this "means everything takes a little longer and makes everything just that bit harder" and urged them to follow guidance.

Image source, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Meanwhile, the medical director of Nottingham's two main hospitals said the number of inpatients is increasing, although demand on critical care is less than in April this year.

BBC Weather

Showers this morning before it turns mainly dry with sunny spells but still with the odd chance of a shower. High: 17C/63F.

Clear spells this evening before turning cloudy with rain moving in from the south. Low: 12C/54F.

You can keep up-to-date on your local forecast by going to the BBC Weather website.

Eight people who claimed to be urban explorers in an old pub have been fined by police for breaking Covid-19 restrictions.

Image source, Google

The group were found on Sunday night after reports of suspicious activity at the Travellers Rest site in Leekbrook, near Leek, Staffordshire Police said., external

The Staffordshire Moorlands is currently in tier one – medium alert and the force said they had come from Macclesfield, Cheshire, which is currently in tier two – high alert.

They were given penalty notices for breaking the "rule of six" restriction.

A dog owner says he's lucky his pet is still alive after a fire caused by his dishwasher.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Graham Cooper had put the machine on at his home in Congleton before leaving for work on 24 September.

However, 30 minutes later his neighbour called to say smoke was coming from a bedroom window.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said , externala fault in the dishwasher had started the blaze which damaged much of the kitchen.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

The 34-year-old's Pomeranian, Teddy, was fine after being rescued and Graham said he had had a lucky escape.

“It never occurred to me that such a thing could result in a fire and my dog’s life and my home being put at risk," he said.

“I’ll never leave a domestic appliance, or any other type of electrical device, on when I go out again."

Pies, sausage rolls and electronic items have been stolen from a volunteer-run cafe.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Two masked men broke into the Hilltop Community Cafe in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, on Thursday, Staffordshire Police said., external

Most the stolen items, including computer games and DVDs, had been donated to the cafe.

Officers have released CCTV images of two men they want to speak to in connection with the break-in.

Warrington prop Sitaleki Akauola is banned for three games for a dangerous throw on Leeds back-rower James Harrison.

Gemma Greensmith gave birth to daughter Raelyn in a lorry cab outside her Staffordshire home.

BBC Radio Stoke

Calls for a short lockdown or "circuit-breaker" in England to curb the rising rate of coronavirus have left one council leader "very nervous" at the idea.

Image source, Reuters

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wants one for two to three weeks and documents have revealed government scientific advisers called for such action last month.

But Abi Brown, Conservative leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the city had managed to avoid a national lockdown in September and local firms were starting to show signs of recovery

"Stoke-on-Trent is recovering remarkably well and therefore to go to a circuit breaker would cause potentially irreparable damage to our local economy," she said.

BBC Radio Stoke

A pottery firm said getting £246,000 from the government arts funding comes at a "vital time" as it copes with the impact of Covid-19.

Image source, Google

Moorcroft, which began as a studio in 1897 in Stoke-on-Trent, has its visitor centre and museum open to the public, but suspended factory tours due to pandemic restrictions.

Managing director Elise Adams said the money from the Cultural Recovery Fund was a welcome boost for the next few months.

"It comes at a vital time for us as historically our boost in tourism and our busiest period of the year usually commences in spring time every year so this helps support us during the winter months."

Stoke-on-Trent Live

A few of the stories making the headlines on Stoke-on-Trent Live:

• Three miles of delays on M6 after vehicle fire, external
• Closure-threatened Stoke-on-Trent barbers says sorry after staff caught without masks, external
• MPs respond to controversial proposal to close roads to rush hour traffic to cut air pollution, external

BBC Radio Stoke

Parts of Staffordshire have been warned they could face tougher Covid-19 restrictions as cases rise sharply.

Image source, PA Media

Every borough in the county has seen an increase in cases, with East Staffordshire in particular seeing the infection rate nearly double in a week from 64.3 per 100,000 to 116.9.

The whole county is currently in Tier 1, but the county council said , externalit expected the government to bring in tougher measures unless the rate slows or reduces.

The local authority's director of health, Dr Richard Harling, said it expected some areas of Staffordshire to be moved to tier two this week.

"We were considered by the government for escalation to higher alert this week gone and I expect we will be considered again this week coming," he said.

David Simm's "disgusting remarks" were caught on camera during a Zoom meeting last week.

BBC Weather

Mainly dry with lots of hazy sunny spells for the first half of the day before turning cloudier. Breezy with a high of 14C/57F

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher Carol

The cloud will quickly thicken tonight with a band of showers expected to move over the area in the first part of the night before becoming drier later. Low: 10C/50F.

You can get a latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.

The latest news, sport, travel and weather across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Stoke keep a seventh successive away clean sheet as two second-half goals bring victory away at Luton.