Fatal lorry crash shuts M6 for hourspublished at 20:09 British Summer Time 15 July 2018
The crash led to long delays with queues stretching back to junction 16.
Read MoreFatal lorry crash shuts M6 for hourspublished at 20:09 British Summer Time 15 July 2018
Minister resigns over sex texts to womenpublished at 08:25 British Summer Time 15 July 2018
Andrew Griffiths quits after sending messages of a sexual nature to two female constituents.
Read MoreStoke have £5m bid for Chester rejectedpublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 14 July 2018
Aston Villa have rejected a £5m bid for defender James Chester from Championship rivals Stoke City.
Read MoreIn the papers: Man hurt in paraglider crashpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
The Crewe Chronicle has these headlines today:
'Too tall' house 'could be altered'published at 18:53 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Herbert SodenA family told to tear down its new home or spend £200,000 on a new roof found to be 30 inches too tall is in talks about alterations.
Asif Naseem moved into the property in Lightwood, Staffordshire, earlier this year with his wife and five children.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council turned down two retrospective planning applications for the £500,000 house following complaints over the height and dormer windows.
In May, the family said it had nowhere else to go, and no funds for a new roof.
It has been given three months for talks and, with the plans up for debate next Wednesday, the council's planners are recommending another deferral as Mr Naseem's talking with an architect about roof alterations.
Rain today but here's how the weekend's lookingpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands TodayThe rain's finally arrived today for parts of the West Midlands after the long heatwave - here's how your weekend is looking:
Media caption, Rebecca Wood
If you want to get a latest forecast for your area at any other time, head to the BBC Weather website.
Your say: Fabricant tweet - 'No wonder we're in a mess'published at 18:18 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
FacebookYou've been having your say after Tory MP Michael Fabricant has been accused of Islamophobia over a now-deleted tweet he posted about Sadiq Khan.
The MP for Lichfield has apologised after he posted a cartoon showing the Mayor of London's head on an inflatable balloon, engaged in a sex act with a pig.
Image source, Getty ImagesOn the BBC Midlands Facebook page, Sue Fletcher posted, external: "To think these idiots are running our country, no wonder we're in a mess. A group of school children would do a better job."
But Diane Sharrard retorted, external: "The mayor doesn't like retaliation - bit of hard luck isn't it."
Andrew Yates wrote:, external "If he would never do it, why even think about it then? The thought would never cross most peoples minds."
While Steve Slater typed, external: "I live in Lichfield and I’m ashamed this idiot is supposed to represent us."
North West weather: Showers will ease for dry and clear nightpublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
A risk of showers continues into this evening, but in general they will tend to die away leaving mainly dry and clear periods tonight.
There could be some areas of mist and fog forming.
Saturday will be mainly dry and fine with any early areas of mist and fog lifting to leave long spells of sunshine.
Delays ease after car destroyed in M6 blazepublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
Image source, North West Motorway PoliceDelays have eased on the M6 northbound in Cheshire this afternoon, external following this morning's car fire.
Police say the driver managed to escape unhurt as his vehicle was completely destroyed by the blaze between J17 and J18.
It took the fire service around an hour to put it out., external
Image source, North West Motorway PoliceNorth West weather: Brightening up and staying warmpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Sunny spells this afternoon but also the risk of some showers breaking out.
The showers could be locally heavy and potentially thundery, although not everywhere will catch a shower.
Tractors used to rescue stuck cow from riverpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeA cow's been rescued after getting stuck in a river.
Fire crews were called at around 08:00 to the land off Oakwood Road near Rudyard, Staffordshire.
Tractors were used to hoist the animal out.
Wild plants 'boosted by grazing cows'published at 14:46 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Plants and local wildlife are benefiting from two years of cows grazing on a local nature reserve, a council's claimed.
Image source, Tamworth Borough CouncilCattle are about to move on to the Broad Meadow in Tamworth for a third summer, external.
The cows are allowed to graze until winter when they return to their farm before the ground turns too wet.
The borough council says, after two years, there are more snake’s head fritillaries (pictured) in the area than any time this century.
'Wholehearted' apology from suspended police chiefpublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC NewsA chief constable of Cheshire Police says he “wholeheartedly” apologises to people who were “affected” by their time working with him.
Simon Byrne, who was suspended from Cheshire Constabulary last year, is accused of bullying and humiliating staff between May 2014 and March 2017.
He denies the allegations and an accusation of gross misconduct.
He accepted yesterday that some people who worked with him had been upset and worried by his actions, but he said that was never his intention.
This morning he gave an apology, but said other events may have contributed to the feelings of those who’ve complained about his conduct.
He also denied knowing that senior officers at his former force were in “morbid terror” of him and he defended having high standards, and occasionally being abrupt, brusque and blunt.
The hearing is due to end today.
More Poundworld stores to closepublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Breaking
BBC Business NewsSix Poundworld stores in the West Midlands are among another 80 branches which will be closed, the company's administrators have said.
The latest announcement means that 105 of the company's 335 stores are now earmarked for closure, including the one in Crewe, Cheshire.
Image source, PAThe closures in this region include two in both Coventry and Shrewsbury and one in Burton upon Trent and Bloxwich, resulting in 85 job losses.
They're set to shut by 22 July.
Poundworld went into administration last month after failing to cope with rising costs, fewer shoppers and greater competition.
Disputed bridge tolls 'will not be repaid'published at 14:05 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Drivers have paid millions in £2 tolls on the Mersey Gateway Bridge, but a tribunal questioned the fees.
Read MoreDriver 'safe and sound' after M6 car firepublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Police have shared dramatic pictures of the car fire that shut lanes on the M6 in Cheshire earlier this morning.
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End of twitter postDRAFT North West weather:published at 13:15 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Sunny spells this afternoon but also the risk of some showers breaking out.
The showers could be locally heavy and potentially thundery, although not everywhere will catch a shower.
MP accused of Islamophobia over Khan tweetpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
Michael Fabricant says he "stupidly" tweeted the image of Sadiq Khan "without checking it properly".
Read MoreYour photos: Rain arrives after long dry spellpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
The forecast rain's arrived in parts of Staffordshire and Cheshire already this morning.
These photos are from BBC Weather Watchers Videoman in Leek and Dawn Treader in Congleton:
Image source, Videoman
Image source, Dawn TreaderYellow weather warning for risk of floods across parts of North Westpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 13 July 2018
There is the potential for heavy showers and thunderstorms today, following the dry spell.
Isolated intense storms come with a flooding risk, the Met Office advises, as it issues a yellow "be aware" warning across Greater Manchester and Cheshire up to 20:00 tonight.
Image source, Met Office
