People are ignoring warnings not to swim in the pool at Silverdale Country Park in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The ranger at Silverdale, Andrew Hunt, says he's had to ask visitors to get out of the water four times.

Image source, Getty Images

He says there are sharp pieces of metal in the former coal mine, along with fishing line and weeds.

Efforts have been made to warn of the dangers of open water swimming after the death of 13-year-old Ryan Evans in Westport Lake.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

A mainly dry day with sunny periods but feeling cooler with highs of 24C (75F).

Warrington Wolves sign stand-off Blake Austin from NRL side Canberra Raiders on a three-year deal from 2019.

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Alton Towers has been given approval for more hotel facilities on its site.

Image source, Getty Images

The theme park will be putting up 102 wooden camping style "pods" which would each sleep up to four adults.

The plans had previously been deferred by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council over concerns that the pods were too close together., external

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Two men have been arrested after armed police were sent to reports of a man with a gun.

Staffordshire Police says they were called to Wellington Street, Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent at 14:15 after reports of someone "causing a disturbance".

Image source, Google

They searched the area and found the man but didn't discover any weapons.

A 24-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of affray and a 23-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A fire at a country park in Staffordshire is under control, external but it'll take several hours to put it out fully, the fire service says.

Crews were called on Monday evening to Parkhall Country Park, Stoke-on-Trent,, external and found the blaze covered 1,600 sq m (1,914 sq yds).

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Burton Mail

The Burton Mail's covering these stories:

• Up to 3,000 jobs could be created at massive distribution hub, external
• Teen rider hurt by horse which was spooked by a speeding car, external
• MP joins in the fight to keep 98-year-old dementia sufferer in Burton care home, external

England fans sing Fat Les' 1998 World Cup song Vindaloo on the streets of Leek, Staffordshire.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Tonight will be dry with clear spells and patchy cloud with lows of 12C (54F).

Four pumpkins, a 2Ib (900g) box of dates and three free range eggs are among the odder gifts that members of the public have given to Cheshire Police officers over the past year.

Image source, PA

A register of gifts revealed police received a myriad of items between August 2017 and May 2018, with confectionery being the most common, along with flowers and scented candles.

More unusual gifts listed included two baby feeding bowls worth £4, a selection of hats worth £10, a set of ladders, takeaway food and a painting, while one of the most expensive offerings was a guest package worth £320 for the chief constable to attend the Police Strategy Forum Conference as a guest speaker and chair sessions.

Cheshire Police’s rules mean all gifts must be declared and staff “must not compromise or abuse their position by soliciting the offer of gifts, gratuities, favours or hospitality".

The rules also state officers should not accept "any such offer outside of the ethical framework for determining acceptable boundaries in relation to gifts, gratuities and hospitality”.

BBC Sport

Olympic trampoline silver medallist Bryony Page won World Cup bronze for Britain on her return from long-term injury.

Image source, Getty Images

The Crewe-born 27-year-old was competing in her first international competition since winning silver at Rio 2016.

"My rehab from ankle surgeries has been a long and challenging process," Page said.

"I have been looking forward to this moment for a long time. I am just so happy it has gone well."

Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A giant metal sculpture of a hare has been installed on a roundabout as part of a town's Britain in Bloom campaign.

The 9ft (3m) high statue is made out of recycled steel and has been placed in Newcastle-under-Lyme on the Friars Street junction., external

The borough council says they'll now spend the rest of the month landscaping around the sculpture with permanent, bee-friendly plants.

BBC Weather

A generally dry afternoon with sunny spells. Some cloud and the small chance of a light shower. Not as warm as yesterday, with a light to moderate breeze. Highs of 23C.

More from BBC Weather

Allen Cook
BBC News

The hot weather's forced a factory to change its operating hours.

World of Wedgwood in Barlaston, Staffordshire, says it's made the temporary move to make sure working conditions are safe for employees., external

Because of that, it says last entry for tours of the factory will be 13:00 instead of 15:00 , externaluntil Friday.

The attraction says all other parts of World of Wedgwood are open as normal.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Three sheds and several fence panels have been destroyed in a fire this morning.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

It happened on Bank Walk, Burton upon Trent and the fire service says they were called just after 09:40.

They say the fire also spread to gas canisters and a motorbike and it took them until just after 11:10 to put it out, external.

A man and a woman had to be given oxygen after breathing in smoke from the accidentally started fire.

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Thousands of people have backed a petition calling for somewhere safe for children to cool off in hot weather.

Gill Potts says she started the petiton after the death of Ryan Evans, 13, at Westport Lake, Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

His body was found last month, two days after he was seen "in distress" while swimming.

The petition, which has been signed by more than 3,000 people, calls for a splash pad or paddling pool in the city, similar to ones in Stafford, external and Congleton, external.

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A park bench has been torched in an arson attack,, external the fire service says.

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

They say they were called to Milton Park, Alsager, Cheshire, early on Saturday morning.

The fire service says it's the second deliberate blaze at the site in the last week.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live page has these headlines:

• Bet365 bosses: 'Let us keep landing our helicopter at Stoke-on-Trent factory', external
• Police officers covering Hanley will treble as force launches fresh crackdown, external
• We must embrace expectation says Stoke City's new coach, external

Have you been blown over by the World Cup? Fancy yourself as the next Harry Kane?

Enjoy some of the best moments from the 2018 FA People's Cup and register to play in the 2019 FA People's Cup, external, the biggest five-a-side tournament in the country...

A union representing lorry drivers says some truckers have little choice other than to use roadsides as a toilet.

People living near the A34 in the Trentham area of Stoke-on-Trent have complained about human waste and rubbish being left outside their homes.

The city council has agreed to stop vehicles over seven-and-a-half tonnes from pulling up there overnight.

Image source, Getty Images

But Alexander Harris, from the United Road Transport Union, said there was a general lack of facilities for drivers to use.

"If you leave somebody without access to a toilet there's only there's one thing they're going to do," he said.

He also blamed employers for not paying for drivers to stop at official truck stops.