A large wildfire in the Staffordshire Moorlands has now engulfed more than 200 acres.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Crews were first called to the blaze at the Roaches, in Upper Hulme, Staffordshire, on Thursday afternoon, and they remain at the scene.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

It was intensified by high winds which spread the flames across the north of the moor.

Smoke from the fire was reported as far away as South Yorkshire.

Staffordshire Fire Service said Roach Road and the surrounding lanes are likely to remain closed for the next few days.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

It will be a mixed day with sunny spells and scattered showers, some of which could be heavy, and top temperatures of 22C (72F).

The moorland fire has almost tripled in size since it began on Thursday.

Evha Jannath, 11, died when she fell from the splash canyon ride at Drayton Manor in May last year.

Courtney Senior and Ryan Jackson score as Colchester United beat Port Vale.

Stoke City fans clapped during their home game in tribute to Samantha Eastwood, who was found dead.

Substitute Tom Eaves scores a brace to continue Gillingham's perfect start to the season with victory over Burton.

More than 100 people gathered in Andrew Griffiths' constituency demanding he steps down as an MP.

Stoke remain without a win on their Championship return as Brentford make them sweat for a point at home.

Padraig Amond's goal and Joe Day's penalty save earn Newport County their first win of the campaign at home to Crewe Alexandra.

Allen Cook
BBC News

"Major disruption" is being forecast by NHS bosses as a main entrance to a hospital's going to be closed off from Monday., external

Image source, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) says works will take place on the road directly off the A34 at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, next to the Cancer Centre.

Bus stops will be relocated, some routes will have their access reduced and some parking will be temporarily suspended during the work, which could last up to five weeks.

The UHNM says it's carrying the work out during the school holidays as that's when the hospital is usually quieter but admits "we still anticipate major disruption and congestion".

Staffordshire Police has dealt with 950 calls related to the drug in the last three months.

John Hammond
Weather forecaster

Any remaining showers should clear to leave some late evening sunshine, before a clear and cool night with lows of 6C (43F).

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Work is set to begin this month on 140 homes on the site of the former Staffordshire Police headquarters, eight years after it shut.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The 15 acres of land on Cannock Road in Stafford was officially sold this week.

Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis says it's raised £15m, external although a third of that is associated costs, so £10m will go to the police force.

Developers Bellway says it'll start work in the next couple of weeks and will also make contributions to affordable housing and community infrastructure for the site.

Sophie Madden
BBC News

Stoke-on-Trent resembled a scene from a zombie film this week thanks to the drug Monkey Dust, a paramedic's told the BBC.

It comes as emergency workers are warning use of the drug in the city is at epidemic levels.

The "highly unpredictable" substance has caused people to jump off buildings and run into traffic, police said.

Staffordshire Police said it was working on ways to tackle supply.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Several graves have been vandalised and tributes stolen from a cemetery,, external police say.

Image source, Google

Three cases at Meadowbrook Cemetery on Minshull New Road, Crewe, are being investigated.

Officers say they happened between Sunday and Wednesday and saw graves damaged and items, including flowers and dolls, stolen.

The force has labelled the actions "despicable", adding that "you cannot stoop much lower than that" and families are "extremely upset".

BBC News Travel

Trains are being delayed through Lichfield this afternoon after a vehicle hit a bridge.

West Midlands Railway says trains are having to run at reduced speed on all lines., external

Allen Cook
BBC News

Thieves have forced their way into a leisure centre and stolen thousands of pounds in cash and goods.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Police say they got into Wombourne Leisure Centre early on Thursday morning and then smashed their way through internal doors and into vending machines.

The force says the damage to windows and doors is estimated to be more than £2,000.

They then made off with a large safe, containing over £2,000 in cash, a stereo worth about £1,000 and assorted swimming goggles.

Stuart Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

The number of cases of people needing medical treatment after taking the drug known as Monkey Dust, or MDPHP, have almost doubled in the last seven months in the West Midlands.

The ambulance service says, across the region, it was called to 22 cases related to the drug in December and that figure was up to 42 in July.

However, it's admitted the numbers could be even higher as some emergencies might not be recorded as being due to Monkey Dust.

As Staffordshire Police are today warning of a potential public health crisis due to the drug, external, the ambulance service says it can leave users with long-term illnesses.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A man's been arrested after a fight in which a woman reported she'd been hit in the face and a car vandalised.

Image source, Google

Police were called to reports last night of men fighting at the Clayhanger pub in Market Place, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

They arrested the 41-year-old, after a short chase, on suspicion of common assault, causing criminal damage, being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest.