Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Stafford Hospital deaths: Trust faces sentencing
290 more workers at Staffordshire based JCB set to lose jobs
Laser used in attempted bus robbery in Stoke
Updates on Wednesday 4 November 2015
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Watch: Thousands of knitted poppies go on display in Cheshirepublished at 17:58
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeThousands of poppies have been knitted to mark Remembrance Sunday in Crewe.
They've been put up in the town's Memorial Square - after four years of planning.
Football: 'Global' appeal of Stoke's game against Chelseapublished at 17:55
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio StokeFormer Stoke City winger Terry Conroy says the Potter's game against a stuttering Chelsea side will have "global appeal" this weekend.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's because the under-pressure Blues boss, Jose Mourinho, won't be at the Britannia Stadium as he serves a one match stadium ban.
Quote MessageThe focus of the world is going to be on the Britannia Stadium isn't it?
Terry Conroy, Former Stoke City winger
On Midlands Today this evening: Stafford hospital deaths and JCB job cutspublished at 17:50
BBC Midlands TodayTwo big Staffordshire stories are among our main headlines tonight on BBC Midlands Today.
You'll hear from families, speaking after the NHS trust that ran Stafford Hospital pleaded guilty today to criminal charges in relation to four deaths.
Image source, BBC/GettyWe'll also be at the headquarters of JCB in Staffordshire after the firm warned a further 290 jobs could be cut.
Tune into Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.
Stafford Hospital deaths: Relatives speak after court appearancepublished at 17:38
Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News OnlineSome of the relatives of four people who died at Stafford Hospital have been speaking after the NHS Trust that ran it today pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
One of the four, Patrick Daly, 89, was admitted to hospital with diabetes but he died on 13 May 2014 after falling in a shower and fracturing his skull.
His wife Catherine Daly said doctors told her he had walked behind a member of staff into the shower and there had been no risk assessment.
Quote MessageThe doctor told me he had three brain bleeds and he's got as fractured skull and there's not much we can do about it. But I was with him when he was dying.
Catherine Daly
BBC Weather Watchers: What's the weather like on your street?published at 17:27
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThe BBC Weather Watchers website has started, allowing you to share what’s it like where you are.
The project launched on the One Show last night.
Media caption, BBC Weather Watchers website to feature local reports
Create your own weather reports here http://www.bbc.co.uk/weatherwatchers.
Weather: Cloudy, showery night and tomorrowpublished at 17:08
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayIt'll be mild and mostly cloudy overnight with some showery rain at times, although many places could remain dry. Low 10C (50F).
Then tomorrow's forecast is for a cloudy day with a few showers through the morning - high 13C (55F).
Latest headlines: NHS Trust admits deaths charges, JCB plans more cuts and laser used in robbery attemptpublished at 17:00
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeStaffordshire and Cheshire's main headlines this evening include:
- A former NHS Trust which ran Stafford Hospital will be sentenced next year, after pleading guilty today to criminal charges
- JCB's chief executive says today's decision to cut up to 290 more jobs was prompted by "very tough trading conditions"
- Two men have tried to rob a bus in Stoke-on-Trent , externalby shining a laser at the driver, police say
Watch: War memorial turned red with knittingpublished at 16:48
David Lumb
BBC News OnlineVillagers in the Black County have come together to prepare for Remembrance Day in their own special way.
Pelsall's war memorial clock has been turned red, covered in more than 1,500 hand-knitted poppies.
JCB chief executive says outlook 'very challenging'published at 16:40
Caroline Gall
BBC News OnlineJCB's chief executive says today's decision to cut up to 290 more jobs was prompted by "very tough trading conditions"
Image source, JCBThese job losses are in addition to the 400 announced in September.
The firm said in the first six months of the year, the market in Russia dropped by 70%, in Brazil by 36% and by 47% in China and parts of Europe; the UK and North America have also been affected.
Quote MessageAs the global economy shows no sign of improving, the short-term outlook remains very challenging.
Graeme Macdonald, JCB chief executive
Family heartbroken after vandals attack Tamworth woman's gravepublished at 16:33
A Tamworth woman has been left devastated after her mother's grave was vandalised, external this week.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldJobs could be hit by plans to close part of Burton brewing operationpublished at 16:17
Brewing giant Molson Coors has outlined proposals that could see part of its operation in Burton close , external- in a move that could affect more than 60 employees.
Image source, Burton MailMen brandishing laser try to rob bus in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 15:55
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeTwo men have tried to rob a bus in Stoke-on-Trent , externalby shining a laser at the driver, police say.
Image source, GoogleIt was just after midnight on Parkhall Road, Weston Coyney say Staffordshire Police and the driver was forced to stop as he was "temporarily blinded".
The force says a man armed with a knife then opened the door and demanded cash'. The driver accelerated then braked sharply, causing him to fall off.
Your pictures: Sunlit pot bank in Stoke-on-Trentpublished at 15:39
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveThis picture of a pot bank - a remnant of Stoke-on-Trent's ceramics heritage - was taken by Leigh Blunt who tweeted it to me.
Image source, Leigh BluntLike Leigh, if you've got a photo of Staffordshire or Cheshire to share, you can tweet it to @BBCRadioStoke, external.
Or use email or Instagram (just add #bbcstoke if you agree to share), external.
Stafford Hospital deaths: NHS Trust admits 'very significant' health and safety breachespublished at 15:19
The NHS trust that ran Stafford Hospital has pleaded guilty, external to "very significant" health and safety breaches connected to the deaths of four elderly patients in its care.
Image source, Express and StarFootball: Crewe may hang on to former Leicester full-backpublished at 14:58
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio StokeCrewe Alexandra are considering whether to offer a deal to on-trial defender Zoumana Bakayogo after almost two injury-hit years out of the game.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 29-year-old ex-Tranmere Rovers and Leicester City left-back has not played since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament just 37 minutes into his debut on loan at Yeovil in January 2014.
Quote MessageWe're just providing him with the base to get himself going. We'll review it as we go along, at the moment I think he just needs more game time.
Steve Davis, Crewe Alexandra manager
Caffeine a factor in death of mum who drank eight litres of Pepsi Max a day, inquest hearspublished at 14:39
A mother-of-one's love of Pepsi Max contributed to her death, external, an inquest has heard.
Image source, The SentinelHS2: Stoke-on-Trent takes case for a station to governmentpublished at 14:20
BBC Midlands TodayStaffordshire business leaders have headed to Westminster today to lobby for HS2 to stop in Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, HS2 LtdThey say it will be cheaper and faster for the high speed rail line to come through the city, rather than neighbouring Cheshire.
The county's Chamber of Commerce has taken local companies to meet ministers to push for a high speed station for the Potteries.
Latest headlines: Hundreds of JCB jobs at risk and hospital trust admits deaths chargespublished at 13:58
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeThese are some of the main headlines this afternoon for Staffordshire and Cheshire:
- Staffordshire-based JCB says another 290 jobs are at risk of redundancy
- The NHS trust which used to run Stafford Hospital has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in relation to the deaths of four patients
- Thousands of poppies have been knitted, external to mark remembrance Sunday in Crewe
Westbridge Park M&S store to move a step closerpublished at 13:46
A planning application for a Marks & Spencer Simply Food store on Westbridge Park in Stone will be submitted by the end of the year, external.
Image source, A Little Bit of Stone
