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.

Ian Winter
BBC Midlands Today Sport

Seven years ago, they were playing non-league football. 

Now they're just three games away from playing in the Championship.

Burton Albion could be playing Aston Villa next season and we'll have more from 18:30 on BBC One in Midlands Today. 

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

The renovation of a historic Staffordshire pub has had to be put on hold because bats are thought to be living in its roof. 

The 17th Century Red Lion in Bradley, external was taken over by the Stafford-based Lewis Partnership in November. 

But refurbishment plans have been delayed as an environmental survey has discovered evidence of the protected species hibernating in the Grade II listed building.

Lichfield Mercury

Refugees from Za'atari Refugee Camp in Jordan are set to star in a play for the Lichfield Mysteries., external

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Kevin Peachey
Online personal finance reporter

A consumer group has revealed its latest list of shrinking supermarket items that still cost the same, or more.

Toilet roll, chocolate biscuits, orange juice and antibacterial wipes were all on the list of shrinking items reported by Which?. 

Image source, PA

The latest list includes:

- An Andrex pack of four toilet rolls has reduced from 240 to 221 sheets, yet the price has remained at about £2

- McVitie's Digestives dark chocolate biscuits went down in weight from 332g to 300g, yet were sold for 10p more than previously at Tesco

- A packet of Dettol Power and Pure Bathroom Wipes had 32 wipes rather than the previous 36, but remained at £2 in Tesco and increased to £2.03 at Ocado

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A Stoke-on-Trent man is planning to run the London Marathon this Sunday dressed as plant to raise money for charity. 

Lee Goodwin told BBC Radio Stoke he's doing it in aid of the Forget Me Not Rooms at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust's, external maternity unit. 

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

More great pictures come in to me every day, taken by you of Staffordshire and Cheshire.

This scenic one of the sun through grass has come from Vickie Whitaker in Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Image source, Vickie Whitaker

While this one of some pretty huge looking trees in Kinver, Staffordshire was taken by Shelley Nutting.

if you've got a great picture of the area and would like to see it featured, send it in on email, tweet it to @BBCRadioStoke, external or put it on Instagram, external

Image source, Shelley Nutting

Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

An advert painted on a truck is going to be used to promote Stoke-on-Trent, external across the UK.

The city council says haulier Danny Pool has painted up one of his trailers to encourage businesses to move to the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone.

He's told me it will travel the length and breadth of the country.

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

People living in parts of Stafford are being reassured by Severn Trent , externalthat a discoloured water supply is harmless and temporary. 

The company sent out a message to homes and businesses in ST16 and ST17 postcode areas this morning to say a cloudy effect is due to tiny air bubbles in the water. 

The firm says it's following engineering work to the distribution network and should return to normal within 24 hours. 

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

If you want a weather forecast at any other time for your part of Staffordshire or Cheshire, head to the BBC website.

Chris King
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

This evening's top stories include:

- The biggest number of child deaths occur in the West Midlands, new figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal

- A former leader of Stafford Borough Council, external won't be investigated over claims of misconduct

- Drivers and pedestrians are being warned that a large hole has opened up, external on a Stoke-on-Trent road

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You've been sending your reaction in on the BBC Radio Stoke Facebook page, external to the news that comedian Victoria Wood has died aged 62.

Kerry Fender summed it up, external for many people by saying: "How sad, such a funny, clever lady - and not at all old."

Sarah Jane Bailey Simpson added, external: "We will never see your like again such a talented lady."

And Anna Stanyer commented, external: "I have such fond memories of watching her as a family when I was young on a Saturday night."

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Drivers and pedestrians are being warned that a large hole has opened up, external on a Stoke-on-Trent road.

Staffordshire Police say it's on Keelings Road near Northwood Stadium.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A former leader of Stafford Borough Council, external won't be investigated over claims of misconduct. 

Image source, Stafford Borough Council

In 2014 Mike Heenan apologised after it was revealed he hadn't declared that he was the secretary of three private companies. 

Staffordshire Police has confirmed no crime was committed. Now the borough council's own standards committee say no rules were broken.

Tamworth Herald

Seven marathons in seven days in a morph suit, external is the challenge a Tamworth runner has set himself, as he looks to raise money for the Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Image source, Tamworth Herald

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

The sun's been out these past couple of days in Staffordshire and Cheshire and our BBC Weather Watchers have been capturing some great pictures.

This one from Burton was taken by Winshill boy.

Image source, Winshill boy

And this next one was taken by user Videoman in the Leek area.

Image source, Videoman

Judith Burns
Education reporter

Nearly 750 childcare providers say they fear being put out of business by government plans to double free hours, says the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

Image source, Thinkstock

In 2017, free care for three and four-year-olds will rise from 15 to 30 hours in each term-time week.

But childcare providers say the scheme is underfunded, and 49% of 1,500 who chose to respond to an online survey said they could be forced to close.

Ministers say many providers are keen to take part in the scheme.

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

We told you earlier that the Environment Agency is still cleaning-up after a major industrial fire in Stafford, weeks after the blaze. 

The fire itself at Global Hygiene in Astonfields Industrial Estate involved up to 40,000 litres of oil and took around 70 firefighters to battle it at its height - the Express and Star newspaper captured in this video of an explosion during the blaze. 

After the fire, several watercourses and the Rivers Sow and Trent became polluted with oil and since then the agency has been using booms and absorbents to try to contain that. 

They've also worked with contractors to remove the oil from local brooks and the RSPCA's been involved after some reports of wildlife seen in distress. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has said an official report on the fire and its cause is due soon.

BBC Entertainment and Arts

Comedian Victoria Wood has died aged 62 after a short battle with cancer, her publicist has said.

She found fame in the 1980s with her TV series Victoria Wood As Seen On TV.

The actress, singer and songwriter was awarded an CBE in 2008.

Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The owner of the 12th Century Combermere Abbey, external in Cheshire has reopened the house to the public.

Image source, Combermere Abbey

Sarah Callander Beckett has spent almost 25 years restoring the Grade I listed building which she inherited in the early 1990s. 

She says she's ensured the Abbey has a sustainable future and now employs 29 people.

Image source, Combermere Abbey