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. 

Sarah Robertson
Producer, BBC Radio Stoke

A 90-year-old woman was a victim of an alleged distraction theft involving four men, external who took her bank card at a cashpoint in Cannock.

The victim entered the Natwest Bank, at Market Place, last Friday at 10:15 and was followed by four men (pictured), Staffordshire Police said.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Officers said two men acted as lookouts, while another of the men tapped the female on the arm to distract her, while a fourth man, having seen the woman enter her PIN, swapped her card for a second card.

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

Tonight we'll feature a Staffordshire boy whose operation was cancelled because of government funding cuts who has today delivered a letter to Downing Street. 

Ben Baddeley, who has cerebral palsy, had been due to have surgery through the NHS but ended up having it done privately after funding was pulled. 

The 11-year-old is hoping the letter will help his family get more financial support and we'll be featuring his journey to London, this evening on Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One.

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

The geography of Cheshire might make it seem like a hard place to win an election.

Those trying to become the next police and crime commissioner (PCC) must discuss badger baiting and speeding on country lanes alongside drugs and anti-social behaviour.

The county is large physically and socially diverse.

It means votes are needed from corners of the county that might not appear to have much in common with each other.

I've been looking on the BBC website at the challenges facing all the candidates battling to be Cheshire's next PCC after this week's election.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

A teenager has been airlifted to hospital after suffering serious leg injuries , externalafter a coach ran over his leg outside Kingsbury School in Tamworth Road, in Kingsbury, the ambulance service say.

Image source, Google

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the boy had just arrived at school by coach before he "suffered serious traumatic injuries to his right foot and leg".

The driver was "very shaken but uninjured", said a spokesman.

Crewe Chronicle

A nine-year-old Haslington boy has drawn up a bucket list of things to do whilst waiting , externalfor a life-saving heart transplant.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

An "invisible fencing system" has been installed across common land in Staffordshire, external to help contain cattle and keep footpaths clear. 

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council says cattle have been re-introduced onto Wetley Moor to help graze the land. 

They say the fencing system, which has been funded by Natural England, involves buried antenna wires and the cattle have been trained to recognise "cues" from it.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A 12-year-old boy has been charged with threatening someone with a knife in Newcastle-under-Lyme, police say. 

Staffordshire Police , externalsay it relates to an incident on Ironmarket last month. The boy has been bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Staffordshire digger maker JCB, external says it has had an order worth £16.5m from a UK plant hire company. 

Image source, JCB

The company says the order is for 300 telescopic handlers which will be made in Rocester, as well as dumper trucks.

Last year JCB announced several hundred job cuts due to a "dramatic" slowdown in world markets.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

These are among this evening's top stories:

- Two Cheshire women have denied the murder of a businesswoman who was found stabbed at her Lancashire home

- A man has been racially abused and slashed across the face , externalwhile his children played in a Stoke-on-Trent park, police say

- Staffordshire digger maker JCB, external says it has had an order worth £16.5m from a UK plant hire company

Burton Mail

The parents of a baby who died from a rare disease have paid tribute, external to their "perfect" daughter.

Image source, Burton Mail

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra's manager, Steve Davis, says pulling off the signing of Ryan Lowe would add valuable experience to his squad.

Image source, Empics

The 37-year-old could leave Bury in the summer, although he has been offered a one-year deal by the Shakers. 

Davis says players like Lowe can influence others around him.

Emma Stanley
Reporter, BBC News Online

Two Cheshire women have denied the murder of a businesswoman who was found fatally stabbed at her Lancashire home.

Sadie Hartley, who was 60, was discovered with multiple stab wounds at her house on Sunny Bank Road in Helmshore, Rossendale, on 14 January.

Image source, Lancashire Police

She was the director of her own medical communications business Hartley Taylor, based in Knutsford.

The two women, both from Chester, were remanded ahead of the next court hearing on 10 June. A trial date of 4 July was set by Judge Mark Brown.

BBC Travel

A lane is blocked on the A5 westbound in Wall, Lichfield, because of a lorry fire.

It's on the roundabout and congestion is back to the Weeford Island.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

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

Emma Thomas
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A Staffordshire woman is training to compete in the British Transplant Games, external, less than a year after a life-saving operation.

Sue Bennett, who's 42 and from Ranton, had only weeks to live when she had a transplant operation, after a liver was donated from a young woman who'd died suddenly. 

The mother-of-three now hopes to win a medal in the 3km (1.86 mile) run to give to her donor's family in tribute.

Uttoxeter Advertiser

A charity supporting women and their children who have suffered at the hands of an abusive partner has received help in the form of a £45,000 grant., external

Image source, Uttoxeter Advertiser

Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Legal action is going to be taken against groups who run three allotment sites in Crewe, the council says. 

Crewe Town Council wanted to have 11 allotments in the area run by one federation, but three have refused to sign the lease which was offered by the authority, saying they wanted to manage things their own way. 

After a meeting held by the authority last night, external, the council is taking legal action to take control of the sites.

James Cunningham, who's chairman of the group running two of the allotments refusing to sign, says they'll continue their fight to get a "fair lease" and told me they want the town's MP, Edward Timpson, to investigate the behaviour of the council.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

BBC Weather Watchers are volunteers who've signed up on our website to send updates from where they live about the weather in that area.

They also upload photos like these taken in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Image source, Cokey

Image source, Philip

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main stories this afternoon include

- A man has been racially abused and slashed across the face , externalwhile his children played in a Stoke-on-Trent park, police say

- A judge has told a man accused of manslaughter after a death in Stafford that he will face trial

- A Tamworth woman has been arrested after a man suffered a serious head injury in an assault, police say, external