Pupils excluded from school after 'refusing to listen to staff'
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
A Stoke-on-Trent school says it's excluded 12 pupils after they refused to do as they were told by staff, following an argument between two pupils.
In a statement, Birches Head Academy says it happened on Thursday after they'd decided to cut lunch short after the "altercation".
GoogleCopyright: Google
The school says that, while staff had dealt with that incident, it started to "create sides" between a few students who then refused to listen to staff when the end of lunch bell was rung 20 minutes early.
Head teacher Kerry Dixon says one teacher was taken to hospital after slipping and suffering a shoulder injury while opening the school doors.
The 12 students have been excluded from the academy "for varying lengths of time".
Hundreds of tonnes of fly-tipped waste set to be cleared
BBC Midlands Today
Over 300 tonnes of commercial waste, illegally dumped in Staffordshire countryside,
is set to be cleared.
Staffordshire County CouncilCopyright: Staffordshire County Council
The county council says the waste was dumped in Gladings Wood, Madeley Heath in January, blocking a car park and a right of way.
Staffordshire Police are investigating, while the authority says it will be co-ordinating the clear-up.
Football: Goalkeeper's Leicester warning for Stoke City players
Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesCopyright: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
The Potters are back in action on Saturday after the international break and Grant told BBC Radio Stoke that the players will need to be on top form.
Quote Message:
They were the champions of this country just short of 12 months ago so it will be a tough ask, going away from home in the Premier League is never easy in any circumstances, so we know we'll have to be right on our mettle."
from Lee Grant Stoke City goalkeeper
They were the champions of this country just short of 12 months ago so it will be a tough ask, going away from home in the Premier League is never easy in any circumstances, so we know we'll have to be right on our mettle."
Council Tax freeze for North Warwickshire residents
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
North Warwickshire District Council is one of just 22 local authorities in England to freeze their council tax.
PACopyright: PA
Only one of the 353, East Hampshire, is reducing the charge from next month, saying it has taken "balanced risks" with its finances to buck the national trend.
In Coventry, council tax bills will rise by 4.9% and around 4% across the rest of Warwickshire.
Derelict piece of land in Hanley up for sale for £100,000
Veterans take over historic pub with £65k raised in fortnight
Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist
Army veterans, who have taken over the pub their regiment was formed in, say it took just two weeks to raise £65,000 to buy the lease on it.
BBCCopyright: BBC
It was in 1705 that the Staffordshire Regiment was formed in the King's Head in Lichfield.
But, when veterans heard the outgoing landlord was retiring and that there were rumours it was going to be turned into a bed and breakfast, they sprang into action.
Quote Message:
It took two weeks for over 350 of the ex-members and the families to pledge £65,000. That's how much it meant to the veterans and the residents."
from Geoff Pearce Army veteran
It took two weeks for over 350 of the ex-members and the families to pledge £65,000. That's how much it meant to the veterans and the residents."
Video: Are the blue skies going to continue?
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
A lovely day in store, with plenty of blue sky and sunshine around with highs of 14C (57F).
Live Reporting
Allen Cook
All times stated are UK
Get involved
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Latest PostMajority of Staffordshire set for council tax rises, investigation finds
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
East Staffordshire District Council is one of just 22 local authorities in England to freeze council tax.
The Press Association's analysed all 353 local authorities in England and found nine out of 10 local authorities are raising their tax from April.
East Staffordshire is among 22 that are freezing tax in 2017-18, with just one authority, East Hampshire, planning to cut the amount.
The Local Government Association said the increases nationally didn't mean they'd prevent further cutbacks.
The Department for Communities and Local Government said councils had had almost £200bn over four years and should be keeping bills down.
Football: Avoiding relegation would be 'massive achievement' - Port Vale boss
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
The Port Vale manager Michael Brown says he thinks it would be an unbelievable achievement by his players if they stay in League One.
The Vale are one point from safety with eight games to play after Saturday's 0-0 draw with MK Dons.
Books of condolence open in Cheshire after London attack
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Books of condolence have been opened in three places in Cheshire for the people who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Westminster last week .
Cheshire East Council says the books are available for members of the public to sign during office hours.
The authority says they are at its receptions at the Municipal Offices in Crewe, the council's headquarters in Sandbach and at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Watch: Monday's selection of your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
You keep sending in great pictures of the area and here are four more that you've shared.
If you've got one to send in, do it via email or, if you are an Instagram user, put it there with the tag #bbcstoke.
Your Questions: Tracking down families in Stoke-on-Trent
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
Paul Hand asked, on Your Questions : "How do I locate a family in Stoke-on-Trent?"
Well, outside of the phone directory for current names, the other way would be via the local archive services.
In Stoke-on-Trent they suggest using online services such as The Staffordshire Collection on Findmypast which contains parish registers, marriage bonds and more.
The Staffordshire archive service also suggest, apart from their online services, planning a visit to the record office to track down more details.
If you've got a question about Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire to pose, ask us here .
Watch: Kidney-donation pals celebrate transplant op success
BBC North West Tonight
A man who was given a kidney by his best friend says he feels "100% better" and is considering a charity skydive.
Andy Clewes from Crewe had the transplant in Manchester after his friend Helen Crowther from Runcorn agreed to become a donor.
The 46-year-old suffered chronic kidney disease since birth and was on the verge of needing dialysis treatment.
Mr Clewes and Ms Crowther, 45, are now planning "a curry and a few beers" to celebrate the successful procedure, which was carried out in January.
Two held over bank and shop armed raids
A man and woman are questioned and bailed by police following three robberies in Shropshire.
Read morePupils excluded from school after 'refusing to listen to staff'
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
A Stoke-on-Trent school says it's excluded 12 pupils after they refused to do as they were told by staff, following an argument between two pupils.
In a statement, Birches Head Academy says it happened on Thursday after they'd decided to cut lunch short after the "altercation".
The school says that, while staff had dealt with that incident, it started to "create sides" between a few students who then refused to listen to staff when the end of lunch bell was rung 20 minutes early.
Head teacher Kerry Dixon says one teacher was taken to hospital after slipping and suffering a shoulder injury while opening the school doors.
The 12 students have been excluded from the academy "for varying lengths of time".
Hundreds of tonnes of fly-tipped waste set to be cleared
BBC Midlands Today
Over 300 tonnes of commercial waste, illegally dumped in Staffordshire countryside, is set to be cleared.
The county council says the waste was dumped in Gladings Wood, Madeley Heath in January, blocking a car park and a right of way.
Staffordshire Police are investigating, while the authority says it will be co-ordinating the clear-up.
Football: Goalkeeper's Leicester warning for Stoke City players
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
The Stoke City goalkeeper Lee Grant says they shouldn't underestimate Leicester City this weekend.
The Potters are back in action on Saturday after the international break and Grant told BBC Radio Stoke that the players will need to be on top form.
Council Tax freeze for North Warwickshire residents
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
North Warwickshire District Council is one of just 22 local authorities in England to freeze their council tax.
Only one of the 353, East Hampshire, is reducing the charge from next month, saying it has taken "balanced risks" with its finances to buck the national trend.
In Coventry, council tax bills will rise by 4.9% and around 4% across the rest of Warwickshire.
Derelict piece of land in Hanley up for sale for £100,000
The Sentinel
A derelict piece of land in the city centre has been put up for sale again.
Veterans take over historic pub with £65k raised in fortnight
Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist
Army veterans, who have taken over the pub their regiment was formed in, say it took just two weeks to raise £65,000 to buy the lease on it.
It was in 1705 that the Staffordshire Regiment was formed in the King's Head in Lichfield.
But, when veterans heard the outgoing landlord was retiring and that there were rumours it was going to be turned into a bed and breakfast, they sprang into action.
Having paid the money, at the weekend they held a procession to mark the opening of the Bird Street-based pub.
Video: Are the blue skies going to continue?
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
A lovely day in store, with plenty of blue sky and sunshine around with highs of 14C (57F).
You can find a detailed forecast for your area here.
Veterans take over historic army pub
Former members of the Staffordshire Regiment are running the Kings Head, where it was founded 312 years ago.
Read moreArmed raider targets bank and shop
Police release CCTV footage of the suspect they believe carried out all three attacks within hours.
Read moreCarlisle United 0-2 Crewe Alexandra
Carlisle see their winless run in League Two extend to seven games as Crewe secure victory at Brunton Park.
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