Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The mother of a nine-year-old girl from Cheshire who has cystic fibrosis has thanked her local community for helping make some of her birthday wishes come true, external. 

Image source, Becky Whitfield

Elle Grace Morris from Wrenbury requires a double lung transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital and has written a list of 10 wishes to celebrate her 10th birthday on 29 January. 

A campaign by her family to make them come true has been supported locally and several have been ticked off - including meeting Olly Murs and Rita Ora.

Mike Perkins
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Cheshire Police has announced officers are going to begin withdrawing from the site of a wood mill in Bosley, where four people died in an explosion in July.

The force say over many months they've been conducting an extensive search and recovery operation. 

They've worked with the county's fire service and health and safety executive but the body of Jason Shingler, 38, has never been recovered.

Express and Star

A species of bird so rare it has been pictured on less than 20 occasions in the region has been snapped by an amateur photographer, external.  

Image source, Louie Horleston/Express and Star

Mike Perkins
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The main headlines for Staffordshire and Cheshire this afternoon include

- Cheshire Police announce they're going to begin withdrawing from the site of a Wood Mill in Bosley where four people died in an explosion in July

- Queens Park Rangers have appointed Burton Albion boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as their new manager

- A £14.5m improvement work on the M6 in Cheshire, external, between junctions 19 and 20, has been delayed

Football Focus

Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland reveals he could have pursued a career in rugby instead of football.

He recalls beating a school side that featured England rugby union international Billy Vunipola.

Watch Football Focus on BBC One, Saturday 12:10 GMT.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

For those from Staffordshire and Cheshire who use the M6 south - a £65m project to widen an M6 motorway junction in the West Midlands is to start in 2018.

The roundabout at junction 10 will be revamped in a scheme expected to take two years to complete, according to Highways England.  

Image source, Walsall Council

It said it was sharing the funding with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.

A consultation for the public to comment on proposals starts on Friday and will last until 24 January.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

This BBC Weather Watcher picture is from lambsy this morning in Norton Canes where it was sunny with a temperature of 4C (39F).

Image source, lambsy

You can become a BBC Weather Watcher too - find out more on the website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

You've been having your say on the BBC Radio Stoke's Facebook page , externalabout the news that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has left Burton Albion for QPR.

Image source, Getty Images

Badger Clark commented, external: "Done a great job there and to leave them at this point of the season is horrible. Should of stayed with them."

While John Flint wrote, external: "Good luck to him. Nobody in there right mind would turn that chance down."

Alice Bentley
BBC Local Live

An image of brain cells developing, taken by a Keele University researcher, has been recognised by the charity Parkinson's UK, external in an annual competition.   

Image source, George Joseph

Each year, the organisation holds the photo contest to "celebrate the beauty and art in the research they fund". 

This image was taken by George Joseph at Keele University, who is looking at treatments for people with the disease - it is titled Blazing Neurons.

Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

We've heard this afternoon that the £14.5m improvement work on the M6 in Cheshire, external, between junctions 19 and 20, has been delayed. 

Image source, Google

Highways England says it's put back the start date - which was set for tonight - to early next week because of a forecast of high winds. 

Tamworth Herald

Dozens of young sea cadets have been left distraught , externalafter their community base in Tamworth was ransacked by burglars.

Image source, Tamworth Herald

Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today

Here's a look ahead to what's coming up from 13:30 on BBC One in Midlands Today.

BBC Travel

One lane is blocked on the A50 westbound between the Fole Hall junction, Fole and the Blythe Bridge Roundabout, because of an accident.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City say striker Peter Crouch has been ruled out until at least the new year with a hamstring injury, external.

Image source, Getty Images

They say he suffered it during Tuesday's win over Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.

BBC Sport

Championship club Queens Park Rangershave officially appointed Burton manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbainkas their new boss.

Image source, Rex Features

The 43-year-old, who won League Two with the Brewers last season, has signed a rolling contract with the R's.  

Euan Duncan
BBC Local Live

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has left Burton Albion and said his goodbyes to players and staff at the club, yesterday.  

Image source, PA

Mike Perkins
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The top stories this afternoon include:

- Burton Albion have confirmed that manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has joined Championship side Queen's Park Rangers

- Lawyers representing the families of the victims of a Cheshire mill explosion say they are going to carry out their own investigation

- What's being called "one of the biggest maintenance projects", external in the North West in recent years starts tonight on the M6 in Cheshire

Burton Mail

A senior policing figure has revealed a new scheme is being put in place after a pensioner was caught with more than 50,000 indecent images of children, external.

Image source, Burton Mail

Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather

Nigel Cash
BBC Radio Derby Sport

Burton Albion's chairman has been paying tribute to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who has left the club as manager to join QPR.