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A team of former armed services personnel have created a knife amnesty van which they will tour across Staffordshire in a bid to tackle knife crime.Veteran-led training provider Black Onyx Academy, based in Stoke-on-Trent, will be running workshops from the vehicle, which has been equipped with an amnesty bin.As well as letting people surrender their blades, the group said it would allow the team to have “meaningful conversations with young people, families and communities”.Stefan Northfield, strategic lead and former Royal Marine, said veterans had a “duty of care” and wanted to share his own experiences.”All young people have good in them,” he added. “All they’re lacking is a bit of direction and that’s really what we showcase in our workshops.”It’s highlighting to these young people that there are opportunities for them.”

Police and paramedics had been calledPolice and paramedics were called (stock image)A woman has been found dead in a city house. But police say they are not treating the tragedy in Birches Head as suspicious.It comes as residents had seen a police presence on the Widecombe Road area of the neighbourhood. Staffordshire Police say it was contacted by West Midlands Ambulance Service at 9.40am on Wednesday (July 8).A spokeswoman for the force said: “We went to an address in Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent following a call from colleagues at West Midlands Ambulance Service over a report of a sudden death.”Sadly, a woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner.”Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you – it’s FREEEnsure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search

Fifteen bids have been shortlisted for the UK’s first Town of Culture – but the four North Staffordshire hopefuls have all missed out. Leek, Longton, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford all submitted entries for the landmark competition.The Government confirmed that it received 398 bids in total. Fifteen towns will now go on to compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title.The shortlisted towns are:Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre WardMedium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port TalbotLarge towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and RotherhamEach will receive £60,000 to develop their full bids, which will be assessed by the independent judging panel. One finalist will then be selected from each category with the overall winner being announced early next year.The UK Town of Culture competition is part of the government’s ambition to restore pride in local areas in every part of Britain and deliver a decade of national renewal, following the announcement of the Pride in Place Programme last year. Throughout this year, this competition – together with the UK City of Culture 2029 competition – will continue to shine a light on local visions and voices from across the UK to help encourage increased local investment, create a lasting sense of pride, and open doors to the arts and culture for everyone.Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I want to say a massive congratulations to the fifteen shortlisted towns and I wish them luck in the next round of the competition. The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns. When I launched this competition, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life.”I am so glad that so many towns have applied and I hope each and every town, whether they have been shortlisted or not, is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their local community.” The shortlisted towns were recommended by the independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond.The other members of the panel were selected to ensure a broad range of cultural experience and regional diversity. The panel members are:Ruth Hollis OBE (Deputy Chair)Ian Bancroft (Wales Representative)Kristel Miller (Northern Ireland Representative)Jim Tough (Scotland Representative)Ian Warren (England Representative)Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond, said: “The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK. It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have, and continue to contribute to our national story.”That of course has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners. I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn’t manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK’s cultural landscape. I’d like to thank them all for that.”

A wild beaver has been born in Staffordshire for the first time in more than 400 years.Staffordshire Wildlife Trust said that it was a “groundbreaking moment” for nature as it showed the county had suitable habitats for beavers to thrive.One of the beavers appeared to be lactating which indicated she was feeding young in her burrow, the trust added.”This kit looks healthy and it’s feeding without either of its parents present, which is another good sign. We’ll continue to monitor this family as the kit grows,” the trust’s Nick Mott said.Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external.

Armed police descended on a Stoke-on-Trent street. Three arrests have been made after a fight broke out on Bucknall New Road, in Hanley.

The trouble flared at 10.45am on Tuesday 7 July.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “Three men have been arrested over violence offences following reports of a fight in Stoke-on-Trent. We were called to Bucknall New Road after receiving reports of a fight involving weapons. Firearms officers attended the scene.

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“A 22-year-old man, of Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. A 46-year-old man, of Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, as was a 31-year-old man, of no fixed address. The 46-year-old was further arrested on suspicion of attempt to possess a class B drug. They remain in police custody while our inquiries continue.”

Police are appealing for witnesses. They should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 275 of 7 July, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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Our thoughts are with their friends and familyThese are the death notices published in this week’s editions of The Sentinel. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of their loved-ones.You can see the latest listings from your area on the InYourArea section. To see the full list of family announcements, visit this section of the StokeonTrentLive website.Jill Dowd (Née Di Silvestro)At rest on Wednesday 24th June 2026, following a short illness at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, Jill, aged 68 years of Knypersley (formerly of Burslem). Beloved wife of the late Michael, much loved mum of Rich and Kate, treasured grandma of Matt, Jess, Josh and Millie, loving mother-in-law of Kelly and Jon, and a special daughter, sister, sister-in-law, auntie and a friend to many. Jill will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by all who loved and knew her. Service at Carmountside Crematorium on Monday 20th July 2026 at 1:30pm. Would friends wishing to attend kindly meet at the crematorium chapel. Family flowers only please. Any kind donations will be forwarded to the Alzheimer’s Society. Donations and enquiries to: Williamson Brothers Family Funeral Directors Birch House, Birches Head Road, Hanley, ST1 6LH. Tel. 01782 212880Jill DowdBarry RayPeacefully at rest on his 94th birthday, whilst in the loving care of his family, Barry Ray of Chell. Dearly beloved husband of the late Sylvia. Dearest partner to Margaret. Devoted dad to Alison, Michael and his partner Clare. A dear brother, brother in law, uncle and friend who will be truly missed. Funeral service to take place at St Michael and All Angels, Chell on Monday 13th July 2026 at 12.30pm, followed by interment at Burslem Cemetery.Would all relatives and friends please meet at the Church. Family flowers only by request, donations are preferred if desired to The Macular Society. Donations and enquiries, C McGough & Sons, 79 Roundwell Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 5AW, 01782 834300Dennis RodenDennis RodenPeacefully at rest on Wednesday 10th June 2026, Dennis (Dixie), aged 87 years. Dearly loved Husband of the late Maureen, much loved Dad, Brother, Grandad and Great Grandad. Dennis will be deeply missed by all his loving Family and friends. Funeral Service and cremation at Bradwell Crematorium on Tuesday 14th July 2026 at 1.20pm. Will relatives and friends please meet at the Crematorium. No flowers by request please, donations preferred to Douglas Macmillan Hospice c/o the Family. Enquiries to: H GOODWIN FUNERALCARE Verona House 114 London Road, Newcastle under Lyme ST5 1LZ Tel. 01782 616586.Joe BottomsPassed away peacefully on June 20, 2026 aged 79 years, formerly of Orme Road Newcastle. Dear Husband of the late Janet, loving Dad of Ian & Caroline, Father-in-Law of Martin and Grandad of Josh & Jake. Funeral service 10:40am on Monday July 13, 2026 at Bradwell Crematorium, Newcastle.Family flowers only, but donations if so desired for the Alzheimer’s Society for which purpose a collection box will be provided at the crematorium. Enquiries please to J R Williams, Funeral Director, Towers Lawn, Cheshire Street, Market Drayton 01630 654490.Diane BatemanDiane BatemanAt rest on Wednesday 17th June 2026 at the R.S.U.H. Diane aged 66 years of Stoke. Much loved wife of Dave A loving daughter of Sylvia and the late John dearest sister of Les, Paul and the late Annette and Phillip also a dear sister-in-law, aunty and cousin. Funeral service will take place at Stoke Minster Church on Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 1.00pm followed by Cremation at Carmountside Crematorium.Will relatives please accept this intimation and friends kindly meet at the church. Family flowers only please donations preferred to Kidney Research UK. All enquiries to: Harold H Leese, (A.Boulton & Sons), St Peters Close, Stoke, ST4 1LP, Tel: 01782 744433Raymond Allen BrookesRaymond Allen BrookesPeacefully at rest after a short illness on 24th June 2026. Ray aged 68 years of Bradwell. A much loved dad of Sarah and Stacey, a loved and respected friend of Mandy, a dear cousin and friend of many. Ray will be sadly missed by all his loving family and friends.Funeral service and cremation to be held at Bradwell Crematorium on Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 1.20pm. Will all relatives please accept this the only intimation, friends wishing to attend please meet at the Crematorium. Family flowers only, donations preferred to the Guide Dogs for the Blind. Enquiries to: Mr Ben Simpson-Wilde, Simpson & Wilde, Independent Funeral Directors, 317 Hartshill Road, ST4 7NR, 01782 616034 info@simpsonwilde.co.ukJohn Charles CartwrightPeacefully on 9th June 2026, John aged 92 years of Church Lawton. Much loved husband of the late Margaret and partner to the late Brenda, loving father of Andrew and Ian and father in law to Janet and Sarah, caring grandad to Ashley and Alex. A thanksgiving service will take place on Tuesday 21st July at Wesley Place Methodist Church, Alsager at 2pm. Will all friends please meet at the Church.All inquiries to Joseph Edwards & Sons, 144/146 Crewe Road. Alsager, Cheshire, ST7 2JA, 01270 882097, If you would like to donate online you can do so at www.josephedwards.co.uk/online-donationJohn ClarkeJohn ClarkeIt is with deep sadness that we share the passing of John Clarke (98), who left us peacefully on 17th June. There will be a service at Bradwell Crematorium on the 9th July at midday. Cherished ones are never gone, their memories always live on. All my love Jessie and family.Yvonne GocolYvonne GocolAt peace on Wednesday 3rd June 2026 at her home in Eaton Park and in the presence of her loving family. Yvonne, aged 67 years, the former landlady of The Travellers Rest, Werrington Road, Bucknall. Beloved wife of John, much loved mum of Martin and Anthony, dear mother in law of Nicola and Sam, cherished nan and great nan, treasured sister of Susan and the late Barry, and daughter of the late Jean and Fred. Yvonne will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by all of her family and friends.Service at St. Mary’s Church, Bucknall on Monday 13th July 2026 at 10:30am, followed by interment at Carmountside Lawn Cemetery. Would friends wishing to attend kindly meet at the church. Family flowers only please. Any kind donations will be forwarded to the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. Donations and enquiries to: Birch House, Birches Head Road, Hanley, ST1 6LH. Tel. 01782 212880Maureen HallAt peace on June 20th 2026, at Westfield Lodge Nursing Home, Weston Coyney, Maureen aged 87 years of Guy Street, Bucknall. Dearly loved partner of Maurice, dear mum of Chris and Tracy, mother in law of Julie and the late John and a loving nan of Gareth, Dean and great grandchildren Bella and Luca. Maureen will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.Funeral service to take place at Carmountside Crematorium on Tuesday July 14th at 2pm. Will relatives and friends kindly meet at Carmountside. Please wear a touch of something red. Family flowers only please, donations if desired for Dementia UK or Diabetes UK. Donations and Enquiries to Williamson Brothers Family Funeral Directors Birch House, Birches Head Road, Hanley, ST1 6LH. Tel. 01782 212880John Keith HassallJohn Keith HassallPeacefully at rest on 17th June 2026, whilst in the loving care of his family and staff at RSUH, John, of Little Chell, formerly of Trent Vale, aged 78 years. A loving dad to Cain, Carrie and Charlotte. A special brother to Lynn. A cherished grandad and great grandad. A dear family member and a friend to many who will be truly missed.Funeral service to take place at Carmountside Crematorium on Friday 24th July 2026 at 10am. Would all relatives and friends please meet at the Crematorium. Family flowers only by request, donations are preferred, if desired to The Royal British Legion. Donations and Enquiries: C McGough & Sons, 79 Roundwell Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 5AW, 01782 834300Barbara HewittBarbara HewittAt peace on Monday 22nd June 2026 at Coventry University Hospital following a short illness. Barbara, aged 91 years, formerly of Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands area and retired publican. Dearly beloved wife of Stan, much loved mum of Claire and mother-in-law of Lee. Treasured nana of Jessica and Francesca and great nana of Olivia and Charlotte. Dearly loved sister of the late Albert, late John and Janet and dear aunt of Ian, Jen and Robert.Service at Carmountside Crematorium on Monday 13th July 2026 at 1:00pm. Would friends wishing to attend kindly meet at the Crematorium Chapel. Family flowers only please. Any kind donations will be forwarded to the Stroke Association and Cancer Research U.K. Donations and enquiries to: Williamson Brothers Family Funeral Directors Birch House, Birches Head Road, Hanley, ST1 6LH. Tel. 01782 212880Winifred Mavis MaskeryWinifred Mavis Maskery06.07.41- 27.05.26 Passed away unexpectedly at Royal Stoke Hospital aged 84 of Berryhill. Loved wife of the late Don, devoted mum of the recently late Andrew. Very dearly loved mum-in-law to Julie, Gran to Chris and Tom, Great Granny to Hugo. Dear sister to Allan, Auntie to Neil and Scott. A graveside service will take place at Carmountside Cemetery on Friday 10th July 2026 at 2pm.Anyone wishing to attend, please make their way to the far left of the Milton side of the cemetery, prior to 2pm. Mourning clothes preferred with a splash of purple. Flowers welcomed or donations in memory of Mavis’s late son Andrew to the Dougie Mac. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Joseph Lymer and Son Trent Bridge Bucknall 01782 202270Annie Elizabeth McVickerAnnie Elizabeth McVickerSadly but peacefully on Sunday 21st June 2026, Annie Elizabeth McVicker, aged 94 years passed away in the care of Golden Park Nursing Home, Burslem. Beloved wife of the late James, much loved and cherished mum of Annie, Sue, Trevor, Jackie, Thomas and the late James, the late Robert and the late Patrick, also a loved nan and great nan. Annie will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by all who loved and knew her.Service at St. Andrew’s Church, Sneyd Green on Friday 17th July 2026 at 1:00pm followed by interment at Burslem Cemetery. Would friends wishing to attend kindly meet at the church. Family flowers only please. Any kind donations will be forwarded to the M.N.D. Association. Donations and enquiries to: Williamson Brothers Family Funeral Directors Birch House, Birches Head Road, Hanley, ST1 6LH. Tel. 01782 212880Sign up for the latest breaking news and top stories from StokeonTrentLive on WhatsApp

With temperatures set to hit 30 degrees again this week, we are reminding people of the dangers of entering open water.
During the last heatwave, crews were called to various water rescue incidents, including one at the River Tame in Fazeley.
Crews were called just after 6pm on Thursday 25 June following reports that two boys were stranded in the river. They were rescued using a sled and thankfully were not injured.
Head of Prevent, Protect and Partnerships, Nick Jones, said: “When temperatures rise, we see an increase in water rescue incidents across Staffordshire.
“Thankfully, nobody has been seriously hurt but numerous people have required assistance after getting into difficulty in water.
“I would like to remind people that whilst open water might seem inviting during this warm weather, there are hidden dangers and even strong swimmers can get into difficulty.
“If you do get into difficulty in water, remember to float on your back until help arrives.”
Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader  and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said: “With temperatures set to remain high this week, it’s really important that people understand the risks and dangers associated with swimming in open water.
“Lakes and reservoirs can appear safe and inviting, but hidden hazards such as strong currents, underwater obstacles, sudden changes in depth and cold water shock can quickly turn a day out into an emergency.
“We want everyone to enjoy the warm weather safely, which is why we’re encouraging people to follow water safety advice and avoid taking unnecessary risks.”
For more water safety tips, visit Water safety.

Uniform rules have been relaxed at a North Staffordshire school – ahead of an impending heatwave. The change means blazers and ties do not have to be worn at Biddulph High School on Tuesday 7 July.Pupils will be allowed to wear their PE kits from Wednesday 8 July. It comes as the latest North Staffordshire heatwave is expected to reach 31C by Friday 10 July.In a social media post to parents and pupils, Biddulph High School stated: “Due to the forecast warm weather for the remainder of the week, we have made some temporary adjustments to our uniform expectations to help keep students comfortable while maintaining a positive learning environment. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGet even more North Staffordshire exclusives – and it is free

Almost £9,000 has been raised to support a family after two “much loved” North Staffordshire brothers died within five days of each other.Christopher and Dave Rodgers, who were both from Brown Edge and lived in Hanley, died in the same week in June leaving their family to plan a double funeral.Dave died on 15 June aged 37 from a brain bleed. Just five days later on 19 June, Christopher died aged 42 from sepsis.Their cousin, Neil Hargreaves, launched a fundraiser to support the family with funeral costs on GoFund Me which has so far raised a total of £8,780.Neil said: “It’s in times of great tragedy like this where people come together. “The community and village as a whole have all rallied around.”The generosity of strangers has been a complete surprise to the family; people empathise with the situation and are giving what they can to help ease the stress of funeral costs.”The funds will be used to help with funeral expenses for Christopher and Dave’s family including parents, Linda and Mick, older brother, John, as well as partners Codie and Claire, and children Myles, Bertie and Betsy.

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To donate to the fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page here.

Police are investigatingPolice have been searching Berryhill FieldsA teenage girl has been raped at a beauty spot. Police set up a crime scene following the Berryhill Fields sex attack.Staffordshire Police were alerted at 8.15pm on Thursday 2 July. It happened off the Dividy Road area of Berryhill Fields.It comes as The Discovery Academy had warned parents and pupils of a ‘heightened police presence’ in the area on Friday.A police spokesman said: “We are investigating following reports of a rape in Stoke-on-Trent. We were called to Berryhill Fields after a 17-year-old girl reported she had been raped by a man. Officers established a scene in the area and our enquiries are ongoing.”Police are appealing for witnesses. They should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 811 of 2 July, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.Get even more North Staffordshire exclusives – and it is free