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Police were called inStaffordshire Police outside Royal Stoke University HospitalPolice were scrambled to Stoke-on-Trent’s main hospital after a boy disappeared. The alarm was raised at the Royal Stoke University Hospital late on Saturday 6 June.It followed a large police presence outside A&E earlier in the day. That police activity was attributed to police monitoring a number of prisoners in the accident unit.The teenage boy had been reported missing at 11.20pm.A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We received a report that a teenage boy had gone missing from Royal Stoke University Hospital. Officers attended the scene and thoroughly searched the area. The teenage boy was found a short time later.”Get even more North Staffordshire exclusives – and it is free

Miles Phillips pleaded guilty to multiple offences including four counts of rapeAuthor: Natalia AntoniwPublished 14 hours agoAn Oxfordshire man who raped, strangled and suffocated a woman in Staffordshire has admitted his crimes in court.Miles Phillips, 41, of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to:four counts of rapeintentional strangulationintentional suffocation and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviourThe court heard how the abuse took place over a two year period, between 2023 and 2025.Phillips is set to be sentenced at the same court on 31 July.Detective Constable Josie Frost from Staffordshire Police said: “I would like to recognise the immense courage and bravery shown by the survivor throughout our investigation.“Phillips is a dangerous offender and officers and staff worked tirelessly to secure these convictions and bring him to justice. “I hope knowing that he is behind bars awaiting sentencing provides some comfort to the survivor.”First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.

Staffordshire County Council has successfully balanced its books, while spending two thirds of its budget on vulnerable residents, and investing in infrastructure.
A final report on the authority’s financial performance for 2025/26 shows that the council delivered within one per cent of its £753 million budget.
Of that almost £330 million was spent on adult social care and £223 million on services for vulnerable children, young people and their families.
Sean Bagguley, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Finance and Resources, said:
Successfully delivering a £753 million budget with a small surplus in the face of rising costs for fuel, materials and wages is an excellent achievement.
This is the result of consistently strong, detailed management with a focus on delivering the services people need, while remembering that every pound of public money must be spent wisely.”

The report to Cabinet shows that despite rising demand for social care, the council underspent by 0.89 per cent of its £753 million budget.
At the same time, a combination of successfully obtained Government grants, and statutory contributions from housing and supermarket developers, have allowed the council to oversee the investment of £74 million on highways projects, and more than £29 million on building new schools, while expanding or upgrading others. 
Those highway projects have included extensive maintenance on the A4091 in Fazeley; improvement work in the centre of Tamworth; and new cycle routes and improved crossings in Newcastle, helping connect Keele University with Stoke train station.
Investment in schools included in Oldfields Hall Middle School, Uttoxeter; Blythe Bridge High School; Shortbutts Lane, Lichfield; Paulet High School, Burton; and Dunstall Park, Tamworth.
Sean Bagguley added:
A council that cannot control its budget cannot meet its promises to residents.
We will continue to meet our day-to-day responsibilities while investing in Staffordshire’s future.”

Recent efforts target knife crime among young peopleAuthor: Adam SmithPublished 4 hours agoLast updated 4 hours agoKnife crime incidents in Cheshire have decreased by 12 per cent compared to the previous year, with 508 serious offences recorded in 2025, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Gemma Southern.Southern shared the update at a recent meeting responding to queries from the police and crime panel, which monitors the work of the commissioner’s office.The panel had raised questions about the current strategies the commissioner’s office is deploying to address knife crime, particularly among young people.Southern noted Cheshire ranks as having the 11th lowest knife crime rate per 100,000 population in the UK.Recent CampaignsA week-long national campaign aimed at reducing knife crime last month resulted in the recovery of over 250 knives and bladed articles across Cheshire.”This year’s campaign saw a particular focus on children and young people,” Southern said.Authorities and community partners visited 38 schools and youth organisations across Cheshire, delivering educational sessions and demonstrations on the dangers of knife crime and gang culture.Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

People in Staffordshire are being invited to nominate unpaid carers for this year’s Dignity in Care Awards. Staffordshire County Council is calling on residents to submit nominations to the annual Staffordshire Dignity in Care Awards, which aim to celebrate individuals who go above and beyond to support others.The call for nominations – including for dedicated category recognising unpaid carers – coincides with Carers Week, which runs from 8 to 14 June and recognises carers across the country. The county council revealed that in Staffordshire, around 82,000 people, nearly 10 per cent of residents, provide unpaid care each week, including more than 1,600 young carers. Their contribution is estimated to be worth £2.6 billion a year. Martin Rogerson, Cabinet Member for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council, said: “Unpaid carers are at the heart of our communities, providing vital support to loved ones every single day. “Carers Week is an important moment to recognise their contribution, but also to highlight the support available to them. “Through the Dignity in Care Awards, we want to shine a spotlight on these everyday heroes and ensure they feel valued and appreciated.” The Dignity in Care Awards celebrate those who support adults only and all nominations must relate to care delivered to a Staffordshire resident. This includes providers based outside the county, such as those in Stoke-on-Trent or any organisation delivering care to a Staffordshire resident.

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Carers Week is a national campaign raising awareness of caring and the challenges unpaid carers face, while highlighting their vital role in communities. The county council ahas also directed unpaid carers towards local support available through Staffordshire Together for Carers, which works with partners to provide advice, information and practical help to adult and young carers across the county. Support can include short breaks, counselling, opportunities to meet other carers and advice on benefits carers might be entitled to. Nominations for The Dignity in Care Awards close on 1 July and applications can be made here.

A blueprint for the borough’s future developmentAuthor: Adam SmithPublished 5 hours agoWork is set to formally commence this month on Cheshire East’s new Local Plan, providing a blueprint for the borough’s growth into the 2040s.The Local Plan will determine where new homes, jobs, and infrastructure are built, safeguard green spaces and heritage, address climate challenges, and foster healthier environments.Influencing transport links, town centre regeneration, affordable housing, and business opportunities, the Local Plan plays a critical role in improving quality of life, health, and wellbeing.From July, a ‘scoping consultation’ will gather views on Cheshire East’s future vision, proposed policy development approach, the emerging evidence base, and engagement strategies with residents and stakeholders.Councillor Michael Gorman, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, emphasised the importance of having a robust plan, saying, “Without a strong, up-to-date plan, homes and development can happen in the wrong places and without the schools, roads, health services and other facilities that our communities need and rely on.”The plan is anticipated to be finished and adopted by early 2029. The scoping consultation will be the first in a series of required consultations during the plan’s evolution.Cllr Gorman added: “While the council awaited information from the Government about changes to the way local plans must now be prepared, as part of its reforms to the planning system, our strategic planning team has carried out significant preparatory work so that we could hit the ground running.“There will be ample opportunity for local communities to have their say, and I encourage everyone to take part. What we decide through the Local Plan will affect how Cheshire East looks for many years to come – so your views really do matter.”Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

The force added that shortly after the incident was reported, officers pursued and stopped a car and then detained two of the four occupants.On Saturday, it said one man, aged 28, was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and a second, aged 22, was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. Both remained in custody on Sunday.The third arrest was made later, after further enquiries, police confirmed.

The 20 councils where EV owners without driveways face higher on-street charging costs – Birmingham LiveNeed to knowResidents without driveways in Staffordshire and 19 other UK council areas could face higher electric vehicle charging costsResidents without driveways in Staffordshire and 19 other UK council areas could face higher electric vehicle charging costs (Image: Halfpoint Images via Getty Images)Need to know: 20 councils charge more for EV charging without drivewaysTwenty councils across the UK are forcing electric vehicle drivers without driveways to pay more for charging, creating a “postcode lottery” for EV owners.Despite Labour’s October promise to slash red tape and allow charging “gullies” in pavements without planning permission, these councils either ban or have no policy on the solutions.Home charging is significantly cheaper than public rapid chargers, but residents in affected areas including Staffordshire face higher costs.Staffordshire County Council said: “At present, Staffordshire County Council does not permit the trailing of cables or the installation of any cross-pavement solutions for Electric Vehicles.”The council cited health and safety concerns, particularly for visually impaired and mobility-impaired residents.Ealing Council also rejected gully trials, with a spokesperson saying they “took into account the needs of people using the borough’s pavements, including the elderly and less able-bodied individuals.”Energy Secretary Ed Miliband previously said the government needs to “go faster” on reducing reliance on fossil fuels, adding that “every EV on the road makes our country more secure.”READ THE FULL STORY: Full list of 20 councils where households excluded from new driveway ruleFollow birminghammail:‌‌At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.Accept

Police rushed to reports of people fighting in the street in StaffordshireEmergency services on The Strand, LongtonPolice have arrested two men following a double stabbing in a Midlands town.The violence took place in Staffordshire at around 11.45am today, June 6.Staffordshire Police said it was called to reports of a group of people fighting in the street in Longton, Stoke.READ MORE: ‘Avoid the area’ warning as Midlands street sealed off over ‘fight involving weapons’Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to joinThe men were then seeing fleeing in the direction of the market towards Fenton.Officers attended the scene alongside paramedics and set up a cordon.Two men were found with multiple suspected stab wounds and taken to hospital.Staffordshire Police said it arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of Section 18 – wounding with intent, and a 22-year-old man on suspicion of Section 18 – grievous bodily harm with intent.Officers said another man who may been involved ran off after it happened.He is described as white, bald, around 5ft 8ins tall, roughly middle-aged and wearing black joggers.Officers have launched an appeal for anyone with information to get in touch.A force spokesperson said: “Two men have been arrested following a fight where two people suffered stab wounds in Stoke-on-Trent.”At 11.45am today we were called to The Strand in Longton following a report that a group of people were fighting in the street.”The men were then seen running off towards the market in the direction of Fenton.”Officers attended the scene alongside paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service and set up a cordon.”Two men were found with multiple suspected stab wounds and have been taken to hospital.”Two people from Stoke-on-Trent have been arrested. One man, aged 28, has been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 – wounding with intent.”Another man, aged 22, has been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 – grievous bodily harm with intent.”One man, who may have also been involved, ran off after it happened.”He is described as white, bald, around 5ft 8ins tall, roughly middle-aged and wearing black joggers.”He was seen on King Street shortly after the incident took place.”Officers are speaking to businesses in the area to look at CCTV and are keen to speak to anyone who may be able to help with our investigation.”Call 101 or use Live Chat on our website, quoting incident 281 of 6 June.”To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Shields Gazette | June 06, 2026 Legendary figures from the North East’s football scene are set to come together for a South Shields charity match. – by Ryan Smith South Shields Football Club are set to host a second fundraising match in aid of Diabetes UK on August 2, at the 1st Cloud Arena.The Mariners hope the match will surpass the success of their first event last year as they look for footballing legends from across Tyne & Wear to join them on the pitch.The club began fundraising last year after Jude, the grandson of chairman Geoff Thompson, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This story is from the June 06, 2026 edition of Shields Gazette. Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers. SUBSCRIBE NOW Already a subscriber? Sign In