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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

Paramedics were also at the scene06:45, 04 Jun 2026Updated 07:56, 05 Jun 2026(Image: Manchester Evening News)Emergency services were forced to shut a Staffordshire road after a man was found dead. Police, firefighters and paramedics were all sent to the scene in Tutbury yesterday (June 3).As reported by The Sentinel and Burton Street was closed off for what, at the time, was described as a ‘police incident’. Now Staffordshire Police has confirmed that sadly a man was found dead.Meanwhile officers are not treating the tragedy as suspicious. The alarm had been raised at 1.40pm.A spokeswoman for the constabulary said: “We were called to a property in Tutbury, Burton-on-Trent, following reports of a sudden death.”Officers closed Burton Road in the direction of Ironwalls Lane while emergency services attended the scene. Sadly, a man was pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later.”His next of kin has been informed. We are not treating the death as suspicious.”A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called by colleagues at West Midlands Ambulance Service following reports of a sudden death. One crew attended the scene. Firefighters assisted in the removal of a man who was sadly pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.”Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you – it’s FREEEnsure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search

The number of Staffordshire children being educated at home has doubled to more than 2,000 since the Covid-19 pandemic, new figures show.

There are currently 2,087 youngsters receiving elective home education in Staffordshire, up from 1,025 in April 2020.

The rise reflects a national increase in elective home education since the pandemic, which has raised concerns over safeguarding and the availability of support for parents who choose to educate their children at home.

Scrutiny committee members at Staffordshire County Council carried out a review into elective home education to understand the local situation, the reasons behind the increase, and the implications for the authority.

A working group of councillors spoke to parents, children and members of the council’s elective home education team. Its findings are due to be reported to the safeguarding and education overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday 11 June.

In her introduction to the report, working group chair Councillor Victoria Wilson says:

“We recognise that parents have the right to choose the manner in which their children are educated. However, we also wish to ensure that all children are given the best possible opportunity to reach their full potential, both during their compulsory educational years and into their future.

“During our work we have met some fantastic individuals who have helped us understand the complex nature of home education, its challenges and rewards.”

Local authorities have a legal duty to ensure the education of children receiving elective home education is up to standard.

Staffordshire County Council has five permanent elective home education officers who carry out this work, but the working group found that the recent increase in numbers means the team now has little time to carry out “enhanced” work.

Five temporary officers have been recruited to increase capacity, and the working group has recommended that they are taken on permanently.

The working group also found that social, emotional and mental health is now the biggest reason parents in Staffordshire choose home education. Historically, parents were more likely to be motivated by philosophical, lifestyle or cultural factors.

Social, emotional and mental health was given as the main reason for 609 of the current elective home education children in Staffordshire. A further 232 parents cited dissatisfaction with school, while 64 cited bullying.

Of the current elective home education cohort, 140 children have been home educated all their lives and have never attended a school.

The report says social media may have been a factor in the rise, with the Covid-19 pandemic showing many parents that home education was achievable.

But it also says it is vital that parents understand home education is fundamentally different from the distance learning that took place during the pandemic, which involved support from schools.

Councillors found that the parents they spoke to had “considered in detail the challenges and impacts of choosing to home educate”.

The report states:

“Educating children at home works well when it is a positive choice and carried out with a proper regard for the needs of the child. The parents we met who home educate their children showed incredible commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to ensuring the best education for their children.

“However, if home education is undertaken without this level of understanding and commitment, including the various financial commitments, the results will not be as positive.”

The working group’s report makes a number of recommendations, including making the temporary elective home education officer posts permanent.

Another recommendation calls for the council to assess the impact of recent changes in the law around home education, to ensure additional resource can be provided if required.

Residents, communities, farmers, landowners, and businesses across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being invited to have their say on plans to restore and protect the area’s natural environment.
With its partner authorities, Staffordshire County Council has launched a public consultation on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), a long-term plan to support nature’s recovery and create a greener, healthier future for the county.
The strategy sets out priorities, outcomes, actions, and targets for improving habitats, protecting wildlife and enhancing natural spaces for nature and people. It has been developed in partnership and consultation with councils, environmental organisations, farmers, landowners and other key stakeholders from across the area.
People are encouraged to first explore the draft strategy and interactive maps to understand the proposals in more detail.
Feedback can then be shared through a short online survey, helping to ensure the final strategy reflects the views of people and organisations across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. 
Detailed comments can also be made through the interactive maps. 
The consultation is available through the Let’s Talk Staffordshire platform, making it easy for people to get involved.
Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for communities and culture, said: 
This is a really important moment for nature in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
We want as many people as possible to look at the strategy and tell us what they think, before we focus more on delivery.
Whether it’s local green spaces, wildlife or the places we enjoy every day, your views will help shape how we protect and improve them for the future.”

People can explore the strategy and share their views by visiting: staffsandstokelnrs.co.uk.

A market mover in horse racing is a horse whose odds have changed significantly in the lead-up to a race, either shortening or lengthening. Horses with shortening odds are known as steamers, often indicating heavy betting support. Horses whose odds drift out are called drifters, which may suggest a lack of confidence from the betting public.For each race, both steamers and drifters are shown in the same list, with steamers highlighted in blue and drifters in red.

A local charity is set to host a special launch event for their new Hanley superstore.The all-day event on Saturday 6 June comes after Emmaus North Staffs – who aim to tackle furniture poverty – recently moved into a large store on the lower floor of the Potteries Centre.Shoppers will be able to explore the superstore, which stocks household furniture items such as settees, wardrobes, tables and chairs as well as plus clothing and white goods.They will also be able to join in with performances by the Staffordshire Choir Association, who will be performing several popular classics and parading throughout the centre at hourly intervals throughout the day to help raise awareness for the charity’s ‘Beds for Kids’ campaign.John Webbe, Executive Lead at Emmaus North Staffs, said: “We wanted to do something a bit special, and fun, on the day to encourage visitors and shoppers to explore the centre as well as learning more about our charity, therefore we are delighted that the Staffordshire Choir Association are joining us as we look to welcome visitors and shoppers into our new store.”On the day we will also be sharing news about our Beds for Kids campaign, which we launched in 2022, following rising demands from families who cannot afford to buy their children a bed of their own.”The numbers are staggering and it is estimated that there are 9,000 children in Stoke-on-Trent alone who do not have a bed of their own.”The event is therefore a chance for the public to see the scale of our impact and help us ensure that no child in our region has to sleep without a proper bed.”

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A spokesperson for The Potteries Centre added: “We are thrilled to welcome Emmaus North Staffs to The Potteries Centre. This new charity superstore is a fantastic addition to our retail lineup, offering our visitors a unique shopping experience centred around sustainability and community spirit.”Beyond great shopping, what makes this partnership special is Emmaus’ commitment to making a real difference locally. Their ‘Beds for Kids’ scheme is a lifeline for families in our community, ensuring that children right here in North Staffordshire have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.”By opening this superstore in the heart of Hanley, we are not only expanding our retail offering but also helping to amplify the reach of this wonderful charity. We look forward to a successful partnership together.” The choir, led by Ashley Mellor who is also director of The Music in You, will start at the shop floor from 10am before heading to the upper floor with performances taking place each hour.Ashley said: “We are really looking forward to supporting Emmaus’s new chapter in the Potteries Centre, and at the same time it is great to support their Beds for Kids campaign – which is an amazing initiative.”The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Cllr Joan Bell is also expected to be in attendance as well as some of the charity’s supporters, staff and volunteers.The launch event will take place from 10am unti 4pm on Saturday 6 June at the Emmaus North Staffs superstore located on the lower floor of the Potteries Centre.For more information about Emmaus North Staffs telephone 01782 846 111 or visit the website here.

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This is a sponsored article. If it wasn’t for sponsors like Emmaus, our news site would not be possible – thank you.If you own a local business and would like to sponsor us, get in touch at [email protected].

People in Stone are being encouraged to nominate outstanding carers for this year’s Dignity in Care Awards before the deadline on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

The Staffordshire County Council awards are now in their twelfth year and recognise the compassion and dedication shown by professional and unpaid carers across the county.

The awards aim to highlight people who go the extra mile to make sure others are treated with dignity, kindness and respect. That could include paid care workers, unpaid family carers, care home staff, newcomers to the care sector, or long serving care professionals.

There are nine categories in this year’s awards, including awards for newcomers, long term care professionals, unpaid carers and care home staff.

Martin Rogerson, Cabinet Member for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council, said

“I’d encourage anyone who knows a carer who goes the extra mile to take a few minutes to submit a nomination before the deadline on 1 July.

“These awards are a chance to recognise the compassion and dedication that carers show every day, often without expecting anything in return.

“By sharing their stories, we can celebrate their achievements and highlight the outstanding standard of care we value across Staffordshire.”

The awards are open to nominations from across Staffordshire, including Stone and the surrounding villages.

Residents can submit nominations through the Dignity in Care Awards webpage. Nominations close on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

A body has been found at a South Wales seaside resort in the search for a Staffordshire man.South Wales Police has confirmed that a body has been found in the search for Lee Butler, a 36-year-old, who was last seen on Tuesday 26 May.Formal identification has not yet taken place, but the next of kin have been informed.A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “A body has been found in the search for Lee Butler, from Staffordshire, who was last seen on Tuesday, 26 May.”While formal identification has not yet taken place, Lee’s next of kin have been informed. “Our thoughts are with them.”

Traffic lights in placeAuthor: Adam SmithPublished 4 hours agoRepair work on a collapsed retaining wall in Wetley Rocks began this week.Staffordshire County Council’s highways crews are set to strengthen the dry-stone wall with concrete, after it fell last month. Drivers along A520 Cheadle Road near the Powys Arms Pub will have to contend with barriers and two-way traffic lights, which will remain for 4-6 weeks. Improvements to traffic flow and resilience to vehicle weight are key features of the repair programme. Patrick Allen, Cabinet Support Member for Highways North at Staffordshire County Council, explained: “After carrying out thorough investigations following the collapse of the wall, we now have a comprehensive programme of repairs which, due to the nature of the works, will take around 4-6 weeks to complete. “Our priority will be to get the works completed and get traffic flowing again as soon as possible, so our crews will be working hard to complete these repairs as soon as possible. “Traffic management will be in place to keep drivers, pedestrians and our crews safe. I want to thank people for their patience, and I would ask that drivers take extra care when passing through the area.” Motorists might not visibly notice parts of the construction, as some elements are below the road level. 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.