Category: Newcastle

Firefighters were called to a ‘large’ fire in the Staffordshire Moorlands earlier today (Wednesday 27 May).Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire on Mill Hayes Road in Knypersley which involved around 200 tyres.In a social media statement, a spokesperson for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said: “Crews are currently at the scene of a large fire on Mill Hayes Road, Knypersley. “Three crews are currently extinguishing a fire which involves around 200 tyres. “People are advised to avoid the area and local residents are urged to keep windows and doors closed.”Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service have been approached for a comment.

A man has been charged with murder after another man was seriously assaulted outside a bar in Lichfield.Police said they were called to reports of two men being punched at the Ricco and Loren bar in Market Street in the city at 23:25 BST on Sunday.One of the men died in hospital on Tuesday afternoon, the second victim was also taken to hospital but has since been discharged.Billy Allison, 36, from Solihull, was charged with murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the government should be buying more UK-made ceramics to help save ‘British jobs and British heritage’.Ms Reeves visited Dunoon Ceramics in Stone on Tuesday, following her announcement last week of a £120 million support package for the ceramics sector.She said the funding would help the industry modernise and cope with surging energy costs, but admitted that more could be done for struggling manufacturers in Staffordshire and elsewhere.Ms Reeves has written to ministers instructing them to ‘buy British’ wherever possible, focusing on procurement in shipbuilding, steel, energy and AI.But she believes the same logic should apply to British-made ceramics, acknowledging the importance of the industry in place like Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.Along with rocketing energy costs, UK ceramics firms have also had to contend with cheaper foreign imports, and there have been calls for greater protection of the ‘Made in England’ label.Ms Reeves said: “Ceramics brings something like £1.2 billion a year to the UK economy, and particularly in this area it’s incredibly important for jobs and livelihoods. And actually more than that, it’s a way of life and a heritage that we should be incredibly proud of in our country.”I know that there is more to be done to support the ceramics industry, but this £120 million fund is more than a sticking plaster. It’s about trying to get to grips with some of the high costs in this sector, the costs of energy.

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“I’m determined to use government procurement to buy more things made in Britain. We’re spending billions more on investment in infrastructure, and I want that money to be spent here in the UK, creating good jobs, whether that is in the energy industry, in shipbuilding, for defence, in road and rail construction.”I want those jobs here in Britain and ceramics is another good example of where we should be using British pounds to support British jobs and British industry.”Ms Reeves expressed support for Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell’s ‘Backstamp Bill’, which would require country of origin marking for ceramic products sold in the UK.She added: “I very much support what he’s doing to try and ensure that there’s greater honesty or clarity about where things are actually made, and the government will absolutely work with Gareth to do everything we can.”And I’ve heard as well today about concerns over stuff coming in from overseas that isn’t properly labelled or marked. So I encourage people, when they go out and buy new mugs or plates, whatever it might be, to look at where it’s made.”It’s great to be able to support British jobs and British heritage as well. That’s what these reflect, it’s part of who we are as a country.”The £120 million support package will be made up of £60 million of capital investment for energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects, alongside £60 million in revenue support to help firms manage higher electricity costs.The government is working with the sector to finalise the details of the scheme, and applications for support will open in the summer.

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Dunoon’s director, Alan Smith, welcomed the funding announcement but said he would need to ‘delve down ‘ into the detail. The family-run company was established more than 50 years ago and still makes all its fine bone china in Staffordshire.Dunoon employs 80 people and exports to 51 countries worldwide.Mr Smith said that while manufacturing in the UK is ‘very difficult’ due to the higher costs, the ‘Made in England’ label is valued all around the world.He said: “The big problem for the ceramics industry at the moment is that we have seen a huge increase in gas prices. It means that finding the funds for investment is more difficult, with all the extra costs of gas and employment costs and National Insurance costs that we’ve sustained over the last few years.”But we are very pleased that the government seem to be listening and recognise that ceramics is a vital industry for the country.”With our fine bone china, the ‘Made in England’ brand is so important to us worldwide. That’s what we keep pushing and we don’t compromise on quality of design.”But the concern is the ever-increasing costs that we have to sustain. It makes it very difficult to do business in the UK, but that’s what we intend to do.”Mr Smith added that he wanted to see ‘better ties’ with Europe, which is Dunoon’s biggest export market.

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When a bushfire reached a planned burn area in Ross Creek State Forest in February 2024, the conditions on the ground helped make a huge differencePrepared by DEECAAt approximately 11 pm on 13 February 2024, the familiar beep of a Vic Emergency app alert sounded for residents just west of Ballarat. A bushfire spread from private property into the Ross Creek State Forest, along Staffordshire Reef Road.By 2 am the next morning the threat to communities was reduced, and by early the following day, the fire was contained.The reason Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and CFA were able to control the blaze so quickly?A multi-year planned burn operation along Careys Road, adjacent to the forest, that fire behaviour analysts from both FFMVic and CFA have been able to conclude reduced the fire’s intensity and helped halt its spread.’The fire ran into a planned burn area from 2023 and really dropped the intensity, basically stopping it in its tracks and enabling us to track the edge of the fire and round it up,’ said Sam Basham, FFMVic’s Manager of District Forest and Fire Planning in Ballarat.Sam’s job is to oversee fuel management works in the Midlands District, including planned burning and mechanical fuel management like slashing and mowing.He was one of the first on the ground at the Staffordshire Reef Road fire, witnessing embers spotting far ahead of the blaze and heading towards houses.The Careys Road planned burn – part of a network of fuel reduction burns in Ross Creek State Forest – gave Sam and the crew a safe place to carry out a backburn.Backburning involves lighting a new, independent fire along a designated control line – such as a road, track, or cleared break – ahead of an approaching fire front, removing fuel so that the fire has nothing left to burn.’The Careys Road burn is part of a broader strategy. We’ve got several burns in this location, and they all work together to create a barrier between the private property and the public and state forest interface.’Assessing the impact’Following the fire, we reached out to our CFA counterparts, and our own investigators within FFMVic, to determine how much of a role this burn played in the fire’s containment,’ said Sam.Musa Kilinic, a Predictive Services Specialist in Fire Risk at CFA, visited the fireground to assess the impact.’We looked at the fuels on the ground, as well as the weather patterns and fire spread forecast,’ he said.A reconstruction of the fire by Musa and his team of scientists showed that the planned burn directly reduced the fire spread and intensity.’Most of the embers that landed in the planned burn area quickly self-extinguished – and that was directly related to the low fuel availability in the planned burn area.’If the planned burn hadn’t been done, the fire could’ve potentially spread several more hours, at rates anywhere between 100 and 300 metres per hour.’This means that the fire size ultimately could’ve been anywhere between 40 and 150 hectares greater than what actually occurred.’Right across the state, planned burns like this one on Carey Road are part of a specialised bushfire risk reduction strategy that helps keep communities safe.

/CFA News Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

Round up of all the news from North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier B as Bagnall Norton, Knypersley, Elworth, Norton in Hales and Hem Heath also winKashif Bhatti starred with bat and ball in Alsager’s North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier B win at Wood Lane.(Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)Alsager are off the mark at the fifth time of asking in NSSCL Premier B after an eight-wicket triumph at Wood Lane.Alsager were relegated from the top flight at the end of last season – and hadn’t made the start they would have wanted to life back in the fourth tier.A four-game winless run left them bottom of the early standings, but they finally sampled the winning feeling on their trip to Megacre.It was hosts Wood Lane who batted first, but they couldn’t make the most of the sunshine as they were bowled out for 167.Martin Dawson (33), Ben Forster (32no) and Jake Thompson (22) made the most progress with the bat for Wood Lane. Kashif Bhatti scooped 3-28 for Alsager and there were a couple of wickets apiece for Tom Bason and Lewis Pickford.Bhatti was then at the forefront of Alsager’s successful run chase after the interval.After James Bloor made 27, Bhatti took centre stage for the away side.He hit eight fours and two sixes in his 61 not out – receiving support from Muazammil Nizam, who made an unbeaten 40 – as Alsager crossed the line in the 32nd over.Hem Heath seconds were another side celebrating a maiden league win after they won at their Stone SP counterparts. Stone SP set a tough challenge for their rivals, though, as they amassed 219-4 from their 45 overs in the formative stages.Half-centuries from John Cheadle and Reuben Hall helped them to break through the 200-run barrier.Cheadle’s 88 included five fours and one six, with Hall hitting eight boundaries and one maximum in his unbeaten 87. Jack Jones took two of the wickets to fall.READ MORE: Newcastle & Hartshill shrug off awful start to beat Hem Heath in NSSCL Premier AHem Heath rose to the challenge superbly on the resumption, with captain Ben Lucas leading the charge. He compiled 65, featuring seven fours, to give his side the platform to go on and chase down that tough target.His lead was followed by Nazakat Ali (43), Saj Patel (40) and Jaidel Richardson (28) as Hem Heath banked a three-wicket win in the penultimate over. Tom Caton claimed two wickets.Cheadle’s unblemished start to the league season came to an end with defeat at Norton in Hales.The Moorlanders had opened up with four straight victories, but were on the wrong end of the verdict in Saturday’s clash.Sam Cliffe’s 52, which contained five fours and one maximum, formed the backbone of Cheadle’s 193-7 in the first half.Matt Goodwin and Jack Hassall chipped in with 38 and 34 respectively for the visitors. Chris Dyer (3-43) and Salman Khan (3-47) did the bulk of the work with the ball for the Tractor Boys.Norton in Hales slumped to 32-4 in reply as it appeared that Cheadle’s winning run would be extended.However, Khan and Sajith Priyal De Silva Lamahewage had other ideas as they forged an unbroken alliance of 167 to see the home side past the post inside 39 overs.Khan walked off unbeaten on 106, having hit 12 fours and four sixes, with Lamahewage striking seven fours and three sixes in his 70 not out.Goodwin had caused early issues for Norton in Hales and eventually finished with figures of 3-38.Elworth made it five wins out of five by winning at home against Rode Park & Lawton. The visitors reached 216-6 from their allocation in the early part of the afternoon.O Gallimore (39), T Stirk (33), L Bent (32), J Heath (31no) and L Evans (23) led them to that score.J McKay and S Morgan shared four of the wickets to fall.Elworth then produced an excellent team effort to pocket a four-wicket win with nine balls remaining.A Banks hit eight fours in a top score of 52 to set the tone for the Cheshire outfit.J Stephenson (34), H Newton (32no), A Raheja (30), R Ballard (23no) and C Regan (22) were also in fine touch to chip away at the scoreboard. L Evans and M Valentine took two wickets apiece.Knypersley had a fine day on the road as they won at Barlaston.Knypersley were set 184 for victory and looked to be cruising as Shoaib Akhtar’s 52 – featuring eight fours and two sixes – Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti’s 45 and 23 apiece from Cameron Allen and Jack Muni, saw them sitting pretty on 150-3.Barlaston fought back as Fida Hussain scooped 3-18 and Ethan Squire picked up 3-39, but Knype managed to secure a two-wicket win in the penultimate over.Earlier in the day, Ben Sharp’s 63 was instrumental in the home side reaching 183 all out. Sharp’s knock contained six fours and one six, with Jack Davies (43) lending valuable support. Bhatti and Joe Dutton snared 3-17 and 3-47 respectively for Knypersley. Dominic Cumberbatch also struck twice.Bagnall Norton won by five wickets at Ashcombe Park.Hosts Ashcombe Park had Asif Raza (39), Phil Clowes (28no) and Haroon Mahmood (19) to thank for steering them to 150 all out.Hafiz Suleman (3-16) and Morgan Murray-Williams (3-20) took three wickets apiece and there were a couple of scalps for Alex Dodd.Euan Hurst (22) and Matthew Kenvyn (15) made starts in reply, but Bagnall Norton were teetering on 68-5. But there were no further alarms for the visitors as Justin Mould and Suleman produced a matchwinning partnership.Mould hit five fours in his 54 not out, with Suleman adding an unbeaten 36, as Bagnall Norton clinched a five-wicket win in the 41st over. Raza took two of the wickets to fall.

It’s a budget rail option via Crewe stationAuthor: Adam SmithPublished 3 hours agoCrewe will soon benefit from a new train service beginning on 25th May 2026, linking the town to London and Stirling.The operator, Lumo, owned by FirstGroup, is introducing this service to provide more affordable travel options on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).The new route will offer up to four return journeys daily from London Euston to Stirling, enhancing both accessibility and competition.What is Lumo?For those unfamiliar with Lumo, the brand operates on an open-access basis, setting its own prices and assuming revenue risks.Currently, Lumo connects London King’s Cross with cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, providing passengers straightforward travel without premium seating.As part of the launch, Lumo has partnered with the Stirling Pride festival, offering free tickets to London, marking the occasion and forging community ties.Stuart Jones, managing director of First Rail Open Access, said:“This is a very exciting moment in our journey to launching a pioneering new service for the West Coast.“Customers can look forward to simple, low-cost fares with an excellent experience on our services between Scotland, the North West of England and London.”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.

Police have made three arrestsArmed police outside Captain Kooks, in BurslemPolice are continuing to investigate a break-in. Armed police made three arrests after swooping on a car outside Captain Kooks, in Sandbach Road, Burslem.It followed a caravan break-in on Pinfold Avenue, in Norton, and the disappearance of two air rifles. The drama unfolded on Wednesday 20 May.Staffordshire Police arrested and quizzed three Stoke-on-Trent men – aged 23, 36, and 49 – on suspicion of burglary. Now the suspects have been bailed.A police spokesman said: “All three have been released on bail while enquiries continue.”Police are appealing for witnesses. They should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 310 of 20 May, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.Get even more North Staffordshire exclusives – and it is free

“This behaviour is completely unacceptable”Carmountside Crematorium.Police and community leaders have condemed ‘significant damage’ at a city crematorium. Officers have joined up with council officials to find those responsible for the criminal damage at Carmountside Crematorium.While neither the force nor Stoke-on-Trent City Council have provided details on the nature of what has been damaged – senior officers have branded it ‘completely unacceptable’. Now an investigation is underway to track down those responsible.Inspector Victoria Ison, of the Stoke-on-Trent North Local Policing Team, said: “We understand the far-reaching impact that this activity is having on people in the local area, particularly grieving families who are visiting the crematorium to pay respect to their loved ones. This behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are actively carrying out enquiries to find out who is responsible.”Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for safe and resilient communities at the local authority, says the council is working closely with the police to ‘bring those responsible to justice’.Councillor Walker, who also represents the nearby Milton, Baddeley Green, and Norton ward, said: “This behaviour has no place in Stoke-on-Trent and we are taking it extremely seriously. Our anti-social behaviour team are working with Staffordshire Police to bring those responsible to justice and to support the wider community that have been affected.”Witnesses should call 101.Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you – it’s FREEEnsure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search

Police are ‘standing guard’ outside a property. It follows reports of a raid on an address on London Road, in Stoke.

StokeonTrentLive was first alerted to the police activity at 12.46pm today.

One StokeonTrentLive reader said: “There is a policeman on guard with a marked car outside.”

StokeonTrentLive has approached Staffordshire Police for a statement regarding this unfolding incident. Any witnesses can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
This is a live blog. For the very latest on the police activity follow our live blog below.

Every shelter dog has a story, and those stories all deserve to end in a safe and loving home. Sadly, one young Staffordshire Terrier at the Humane Society of Broward County is still in his shelter chapter, even though he’s as happy and loving as a dog could be.Mack is only 1.5 years old, and he’s been overlooked by adopters in Florida because of the puppy energy he still has left. Even though he’s a big boy at 69 pounds, he’s also a loyal and affectionate dog who’s happy to tag along on any kind of adventure. How has this adoptable dog not been snatched up, yet?This happy-go-lucky dog could make anyone feel like they’re on cloud 9 with just a glimpse of his smile. He was thrilled to see a friend, even through his kennel’s glass, and he sat so politely instead of bouncing off the walls. Sometimes he has trouble controlling his energy, but he also knows exactly how to be a good boy!Commenter @anab03 isn’t the only one who’s “Hoping sweet Mack is adopted and finds a loving forever home soon. He’s adorable and, as a puppy, needs someone who can take him places to use up the energy.”Related: Staffordshire Terrier’s Priceless Head Tilts While Hearing Bagpipes Couldn’t Be SweeterThe shelter is no place for a high-energy pup, but this is the unfortunate hand that Mack has been dealt. Fortunately, he’s adjusted well to life in a kennel, and he makes the most of every moment. He doesn’t let being a shelter dog stop him from playing or making friends!If this is how sweet Mack is while in a shelter environment, just imagine how much more personality he’ll unlock when he’s in a safe and loving home! @Humanebroward shelter staff do all they can to keep their residents happy, healthy, and entertained, but nothing comes close to the freedom of a forever home.Staffordshire Terriers In the ShelterIf Mack isn’t the first Staffordshire Bull Terrier you’ve seen in a shelter, you’re certainly not alone. This breed is just one that’s more likely to be found in shelters, with no fault of their own. Chihuahuas, Siberian Huskies, and other Pit Bull breeds have been overbred and overlooked for years, but in reality, they’re as loving as any other dogs.🐶SIGN UP to get “pawsitivity” delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends🐾🐾When adopters give underdogs like Mack a chance to shine, their true colors start to show. Even this short video showed just how friendly and polite this shelter dog can be, so just think of how wonderful he’ll be when his forever family finally finds him!This story was originally published by PetHelpful on May 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.