BBC News Stoke & Staffordshire

A Staffordshire mother has praised a genetic testing service at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) after it revealed she and her daughter have a potentially life-threatening heart condition.

Katie Cox, of Stafford, was offered genetic testing after discovering the possibility of a family health issue.

Both she and eight-year-old Amber were diagnosed with Long QT syndrome - a condition which can lead to an abnormal heart rhythm and cardiac arrest.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustCopyright: University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Patients throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent can now undergo genetic testing for Inherited Cardiac Conditions (ICCs) thanks to the new service.

Katie said: "We knew there was a 50/50 chance the heart condition would be passed on and while it’s not good that Amber has it, it’s great that she can receive treatment.

"There are even things that can be done to ensure the defect isn’t passed on to her children in the future."

Dr Rhys Beynon, Consultant Cardiologist at UHNM, said: "We strongly feel this new service will increase the quality of care our patients receive.

"However, the clinic isn’t just about caring for the patient, it’s also about looking after other family members who may be unaware of their risks."

If you hear a loud hum in the air this afternoon be warned it’s nothing to worry about, but in fact an RAF Puma 50th anniversary flypast.

Up to 10 Puma helicopters, which came in to service in 1971, are flying from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire throughout today.

The aircrafts are due to fly over Alrewas, Stafford, Stone at about 14:10 before moving over Shropshire and Herefordshire including Shawbury, Shobdon and Credenhill.

UK MODCopyright: UK MOD

The helicopters remain in service and continue to be used by the RAF - most recently being used during the coronavirus pandemic to move supplies across the UK.

A cyclist is in hospital with serious head injuries after a collision with a car in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday.

Staffordshire Police said the man in his 40s was injured at the junction of the A50 and Lightwood Road yesterday afternoon and he is said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

A lane of the M6 has been closed on the border of Staffordshire and Cheshire due to a pothole.

A southbound stretch between junction 17 for Congleton and Sandbach and junction 6 for Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe and Nantwich is closed for the repairs.

Highways England says maintenance crews are at the scene and traffic officers are on their way.

A woman has opened a "social supermarket" - a membership scheme where customers pay £4 a week for 10 items.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Nikki Barrett, who set up her Affordable Food Stoke shop four years ago, opened Number 87, which is three doors down in Stoke-on-Trent, on Tuesday.

She said during the pandemic she had seen people in real need and had helped to provide hundreds of emergency food parcels.

During the pandemic, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, there was a 95% increase in the number of food parcels given to households with children.

Quote Message: Everybody has the right to eat. So, whether you come to Number 87 and have the membership, or you go to Affordable Food Stoke and help yourself to the free food, or buy the food, it's our aim to stop food waste and feed families." from Nikki Barrett Store owner

Everybody has the right to eat. So, whether you come to Number 87 and have the membership, or you go to Affordable Food Stoke and help yourself to the free food, or buy the food, it's our aim to stop food waste and feed families."

We're forecast more rain showers throughout the day, but temperatures will be up to 20C (68F) in parts of the region.

Tomorrow is forecast to be drier and slightly warmer.

For a full forecast, go to the BBC Weather page.

Swiftland CreamCopyright: Swiftland Cream

A planned history centre in Stafford has won lottery funding at the second attempt.

A previous bid by Staffordshire County Council failed in 2018, but has now secured £3.96m for the project.

Staffordshire County CouncilCopyright: Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire County CouncilCopyright: Staffordshire County Council

The total cost of the four-storey extension to the existing Staffordshire Record Office is likely to be £7.7m, with £3m coming from council funds, donations and other grants.

The building will house a permanent exhibition space for the county’s collections, as well as reading areas, research labs and strong rooms to provide space for a further 55 years of collections.

It's going to be a rainy day today, but it should stay fairly warm, with temperatures up to 18C (64F).

And this wet weather is forecast to continue overnight and into tomorrow.

You can get a full forecast from the BBC Weather page.

VideomanCopyright: Videoman

It will be a dry and sunny day with the chance of showers and highs of 20°C (68°F).

BBCCopyright: BBC