By Martin O’Connor & Josh Hoare: Thousands of bikers from across Staffordshire shrugged off their tough image to take part in a charity ride.

More than 4,000 joined the 33rd annual motorcycle run from the Britannia Stadium to the Kings Hall in Stoke.

The bike run sees riders from across the region collect eggs for local hospices such as The Donna Louise Trust.

By Calum Donoghue: David Miliband has admitted that people are disillusioned by politics.

The former Foreign Secretary said politics has become disconnected from people’s lives at a Staffordshire University event where he was quizzed by students and staff.

Ahead of the local elections on May 5, the Labour MP was questioned during his visit to Stoke-on-Trent on a variety of subjects from tuition fees to the BNP.

By Lotti Blades-Barrett: A Stoke-on-Trent woman has warned that the closure of a Shelton swimming pool could prevent her from having a life-saving operation.

Jacqueline Caleveski was a regular at Shelton Pools on Stoke Road before its closure on March 31 as she battles to lose weight in order to have a kidney transplant.

Doctors told her that she must lose a minimum of 25 kilos. She has already lost 19 kilos she still has another six to go to reach her target.

By Luke Powell: A Staffordshire ceramic designer has been picking up sales after designing an alternative commemorative mug for the Royal Wedding.

The mug – featuring the slogan ‘I couldn’t care less about the Royal Wedding’ – is the latest design from Tamworth-based Camila Prada.

The former Staffordshire University student, who graduated in February 2006, created the design after growing tired of the media coverage surrounding the event.

EXCLUSIVE
By Josh Hoare: Stoke-on-Trent businessman Mo Chaudry is stepping up his attempts to take over Port Vale.

It’s believed pressure group North London Valiants is to force an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) next week and Chaudry told StaffsLive he expects the backing of shareholders.

He explained that the process cannot be stopped by the football club’s board, who have so far turned down his takeover attempt.

By Josh Hoare and Lois Price: An 18 year-old-man has been arrested after reports of a gun being aimed out of a window in Shelton.

Police went to an address in Wellesley Street yesterday (March 31) after calls from local residents about a weapon being pointed out of a loft window.

Officers found no firearm at the property and the man has since been bailed pending further inquiries.

By Natalie George & Sian Beck: A Staffordshire University student has been left “distraught” over the disappearance of her cousin.

June Nian Teo, 18, is desperate for information as police search for her cousin Anthony Soh.

Anthony, 18, a student at Imperial College London, went missing seven days ago.

By Lee Kettle: An elderly woman was taken to hospital after a fire in Blurton.

The 93-year-old suffered smoke inhalation after a plastic tray, which had been left on the cooker, caught fire and filled the house on Langland Drive at 2.15pm yesterday (March 28).

Station manager Andy Leedham said: “We would urge people to never store anything on top of a cooker as it does not take long for fires to start.”

By Josh Hoare: The two men have appeared in court after being charged of an arson attack at a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent.

A 23-year-old and 28-year-old were granted conditional bail at Fenton Magistrates court on March 25.

The men were charged with arson with intent to endanger life, following a fire at the Regent Road mosque on December 3, 2010.

By StaffsLive: Star reporters of the future tasted success when they were celebrated at Staffordshire University’s Young Journalist Awards.

More than 120 youngsters entered the competition, run by The Sentinel and the university’s journalism department.

And the nine finalists gathered with teachers, family and friends at a special awards ceremony in the university’s Film Theatre on College Road, Stoke-on-Trent yesterday (March 22).