• Staffordshire History Centre is hosting an array of events over the Easter break

• Events run from Tuesday 31 March to Friday 10 April

• Vicious Victorians Family Fun Day, Amazing Artists Day and Horrid History Day are some of the events happening

• Libraries across Staffordshire will have their own Helpful Bear cuddly toy for children as part of a county council school attendance campaign

• Helpful Bear helps children express their feelings and has a backpack where children can place worries that they have written down

• The cuddly toy and associated workbooks, also available in libraries, have been used in schools successfully in helping children overcome barriers to learning

• Tamworth shop has been closed for selling illegal tobacco products

• Shop closed for one month pending investigations

• Combined effort by Staffordshire County Council and Tamworth Borough Council

• People are being encouraged to organise their own events to help mark the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day.

• This year’s celebrations include the launch of the new Staffy Trail, which aims to draw visitors into town centres.

• Communities, businesses and organisations are urged to submit their events to the Visit Staffordshire website, with promotional material available to download to support participation.

• Staffordshire farmer banned from keeping animals for 10 years after animal welfare crimes

• Farmer Alexander Blackwell failed to meet needs of hundreds of animals at Alder Carr Farm in Mayfield

• Blackwell also was sentenced for breaching identification and record-keeping requirements

• County council supports campaign encouraging people to protect themselves when buying a used car

• The 'Stop Check Go' campaign aims to help people make informed decisions and supporting traders to meet their legal obligations

• Advice includes to avoid paying deposits before viewings, making sure a dealership genuinely exists and checking a vehicle's history

• Burton shop given Closure Order for maximum period for selling illegal tobacco products

• Staffordshire County Council supported East Staffordshire Borough Council

• Cannock Magistrates’ Court granted the Closure Order for the premises on Tuesday 10 March 2026

• Local artists are working with schoolchildren to turn their ideas into large-scale sculptures for a new public art trail

• The Staffy Trail launches on 1 May to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Staffordshire Day

• The project aims to bring together young people, artists and communities to showcase Staffordshire’s creativity and attract visitors to local towns

• Lord Lieutenant Professor Elizabeth Barnes has appointed three new Deputy Lieutenants
• The new appointees are Jonathan Joseph Mannion CStJ, Mohammed Khuram and Philip Edward Pusey MBE, MCM
• The Deputy Lieutenants began their roles on Monday 16 March, with a formal ceremony taking place later in the year

• Country park visitors are being reminded to stick to paths and keep their dogs on leads to protect wildlife.

• Cannock Chase is one of the region’s most important strongholds for adders, which have declined sharply across the UK.

• Protecting rare species such as adders is a key part of the council’s refreshed Natural Environment Strategy.