A woman with short dark, greying hair, wearing black sports leggings and long sleeved top, performing a sideways stretch on a Wunda chair.

Pilates instructor who overcame chronic illness opens first fully equipped studio in Stafford

• A pilates instructor has opened the town’s first fully equipped pilates studio at the Stafford Business Innovation Centre.

• Emma Davey retrained after Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ended her dance career, with pilates central to her recovery.

• Supported by the county council’s enterprise centre network, the studio offers specialist sessions for a wide range of health needs.

A road with several potholes on it with a temporary yellow sign on the left saying 'this road will be closed' for highways improvements from 20 March for one week between 8pm and 6am.

Highways improvements in Leek to start next week

• A series of highway improvements start in Leek from Monday 9 March and last six weeks.
• Crews will work overnight and night-time closures are expected between 8pm and 6am.
• Works are preparatory ahead of preventative treatment scheduled for next year.

Tree giveaway with Andrew Mynors and Nigel Yates

Tree giveaway helps boost Staffordshire’s natural environment

• Tree giveaway events see 3,500 handed out across Staffordshire

• Initiative delivered by the county council and Staffordshire Sustainability Board

• Households play an active role in improving local environment and boosting biodiversity

Martin Murray

Ignite programme returns with new Dragon’s Den style contest for students

• The Ignite programme, teaching enterprise skills to young people, has returned for its sixth year.

• New to the programme is a Dragon's Den-style competition, where students will be invited to put together a business plan and pitch it to a panel of judges, with prizes up for grabs.

• Ignite has helped more than 30,000 young people across Staffordshire to develop business skills.