Rumeana Jahangir
BBC News Online

That's all for today from the team. Please join us tomorrow for more news, sport, travel and weather updates from across Merseyside.

Annabel Tiffin
Presenter, North West Tonight

On tonight's programme, we'll report on the safety failures by two companies which led to the deaths of two men in an industrial accident in Kirkby.

There will also be more on whether Liverpool city region leaders have "agreed to the principle" of an elected mayor.

We'll also have the latest from the Hillsborough Inquests, where a former policeman agrees a fan could have been rescued sooner if fence cutters were available.

Ben Schofield
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

A Hillsborough disaster casualty could have been rescued much sooner had the "necessary equipment" to cut fences been available, a jury has been told.

Image source, Hillsborough Inquests

Ex-Sgt William McCall said the barrier separating the terraces and pitch was "well made" and "difficult" to remove.

The new inquests into the 1989 tragedy have focused on the death of David Rimmer of Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

Trevor Gibbons
BBC News, Yorkshire

Two Runcorn firms have been fined a total of more than £500,000 following the death of a diabetic hospital patient who was injected with insulin syringes containing no insulin.

Neil Judge, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, suffered multi-organ failure while he was being treated at the Northern General Hospital, in Sheffield, in November 2010.

Pharmaceutical company Fresenius Kabi, of Eastgate Way, Manor Park, Runcorn, was fined a total of £500,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of the Medicines Act.

Healthcare provider Calea UK, of the same address, was fined £50,000 after also pleading guilty to similar breaches.

BBC Weather

Fine and dry at first, though turning cloudier through the evening.

Patchy rain will spread in from the west, particularly affecting places further north, where some heavier outbreaks are possible.

Tom Mullen
BBC News

Here's our full story on the Sonae factory deaths court case, which has just adjourned until tomorrow.

Image source, Other

Thomas Elmer, 27, and James Bibby, 24, died at the chipboard plant in Kirkby, Merseyside, when a conveyor belt started automatically in 2010.

Sonae and Metso Paper, which carried out maintenance work for Sonae, admitted failing to ensure the safety of their employees. The court heard neither firm produced risk assessments ahead of the accident.

Rumeana Jahangir
BBC News Online

Here are the latest stories from across Merseyside:

• Two firms plead guilty to Heath and Safety breaches after two men were killed at a Kirkby chipboard factory

• A former policeman who was at the Hillsborough disaster agrees a fan could have been rescued sooner if fence cutters were available

• Merseyside Police insist they were right in refusing to publish an online photo of a teenager found guilty of stealing and criminal damage

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy tweets, external: I'm looking forward to seeing the passing out parade for the newest canine recruits this afternoon fb.me/7qUVdXHoY, external

BBC Sport

Liverpool Ladies have signed New Zealand striker Rosie White, subject to international clearance.

Image source, Getty Images

The 22-year-old (pictured here, in white) recently featured for her country at the World Cup, making two substitute appearances.

Liverpool manager Matt Beard told the club's website he was "really pleased" with the signing.

Rumeana Jahangir
BBC News Online

What do you think of BBC local news and radio?

The BBC Trust - the corporation's governing body - is reviewing the BBC's regional output on TV, radio and online.

They are keen to hear what you like or dislike, and what the BBC should do to improve these services. You can find out more here.

Andy Gill
BBC North West Tonight

Two companies have pleaded guilty to breaking heath and safety laws after two men were killed at a chipboard factory in Kirkby.

Image source, Other

Thomas Elmer, 27, and James Bibby, 24, died at the Sonae chipboard factory in Kirkby, Merseyside, when a conveyor belt started automatically in 2010.

Sonae, and Lancashire-based Metso Paper - now known as Valma Ltd - which carried out maintenance work for Sonae, are expected to be sentenced tomorrow.

Rumeana Jahangir
BBC News Online

Two rare onager foals have been born within hours of each other to separate mothers at Chester Zoo.

Image source, Chester Zoo

Onagers, a species of Asiatic wild ass, are classed as critically endangered. Only about 600 remain in the wild, due to illegal poaching, overgrazing and disease.

They are native to the deserts of Mongolia, China and Iran and numbers have declined by more than 50% over the past 16 years.

Rachael Connors
BBC News Online

A rail strike has been called off after Northern Rail threatened to sue the union involved.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union voted to take industrial action in July over a number of issues including zero-hour contracts.

Northern Rail took legal advice and said the ballot was "unlawful". The RMT has written to its members calling off the dispute, blaming "legal loopholes".

Arif Ansari
Political editor, North West

Council leaders have not "agreed to the principle" of an elected mayor for the Liverpool City Region, the chair of the combined authority has told the BBC.

Treasury Minister Lord O'Neill claimed on Wednesday the region's leaders had "signed up to the concept" in talks, but Councillor Phil Davies - the leader of Wirral Council - said: "I have no idea why he is saying this."

He said councils were "keeping our options open" about how it would work, and over the issue of having a mayor.

Rumeana Jahangir
BBC News Online

I've taken over the page now and will be with you for the rest of the afternoon.

Feel free to get in touch via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

Lindsey Prosser
BBC North West Tonight

One of the defendants accused of murdering PC Neil Doyle has told Liverpool Crown Court he was never violent and played no part in the attack.

Christopher Spendlove, along with Andrew Taylor and Timmy Donovan, is accused of murdering the off-duty PC in December last year and seriously wounding two other officers while they were on a Christmas night out.

In his statement, Mr Spendlove said he was on a night out to celebrate his birthday when the troubled flared and it was over in a matter on minutes. He said he couldn't recall how the violence started.

Phil Cooper
BBC Radio Merseyside

Police say they will issue leaflets featuring a photo of a boy given an Asbo in Birkenhead in the area the offences were committed so people can report any breaches of the conditions of the order.

Fourteen-year-old Jay Coleman, from Rodney Street in Birkenhead, committed a catalogue of offences, including theft and criminal damage.

Birkenhead MP Frank Field had criticised the force for deciding not to publish a photograph of the teenager online, something which police said would be a "disproportionate act".

Jenny Coleman
BBC Local Live

Today's top stories on Merseyside:

• Liverpool Crown Court hears one of the defendants accused of murdering PC Neil Doyle claim he was never violent and played no part in the attack.

• The new Hillsborough inquests are told fans and officers tore a hole in a pen fence so 38-year-old victim David Rimmer could be carried onto the pitch.

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport has seen 9% more passengers fly from there in June than at the same time last year, according to new figures.

Chester Standard

A cat shot with a high-powered air rifle in Blacon may have been mistaken for a squirrel, external, its owner believes.

BBC Sport

Many of England's Lionesses, including Liverpool-born striker Toni Duggan, have been treated to a reception by the Duke of Cambridge at Kensington Palace following the team's heroics at the World Cup in Canada.

Image source, PA

England lost the semi-final to Japan but beat Germany to claim third place.

"Thanks for coming over for breakfast England Lionesses and congratulations again on an amazing tournament," read a Kensington Palace tweet, external.