Man’s body found on side of road

POLICE who discovered a body on the side of a Staffordshire road have confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Emergency services were called to Onecote Road, in Onecote, near Leek, on the afternoon of Saturday, June 12.

Eye-witnesses have reported how the man’s van was found a short distance from his body, with the driver’s door still open and the keys in the ignition.

The man has not yet been named. However, Staffordshire Police have now confirmed that they will not be treating the death as suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

A police spokesman said: “Officers attended Onecote Road following reports that a man’s body had been found. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”

Ambulance Services also attended the scene but could not save the man, reports Stokeontrentlive.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, we discovered one patient, a man. Sadly, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

IT was exactly six months yesterday that the first public Covid-19 vaccination took place in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-trent.

More than 1,250,000 vaccines have been delivered since the first dose on Tuesday, December 15 at Ryecroft Medical Centre in Newcastle-under-lyme.

Today, thousands more will be benefiting from first and second doses across the area.

Last week, even undergraduates joined the queues to get jabs as both Keele and Staffordshire Universities held their own special vaccination clinics.

Dr Paddy Hannigan, leader of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-trent’s Vaccination Programme, gave his first jab at Stafford’s County Showground the day after the programme started. He said: “Universities, a cathedral, factories, sports clubs, even pub car parks – they’ve all played a part in making the programme the success it has been.

“But planning for the vaccination programme started in our GP practices months before there was even a licensed vaccine. We also need to remember that there is still a long way to go.

“There have been a lot of challenges along the way, and we still have hurdles to overcome. However, giving the first dose to our most vulnerable patients was a welcome Christmas present. ■■Rollout to under 23s: P15