STAFFS: The Co-operative Group was due to release its annual results today.

The group includes The Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), which merged with Leek-based Britannia last year. It will be the first time business through the Britannia brand has been reflected in The Co-operative's results.

The Financial Services Authority gave the merger the green light in August creating a business with £70 billion of assets, nine million customers, more than 12,000 employees and 300-plus branches. CFS includes Britannia, The Co-operative Bank, internet bank smile , and insurance services. The Co-operative Group includes food stores, funeral homes and travel agents as well as CFS. Britannia employs more than 2,000 people at its Leek base.

KIDSGROVE: Police are appealing for information following an attempted child abduction at a supermarket.

A nine-year-old girl was approached by a man at Tesco, in Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove, at around 3.30pm on Friday, March 12.

The man grabbed hold of the girl and attempted to drag her away, but she was able to free herself and return to her mother. She was not harmed.

Police want to hear from anyone who was in the store at the time who might have seen what happened.

The man was in his late 40s, around 6ft tall, with a large build, and was wearing a green body warmer.

Contact Newcastle CID on 0300 1234455 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

STAFFS: The cases of Emma Bestwick and Maria Zamani will be dealt with by the crown court.

Bestwick, aged 18, of London Street, Leek, and Zamani, aged 25, of Ashburton Street, Cobridge, are both accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Ian Eyre at Leek on December 28.

Zamani faces a further allegation of criminal damage.

Both defendants were bailed to appear at the magistrates' court for a committal hearing on May 11.