Sheffield City Council should apologise to the people of the city because of the way it removed street trees, the local government ombudsman has said.

Image source, Peter Byrne/PA Media

Workers and campaigners clashed during long-running protests about the future Sheffield's street trees.

Thousands of trees have been felled since the start of a £2.2bn 25-year programme of works, having been assessed as either dangerous, dead, diseased, dying, damaging or discriminatory.

A compromise between campaigners and the council was agreed two years ago.

A new report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman says at times the council did not act with "openness and transparency".

An investigation from the ombudsman found the council "at fault" for the way it corresponded with a man about complaints from 2016.

It was after contractors started work at 05:00, something the council was criticised for.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Michael King said: “This case highlights the imperative for councils to act with honesty, openness and transparency – without this people can lose faith in their integrity and not trust they are doing the right thing.

“I welcome the hard work the council has since done to restore people’s faith, and publish more information to increase transparency. Apologising to the people of Sheffield for its past actions and acknowledging what went wrong will help build that trust further."

York's Christmas Market has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Geograph/Ian Capper

Council bosses said the decision had been taken to scrap the St Nicholas Fair on Parliament Street as well as the city centre Remembrance Day parade in order to curb the spread of the virus.

York has been placed on the "medium" Covid alert level in the government's new three-tier lockdown system, external, but City of York Council says it is possible the city could be moved onto "high" alert as infection rates are "above the national average".

Sharon Stoltz, director of public health at City of York Council, said: “York is currently experiencing increasing rates of transmission – with more hospital admissions, more calls to NHS 111 and more positive test results.

"Reversing the increasing rates of infection and stopping the spread is of vital importance to our city and country."

Leeds Rhinos winger Tom Briscoe extends his contract until the end of the 2022 season.

People in Leeds who use fireworks in an anti-social or threatening way could face arrest, imprisonment or fines after a court injunction was granted to the city council.

The injunction means extra powers for the local authority and West Yorkshire Police to take action against anyone who misuses fireworks.

The order has been granted by Leeds County Court and initially runs until 30 November.

Councillor Debra Cooper, executive member for communities, says the injunction "will not only provide us with additional tools to stop this type of reckless behaviour, but also with the powers to take quick and positive action against those involved".

Supt Jackie Marsh, from West Yorkshire Police, says she hopes it will "send a very clear deterrent message" to those who misuse fireworks

"We will be making full use of the injunction as part of our efforts to tackle the issue with the aim of making long-term improvements for residents," she adds.

Yorkshire all-rounder Matthew Waite agrees a two-year contract extension with the county.

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A cloudy start will bring some patches of rain this morning with showers continuing this afternoon and occasional sunshine.

The rain will ease around sunset with clear skies for a time tonight:

The new three-tier system of Covid-19 restrictions has begun in England.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Every area is now classified as being on medium, high or very high alert - tiers one, two and three.

Most of the country is in the lowest tier, but Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield are all in Tier 2.

People living in Tier 2 areas are not allowed to meet socially with people they do not live with indoors. That includes in private homes, pubs or restaurants.

All other areas in Yorkshire are classed as being in Tier 1, which is the medium alert level.

In Tier 1 areas the rule of six applies, which means people may not meet in a group of more than six people, indoors or outdoors.

The Liverpool region is the only area to be under the toughest rules, with pubs and bars not serving meals closed.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

More than 600 jobs could be axed as Leeds City Council makes huge cuts to next year's budget.

Image source, Google

Early blueprints for the 2021/22 budget also include the closure of two care homes, a country park visitor centre and a recycling centre.

It follows news the council was facing a £119m budget shortfall for 2021/22, thanks partly to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its leader warned further cuts would be required without a government bailout.

A report, set to be discussed at an executive board meeting on 21 October, outlined an "overall anticipated reduction in the workforce for 2021/22 of 617 posts".

Leeds City Council said it would "make every effort to avoid any compulsory redundancies being made".

Two care homes, a country park visitor centre and a recycling centre are earmarked for closure.

Sir Tom said it was "wonderful" to be awarded the first railcard giving veterans a travel discount.

Warrington move into Super League's top four after beating a young Leeds side with an eye on Saturday's Challenge Cup final.

Marc Sneyd kicks a late penalty goal to earn Hull FC victory over Huddersfield Giants in a see-sawing Super League game.

The director of public health for Leeds voices her concerns after three sites are put on standby.

Spearmint Rhino has been on Brown Street in Sheffield for 18 years and closed its doors in March.

Yeovil remain winless in the National League this season after a draw with FC Halifax at The Shay.

A Harrogate pub stripped of its licence for breaking lockdown rules could reopen under the control of a new landlord.

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The Coach and Horses, on West Park, had its licence revoked in July after setting up tables and chairs for customers buying takeaway drinks when lockdown restrictions were much tighter.

Samantha Nelson, the daughter of the previous landlord John Nelson, has now applied to take over the pub that has been in the family for over 30 years, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Her application will be heard by Harrogate Borough Council on October 29.

Broadcaster Harry Gration, the well-known presenter of the BBC Yorkshire news programme Look North, is to leave the corporation after 42 years.

Mr Gration, who joined the BBC in 1978 and Look North in 1982, will present his last show on 21 October, the day before his 70th birthday.

Following his decision to leave, his co-presenter, Amy Garcia, will continue as lead presenter.

He said: "It's been a privilege to meet the people of the county I love."

Mr Gration began filing match reports for the BBC while working as a history teacher in the mid 1970s.

He has covered nine Olympic Games for the BBC and won two Royal Television Society awards for sports documentaries in 1992 and 1997.

He won the prestigious RTS Best Presenter award twice.

He recently became a father for the sixth time, as he and his wife Helen welcomed baby Hamilton to the world.

Harry said: "I've worked with the best of the best and leave Look North in the good hands of Amy and the team, although I don't know how Paul Hudson is going to cope without me checking his forecasts! Seriously though, I'll miss my good old mate.

"I'm looking forward to some new broadcasting adventures and some special time with my family and a certain one year old!"

A £6m camera system has already been installed to monitor traffic for the scheme in Leeds.

The broadcaster has presented Yorkshire TV news programme Look North since 1982.

Anton Shields violently shook two-month old Cody Shields-Holman while left alone with him.