Summary

  • Strike action on Northern rail services across the region

  • 200 people at vigil for Katelyn Dawson

  • 'Wee for free' call from Yorkshire singer

  • National Park bosses to meet fracking company

  • Major fire at Nottingham affects Midland Mainline train services from South Yorkshire

  • Rare Sumatran tiger cub born at Flamingo Land's zoo

  • Police appeal over fatal bike crash in Barnsley

  • Man charged over death of York baby

  • North Yorkshire van driver sentenced for road rage attack on cyclist

  • Live updates on Friday 12 January

  1. Landowner faces £10k fine over large wedding partypublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    Callers said up to 300 people attended the celebration.

    Read More
  2. Lorry driver admits causing smart motorway deathspublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    A lorry driver has admitted causing the deaths of two men in a collision on a stretch of smart motorway near Sheffield.

    Jason MercerImage source, South Yorkshire Police

    Alexandru Murgeanu, 22, and Jason Mercer, 44, from Rotherham, died when a lorry crashed into their vehicles on the M1 near Sheffield on 7 June 2019.

    Prezemyslaw Zbigniew Szuba, 40, admitted two counts of causing death by driving without due care and attention when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

    He is due be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on 19 October.

    Mr Mercer's wife, Claire, has mounted a campaign against smart motorways and the case has become a leading example in the ongoing debate over the safety of these roads in the UK.

    The court heard how Mr Mercer, and Mr Murgeanu, from Mansfield, were involved in a "minor bump" on the northbound carriageway of the M1 near Sheffield, between junctions 34 and 35, and had stopped in the left-hand lane.

  3. Man faces £10,000 fine after up to 300 at Leeds weddingpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    A man faces a £10,000 fine after police were called to break up a wedding which was a "blatant breach" of the coronavirus rules, West Yorkshire Police said.

    A police officer's jacket

    Officers were called to the event at a farm on Whitehall Road, New Farnley at about 17:00 on Saturday.

    Up to 300 people were at the event with a person calling police to report a fight having broken out, police say.

    Officers arrived to find a "large number" of people around a marquee in woods which was "in clear breach of Covid-19 regulations".

    A 49-year-old man was identified as being one of the landowners and has been reported for summons for holding a gathering of more than 30 people, the force added.

    Leeds district commander, Ch Supt Damien Miller said: “This large-scale event was an absolutely blatant breach of the coronavirus restrictions that are in place to keep our communities safe from this ongoing threat to public health.

    “It is even more appalling that it came only the day after widespread media coverage highlighting the increased restrictions in Leeds that have been put in place to address recent rises in the district’s coronavirus rates.

    “Everyone should know by now what is expected of them, and no-one can be in any doubt that large gatherings such as this are completely unacceptable."

  4. Thousands still avoiding city centres indicates new datapublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    The number of people going into town and city centres in Yorkshire is still far below pre-lockdown levels, according to new data.

    Commuters in LeedsImage source, Danny Lawson/PA Media

    In March, the government asked people to work from home where possible, meaning many workers left city centre officers.

    According to data used by research group Centre for Cities, Leeds has seen the weakest recovery with just 13% of people returning to the city centre compared with February.

    Wakefield has seen the strongest growth in Yorkshire and is now up to 29% of pre-lockdown activity.

    The footfall figures come from anonymous mobile phone data which was used to work out how many people were in the city centre.

  5. Busy Peak District road to be closed in Octoberpublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    Drivers heading to and from Sheffield are being warned to expect a two-week road closure on a popular route near the city next month.

    RoadworksImage source, PA Media

    The A57 Snake Pass, between Glossop and Bamford, is to be closed for repairs following landslips, Derbyshire County Council said.

    The work is due to take place between 12 October and 25 October, the council added.

    Drivers using the road, which connects Sheffield with Manchester, are being advised to use alternative routes during the work.

  6. Seal dies after getting stuck in fishing litterpublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    A seal has died after being found with fishing line tied around his mouth in North Yorkshire, according to the RSPCA.

    The injured sealImage source, RSPCA

    The animal, which was found on Sunday, 20 September in Ravenscar, had become tangled in the litter meaning "he could hardly breathe", the animal charity said.

    RSPCA inspector Lucy Green said: “The poor animal was clearly in a lot of pain and really suffering.

    “We could clearly see the fishing line was wrapped so tightly around his mouth that it was cutting into the skin, and had clearly been like that for several days - he must have been in so much pain, it was incredibly upsetting to see.”

    When taken to a vet, it was decided the best option was to euthanise the seal due to how severe its injuries were.

    Animal collection officer Martin Whiteley said: “To think that this beautiful wild animal lost his life due to somebody failing to clear up after themselves is devastating.

    "This awful situation could have been so easily prevented if whoever was using the fishing wire had just bothered to collect it up and dispose of it responsibly.”

  7. New pub curfew causes 'carnage', council leader warnspublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    The leader of Leeds City Council says the new 22:00 curfew for pubs and restaurants is causing "carnage" on the streets of Yorkshire.

    A 2m sign in LeedsImage source, PA Media

    Venues have been told by the government to close by 22:00 in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

    However, scenes in York on Saturday showed people gathering on the street shortly after the curfew, prompting the leader of Leeds City Council Judith Blake to label it "carnage".

    She said people can expect more enforcement and more fines as agencies clamp down on people breaking the rules.

    She told BBC Radio Leeds: "I think the government really needs to look very carefully at the experience around the country and see whether this ten o'clock cut off for everyone at the same time is actually the right way to do this.

    "It's clear as we've seen footage from over the weekend of everyone spilling out and just carnage, to be honest."

    Ms Blake added that there was an increase in calls to police over the weekend.

    "But there will be more enforcement now, more fines and that's the new changes that are coming in this week", she said.

  8. Pub curfew crowds 'disappointing' but 'inevitable'published at 11:51 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    Revellers are seen gathering in large crowds in York after pubs and bars adhere to the 10pm curfew.

    Read More
  9. Bradford campaign to dispel Covid conspiraciespublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    The "behind the mask" campaign is targeted at those who believe the virus is a conspiracy.

    Read More
  10. Jason Liversidge sets mobility vehicle world speed recordpublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    A terminally ill man who is paralysed from the neck down has set a world speed record in a custom-made electric wheelchair.

    Jason LiversidgeImage source, PA Media/Kevin Greene

    Jason Liversidge, who has motor neurone disease, reached nearly 67mph (108km/h) at Elvington Airfield, near York.

    The father of two, from Rise in East Yorkshire, had been aiming for the record for about three years.

    The world speed record for an electric all-terrain mobility vehicle was previously 62mph.

    Mr Liversidge - who once hit the headlines for trialling a synthetic voice with a Yorkshire accent - was presented with his official Guinness World Records certificate at the airfield after setting the new mark earlier on Sunday.

    The world record

    Speaking after clutching the record, his wife Liz said: "I think it is safe to say he feels amazing. We just want to thank everyone who has been involved - it's been a long road, but here's finally got there.

    "Everybody has done a fantastic job."

    Jason and his family
  11. Watch: Crowds sing and dance in York street at curfewpublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    Crowds of people gathered as they left pubs and bars in York, video from Saturday night shows.

    The government announced a 22:00 curfew for pubs, restaurants and clubs meaning they had to close at that time or risk being fined.

    Video taken of the scene around Church Street shows people singing and dancing in the street, largely ignoring social distancing rules.

    The council asked people, who are out until the curfew comes begins, to not congregate in large groups while making their way home.

    Councillor Andrew Waller said: "However the virus is still here and cases locally and across the country are rising.

    "Scenes like this put us all at greater risk and give the virus the chance to easily spread, and increases the likelihood of further restrictions which could close down many businesses."

    North Yorkshire Police said the group were dispersed and no arrests were made.

    Crowds sing and dance in York street at curfew

    A large crowd gathered as pubs and bars emptied at 22:00 on Saturday night.

    Read More
  12. Appeal as two seriously injured in Mytholmroyd crashpublished at 09:48 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    A man and a woman have been seriously injured in a head-on crash in West Yorkshire.

    A police officer's jacket

    The pair, who are both in their 50s, were travelling in a red Skoda Octavia on Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd on Friday.

    At about 20:10, they collided with a black BMW travelling in the opposite direction, leaving them both with serious injuries.

    The driver of the Skoda, a 26-year-old man, suffered minor injuries, West Yorkshire Police say.

    The driver and a passenger from the BMW made off from the scene, the force added.

    Anybody who saw the crash, or the occupants of the BMW then running away, are asked to get in touch with police.

  13. Warning over Settle-Carlisle rail disruption in Octoberpublished at 09:19 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    Rail passengers in North Yorkshire are being warned to plan their journeys next month as two bridges are replaced as part of a £2m upgrade project.

    Stainforth BridgeImage source, Network Rail

    Network Rail is replacing the bridges on the Settle-Carlisle line in Craven between 24 and 28 October.

    During that time, a replacement bus service will operate, with the line being closed between Skipton and Kirkby Stephen.

    Nathaly Oshodin, from Network Rail, said: “I’d urge passengers planning to travel between Saturday 24 and Wednesday 28 October to think ahead so they know what to expect from their journey while the railway must be closed for this essential bridge work.

    “We thank local people and passengers for their patience while we carry out this £2m renewal as part of the Great North Rail Project, securing the future of the railway for passengers for decades to come.”

  14. Crowds sing and dance in York street at curfewpublished at 09:17 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    A large crowd gathered as pubs and bars emptied at 22:00 on Saturday night.

    Read More
  15. Yorkshire's Monday weather forecastpublished at 08:30 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    BBC Weather

    A bit warmer today, but a weather front will push in from the west and track eastwards through the day, bringing a spell of rain before clearing to the east later in the evening.

    Mostly dry tonight with clear spells developing for most, however, one or two showers are possible towards western areas.

    weather graphic
  16. Teenage boy dies in York after taking drugspublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    A 15-year-old boy has died after taking illegal drugs, police have said.

    Hospital Fields RoadImage source, Google

    Paramedics were called after he was found by a member of the public in an alley off Hospital Fields Road (pictured above) in York at 04:00 BST on Sunday.

    The boy, from the New Earswick area of the city, was later pronounced dead in hospital.

    North Yorkshire Police said six people aged between 14 and 37 had been arrested on suspicion of drugs supply offences and remain in custody.

    Det Ch Insp Jim Glass said officers believe the boy was with a group of others who were also taking illegal drugs.

    He described the boy's death as an "extremely tragic incident" and said specially trained officers were supporting his family.

    The force has appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

  17. Yorkshire: Latest news and coronavirus updatespublished at 07:38 British Summer Time 28 September 2020

    Breaking news, sport, weather and travel updates from across North, West, East and South Yorkshire.

    Read More
  18. Terminally ill man sets new world speed recordpublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 27 September 2020

    Jason Liversidge, who has motor neurone disease, had been targeting the record for years.

    Read More
  19. Hull KR sign Wakefield back-rower Kingpublished at 18:23 British Summer Time 27 September 2020

    Hull KR sign back-rower George King from Wakefield Trinity with immediate effect, on a deal to expire in 2022.

    Read More
  20. 'Who is this guy?' Leeds' new star Meslierpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 27 September 2020

    Who is the young Leeds goalkeeper impressing fans and pundits and why do Premier League forwards need to watch out?

    Read More