Two children who were kept in care for too long have been awarded damages from West Yorkshire Police and Wakefield Council.

Image source, Google

The children, aged seven and two at the time, were taken into care after their parents' arrest, the Family Division of the High Court in Bradford heard.  

They spent nearly 10 months away from their mother, despite her not being charged with any offences.  

Mr Justice Cobb said the case exposed "serious and systemic flaws" in the police force and the local authority.

The number of major arson attacks in West Yorkshire has risen dramatically this year. 

Image source, Lewis Martin

The number of malicious fires jumped by 285 between April and October this year, according to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS).

The service says there were 834 reports in the same period last year, with this year seeing 1,068 incidents of "primary arson". 

In total, fire crews spent 29% of their time dealing with arson incidents, says WYFRS. 

Sale Sharks signed Denny Solomona after he was "fired" by Castleford, according to the Premiership rugby union club's director of rugby Steve Diamond.  

Diamond has previously said the winger, 23, "resigned" from rugby league:

Castleford Tigers say they have been instructed by their legal representatives not to comment.

Good news if you're planning on flying somewhere from West Yorkshire for Christmas:

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the funeral of a man from Halifax who spent most of his life working to improve relations between different faiths.

Rajinder Singh Panesar, who died earlier this month at the age of 69, was a prominent member of the Sikh community here and around the country. 

His funeral is due to take place later at a Sikh temple in Bradford.

Police have issued an "urgent" appeal for help in finding a vulnerable teenager who's gone missing from home in West Yorkshire, external and who has links to the Derby area.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Charlotte Beasley, 15, was reported missing from her home in Outwood, Wakefield, at about 20:10 yesterday evening.

She's described as white, 5ft 4ins tall, medium build, with shoulder length brown hair worn in a ponytail.

She was last seen wearing a black padded Barbour jacket, black leggings, black and white trainers and silver hoop earrings.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is being asked to contact police.

A West Yorkshire museum with close links to the famous Bronte sisters closes for the last time today.

Image source, Mark Stevenson

Kirklees Council decided in October to close the Grade II-listed Red House in Gomersal to save money. 

Much of Charlotte Bronte's second novel, Shirley, is set at the house which is renamed Briarmains in the book.

Community groups interested in taking over the building have until March to put forward their plans for the site. 

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

It's a dry start, but take a brolly with you today, we've got some showers later.

Watch my full forecast below:

BBC Travel

The roads really are looking good this morning, but we do have a few issues. Here's your snapshot of the situation this morning:

• There's slow traffic on the A58 Easterly Road westbound in Harehills in Leeds
• There's heavy traffic on the A629 Halifax Road in both directions in Huddersfield at the Ainley Top Roundabout
• The Leeds Outer Ring road (A6110) around Beeston is busy eastbound at the A62 Gelderd Road junction
• And heavy traffic's reported on the A58 Halifax Road westbound in Hipperholme at the A644 Brighouse Road junction

That's all for now folks, I'll tell you if things change.

Fire crews have been tackling a blaze at a pub in Pool in Wharfedale which started in the early hours of this morning.

Image source, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

It started in the kitchen of the White Hart Pub and, at its height, about 30 firefighters were involved in bringing it under control.

Fire crews managed to stop it spreading through the building, according to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Nick Wilmshurst
BBC Local Live, Leeds

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of news, sport, weather and travel for West Yorkshire. I'll be here keeping you up-to-date with the latest until 18:00.  

Well, what can I say about the roads? It's the one upside of working in this week before Christmas:

Image source, Highways England/Crown Copyright

And the weather's not too bad either:

More than 100 teddies are delivered to a hospital to keep sick children company over Christmas.

Nick Wilmshurst
BBC Local Live, Leeds

Well that's all from me for today, I'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel for West Yorkshire.

Updates on breaking news and travel will continue throughout the night.

But before I go, let's look back at some of our stories from today:

1. Oooh, fancy, Leeds is to get a posh celebrity restaurant
2.  A royal stopped off in Huddersfield
3. Bradford's theatres could be sold off
4. There's a call in parliament to save Bradford Bulls
5. David Wagner is Huddersfield Town through and through

See you tomorrow.

Keeley Donovan
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

 A dry evening with clear spells. Cloud thickens with patchy rain later. Overnight lows of 4C (39F). 

Some dry and bright weather at either end of the day but for a time breezy with showery heavy rain tracking south east. Highs of 8C (46F). 

You can see some photos of our region on our Instagram page, @bbcyorkshire., external

Why not tag your posts #bbcyorkshire for a chance to be featured too?

A racing helmet, worth £6,000 has been stolen in Leeds.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Thieves targeted United Autosports in Isabella Road, Garforth, shortly after 16:00 on 29 November.

The burglars used a white van and stole a toolbox, two bicycles, a television and the John Falb helmet, which is a one-of-a-kind team racing helmet.　

Halifax Courier

A Leeds chef is battling it out in the kitchen this week as he competes to be named MasterChef: The Professionals champion, external.

Image source, Halifax courier

BBC Travel

As we head into that time of day, I thought it'd be worth a quick look at the roads:

• Looking very busy on the A629 around Keighley, on South Street, High Street and North Street
• There's heavy traffic on A644 Huddersfield Road westbound in Ravensthorpe 
• We've got slow traffic on A58(M) Inner Ring Road westbound in Leeds at A58, Armley Gyratory
• And there's congestion on A6177 Whetley Lane in Bradford around the B6145 Thornton Road junction

Apart from that all looks pretty good... so far.

In the wake of Monday's Christmas market lorry attack in Berlin, West Yorkshire Police say that they have "detailed plans for protecting public events".

Image source, AFP

They say that have considered a "range of threats", including the use of HGVs.

In a statement the force says that plans are in place for any such attack over the Christmas and New Year period and that they already recognise the current terror threat is at "severe".

A man who was missing after being assaulted in Leeds has been found safe and well, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Jim Smith had been missing since the early hours of this morning.