Local Democracy Reporting Service

York currently has the country’s ninth lowest Covid rate, public health bosses have said.

Image source, PA Media

The latest rate for York is 15.7 cases per 100,000 people – which works out at about 25 to 30 positive test results a week, Fiona Phillips from the city’s public health team said.

The rate for residents of the city over the age of 60 is even lower, at 12.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Ms Phillips told York's outbreak management advisory board on Wednesday: "We are really seeing the numbers drop.

"That is the lowest rate within the Yorkshire and Humber region. It’s the ninth lowest rate across the country."

She added that the latest statistics for Covid patients at York Hospital Trust showed there were 12 in-patients – nine in general or acute wards and three in the Intensive Therapy Unit.

A university student built and installed a bin bag dispenser in a West Yorkshire park where crowds left stacks of rubbish.

Piles of litter were strewn across Woodhouse Moor, in Hyde Park, Leeds, last week as groups gathered amid warm weather and the easing of lockdown measures.

Jack Colmer (pictured below), 22, said he'd felt "ashamed" so built the black bag device as a potential solution.

Mr Colmer, a Leeds Beckett University student, who is from Newcastle, said: "I do a lot of DIY and building in my spare time as a hobby, so I just started putting something together, making it up as I went along, and it eventually ended up as a bin bag dispenser."

He added: "The litter in the place was unacceptable and I think as a community we can do better than that.

"I genuinely believe that people don't want to litter, but they never really have the supplies or the bin bags there on the day to do it so, hopefully, this will encourage people to go grab a bag and pick their stuff up."

Mr Colmer said he had received lots of positive messages since he installed the dispenser, with one local bar even offering him a tab which he said he was looking forward to spending once pubs reopen.

He also said he hoped his efforts would help remove the "bad image" surrounding students and littering.

A widow has to wait to arrange her husband's funeral because of a coroner's backlog caused by Covid.

BBC Sport

The final of the World Championship is set to be played in front of a capacity crowd at the Crucible Theatre in May.

The return of fans will be staggered throughout the event, with the venue in Sheffield starting at 33% capacity.

World Snooker says face coverings will be required in the venue but social distancing "will not be expected" as the number of fans increases.

The final two days of the 2020 championship, won by Ronnie O'Sullivan (pictured), were played in front of a limited number of spectators.

The tournament is part of the government's pilot scheme to ensure fans can safely return to sporting and cultural venues.

The venue will operate at 33% capacity for the first round of matches between 17-21 April before increasing to 50% for the second round.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played in front of a 75% capacity crowd.

Fans will be required to take a Covid-19 test before arriving and another five days afterwards.

No under-18s, vulnerable adults or pregnant women will be allowed to attend.

Sarah Wakefield
BBC Radio Leeds News

Council and NHS buildings are turning blue in Bradford tonight to celebrate a quarter of a million people getting their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

Image source, Google

The clocktower at City Hall in the city centre will be one of the buildings to be lit up.

Chief Nurse Karen Dawber, from Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: "This milestone is a significant one for all of us as our health and care colleagues, partners and volunteers, have worked tirelessly since the first vaccine was delivered.

"Since December, we've been indebted to the efforts of NHS staff, our local councils and community and voluntary groups across the area."

The NHS is reminding people who've had the vaccine they still need to follow national government guidance to protect both themselves and others from Covid-19.

A rare albino baby wallaby born during the coronavirus lockdown will be among the new attractions when a wildlife park reopens to the public on Monday.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Media

The new arrival was born to one of the senior wallabies at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, at some point during the park's enforced closure due to coronavirus restrictions.

It's thought to be the first albino wallaby at the attraction.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Media

Baby joeys spend most of their time hidden in their mother's pouch, so visitors will be lucky if they get a glimpse.

Staff say they still do not know the sex of the newcomer or exactly when he or she was born.

Ricky Collins, 31, died in hospital after being found with stab wounds in Killamarsh.

Claire Mercer says it is "vital" those affected by smart motorway crashes contribute to an inquiry.

The bats were discovered at an arts centre near Bradford close to the Brontë sisters' birthplace.

George Tunney admits stealing almost £100,000 in cash and causing £60,000 in from ATMs last year.

Young fundraiser 'Captain Tobias' says he feels "magnificent" after learning his donations will fund a new specialist children's hospital post.

Image source, Danny lawson/PA

Tobias Weller, 10, from Sheffield, was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to do a series of ongoing challenges during lockdown, raising more than £150,000.

Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, split funds between his school and The Children's Hospital Charity. The charity said a new role would be created, based in his home city.

The two-year Children's Exercise and Physical Activity Therapist post will be based at Ryegate Children's Centre.

Tobias said: "It makes me feel magnificent. If another child managed to achieve what I have achieved because of my fundraising I'll be chuffed to bits."

His mum, Ruth Garbutt, said: "The Ryegate Centre plays a huge part in Tobias' ongoing care."

Tobias initially set out to raise £500 by walking 26.2 miles over three months through his daily exercise in his Sheffield street, using a walker.

He is currently part-way through an ironman challenge, adding 112 miles on his tricycle and a 1.5-mile swim to his marathon.

Ms Garbutt continued: "It is quite overwhelming to know Tobias has raised money which will, potentially, change the lives of other children. What a legacy that is."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

An electric vehicle charging ‘"hyper hub" could be built near York city centre, it's been confirmed.

Image source, LDRS

City of York Council is already building two ultra fast charging hubs at Monks Cross and Poppleton Bar park and ride sites (artist's impression above), but a third is planned for the Union Terrace Car Park.

Council transport boss Councillor Andy D’Agorne will be asked to approve the project at a meeting next week.

The third hub was originally due to be built at York Hospital, but following issues with land ownership and routes to the site, transport bosses decided Union Terrace would be a better choice.

The site is close to the hospital and owned by the council.

Image source, Google

Under the plans about 15 car parking spaces would be converted into charging areas. Six rapid chargers will be installed, with room for more to be added at a later date if needed.

The charging area would be separate to the main car park and open 24 hours a day.

The project is set to cost about £900,000.

Work has already begun at the two park and ride hub sites – with the Monks Cross project due to open as early as 14 June according to provisional timetables.

The Poppleton Bar site, which is currently being used as a Covid test centre, is due to be completed slightly later, but the construction area has been cleared for work to begin.

Three bats found nesting in the roof of an arts and community centre in the birthplace of Yorkshire's literary Bronte family have been named after the famous sisters.

Image source, Karol Wyszynski

The bats, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, have made a home in the South Square Centre, a collection of 19th Century Grade II-listed workers cottages in Thornton, near Bradford.

In 2020, the centre was awarded National Heritage Lottery funding so restoration work could be carried out there, including on its roof.

When the work started, the team discovered three Pipistrelle bats were frequent visitors.

Image source, Karol Wyszynski

Centre director Yvonne Carmichael said: "The village of Thornton is famous for being the birthplace of the Brontes.

“South Square does a lot of work around the family, so it was only right we named our bats after the three remarkable sisters.”

Image source, Karol Wyszynski

To ensure their survival and safety, the team has worked with local ecologists who suggested they install a bat box.

Heritage assistant Chloe Moreton set to work designing a box with a difference - a replica of the house in which the Brontes were born, just a couple of minutes' walk from South Square.

When the centre reopens, visitors will be able to see the Bronte Bat Box from the its garden, staff say.

Tobias Weller, 10, has raised more than £150,000 by completing challenges near his Sheffield home.

Five fire crews are continuing to fight a fire at a scrap metal recycling plant in Doncaster.

Image source, SYFRS

Sixty firefighters were called out to the blaze at Carr Hill in Balby at 21:20 on Monday, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said.

About 30 remain at the scene this morning, with road closures in place and people urged to avoid the area.

Nearby residents have been advised to keep their windows and doors shut due to smoke.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. A fire investigation is due to begin once the blaze is completely out, the service said.

Police are appealing for witnesses after an attack in South Yorkshire in which a delivery driver was repeatedly driven at by two men on a moped.

Image source, Google

The victim was delivering parcels on Alexandra Road, Sheffield, at about 14:45 on Thursday 1 April when the men attempted to steal items from him, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Det Sgt Leanne Hearnshaw says: "The driver challenged the men but was then assaulted by them and knocked over after the moped was driven at him repeatedly.

"This was a nasty assault on a man who was simply going about his daily job. This should not be happening on our streets and everyone who witnessed this was left very distressed."

The attackers are described as white, in their early 20s and wearing black clothing and balaclavas.

They are believed to have been riding a black moped, officers added.

Anyone who has information about what happened is being asked to contact police.

A former discount store destroyed by fire is to be developed into a business park, creating up to 100 jobs.

Image source, NPTYORKNORTH

The B&M store at Clifton Moor retail park in York was gutted by the blaze on 13 October 2018.

Harrogate-based Marrtree Investments, which owns more than 20 business parks across the north of England, has purchased the 2.4-acre site.

The company said it aimed to build "high-quality" business units, subject to planning permission.

The blaze started in a storage yard at the property and rapidly spread to the store. Despite the shop being open at the time no injuries were reported.

An investigation said the likeliest cause was discarded smoking materials in the storage yard, which was a no-smoking area.

William Marshall, director of Marrtree Investments said the company's plan could create up to 100 new jobs.

The government is to take more time to examine a £150m scheme to redevelop Leeds Bradford Airport.

Jack Colmer built the creation himself after seeing pictures of litter in Woodhouse Moor.

Two adults have been photographed trespassing with a child along an active railway line in West Yorkshire.

Image source, KWVR

The image above, taken at about 15:30 on Sunday, shows the group in between the tracks on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR), the line which featured in the 1970 classic film The Railway Children.

The line is closed for passengers until 17 April due to coronavirus restrictions, but is still in regular use for training and engineering services, KWVR said.

Noel Hartley, KWVR operations manager, said: "It's incredibly frustrating and disheartening to see people doing this regardless of the risks involved.

"We've been running engineering trains throughout all of this, the public perception has been there's no risk because we're closed and that just isn't the case."

The line had been used "intensively" for training over the Easter bank holiday, Mr Hartley added, with a train passing every 40 minutes between Wednesday and Friday.

Mr Hartley said: "Taking kids for a walk on the railway is really silly. It starts to instil the idea in children that it's OK to trespass on the railway property."