Dispersal powers granted to police in York may be used in an effort to prevent anti-social behaviour in parts of the city this weekend, the North Yorkshire force says.

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Areas including the Knavesmire, Millennium Bridge and Earswick are covered by the powers which allow officers to require people and groups to move on.

It coincides with the final day of term for students in their final year of school, North Yorkshire Police say.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Lee Pointon said: "We understand people will want to relax and celebrate this weekend - and as long as they do that in safe, considerate and legal way, there are no issues whatsoever with that.

"Residents also want to enjoy their weekend without being affected by crime and anti-social behaviour.

"So the solution is dispersal powers, which give us the power to disperse groups and individuals from an area as a last resort."

The dispersal powers are in place today and Saturday from midday until 02:00.

PA Media

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed the HS2 rail project will go all the way to Leeds after fears over mounting costs had prompted speculation over the full scheme going ahead.

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Work on phase one of the high-speed rail project from London to Birmingham is ongoing while phase 2a is set to run from Birmingham to Crewe and 2b includes linking Birmingham and Leeds.

However after a government-commissioned review warned the final bill could reach £106bn there were concerns the connection to Leeds could be scrapped.

But speaking at an online event for the Policy Exchange think tank on Thursday, Mr Shapps said it will be finished in full.

He said: "We are going to complete HS2 and include HS2 on the eastern leg to Leeds.

"And the only question that we have is how to better integrate that with plans which were developed a very long way since HS2 was first dreamt up all those decades ago and that pertains to the Northern Powerhouse Rail."

Emma Tuck is fundraising for life-changing treatment to allow her stomach to process food.

Patients' tempers are "flaring" as appointment restrictions ease, the NHS in North Yorkshire says.

One of the notes features an image of York Minster, while another was issued by a Hull bank in 1772.

BBC Radio Leeds

The leader of Leeds City Council says people should soon start seeing the benefits of months of disruptive roadworks in the city centre.

Drivers and businesses have been complaining about long queues and diversions, particularly at weekends.

Community nurse Kate Ward told BBC Radio Leeds: “The traffic this weekend was something else. On Saturday, I was an hour late for my first visit, but it had a knock-on effect for the rest of the shift.”

Some of the work is part of a plan to make it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to get around.

Major disruption has also been caused by the replacement of the Regent Street flyover, external.

Taxi driver Ramzan Zaman said: “It’s driving the public away from the city centre. We are in difficult times, picking up disabled people to take them home, because they can’t find their way around town.”

The council has now announced changes to some of the flyover work, to help reduce traffic jams at weekends.

Council leader James Lewis said he understood the work was disruptive.

He added that there was no choice but to do a lot of the construction at the same time as government money came with a caveat that the work had to be finished by a certain date.

Passengers have boarded the first plane to leave Doncaster Sheffield airport for a green list country after Covid restrictions on travel were eased.

The flight to Faro in Portugal departed from the South Yorkshire airport at 08:15 on Thursday.

Portugal is one of the countries on the green list, meaning people won't need to isolate when they get back.

The Davies family from York (pictured), said they were looking for "sun, relaxing by the pool and getting away from it all".

Mum Helen said: "We actually booked it a couple of months ago, so we couldn't quite believe it when Portugal was on the green list - that was really lucky"

On England's traffic light list, foreign countries are classed as green, amber or red - with different rules for quarantine and Covid tests in place for each.

Government guidance is that you should not holiday in red or amber countries.

The deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Sheffield has been called on to resign after a review recommended closing the institution's renowned archaeology school.

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More than 16,000 people signed a petition opposing its closure and academics across the UK have called for it to be saved.

The university say some teaching will remain, but within other departments.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, archaeology professor Umberto Albarella said: "It worries me about the future of the university.

"I mean the pro vice chancellor has driven this process, I think she should really consider her position."

The Council for British Archaeology said any kind of closure would be "devastating".

It added: "The university has a very high profile in the archaeological and academic world and has made huge contributions to the country's higher education profile."

A University of Sheffield spokesperson said they were "committed to retaining areas of strength in archaeology teaching and research".

They added: "The university’s Executive Board is recommending that key areas of strength are aligned to other university departments, with enhanced investment for excellence. "

There'll be a final decision on the proposal on 12 July.

Sheffield United appoint former Watford and Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic as their new manager on a three-year deal.

Dr Dean Eggitt, a GP in Doncaster, opened his doors to the BBC to show the pressures facing practices.

The boxes, made for a student project, were removed hours after being installed in a Leeds park.

Two ex-police officers and a force solicitor are acquitted of perverting the course of justice.

Harrogate Town sign midfielder Alex Pattison on an undisclosed-length contract after the expiry of his deal at Wycombe Wanderers.

Q Gentlemen's Barbers in York was closed down on Wednesday for failing to follow Covid-safe rules.

Two new railway stations are planned for Leeds as part of a multimillion-pound government investment plan, it's been confirmed.

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Funding has been approved for a stop at White Rose and another at Thorpe Park.

Money is also being made available for electrification on the Transpennine route.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said a £317m boost would see the TransPennine line electrified between York and Church Fenton and tracks doubled around Leeds and Huddersfield to "improve connectivity".

The project will also see journey times between Sheffield and London cut by up to 30 minutes, the DfT said.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the money would help deliver services "passengers can count on".

Mr Shapps said the aim was to create "a modern, green and innovative railway".

The director of public health for Sheffield has warned the coronavirus infection rate is "likely to rise".

Latest data shows the rate of infection in the city has now fallen to 32 cases per 100,000 people.

But as restrictions ease, Greg Fell said: "I think our rates will go back up in the not too distant future."

Mr Fell added: "I've been wrong before, I hope to be wrong again, but we'll see - but with more mixing indoors I think an increase in rate is likely, but not inevitable."

Earlier this week, following the launch of an investigation into a new Covid variant which caused 49 cases of infection, mostly in Yorkshire and the Humberside region, Mr Fell said: "We want you to continue doing what you have been for the past year.

"Follow the guidance, continue to wash your hands regularly and wear a mask indoors.

"Where cases have been identified, additional follow-up of cases, testing of contacts and targeted case-finding will be used to limit the spread of variants."

A review says the school should close and merge "key areas of strength" with other departments.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A barbershop in York has been closed down by police after failing to follow Covid safe rules, it's been confirmed.

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Police and City of York Council officers went to Q Gentlemen’s Barbers on Bishopthorpe Road today.

The council has previously issued two orders to the business to shut temporarily, following claims it was not following Covid safety rules.

Matt Boxall, head of public protection at the council, said: “It has not been able to trade in a Covid-secure way as other businesses in the city do.”

The council has already issued 12 fixed penalty notices to the barbershop, totalling £33,000 in fines.