The catacombs at Sheffield Cemetery have been opened up to allow a team of specialist engineers to understand more about how they were built and carry out repair work.

Image source, Sheffield City Council

Situated in the city's general cemetery, the 19th Century structures were partially repaired in the 1930s but now Sheffield City Council wants to ensure their long-term conservation.

Funded by the National Lottery, the catacombs have been opened for engineers to see what work needs to be done.

The council said there is very little risk of disturbance to burials, however an archaeologist has been supervising the work.

Image source, Sheffield City Council

The country's first electric ambulance has been launched by a conversion firm in Bradford.

Image source, VCS

Vehicle Conversion Specialists, which converts ambulances for a range of NHS trusts, is behind the zero-emission project.

The electric ambulance is being designed, developed and produced in Bradford.

The company says it's the first electric ambulance to enter front-line service in Europe.

It's being trialled by West Midlands Ambulance Service throughout this month, it added.

The ambulance has a top speed of 75mph and can travel more than 100 miles between charges.

Image source, VCS

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Barnsley Hospital is once again admitting coronavirus patients following a rise in cases in the borough.

Image source, Google

After a dip in cases in August, Covid-19 patients from Barnsley needing hospitalisation were sent to the specialist infectious diseases unit at Sheffield's Hallamshire Hospital.

The number of infections in Barnsley currently stands at 54 cases per 100,000 people in the week from 21 to 27 September – above the national average of 28.

This is 57 more cases than the previous week, and 249 coronavirus-related deaths have been registered up to 18 September.

Bob Kirton, Deputy Chief Executive at Barnsley Hospital told a meeting of the board of directors this morning, that there are five Covid-19 patients in the hospital, and 48 members of staff are self-isolating.

Mr Kirton added: “I think people are aware of an escalating situation, and the rate of infection within Barnsley is much lower that for other areas, but we know from neighbouring trusts that inpatient numbers are increasing rapidly.

“We’re making sure we’re prepared as possible. Based on yesterday’s announcements there is no change yet."

He added that winter pressures, have added to an “escalating situation”, but reassured the public that demand is being met.

A fatal accident occurs during attempts to break the speed record at a former RAF base near York.

A late Jake Connor try gives Hull FC victory at Castleford in a feisty Super League game.

It comes after a photo emerged of a fire exit at accommodation in Leeds being tied shut with cable ties.

Stricter measures will be introduced in Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.

A rise in cases in the city means it has been identified by Public Health England for extra support.

Sean Anthony Waterhouse stabbed his victim after taking him to get cash to pay a debt.

A drag artist from Bradford has said Britain's night-time economy has been "left to rot".

Paul Houldsworth, who performs as Marigold Addams, regularly worked at nightclubs in Bradford before the coronavirus pandemic and is now calling for more support from the government.

He said: "Bradford's 'West End' was normally bustling and busy and full of life and now, it's all boarded up and closed."

"It's knowing that things won't come back that really upsets me."

A spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "We fully recognise the challenges facing pubs and nightclubs, which is why we put in place an unprecedented package of support, including billions of grants and loans, cuts to VAT and business rates relief."

Five welders visiting the Isle of Man from England are jailed for breaking Covid-19 quarantine rules.

The man is the third to die in recent cow tramplings, with the latest also leaving a woman badly hurt.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis has warned people in South Yorkshire the region is at a "critical moment" in the fight against coronavirus.

Image source, PA Media

Speaking after Sheffield was escalated to an area of enhanced support and Rotherham was named an area of concern, Mr Jarvis MP called on residents to "play their part" and warned that if infection rates continue to rise "we won’t hesitate to call on the Government to bring in local lockdown measures".

He said: "We can prevent this. By working together, maintaining social distance, limiting our contact with others, and crucially isolating if you have symptoms or have been asked to isolate, we can stop the spread of the virus.

“I know that people in South Yorkshire are strong and resolute. We look out for each other and have the resilience and grit to get through these challenging times. At this critical moment, before winter starts to bite, I’m calling on everyone in South Yorkshire to stick to the rules so we can all stay safe - and together, we will get through this.”

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A man who coughed at a police officer during the national lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic has been ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

Jack Bingley, of Loakfield Drive in Sheffield, was arrested on Chesterfield Road by police responding to an alleged assault in Dronfield on 2 April.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and assault by beating.

At Chesterfield Magistrates' Court on Wednesday he was also ordered to pay a total of £250 in compensation to the officer and another man, as well as court costs and a victim surcharge, and was given a four-year driving ban for failing to provide a breath test.

Image source, Google

A second man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed in Doncaster earlier this week.

Emergency services were called to Balby Road at about 14:20 on Monday to reports of a man being injured.

The 26-year-old victim remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Police arrested a 26-year-old man yesterday in Sheffield on suspicion of attempted murder. He remains in police custody, South Yorkshire Police said.

A second man, aged 19, was also arrested yesterday on suspicion of assisting an offender and is also in custody.

The arrests come after a 30-year-old man was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of attempted murder and a 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both men have been bailed.

Sheffield has been upgraded to an "area of of enhanced support" following a continued rise in coronavirus cases.

The city was escalated from an "area of concern" to an "area of enhanced support", with an infection rate of 105.3 per 100,000 in the week to 28 September, up from 70.6 in the week ending 21 September.

Wakefield was also added as an area of concern, as was Rotherham.

At this stage, there are no extra restrictions being imposed on any of the three areas.

An "area of of enhanced support" will be provided with more national support and additional resources deployed.

These could include additional testing and help increase the effectiveness of testing and tracing.

The government uses three definitions for watchlists, it says, including areas of concern, areas of enhanced support, and areas of intervention.

Earlier today it was revealed that 114 students and two members of staff at the University of Sheffield have reported testing positive for coronavirus since Monday.

Sheffield has been named as an 'area of enhanced support' in the latest changes to the official coronavirus watchlist, while Wakefield and Rotherham have been named as areas of concern.

A man has died and a woman has been seriously injured after being trampled by cows near Wakefield.

Image source, Google

Emergency services were called to Hollinhirst Lane, Netherton, at about 12:45 on Tuesday.

The man, who is in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene while the woman, also in her 50s, was airlifted to hospital.

Her condition is said to be serious but stable, West Yorkshire Police said.

The force said the incident is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.

The 2020 Challenge Cup final will be one of the most iconic in history, according to former winner Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Oli Constable
BBC Yorkshire Live

A former Olympic skier has swapped the slopes for the streets by signing up to join the police force.

Image source, Getty Images/Molly Summerhayes

Molly Summerhayes, 23, competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

The halfpipe skier from Sheffield retired later that year after being told she would not receive funding.

She said she hoped joining South Yorkshire Police would give her as much excitement as competing in the Olympics.

Ms Summerhayes has started a degree apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University, meaning she will learn on the job as part of a three-year course.

Image source, Jenny Bletcher

"Retiring from sport was one of the hardest things in the world,", she said.

"After making the decision to stop, I knew I needed to find a career which would give me as much excitement as that had done."

After completing the degree, Ms Summerhayes will be a qualified police officer, said South Yorkshire Police, which is currently trying to recruit 220 additional officers.