The young and old in Leeds, united by shared letter writing, are to meet for the first time today.

Image source, Leeds University

For the last year, a group of students at Leeds University have been writing letters to lonely pensioners in the city, as part of the Writing Back project, a scheme matching students as pen pals with older Yorkshire residents.

Image source, Leeds University

The theme of this year's letters is "Yorkshire", with students sending copies of historical images to their pen pals.     

In three years, the project's seen 260 people exchange letters with one another, according to Leeds University.   

While many of these relationship have blossomed on pen and paper, a lot of the pen friends have never met - until today.

This afternoon a lunch at St Mark's Gateway Church in Leeds, will unite 120 of the pen pals.

Gary Mills is expected to confirm today whether or not he will stay on as York City manager.

It's believed the deal for next season will be on reduced terms, with criteria to be met at certain times.

Image source, bbc

York suffered relegation for the second season running on Saturday as they could only draw at home to National League high-flyers Forest Green Rovers.  

City now have only the consolation of an FA Trophy final against Macclesfield to look forward to in three weeks.

But, next season, they will play in English football's sixth tier for the first time, in National League North.

A deal to bring Ched Evans back to Sheffield United is expected to be completed next week after the striker passed a medical with the Blades.

Image source, Getty

The proposed transfer to bring the former Wales international back to South Yorkshire from Chesterfield was first reported last week and Spireites director Ashley Carson says talks are at an advanced stage.

Sheffield United co-owner Kevin McCabe also said last night it would be "great to get Ched back" and they are "quite close" to reuniting with Evans, who scored 42 goals in 103 league appearances in his first spell at Bramall Lane.

BBC Radio Sheffield sports editor Andy Giddings reports that United youngster David Brookes will join Chesterfield next season, on a year-long loan, as part of the deal:

Andy Kershaw
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Didn't think you had.

But today it's been announced by The Canal and River Trust that hundreds of miles of waterways are available for "adoption" by local communities. 

The aim is for a quarter of the waterways they care for to be adopted by local people, who will then help to keep them looking their best.  

This area around Swinton lock is one which benefits from the support of its local community with artwork installations, like the picture below, breathing new life into the towpaths.

The Canal & River Trust has produced a map, external highlighting the key areas up for adoption. 

The Leeds-born Everton and England footballer, Aaron Lennon, has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Image source, Getty Images

Greater Manchester Police say they detained a 30-year-old man in Salford on Sunday because of concerns for his welfare. He was taken to hospital for an assessment. 

Lennon made just under 50 appearances for Leeds following his first team debut in 2003, before he joined Tottenham Hotspur two years later. He has also represented England 21 times.

He has not played for the Everton first team since February.  

The former Queens Park Rangers and Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle who played with Lennon at Leeds tweeted his support: 

There are millions of men suffering from loneliness in Britain, a commission set up by the late Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox has found.

The group found, external that one in three men felt lonely "at least once a week" and the group's report has sparked calls for government action.

Leeds MP Rachel Reeves co-chairs the commission and she said the issue of loneliness was a "silent epidemic hidden inside every family and community."

Image source, Thinkstock

The commission was set up by Mrs Cox, who was murdered during the referendum campaign on Britain's membership of the European Union last year.

It is being steered by a cross-bench partnership of MPs Rachel Reeves and Seema Kennedy, along with the Mrs Cox's family and the support of 13 loneliness and ageing charities and campaigns. 

Patients in North Yorkshire spent 5,000 more days in hospital than they needed to during the last winter.

It's because they couldn't find suitable care that could be provided at home or in a nursing home.   

Figures obtained by BBC Radio York show beds were blocked between December and February because subsequent care couldn't be arranged.

The research also revealed the longest someone stayed in Harrogate Hospital who was able to be discharged but couldn't find suitable care - was 204 days.

The Unison union, which represents many health service staff, say the issue is because of "cuts to adult social care."

The Government sasy "patients should never be stuck in hospital unnecessarily and we are determined to make health and social care more integrated."  

A candlelit vigil will be held in Huddersfield tonight marking 20 years to the day since a seven-year-old boy was murdered in an arson attack. 

No-one has ever been charged with killing Joe McCafferty.

Joe was sleeping at his aunt's home when someone poured petrol through the letterbox and set fire to the house. 

Now 20 years on, his family still live with the horror of that night, but remain determined to find his killer.

His mum Tracey says she'll continue to fight for justice.  

An unmarked police cyclist is taking to the streets of Leeds to highlight the space cars should give bikes on the road.

Drivers who get too close to cyclists could end up in court on a charge of dangerous or careless driving.

Evidence will be captured via a bike-mounted camera.  

Here's Sgt Gary Roper explaining how the operation will work:

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

Here are some of the stories making the news across Yorkshire so far this morning:        

• A candlelit vigil will be held in Huddersfield tonight, marking 20-years to the day since a seven-year-old boy was killed in an arson attack
• Campaigners are expecting to find out the outcome of their bid to stop the building of a visitor centre at Clifford's Tower in York
• Five hundred miles of canals and rivers in the UK are up for "adoption", including stretches in South Yorkshire

The charity that cares for the nation's waterways is urging local communities to play a bigger part in looking after their waterways.

Today 500 miles of canals and rivers, including stretches in South Yorkshire, are up for "adoption."

The Canal and River Trust has published an online map, external showing parts of canals and rivers available to adopt. 

Caroline Killeavy from the charity says the scheme's open to all sorts of people and organisations:

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

Ambitious plans to mark the 50th anniversary of Leeds West Indian Carnival have been revealed. 

At the official launch of the celebrations it was announced there'll be an art exhibition, history project, pop up carnivals and a conference. 

Last year more than 150,000 people lined the streets of Chapeltown for the carnival:

A judge is expected to decide later if a new visitor centre can be built at Clifford's Tower in York.

Image source, English Heritage

English Heritage was granted permission to build a £2m visitor centre at the foot of the 13th Century Clifford's Tower last October.   

The organisation said the project would enhance access to the site and work would begin in November.

But campaigners criticised the design saying it resembles a "toilet block" and would "spoil the site."

A judicial review will be heard today at the High Court in Leeds.

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

Lisa Gallagher has the weather forecast for us this morning:

At first glance these pics might make you think former Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, has joined the Greens.

In actual fact he was spotted in Arksey, near Doncaster, helping a constituent mow her lawn.

Image source, Jane Nightingale

Social media sites show the MP for Doncaster North pushing the lawnmower, as he joined councillors canvassing in the area.  

Image source, Jane Nightingale

Is this what they mean when they talk about "grassroots support"?

BBC News Travel

On the rails across Yorkshire this morning everything seems to be running smoothly with no major delays to services.

If you're planning a rail journey, click on the links below to keep up-to-date with the live departure boards for:

• Leeds Railway Station, external
• Wakefield Westgate, external
• Bradford Interchange, external
• Bradford Forster Square, external
• York Railway Station, external
• Sheffield Station, external
• Doncaster Station, external

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

Hello and welcome to BBC Local Live in Yorkshire on Wednesday 3 May 2017. 

We'll be with you throughout the day with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates.

It's so nice hearing and seeing the birds now the mornings are light so early - feathered friends are queing up for a place on bird tables around the county.

Though I'm not sure this one was built with the size of this visitor in mind! 

Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher Baywatcher for sending in a pic of a chomping chicken - behind the unexpected visitor you can see a misty Robin hood's Bay.

If you've snapped anything interesting you'd like to show off to the rest of Yorkshire, you can send it in by simply clicking here.