Planned changes to the government's approach to tackling the coronavirus pandemic are making things "difficult and confusing" and affecting people's mental health, York's health boss says.

Image source, Reuters/Phil Noble

A tiered system of measures for England is expected to be announced within days in an effort to stall rising infection rates.

York's director of public health, Sharon Stoltz, says she had understood that York would be going on the government's coronavirus "watch list" this week, but now believes there will be an announcement "sometime on Monday."

She says: "Not knowing what's happening makes things incredibly difficult. I spent much of yesterday with the leaders of the council trying to work out what messages we're going to be able to give to residents of York on Monday.

"We've had to prepare three different media statements, because we don't know which one we're going to use."

She added: "It makes it incredibly difficult for people in York, who I think are becoming increasingly confused about what they're allowed and not allowed to do. It compounds the impact on people's mental well being."

The death of a British backpacker in Malaysia remains a mystery six years on, an inquest has heard.

Image source, Family handout/Blackstock

Gareth Huntley, 33, from Leeds, disappeared on Tioman Island on 27 May 2014. His body was found on 4 June.

At a hearing in Wakefield, West Yorkshire coroner Jane Alam said decomposition meant the cause of his death was not clear.

In a narrative conclusion, she said a third-party could not be ruled out but "no positive findings" supported this.

The inquest heard Mr Huntley was working as a volunteer for the Juara Tutle project when set off on a walk to a local waterfall.

When he did not return, extensive searches were launched and his remains were eventually found a short distance from a police command post.

"How Gareth came by his death remains unknown," Ms Alam said.

Mr Huntley's family said the "mysterious circumstances" surrounding his death had compounded their pain.

A car was set on fire and bricks and fireworks thrown at police in an incident in Castleford last month, police have revealed.

Image source, Google

Officers were called to reports of a memorial being held at The Green on the evening of Friday 25 September, with over 500 people in attendance.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police says: "On arrival,bricks and fireworks were thrown at police and into the crowd. A car was set on fire and damage was caused to the village green."

A 19-year old was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and has since been bailed while an investigation takes place, the force says.

Det Insp Sarah Degnan says: "All assaults on emergency workers are totally and utterly unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

"I would like to appeal to anyone who was at this gathering to come forward with information. We are particularly keen to speak to people who has video footage of the disorder."

BBC Weather Watchers

If you were up to see the sunrise this morning, you might have been in for a treat.

In Scarborough, our BBC Weather Watcher Beverley Senturk captured these swimmers enjoying an early-morning dip in the sea.

Image source, Beverley Senturk/Weather Watchers

In Leeds, Jennypop's photo of a golden canal in the city centre caught our eye.

Image source, Jennypop/Weather Watchers

Mike Ashworth snapped this in Otley just before the sun broke through the trees.

Image source, Mike Ashworth/Weather Watchers

Finally, a well-timed shot of the sky in Sykehouse makes for a calming picture.

Image source, Eskholme Hillbilly/Weather Watchers

BBC Weather

Outbreaks of rain this morning should clear to be followed by sunny spells and scattered showers through this afternoon.

Feeling chilly, with a brisk northwesterly wind.

Clear spells and a scattering of showers are expected to continue through this evening and overnight:

England batsmen Ollie Pope and Rory Burns switch teams for The Hundred next summer, as the first batch of men's and women's players are confirmed.

A child rapist convicted in the Rotherham street grooming scandal has been moved to an open prison without his victim being informed.

Taxi driver Ashgar Bostan was jailed in 2018 after being convicted of two counts of rape.

Elizabeth - not her real name - said moving her attacker to an open prison had left her "absolutely petrified".

Bostan was jailed for nine years after being convicted of raping Elizabeth twice at a flat in Rotherham, when she was about 14 or 15 years old.

The Ministry of Justice has apologised and said it was investigating the matter.

How an insult-laden track by a 16-year-old British MC became a sweet TikTok sensation.

Ash Handley gets a hat-trick as Hull FC are beaten by Challenge Cup finalists Leeds Rhinos in Super League.

Ex-Wakefield forward Keegan Hirst, the first British player to come out as gay while playing rugby league, retires aged 32.

Krisnan Inu's hat-trick helps Challenge Cup finalists Salford record their fourth win in a row, beating in-form Huddersfield.

Gareth Huntley's family say not knowing the cause of his death has made losing him even harder.

'Elizabeth' says she was left feeling 'physically sick' after learning her attacker had been moved.

The decision to move taxi driver Ashgar Bostan to an open prison leaves his victim "petrified".

The mother of a nine-year-old boy from West Yorkshire with cerebral palsy who was targeted by trolls during a charity walk says she hopes a new law would "put an end" to online abuse.

Zach Eagling, from Liversedge, near Dewsbury, also has epilepsy and was inspired by Captain Tom Moore to complete 130 laps of his garden without his walking frame in June, to raise money for the Epilepsy Society.

He and his mum, Claire Keer, are campaigning for online abusers to be prosecuted under "Zach's Law" after they were sent "traumatic and shocking" messages which contained strobing imagery that triggers seizures when his mother posted his fundraising efforts on social media.

The pair addressed representatives from the Law Commission, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Epilepsy Society, experts and MP Dame Cheryl Gillan at a meeting yesterday.

Ms Keer told them the online abuse was "absolutely revolting" and had caused emotional distress.

She said they wanted "to put an end to this" and for trolls to be "held accountable for their actions" by, including Zach's Law, in the proposed Online Harms Bill.

The government has said it would introduce new laws to protect people online and it was due to publish final plans on its proposals later in the year.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a convoy of up to 50 off-road motorbikes was driven "dangerously" through streets in Sheffield last weekend.

The riders are reported to have driven their vehicles through a number of streets, including Dyche Lane, Norton Avenue, Bochum Parkway, Ecclesall Road, and West Street, before heading towards Sheffield Parkway.

The convoy, including off-road bikes, all-terrain vehicles and quads, was seen on Sunday 4 October between 11:30 and 17:00.

Sgt Matt Duffy said: “We would like to hear from those who witnessed a group of riders pass through our city on Sunday.

“The group are reported to have been driving dangerously and anti-social driving will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire.

“We would like to hear from anyone who has information that can help us identify those involved.”

Barnsley full-back Jordan Williams signs a new three-year deal with the Championship side

Police face many challenges tracking down and finding poachers in North Yorkshire.

A police officer was headbutted by a 16-year-old who was under arrest in York, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Image source, Google

It happened on Peter Lane, near Spurriergate House, at about 21:45 on 2 October, the force says.

Officers say they approached a group of teenage boys who they believed were being drunk and disorderly.

Police say one of the group - a 16-year-old boy - head-butted an officer in the face while being placed in handcuffs as he was arrested.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The officer and his colleagues had to use proportionate and legitimate force to detain the suspect."

The boy has been released under investigation while an investigation into the incident takes place.

Another 16-year-old boy arrested for assaulting an emergency worker has also been released under investigation.

A 14-year-old boy and a further 16-year-old boy arrested in connection with the incident were later released without charge.

Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact police.

People living in the north of England should expect more coronavirus restrictions to be imposed, according to the mayor of the Sheffield City Region.

Dan Jarvis, who is also the Labour MP for Barnsley Central, told the BBC he wanted a more "joined-up" approach between local, regional and national government.

Financial aid should be given to already-struggling businesses in Yorkshire to help them survive, he added.

The government said it had given councils "unprecedented" support during the pandemic, "with a package of over £4.8bn, including £3.7bn which is not ringfenced and over £1.1bn specifically to support social care providers".

There had been "significant and regular engagement" with councils, with £28bn being given to local areas to support businesses and communities, it added.