Nottingham Forest sign Leeds United midfielder Liam Bridcutt for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.

Billy Sharp gives Sheffield United victory over South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, as both teams finish with 10 men.

A busy Friday, which has ended on a sad note as the country loses one of its best-loved entertainers.

We'll be back on Monday with more of the region's top stories, but before you go, why not take a look at five things we learned today:

1. South Yorkshire police under scrutiny after failing to investigate Lostprophets singer
2. Leeds United's head coach reveals family fears following Barcelona terrorist attack
3. Sheffield tree campaigners decide not to appeal against a high court ruling preventing them from protesting
4. More rail strikes are scheduled - with Northern staff set to walk out next month
5. And a reminder from North Yorkshire that drink driving is a crime - in any type of vehicle

A researcher in Leeds has won a photography competition after spotting a heart shaped blood cell under his microscope.

Image source, Fraser Macrae

Under the magnification of a microscope, operating at 5000-times magnification, Fraser Macrae spotted the heart-shaped red blood cell which had become entangled in net-like fibres of a blood clot and had compressed into the shape of a heart.

He took a picture of it and, as a result, won first prize in the British Heart Foundation photography competition.

A man whose son was murdered in Addingham in 2002 is worried the murderer could return to the UK despite being deported,

Leroy Griffiths stabbed Mark Webster as he tried to intervene in a fight.

His victim, who had recently qualified as a gas fitter, was killed by a single stab wound to the chest as he was outside the Fleece Inn.

Griffiths is due to be deported to his native Barbados.

Image source, Police handout

Bereaved father Tim Webster said: "To get him out of the country is good, for him to be a free man is not so good."

He said he was worried for him and his family "having to come across" Griffiths in their "daily lives" as he believed he had links in the area.

More than 6,100 foreign national offenders were removed from the UK last year according to the Home Office.

North Yorkshire is one of the best places in the country to retire.

That's according to a report from an insurance company.

They've looked at access to healthcare, crime levels, pensioner populations and the weather.

North Yorkshire's the only area in the North to make the top 10.

Apparently West Sussex offers the best quality of life for retired people.

Other places in the top ten included Dorset, Norfolk and the Isle of Wight.

Plans for the new £30m flood alleviation scheme for Mytholmroyd have been discussed by ward councillors, on a guided tour to of the village today.

Image source, Getty Images

The current options for the scheme include:

• New, raised flood and improved walls
• The relocation of Caldene Bridge
• Widening of the river channel at key locations
• Strengthening and waterproofing of buildings next to the river.

Here's a novel way to avoid the queues for the escalators this weekend...

Image source, Trinity Leeds

A 30ft helter-skelter has been installed at the Trinity shopping centre in Leeds - returning for a second year - and will open for public use from tomorrow.

Image source, Trinity Leeds

It'll form part of a mini beach area, where shoppers will be encouraged to kick back after a hard day's bargain hunting.

The slide will remain in place until 3 September.

Paulette Edwards
Presenter, BBC Radio Sheffield

If you were in charge of your town what would you want to change?

That is the question which young people in Rotherham are being asked for a project designed to re-imagine the borough.

Deborah Bullivant is running the project and told me more about what's happening:

Officers did not take complaints against Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins seriously, the IPCC says.

Adam Pinder-Smith
BBC Yorkshire Live

It seems our BBC Weather Watchers have been getting some practice in for World Photography day tomorrow by heading into the Yorkshire sunshine and taking some brilliant snaps this lunchtime.

Firstly this one was sent in from Whitby in North Yorkshire:

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher

This reached us from Stannington in Sheffield:

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher

And this lovely image was sent in from Cross Gates in Leeds:

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher

Signing up to become a BBC Weather Watcher is easy and you never know your photograph could be used on the forecast on BBC Look North.

Last night officers from South Yorkshire Police visited Doncaster town centre to help implement Operation Street Safe.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The scheme is a dedicated operation focusing on protecting communities and preventing crime in the town.

The team worked overnight to tackle drug related issues, raise awareness of knife crime, provide advice and take proactive action to bring offenders engaging in illegal activity to justice.

This year marks the 50th birthday of Leeds' West Indian Carnival.

Image source, Max Farrar

The popular event, which attracts more than 100,000 people, will once again take over Poternewton Park for the August Bank Holiday weekend, culminating in a parade through Chapeltown and Harehills.

To help celebrate the anniversay, we're collecting some of your best memories of the Carnival, as well as any questions about the event you've always wanted to ask.

Share your stories or questions here and we could be in touch with answers or to tell your stories on the BBC website.

A convicted robber who went on the run from Bradford Crown Court has been recaptured.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Michael Lloyd Long failed to turn up for his trial for attacking a man in Sowerby Bridge - and was sentenced to six years in jail in his absence.

Thames Valley police arrested Long, who'll now be taken to prison.

CCTV cameras in the Hambleton area of North Yorkshire have helped police make 50 arrests over a three month period.

They include a man who was detained in Thirsk on suspicion of arson, after an operator watched someone set fire to two bins.

Forty six permanent cameras are in operation 24 hours a day and they're monitored by the District Council, which works closely with North Yorkshire Police.

The letters offer mums a chance to take a second for themselves.

Andy Kershaw
BBC Radio Sheffield

I've been to meet volunteers in Stainforth who are helping to clear millions of pieces of duckweed which are clogging South Yorkshire's canals and waterways.

This week the Canal and River Trust is clearing a three-mile stretch between Crowle and Keadby, the canal that links Scunthorpe with Doncaster.

Mike operates one of the boats and explained the process to me:

Further rail strikes have been set for next month to coincide with schools going back in the row over driver-only-operated trains.

Image source, Northern Rail

Arriva Rail North, Merseyrail and Southern RMT staff will walk out from Friday 1 September with the last strike on Monday 4 September.

The RMT said no progress had been made over the future of the role of guards, due to safety and job loss fears.

Arriva Rail North said it is prepared to guarantee jobs.

Workers from the company - which operates under the brand Northern - will walk out on Friday 1 September and Monday 4 September.

Adam Pinder-Smith
BBC Yorkshire Live

Sheffield City Council has welcomed the decision by tree campaigners not to appeal against the High Court's decision to stop tree felling in parts of the city and accept the terms of the injunction put in the place by the judge.

This means no-one can lawfully trespass inside any tree-felling safety zone around any tree from 23 August 2017 until 25 July 2018.

Other stipulations include:

• Not knowingly leaving any vehicle in any safety zone
• Seeking to prevent the erection of any safety zone
• Remaining in any safety zone after one has been erected

A “safety zone” is an area with barriers erected on a public highway around a tree to be felled.

The council says the order means that anyone disobeying it will be guilty of contempt of court and may be sent to prison or fined or have their assets seized.

Yorkshire Post

South Yorkshire Police officers ignored repeated warnings, external from the ex-girlfriend of rock star Ian Watkins that he was a dangerous paedophile and put a child at risk of being abused for months.

Image source, Yorkshire Post