Kevin Larkin
Political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has unanimously voted in favour of a referendum in the town which will let the public decide whether they want to be part of a devolved South Yorkshire or become part of a Yorkshire wide deal.

The council has been meeting this morning to discuss this proposal and the council's leader Sir Steve Houghton was delighted by the decision:

Doncaster Council are voting on the same decision later today.

Paul Walker
Presenter, BBC Radio Sheffield

Pupils from a Sheffield primary school are due to travel to London on Monday to perform at the Royal Albert Hall.

Here's just a taste of what they'll be performing at the iconic venue:

The children, from Parson Cross Primary School, are set to compete against other schools from across the UK at the Youth Proms.

Headteacher Julie Wright says she can't wait to see her pupils perform in such famous surroundings:

North Yorkshire Police has responded to a report by the police watchdog which says the force "requires improvement".

Last year, the the North Yorkshire force was rated as "good", but Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has now lowered its rating, external.

The HMIC report says the drop is because more needs doing to "identify and reduce inefficient processes" and it says officers need equipping with the "most appropriate technology".

More must also be done by North Yorkshire Police to "understand its growing communities", the report adds.

Responding, Assistant Chief Constable Phil Cain says: "The actual HMIC inspection took place six months ago and represents a snapshot of the situation at that time.

"Since then we have made progress against their recommendations.

“We are working closely with council, healthcare providers and other partners on how we can deal effectively with repeat issues that place heavy demands on police time."

A second man has been charged after an automatic weapon was fired in Bradford last month.

Image source, Google

Damage was caused to houses and vehicles during the incident on Hill Top Road in Thornton on Friday 20 October.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and is due to appear before Bradford Magistrates' Court later.

Michael Webster, 26, of Hill Crest, Swillington, Leeds, has already been charged with the same offence.

A 17-year-old male from Bradford who was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the incident has been released under investigation.

Staff at a restaurant in York have been left smiling after receiving an unusual request from a potential customer by email.

The Starr Inn the City, which is close to York's historic Lendal Bridge, got this message from a self-confessed "fat lad" wanting to know if he had to dress up to dine:

Your suggestions - keep them clean - are welcome as always.

If you can fathom some fashion finesse for a fat lad's fodder, send in your suggestions by simply clicking here.

An update on the news we brought you earlier about an accident on A630 in Rotherham.

The northbound side is now open from the Canklow roundabout to the Ickles roundabout.

However, speed sensors are still showing delays in that stretch back the M1 interchange.

Jenny Eells
Reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

A community farm in Sheffield is offering therapy sessions with a bit of a difference.

The not-for-profit Holly Hagg farm in Crosspool has set up free alpaca treks for people with disabilities and mental health problems.

I've been to meet the furry friends to find out more about the scheme:

Not enough help is being provided for child refugees arriving on their own in Bradford, it's being claimed.

Image source, Getty Images

The Bradford Immigration and Asylum Seekers Support and Advice Network says the city has only taken in 32 lone child asylum seekers in the past 18 months.

That number is about a third of what had been been expected under legislation which came into effect last year.

The government asked the city to take 90 unaccompanied asylum seekers under what became known as the Dubs Amendment.

Bradford Council says it is a similar situation for other West Yorkshire councils.

A street in York has been decked out with large poppies ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Micklegate is paying tribute to veterans and all those who died in conflict with about 200 knitted poppies and 50 wooden poppies.

Sarah Smith, from the Micklegate Business Initiative, which organised the display, say there was a lot of support for the idea:

Adam Pinder-Smith
BBC Yorkshire Live

A section of the northbound carriageway of the A630 is currently closed in Rotherham due to an accident involving a car and lorry during the morning rush hour.

Image source, Google

The road from the Canklow roundabout to the Ickles roundabout has been closed by police, with traffic in the area already queuing back to the M1 interchange in the south of the town.

We'll keep you updated with the latest throughout the day...

A burglar who set fire to a house in Wakefield in a bid to destroy evidence of his crimes is due to be sentenced later for the deaths of a father and daughter in the blaze.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Andrew Broadhead, 42, and his eight-year-old daughter, Kiera, died in the fire started by Daniel Jones, from Knottingley.

Jones, 29, of Spawd Bone Lane, was cleared of two counts of murder during his trial at Leeds Crown Court, but convicted of manslaughter after the blaze on Ash Crescent, in Stanley, on 19 October 2016.

Leeds Crown Court heard he poured petrol through the letterbox of Mr Broadhead's house, fearing CCTV cameras there had caught him stealing a safe from a neighbouring property.

Mrs Broadhead and the couple's eldest daughter, Mia, managed to escape the fire.

The jury also found Jones guilty of one count of burglary in relation to the theft of his friend's safe.

Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

Quite cloudy and some drizzle to start with, but brightening up later.

There should be some sunny spells for all this afternoon, though the wind will remain fresh.

Watch my full forecast here:

The resignation of UK International Development Secretary Priti Patel was the right move, according to a former Sheffield Labour MP.

Ms Patel resigned yesterday evening after holding a series of unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials and faced accusations of breaking the ministerial code.

In her resignation letter, Ms Patel said her actions "fell below the standards of transparency and openness that I have promoted and advocated".

Richard Caborn, former Labour MP for Sheffield Central, who held many cabinet positions when Tony Blair was Prime Minister, says Ms Patel had to go:

A plan to set up nine temporary Gypsy and traveller caravan pitches in Leeds has been given the go-ahead.

The pitches, known as negotiated stopping sites, would be used for a maximum of 28 days.

During a full council meeting, Debra Coupar, who's in charge of Gypsy and traveller policy for Leeds City Council, said anyone pitching up would have to do things by the book:

It looks like more streets in York are to be designated as priority parking for residents.

Image source, Google

They include South Bank Avenue (pictured), Bishopthorpe Road, and some roads in the Holgate area.

The plans are expected to be finally approved by City of York Council next week.

Jade English, from Sheffield, has emerged as one of the favourites to be chosen by Lord Sugar to be his new Apprentice.

She's a former journalism student and now works in public relations and marketing.

The BBC TV show has another six episodes to run before the winner is revealed.

Jade has been telling BBC Radio Sheffield what it's like coping with the pressures of TV, alongside the egos and insecurities of some of her fellow contestants:

Hospitals in Leeds could save about £10m a year by changing the way in which they buy things like rubber gloves, according to the Heath Secretary.

Image source, Google

Jeremy Hunt said some parts of the health service spend 35p on a pack of 12 rubber gloves while others spend £16.47 - using that as an example of how trusts should shop around for better deals.

He highlighted Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as one of three which could make millions of pounds of savings "by adopting procurement practices that are among the best of their colleague trusts".

Two South Yorkshire councils are due to decide later if local residents will be given a say on the future of devolution in the area.

Image source, Geograph/JThomas/David Pickersgill/PA

Voters in Barnsley and Doncaster could be asked to choose between the government-backed Sheffield City Region, which was agreed with the then Chancellor George Osborne in 2015, or a proposed Yorkshire-wide devolution deal.

Both would give the area more power over transport budgets and planning.

Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said while the result of any poll would not be legally binding, he wanted to give Barnsley residents a chance to have their say on "a generation-changing decision".

According to council documents, holding the poll would cost each authority £120,000, external, with votes cast either by post or online.

A North Yorkshire restaurant owner who was found guilty of the manslaughter of a customer who had an allergic reaction to a curry containing peanuts has failed in his bid to have his conviction overturned.

Last year, Mohammed Zaman (pictured), 52, of Aylesham Court, Huntington, was sentenced to six years in jail for the manslaughter of Paul Wilson and six charges of breaching food safety rules.

Mr Wilson, 38, died after ordering a chicken tikka masala from the Indian Garden restaurant, in Easingwold, on 30 January 2014.

The father-of-one suffered a severe anaphylactic shock after eating a small amount of curry despite his order clearly stating "no nuts".

Yesterday, Zaman claimed he'd not had a fair trial, and the judge had "misdirected" the jury, but the Court of Appeal in London ruled his conviction was safe.

BBC Weather

A rather cloudy start with some rain possible, but this will soon clear during the morning to leave a dry and fresh feeling autumnal day with sunny spells.

This evening, it will be dry and clear and will quickly become cold.

Rain will return for a time overnight, clearing by dawn with winds strengthening through the night.