Yorkshire breaking news: Latest updates

Summary

West Yorkshire Police drink-drive prevention campaign targets older motorists
Tree felling: Blockade of company depot in Sheffield ends
Woman dies in lorry crash
Motorway PC stops van from falling off bridge
Scarborough theatre to get £500,000 refurbishment
Five-star hotel could replace Sheffield's central library
Thousands of homes 'empty across Yorkshire'
South Yorkshire Police focus on drink-drivers
Children and pensioners in poverty - York charity
People in Barnsley and Doncaster vote on devolution
Updates on Monday 4 December 2017

Live Reporting

Andrew Barton, Nick Wilmshurst and Mick Lunney

Listen: Sat nav driving test piloted in Yorkpublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
The new driving test, which was piloted in York, has come in to force today.
How to independently follow sat navs is one of the many changes to the test, but drivers will no longer be tested on three point turns and reversing round a corner.
David Clark is a retired driving instructor who worked in driver education for over 30 years.
He says it's too early to tell whether the new test will produce safer drivers:
Hillsborough David Duckenfield gets High Court case fundspublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield will get funding to fight possible prosecution on charges of gross negligence manslaughter.
The development came on Monday at a hearing at Preston Crown Court, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
A judge has made an order that the former chief superintendent qualifies for legal representation for the application to lift a stay of proceedings at the High Court next year.
Driver more than three-times over legal alcohol limitpublished at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
A driver found to be three-and-a-half times the legal limit for drinking alcohol and driving has been arrested in North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire Police stopped the 52-year-old man from Kirklees on Saturday afternoon after being tipped off.
Officers say he was one of nine people to be arrested during the first weekend of Operation Attention, which is the force's Christmas Drink and Drug driving campaign.
The vehicle was brought to a stop on the overpass of the A1(M) at Minskip, near Harrogate.
The driver will appear at Harrogate Magistrates' Court on 14 December 2017.
Quote Message
It’s disappointing to see the high number of arrests made at this early stage of the operation"
Sgt Andy Morton
Man, 75, trapped under car after accidentpublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
A 75-year-old man has been taken to hospital after he was hit by a car and was trapped underneath the vehicle in Castleford.
Image source, Google
The accident happened on Welbeck Street just before midday today and fire crews were called to rescue the man from under the car - a blue Volvo S80.
He was taken to hospital and was treated for a leg injury.
Murderer William Kerr returns to prison systempublished at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Kate Scotter
BBC News
A murderer who absconded while on release from an open prison has appeared in court and been put back in jail.
Image source, Suffolk Police
William Kerr, 56, an inmate at HMP Hollesley Bay, near Woodbridge, disappeared while he was being allowed to visit Ipswich on Friday, and was arrested on Saturday.
Kerr, also known as Billy, was jailed for life in 1998 for the murder of Maureen Comfort in Leeds.
He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for being unlawfully at large at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.
It is to be served at the same time as his existing sentence,
The Ministry of Justice, external said it would not comment on which prison he was now being sent to.
£125,000 Lotto money for disability support in Barnsleypublished at 12:55 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Mick Lunney
BBC Local Live, Sheffield
Voluntary Action Barnsley says it is delighted to have been given money from the Big Lottery Fund, external to support adults living with physical or learning disabilities.
The money - £125,000 - will be used to enable people to become volunteers, external.
Volunteering opportunities in the area can range from administration and befriending roles, through to gardening and driving.
Image source, Voluntary Action Barnsley
Quote Message
Helping more people to unlock their talents and achieve their volunteering goals will not only benefit the individuals - their commitment to important local causes and projects will benefit the wider community too"
Voluntary Action Barnsley
This is Benjamin Kendal - police want to speak to himpublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Do you know this man? He's Benjamin Kendal and police want to speak to him.
Officers want to interview Mr Kendal after a Leeds man was left partly blind in a serious assault.
Image source, West Yorkshire Police
Officers have been looking for Mr Kendal who is aged 29 and from the Moortown area of the city.
A 37-year-old man lost the sight in one of his eyes in the attack in Hunslet on 4 June.
Officers say "despite extensive inquiries" since the assault they have not been able to trace Mr Kendal - but they think he may have grown a beard since the incident.
Child sex offender, 65, jailed for 13 yearspublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Nick Wilson
BBC Radio Sheffield
A 65-year-old Sheffield man has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of 16 counts of sexual assault, including four counts against a six-year-old child.
Image source, Google
Raymond Stuart Fidler, of Bowfield Court, Sheffield, has been sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court after denying 18 counts of indecent assault, external that date back to the 1980s.
Quote Message
Fidler was not remorseful in any way and he thoroughly deserved a lengthy sentence behind bars. His actions can only be described as horrific and I am pleased that the jury recognised his guilt and the severity of his despicable behaviour."
DC Steve Evans, South Yorkshire Police
Teenagers remanded on conspiracy to murder chargepublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Phil Connell
Look North
Two teenage boys charged with conspiracy to murder following a counter terrorism investigation in North Yorkshire are due to go on trial at Leeds Crown Court next May.
The teenagers aged 14 and 15 - who can't be named for legal reasons - were arrested in Northallerton at the end of October.
Both defendants made a brief appearance before the court this morning, with their parents watching on in the public gallery.
As well as conspiracy to murder, the 15-year-old defendant is also charged with unlawful wounding and aggravated burglary.
There was no application for bail and both boys were remanded to secure youth accommodation.
Missing teenager found safe and wellpublished at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
A teenager who went missing last week has been found safe and well.
Bethany Pemberton, aged 17, has been found according to West Yorkshire Police who thanked people for sharing their appeal.
New train depot in Scarboroughpublished at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Elly Fiorentini
BBC Yorkshire Live
The company TransPennine Express is putting £7m into a maintenance depot in Scarborough.
It's planned to open in the summer of 2018 and will maintain the company's new trains.
Around fifteen jobs are expected to be based there when it opens.
Image source, TransPennine Express
Quote Message
We considered a number of sites across the wider Yorkshire area and Scarborough provides a geographically strategic site for this essential maintenance work. This is a long term investment in the town and we are pleased to be bringing jobs to the area.”
Nick Sworowski, Manager, TransPennine Express
Leeds gangster jailed for life over firearm which was to be used in revenge turf war shootingpublished at 11:39 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Yorkshire Evening Post
A gangster has been given a life sentence after being caught in possession of a loaded firearm which he planned to use to kill or maim rivals in a revenge turf war attack., external
Image source, Yorkshire Evening Post
Funding shortage hits east coast arts festivalpublished at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
The organisers of the mini Coastival Arts festival in Scarborough say they've had to cancel next year's event because of a lack of funding.
Image source, @coastival
They say they're now turning their attention to plans for the next big Coastival in 2019, which will be the event's 10th anniversary.
Next year's smaller event was due to be held in February, but has now been cancelled.
Travel update: Road through village closed after crashpublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
BBC News Travel
A road has been closed in a village near Halifax,= after a serious crash.
The A58 through Triangle between Sowerby Bridge and Ripponden is shut:
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Tree felling: Blockade of company depot in Sheffield endspublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Kat Cowan
Reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield
The police have told tree protesters in Sheffield to move on after they blockaded a contractor's depot this morning.
The campaigners tied themselves together with climbing rope, urging the company Acorn, to not be involved in providing wood-chipping machinery to the main contractor, Amey.
The company is involved in felling trees on behalf of the city council - a council policy that has drawn numerous protests.
Investigation into Doncaster house firepublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Mick Lunney
BBC Local Live, Sheffield
There'll be an investigation today into the cause of a serious house fire in Doncaster.
Image source, SYFR
Five fire engines were called to Moss Road in the Moss area of Doncaster yesterday evening.
A caravan and bungalow were both well alight when crews arrived, but the with the occupants of the bungalow were already safely outside.
Crews were there for four hours.
Image source, SYFR
'Incredibly proud' wife on actions of hero traffic officerpublished at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
A West Yorkshire police officer who held on to a van to stop it falling as it teetered on the edge of a motorway bridge has become a bit of a celebrity over the weekend.
Image source, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
This picture was featured on news sites across the globe and featured in much of the national press, as PC Martin Willis or "Motorway Martin, external" held on to the van on the A1M.
It led to his "incredibly proud" wife tweeting this message about her other half:
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Writing on Twitter, the traffic policeman said he grabbed on to the vehicle to stop it "swaying in the wind".
The driver was still trapped inside when PC Willis arrived at the scene, he said he couldn't describe his relief when fire crews arrived.
Your opinions wanted on library changespublished at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Mick Lunney
BBC Local Live, Sheffield
People in Barnsley are being urged to have their say as the council looks to change library provision.
The council says at this stage it isn't looking to close any libraries.
The reasons for the review are budget cuts and the way people use libraries.
In Barnsley town centre a new £4m central library is being built, and the council says it will be the hub of the library service for the borough.
People can have their say on the service here, external.
Watch: Tree protesters blockade depot in Sheffieldpublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Kat Cowan
Reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield
Tied together with climbing rope these protesters are preventing vehicles leaving a contractor's depot in the Darnall area of Sheffield.
The company Acorn provides wood chipping machinery to the main contractor involved in felling trees in Sheffield.
Police have been to the site but have left and the protest has continued.
Listen: Children and pensioners in poverty - York charitypublished at 09:31 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2017
Nearly 750,000 children and pensioners in the UK have fallen into relative poverty over the past four years, according to a report by the York based Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The charity says successful efforts to reduce hardship are in danger of unravelling, mainly due to changes to benefits.
Campbell Robb is the charity's chief executive.
He says the government should be taking action now:
According to the JRF report,, external since 2013 an extra 300,000 pensioners and 400,000 children are now living in poverty and the "prospects for solving" the problem "currently look worrying".
Researchers say the rise in child poverty has been driven by stagnant wages for low income families and a freeze on benefits and changes to tax credits, which many families, both in and out of work, rely on.