BBC Radio Sheffield

It's Village Halls Week, external in England and Ian McMillan, the Bard of Barnsley, has written a poem in praise of them.

It's called A Teapot as Big as the Moon:

Did you know there are about 10,000 village halls across the country?

#VillageHallsWeek, external is a new event for 2018 aimed at celebrating buildings which, for many, are at the heart of rural community life.

They often provide a hub for social activities, classes and even services such as post offices, doctors’ surgeries and shops.

BBC News Travel

The M62 has been closed eastbound at J29.

More info when we get it:

Police are appealing for more information after a man in his 30s was approached by a gang of teenagers and robbed in Conisbrough earlier this month.

Image source, Google

It happened on the evening of Saturday 6 January on Church Street after the victim left the Booze Barn shop.

He was followed by a group of around eight boys who demanded he hand over some cash.

One of the boys punched him and another pushed him to the ground before they stole the bag he was carrying.

A Bradford man who was released from prison on licence earlier this month is being sought by police after breaking the terms of his licence.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Daniel Frayne, 32, is wanted for recall to prison after serving a sentence for burglary.

He's described as being about 6ft 3ins tall and of slim build. He has stars tattooed on his neck, a deformed little finger on his left hand and speaks with a Yorkshire accent.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is being asked to contact police.

Owain Wyn Evans
Presenter, BBC Look North

I could barely contain my excitement when I found out international pop star Britney Spears had chosen to perform in Scarborough this summer.

She's bringing her Las Vegas residency show to the seaside town in August.

So I dashed to the town and took to the actual stage she'll be belting out her hits from:

Rotherham Labour MP Sarah Champion has called on young women to make sure they're up to date with cervical smear tests, claiming the tests "save lives":

The show of support comes after news this week that young women are avoiding getting smear tests because they are embarrassed by the look and smell of their pubic areas.

The Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust charity surveyed 2,017 British women for their views.

One third said embarrassment caused them to delay getting a smear test, which can prevent 75% of cervical cancers.

The charity is now campaigning, external for women to make sure they know that smear tests save lives.

City bosses in Leeds continued a multi-million pound road building agreement with liquidated construction company Carillion because they feared pulling out would help push the firm over the edge.

Carillion, which had been working on dozens of large infrastructure projects across the country, went into liquidation on 15 January.

A meeting of Leeds City Council's investment scrutiny board has heard that the authority agreed an insolvency bond with Carillion to cover any costs if the firm went bust as it worked on the East Leeds Orbital Road project.

Carillion had been awarded the contract but no final agreement was ever signed.

The meeting also heard the council will claim an isolvency bond – worth £450,000 – over the City Connect cycle lane project.

Witnesses are being sought after a man was attacked in York.

Image source, Google

It happened on High Petergate in the city just before 13:00 on Sunday 14 January.

The victim, a white man in his early 50s from York, was assaulted by an unknown male.

Police say they are particularly wanting to speak to anyone about the suspect involved in the assault.

He's described as a white man, aged between 40-50 years old, 6ft tall and of stocky build.

He was wearing a blue jacket, blue jeans with white trainers and was wearing a hat.

Andy Kershaw
BBC Radio Sheffield News

I'm in Sheffield City Centre where emergency services have dealt with yet another collapsed man suffering the effects of the so-called "Spice" drug, according to support workers on the scene.

Ill-effects of the drug have been widely documented over the last few years.

It is a relatively new drug, a former "legal high", and was banned in 2016.

These were the scenes a little earlier today:

It's being claimed that London gets two-and-a-half times more government money for public transport than Yorkshire.

Figures released by a research team from the IPPR North think-tank, external show more than £4,000 is spent on roads and rail in London per person, compared to £1,600 in our region.

However, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling claims per person spending is higher in the north west than the south east when local transport schemes are taken into account.

Mr Grayling says he is "very happy to stand up and be counted on our record for transport for the north".

But the former Deputy Prime Minister and ex-Hull MP John Prescott says the north is still struggling to have its say:

The family of a boy murdered in Dewsbury say they feel let down by the system following the killer's release from prison last month.

Twelve-year-old Steven Mullins was sexually assaulted and murdered in 1982 by Richard Mortimer.

Steven's family were only told about his killer's release days after it happened, and say they're disappointed with the victim liaison service.

Now the Justice Secretary David Gauke says he will meet the family to listen to their concerns

The family say that they hope meeting him will highlight the ordeal they've had to endure in addition to their grief.

The former Sheffield Central MP Richard Caborn has announced he will run for South Yorkshire Mayor.

The former Trade and Industry Minister is seeking selection to become the Labour candidate for Mayor of the Sheffield City Region.

Leeds United's new club crest gets a lukewarm response from football supporters on social media.

The line-up for this year's Books by the Beach literature festival in Scarborough has been revealed.

Ruth Jones, the creator of Gavin and Stacey and Stella, will top the bill alongside BBC presenter Jeremy Vine who will be talking about his new book, What I Learnt.

The four-day event takes place in April.

You know that feeling when you're going through your drawers and come across an old news cutting from years ago?

Workers refurbishing a theatre in Bradford have uncovered an unexpected treasure trove of old sweet wrappers and newspapers from as far back as the 20s.

St. George's Hall is currently undergoing a £8.5m refit and the items will form part of a new display.

Take a look at what they found below:

Police are warning water on the road is currently causing problems on the A616 near Sheffield:

Image source, Google

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area:

Leeds United's new crest is causing some controversy - and it's fair to say that some fans aren't keen.

This is the new design:

Image source, Leeds United

The club says it's "delighted and proud to reveal a new crest that represents the passion and the unique identity that runs deep through the club".

Some fans, however, aren't as optimistic about the new crest.

One writes: "It’s atrocious. All that 'research' and that's the best you can come up with?! It looks like something from Pro Evolution Soccer in the early 2000s. Awful!!"

Others aren't so kind - we can't publish most of them - with one fan saying: "That’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen" and many asking: "Is this some kind of joke?"

A petition called “Andrea Radrizzani: Stop LUFC from implementing the 'Leeds Salute' crest" has already gained thousands of signatures since the badge was revealed just after 12:00 today.

Let us know what you think, send us an email.

Yorkshire and the Humber has the lowest level of investment in transport of any part of the UK, according to the IPPR North think-tank

A study released today, external finds that the Yorkshire and Humber region gets £840 per person, compared to more than £4,000 per person in London.

The organisation said the disparity "should be a significant concern".

Responding, the government has called the findings "completely misleading".

Andy Kershaw
BBC Radio Sheffield News

On 14 January, newsagent Sajjad Ahmed Chaudhry was staring down the barrel of a gun when masked raiders burst into his National News shop in Sharrow, Sheffield.

Image source, Google

Mr Chaudhry wrestled the gun from his attackers and was badly bruised during the ordeal - the fifth time he's been attacked since 1997.

He's now written an open letter thanking the local community, his family and the police expressing the hope the perpetrators are caught and punished.

Meanwhile, he's vowed to continue serving the community he loves.

Here's an extract from his letter:

Three men arrested in connection with a stabbing in Scarborough have been released under investigation.

The three, aged 20, 26 and 31, were arrested after a man was found with stab wounds on Valley Road at about 11:15 on Tuesday.

The victim, who's 28, was taken to hospital for treatment and remains in a serious condition.

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