A mill fire in West Yorkshire which claimed the lives of 17 girls and young women 200 years ago was marked at the weekend by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Colne Bridge Mill fire happened on 14 February 1818, external and most of the victims were laid to rest at Kirkheaton Parish Church, near the mill and where the victims had lived.

The victims of the fire were all aged between nine and 18-years-old and the blaze had started after an 11-year-old boy had accidentally set fire to loose strands of cotton.

Some of the young women on the floor above had spotted the flames, but were ordered back to work while others ignored the instruction and fled.

A plaque was unveiled on Saturday by Kathy Butterworth, a descendant of Sarah Moody – one of the few mill workers who survived the fire.

Image source, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

A charity worker wrote a note thanking two men who had never met for their "heartening" stories.

This is Ben Smith from Barnsley. Detectives are trying to find him as they investigate an assault earlier this month:

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The 27-year-old is from the Thurnscoe area of Barnsley, but police think he may have been in Doncaster of late.

Anyone seeing him should call 999 immediately, police say.

A 40mph speed restriction with speed cameras is in place as major roadworks begin on a 10-mile stretch of one of North Yorkshire's busiest roads.

Image source, Google

It's part of a £3.5m package of safety and maintenance improvements being carried out on the A64 between York and Tadcaster.

The work includes replacing 10 miles of the central reservation barrier, renewing 240m of timber fence and renewing footpath crossing points.

The speed restriction is in place 24-hours-a-day along the stretch with speed cameras along the route.

The scheme is expected to be completed by mid-summer, subject to reasonable weather conditions, according to Highways England.

This man is wanted by police in Leeds after a man armed with an axe injured a cyclist and fled from the scene of a four-vehicle crash in the city:

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police want to speak to David Riley, 36, from Harehills, after a series of incidents at 17:30 on Saturday in Sheepscar.

A cyclist was knocked off his bike and left injured as a van drove off.

The van then hit four other vehicles and a Ford Transit was stolen from the scene after the people inside were threatened with an axe.

Police say the van was then involved in a further incident outside the Arndale Centre, in Headingley, where a bike was stolen.

People are being urged to get their creative thinking caps on ahead of this year's Tour de Yorkshire.

Image source, Getty/Allsport

Tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire is asking people to submit their ideas for what is known as land art - the large artistic creations created along the route of the race.

Last year a giant mage of Branwell Bronte riding a bicycle was voted the best

It was 260ft x 210ft (80m x 60m) and was made with the help of local schoolchildren at Haworth Primary School, West Yorkshire.

Image source, Welcome to Yorkshire

For the first time this year the race will be run over four days in total, from 3-6 May.

More details on the competition can be found here., external

Figures show the highest number of crashes at junctions in Leeds, Hull and Sheffield.

A new website is being launched in West Yorkshire to support the parents and carers of children with type 1 diabetes.

Image source, Digi Bete

The Digi Bete, external website has videos and information for parents, schools and nurseries.

It's been designed by the parents of three- year-old Otis who has the condition.

The site has the backing of Leeds Children's Hospital and it's hoped it could help thousands of people across the country.

As South Yorkshire Police begin a week of tackling knife crime, they've released pictures of some of the latest weapons found by police in Sheffield.

The force says there will be several operations - some under cover - and high visibility policing across the county in a bid to tackle knife crime.

Det Supt Una Jennings said: “There has been a rise in our county in offences involving knives and bladed weapons, this is not going to be tolerated in our city, towns and villages"

Castleford Tigers' first Super League win of 2018 against Widnes has lifted the gloom, says half-back Luke Gale.

How about these BBC Weather Watcher for pics showing a county of contrasts?

Scarborough above looks icily idyllic.

Ampleforth in North Yorkshire showed off a very clear and star filled sky earlier.

And the gentle slopes of Penistone near Barnsley seem to have had their fair share of snow.

Two spineless hedgehogs found wandering in the street are being cared for by wildlife experts.

The pair, discovered in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, are believed to have a genetic disorder which means they are smooth rather than spiky.

They are now being looked after by staff at the Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary in North Yorkshire.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus

The makers of a TV programme about Bradford’s former Odeon are seeking anyone who recalls messages sent from servicemen, broadcast to loved ones in the cinema during the Second World War., external

Image source, Bradford Telegraph and Argus

The officer leading an investigation the discovery of human remains in a field in Barnsley doesn't think any crime was committed.

In a post on social media Detective Chief Inspector Martin Tate says investigations continue and the search of the site could take weeks.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

A week of Norse seafarers raiding and trading takes place from today in York.

The Jorvik Viking Festival, now in it's 34th year, is a city-wide celebration of York's rich Viking heritage.

Part of the entertainment involves the judging of chinular follicles. The Best Beard Competition is considered one of the festival's highlights.

Looking at the bristles on Viking Knutr (known as Ross in real life) I'd say he's in with a fairly good chance of winning!

The pair were found wandering in the street and are believed to suffer from a zinc deficiency.

Local residents in Calderdale may be able to breathe a little easier in the future if a new air quality plan gets the go-ahead later.

The Low Emissions Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan suggests making "a significant investment in public transport" as well as making better use of the district's road network.

It also says Calderdale Council needs to use more vehicles which run on cleaner energy as well as a smart system for parking and traffic lights.

The plan is expected to be approved at the council's cabinet meeting this evening.

Two young men who were stabbed in Sheffield have questioned the length of sentence given to their attacker.

Image source, Charlotte Baxter Photography

Jake Lee and Leon Cheslett (pictured above) were both stabbed by 23 year-old Zak Pywell (pictured below) who had been high on cocaine and alcohol.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Pywell, of Birley Spa Lane, is now serving four years and three months after being convicted at Sheffield Crown Court.

Leon Cheslett says Pywell's action have blighted his life.

He's given his impact statement to the BBC which was read out in court. This is part of what he had to say:

His other victim, Jake Lee, from Chesterfield, feels the sentence is a lenient one:

The 1982 Byford Report found police in the Yorkshire Ripper case made "major errors of judgement".

The Sheffield Sharks are through to the Final of the BBL Trophy.

Image source, Sheffield Sharks

They beat Worcester 75-66, external in last night's semi-final second leg, giving them an aggregate score of 161 to 152.

Sheffield will play either the Leicester Riders or London Lions in the Final on Sunday 4 March.