Olympic road race champion Greg van Avermaet makes his Tour de Yorkshire return in May, having last featured in 2015.

Yorkshire host Nottinghamshire in the County Championship - listen to BBC local radio commentary.

A West Yorkshire Police traffic officer has paid tribute to how modern cars are built to withstand crashes after this collision:

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

PC Martin Willis, who became famous for his pictures of him holding a van which had crashed through a barrier on the A1M, tweeted the pictures this morning.

He said, external: "Amazingly no one was injured in this collision.

A testament to the way vehicles are built these days."

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

BBC Radio Sheffield's Toby Foster is taking part in a "Bangers & Cash" charity rally from Sheffield to Monte Carlo in September.

It has to be completed in a second-hand car worth less than £650.

The bonnet eventually gets auctioned off to raise funds for the young homelessness charity Roundabout, external and BBC Radio Sheffield is running a competition to design it.

Police who were searching for a missing 15-year-old girl from Bradford say they have found her.

Hannah Afzal has been found safe and well, West Yorkshire Police thanked people who shared their appeal and called with information.

A new sanctuary centre is opening on Chapel Walk in Sheffield today for refugees in the city.

It follows the closure of the Northern Refugee Centre in 2016.

Sarah Eldridge, one of the co-ordinators of the City of Sanctuary organisation says that closure left some people without the support they needed to adjust to their new lives:

For the first time since 1882, the UK was - for 48 hours this week - powered without the use of coal.

Drax power station near Goole says it's "a huge step in the right direction".

The milestone was hit on Tuesday and Wednesday, after being picked up by a monitoring system.

Drax Power says it's down to the warmer weather and a growth in renewable energy and gas.

Their Chief Executive Andy Koss says they're committed to coming off coal before 2025.

Joanita Musisi
BBC Radio York

The York swimmer James Wilby has been given a hero's welcome by members of his old swimming club.

He's back home in York after winning four medals at the Commonwealth Games: a gold, two silvers and a bronze.

The 24-year-old received a rapturous reception from youngsters training at Yearsley Pool where he started his career, with his proud Mum Fiona looking on.

I've been chatting to him this morning and look, I got to point at his medals too!

James says he's been "amazed by the support he's had from people in York."

His mum said: "James always stayed in York to train and didn't need to go anywhere else.

"He always believed he could do it and York could help him."

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has told the BBC the drive-by shooting in Sheffield on Wednesday was almost certainly aimed at the wrong target.

The windows of two houses on Bransby Street at Walkley were hit at just after 23:00 on Wednesday night.

One of them was the home of an elderly woman.

Commissioner Dr Alan Billings has been talking to BBC Radio Sheffield's Toby Foster this morning:

Drivers' mobile phone data is to be used to try and ease congestion in York.

Image source, SAM KELLY VIA GEOGRAPH

The council will monitor drivers' phone signals from inside cars to help planners manage traffic better without having to build new roads.

It will also allow officials to predict traffic patterns during severe weather and divert vehicles through less busy areas of the city.

The council said the data would be collected anonymously and kept secure.

The potential of the north’s industrial heritage will be discussed by officials in West Yorkshire today.

Image source, GEOGRAPH/CHRIS ALLEN

They're talking about what to do with more than 1,000 disused textile mills in the region.

A report going before the West Yorkshire Combined Authority says there are around 1,350 vacant or under-used mill buildings in Yorkshire.

It suggests the buildings could generate up to 150,000 jobs.

Deborah Wall, historic places principal advisor for Historic England said: “The potential's huge, at a time when local authorities are struggling to find land for homes and for economic growth.

“Mills can provide a ready-made solution."

Three First Division medals, belonging to Huddersfield Town's all-time leading scorer, will go up for auction later.

Image source, Sheffield Auction Gallery

George Brown scored 159 goals for the club during the 1920s.

His three Championship medals - won between 1923 and 1926 - are being sold off at Sheffield Auction Gallery and are expected to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000

Brown was nicknamed “Bomber” for the ferocity of his long-range shooting and was an ex-miner from Mickley, Northumberland, who signed professional papers for the club in 1921 at the age of 17.

The leaders of two major parties are the latest to pay tribute to BBC Yorkshire's former political editor Len Tingle.

Len died earlier this month from cancer. He was 62.

Theresa May said Len was a "wonderful advocate for Yorkshire".

Meanwhile, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described Len as "a joy to be with".

There was a hero's return last night for York's Commonwealth swimming champion, James Wilby.

James won four medals in Australia: gold for the 200m breast stroke, two silver and one bronze.

He received a rapturous reception from the young swimmers back at his old club where he trained with York City Baths at Yearsley Pool.

Aspiring youngsters at the club said James made them feel they could do anything they wanted to:

Police investigations are continuing after two houses were damaged in a "drive-by" shooting in Sheffield.

It happened on Bransby Street in Walkley just after 23:00 on Wednesday night.

Police cordoned off the area after a downstairs window in one of the houses was broken.

A witness said she heard gunshots "in quick succession" followed by the sound of a car driving away.

Officers have been examining a number of ammunition cases found at the scene.

No one was injured in the incident.

The transport secretary is being threatened with legal action if firms running East Coast mainline trains are allowed to bid for future contracts.

Image source, PA

Stagecoach and Virgin were told they could exit the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise three years early after reporting losses.

Renationalisation group Bring Back British Rail wants "action to stop this happening again".

Chris Grayling's office said there was "no basis for legal action".

BBC Weather

Early low cloud or mist will disperse to leave a fine day with plenty of sunshine.

Most places will feel pleasant in the sunshine with only a gentle westerly breeze.

Staying dry tonight with clear periods for most.

Three men have been arrested in connection with a stabbing in Rotherham on Wednesday evening.

Image source, Google

A black BMW is reported to have pulled up on Wellgate around 19:00 and three men got of the car, approaching a black Audi A3.

The 19-year-old driver of the Audi, is then reported to have been pulled from the car and punched in the face.

He also sustained a stab wound to his back.

The three men, two aged 24-years-old and a 26-year-old, are in police custody.

Train services from Yorkshire's main railway stations seem to be running pretty smoothly so far this morning.

You can check the latest information on your journey from National Rail Inquiries right here:

• York, external
• Leeds, external
• Sheffield, external
• Doncaster, external
• Wakefield, external
• Bradford Interchange, external
• Bradford Forster Square, external

Michael Cheek scores his first hat-trick for Dagenham as they edge an eight-goal thriller at already-relegated Guiseley.