The number of children adopted in Yorkshire is at a record low, according to the latest government figures.

Image source, Getty Images

Only 430 children found permanent new parents in the last year - a figure which is down from 690 in 2015.

There are now thought to be more children in council care than ever before and there's a shortage of people who want to adopt.

An urgent appeal is now being launched to encourage more adoptive families to come forward.

Sarah Johal, from the One Adoption West Yorkshire agency, says: "These children haven't had a good start in life, often because of abuse or neglect. We really need to find families for them."

There's a New Year's tradition in Driffield known as scrambling where sweets are thrown in the street for children to collect.

Children follow the town crier through the streets as he sings a traditional song, after which sweets are thrown by businesses.

Youngsters then scramble around to collect as many sweets as possible, as part of the tradition which takes place on the first shopping day of each new year:

New applications for strip clubs or lap dancing bars in Rotherham could face tougher scrutiny.

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Rotherham Council is asking for public views on the idea of creating a specific policy for such establishments, rather than lumping them in with the general policy for bars and nightclubs.

It says a different approach to licensing them could reduce the risk of criminality, such as prostitution and human trafficking.

The A64 in York has reopened after being closed for six hours eastbound after a man was hit by a lorry.

Image source, Google

It happened at about 07:00 this morning, police say.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone with dash-cam footage to contact them.

Highways England has thanked motorists for their patience and says collision investigation and vehicle recovery has been completed.

Yorkshire Post

Millie Straker made an early dramatic arrival at Scarborough Hospital at 00:01 yesterday, which could make her the first new arrival of 2019 anywhere in the country, external.

Image source, Richard Ponter

The mayor of Sheffield crashed people's parties on New Year's Eve, thanking people for their "warmth and hospitality".

Magid Magid, who has been the mayor since May 2018, said it was his "best New Year's Eve":

Midfielder Ben Wiles signs a new three-and-a-half year deal with Championship club Rotherham United.

A major Doncaster road will be closed for about six months as a railway bridge is replaced.

Image source, Google

Armthorpe Lane, Kirk Sandall, will be closed while the work is carried out.

Public transport will be diverted as the bridge is replaced - work is due to begin next week.

Daring dippers braved the freezing temperature of the North Sea on the Yorkshire coast to take part in the traditional New Year’s Day swim.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA

Organised by Scarborough Lions Club, the dip in Scarborough's South Bay was a chance for hardy souls to raise money for a charity of their choice.

And it looks like the photographer who took this salty snap was one of them, as they appear to have been in the water to get this action shot.

If you look carefully you'll see swimmers were even joined by the US President too.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent after the incident on New Year's Day.

An East Yorkshire bus company is selling a pair of vintage buses.

Image source, EYMS

East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) say the two vehicles from its heritage fleet are both more than 50 years old.

Image source, EYMS

The 1949 Bedford OB and the double-decker 1961 Bristol FS6G Lodekka are currently located at the Anlaby Road depot in Hull.

They can be bought separately or as a pair.

A e-fit image has been released of a man police would like to speak to after occupants of a Sheffield house were threatened with a gun in an armed robbery.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

It's reported that five men went into a house on Holgate Close in Parson Cross and threatened the victim with a gun.

Memorabilia was stolen in the robbery on Friday 30 November at about 21:30.

There is no evidence that a soldier who was seriously injured when he was knocked down by a car after an altercation in a club was targeted due to his service or that it "was motivated by racism", police have said.

Image source, Google

The incident happened outside TBC nightclub on Bradford Road, Batley, at about 04:40 on New Year's Day.

There was an altercation in the club with a group of men who then left the building, police say.

The victim, who is a serving member of HM Forces, was then knocked down by a blue Mercedes.

The 21-year-old victim is in a serious but stable condition.

A 27-year-old man from Dewsbury has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent.

A man's been hit by a heavy goods vehicle on the A64 at York.

Image source, Google

It happened at about 07:00 this morning, police say.

Motorists are being asked to avoid the eastbound section of the road, between the Grimston Bar and Hopgrove roundabouts, while emergency services deal with the incident.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone with dash-cam footage to contact them.

This was the scene in Huddersfield this morning after a car veered into a wall and rolled onto its side:

Image source, WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE

It looks like the driver of the car had a lucky escape after he lost control of the vehicle on Lowergate, Paddock at about 08:00.

The man was uninjured and roads are now clear.

Two people charged with murder after a man died in a street fight have been remanded in custody.

Image source, Family photo

Polish national Maksym Polomka (pictured), 30, was injured in a disturbance in Robb Street, Beeston, on Boxing Day and died later in hospital.

Pawel Stragowski, 27, from Bradford, is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday. Tomasz Dybicz, 29, from Beeston, is due to appear on 28 January.

A 31-year-old man, who was arrested on Saturday, will face no charge.

Police have released this e-fit image of a suspect wanted for indecently exposing himself in front of two teenage girls in Cottingham.

Image source, Humberside Police

Officers released a mock-up of a man they want to speak to following an incident on a footpath between Snuff Mill Lane and Bricknell Avenue at about 15:00 on 25 November.

Humberside Police officers are asking anyone who recognises the man in the e-fit image to get in touch with them.

Campaigners in part of Bradford are celebrating after plans were scrapped to build a new crematorium in a popular park.

Image source, Peter Wood/Geograph

More than 3,000 people signed a petition against the inclusion of Northcliffe Park in Shipley in the crematorium proposals by Bradford Council.

Campaigners said the "permanent loss of valued public green space" would result if the plans went ahead and urged the council to "exhaustively pursue" alternative sites instead.

Martin Love, a Green Party councillor opposed to the plans, said: "Northcliffe was given to the people of Shipley by Sir Norman Rae in 1920.

"People have valued it for generations and it was obvious they'd rise to the challenge and do everything they could to defend it."

The cost of a rail ticket between Doncaster and Sheffield has increased by 10%, according to the former leader of the Green Party.

Image source, Getty Images

The average fare rise across England and Wales is 3.1%, but it's significantly more on some routes, Natalie Bennett claims.

Speaking outside Sheffield railway station this morning, she said: "We've been speaking to people this morning who have come from Doncaster and they're telling us the increase is 10.1%."

"Another person was also saying, 'My fares have gone up £10 a month. That's a lot of money to me'."

About 45% of fares are regulated by government and capped at July's retail price index inflation figure, which was 3.2%.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said new trains being introduced in the north of England showed the impact of "massive investment" by the government and private sector.

An armed police raid on a flat in York yesterday afternoon was linked to an incident earlier in the day which saw a street in the city cordoned-off after a serious attack, police have confirmed.

Image source, Google

Officers with police dogs were sent to Aberford House in Lowther Street at about 15:45 on Tuesday.

Workers at the Spar shop next to the flats were ordered to lock their doors while a cordon was put in place during the raid.

A 30-year-old man was then arrested.

A 31-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man were taken into custody earlier in the day in the city's Nunnery lane area (pictured above) after a 27-year-old man was discovered with serious injuries to his back, believed to have been caused by a bladed weapon.

All three remain in police custody.