An 86-year-old woman living in sheltered housing was sexually abused, strangled with a tea towel and had her throat slashed, a court has been told.

Image source, Family photo

Amy Shepherd was found dead at her flat in Wibsey, Bradford, in August 1994. It is believed she had been robbed.

Newly-developed forensic techniques provided "compelling scientific evidence" Raymond Kay was her killer, the prosecution has alleged.

Mr Kay, now 70, of Baker Fold, Halifax, denies murder.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Richard Wright QC said Miss Shepherd had suffered "terrible wounds" to her neck which her killer had inflicted with a serrated knife found at the scene.

The jury heard Mr Kay had been spoken to by the police during the initial investigation in the 1990s because a few months before Miss Shepherd's death he had delivered "meals on wheels" to her.

Mr Kay's DNA had been found on samples taken from the victim's body and also a tea towel which had been used a ligature, Mr Wright said.

The trial continues.

Police are searching for a 12-year-old girl who has gone missing from Leeds.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Mandy May Pickles is described as a slim, tanned, white female.

Officers say when she was last seen her hair was in a ponytail and she was wearing ripped, blue jeans, a blue top and large hooped earrings.

BBC Weather

Today will be cloudy and blustery with outbreaks of rain and a brisk, easterly, wind making it feel chilly.

Tonight is expected to be mostly cloudy, but the rain should gradually move to the north to allow drier conditions to move in.

The wind should ease too.

Police want to speak to three men after £2,000 of clothing was stolen from York's designer outlet.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Officers believe the men may have information which will help with their investigation into the theft at the Tommy Hilfiger store at McArthurGlen York at about 15:00 on Sunday 14 April.

Image source, Geograph/Andy Farrington

North Yorkshire Police want to hear from anyone who recognises the men.

The M62 is closed in both directions in part of West Yorkshire this morning following an incident on a bridge over the motorway.

Image source, Google

Highways England is advising motorists the road will remain closed between junctions 22 and 24 in both directions around Huddersfield through this morning’s peak period.

Image source, Highways England

Drivers heading eastbound are currently being diverted to exit at junction 22, take the A672, then the A58 to re-join the M62 at junction 26.

Drivers heading westbound are currently being diverted to exit at junction 24, take the A629, then the A643, then the A58, and finally the A672 to re-join the M62 at junction 22.

BBC News Travel

If you're making a journey on the rails in Yorkshire this morning, most services appear to be running to time.

However, there are some problems reported:

• the 06.47 Wakefield to London St Pancras is cancelled
• the 07.24 Sheffield to London St Pancras is cancelled

For all the latest live updates from the county's main railway stations, click on the links below:

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

Thousands of people lined the streets of Sheffield as the city celebrated Sheffield United's promotion to the Premier League.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA

The team travelled from Bramall Lane to the city centre in an open-top bus.

It was followed by a civic reception for the team, club staff and their families at Sheffield Town Hall.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Sheffield City Council's chief executive John Mothersole said the club should be very "proud" of its achievements.

Fans lined the streets from late afternoon, many dressed in the club's red and white colours.

A collection of 6,000 model elephants goes under the hammer.

A Hull MP has questioned whether a candidate should be allowed to stand for the European Parliament after comments he made about whether he would rape a female MP.

Image source, Getty Images/Leon Neal

UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin (pictured) tweeted Labour MP Jess Phillips in 2016 saying "I wouldn't even rape you", a remark he's refused to apologise for, arguing "any subject can be the subject of a joke".

West Midlands Police said it had received a report of malicious communications relating to Ms Phillips.

A spokesman said: "Officers have spoken to Ms Phillips and the comments are being investigated to establish if an offence has taken place."

Emma Hardy, the Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, says the "whole of society" should "condemn" Mr Benjamin for his comments.

She said: "I would question anybody's legitimacy to stand there as our country's representative after having made those vile comments about women in our community."

The company which provides electricity in York says it's beginning a £300,000 investment to improve the reliability of power in the city centre.

Image source, Google

Northern Powergrid says it will deliver four schemes during this year and next, replacing about 1.5 miles of high voltage underground cable.

The first work, along Aldwark, near Peasholme Green (pictured), starts today and is expected to last about six weeks.

Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, said: “Investing in York’s infrastructure is vital to sustain and develop the local economy.

"I will liaise with Northern Powergrid during the upgrade to ensure any issues impacting on local residents are addressed.”

The Archdeacon of York is to become the first woman to serve as a bishop in the Diocese of Lichfield.

Image source, Diocese of York

The Venerable Sarah Bullock, who has been in York since 2013, is going to be the new area bishop of Shrewsbury.

She says she is "honoured and delighted" by her new role.

Downing Street announced today that the Queen has approved her nomination.

Two men have been sentenced after police found three young children inside a house where cannabis was being grown.

Image source, Humberside Police

Hull Crown Court heard how Daniel Morfitt (pictured left) and Marc Dales (pictured right) were arrested on Essex Street in Hull in July 2017.

Morfitt, 29, of Essex Street, admitted production of a class B drug and cruelty to a person under 16.

He was given an 18-month community order with 20 days of rehab and 200 hours unpaid work.

Dales, 35, of Essex street, admitted two counts of cruelty to a person under 16.

He was given an 18-month community order with 15 days of rehab and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Delays of about 30 minutes are expected for drivers on the A1(M) J44 southbound following a four-vehicle collision at Boston Spa.

Drivers have been warned to take care as pedestrians are in the carriageway.

Officers are on the way to assist with the incident, which currently has a tailback of about 3.5 miles.

This is the current scene in the area:

Image source, Highways England/Crown Copyright

Police are appealing for witnesses to a racially aggravated assault in Scarborough.

Image source, Google

It happened on St Thomas Street (pictured) at about 04:00 yesterday.

Officers say a group of men was approached and assaulted by another group of about five or six men and women.

Two men aged 19 and 21 sustained minor facial injuries during the assault.

The North Yorkshire force says it wants the public to help "establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident".

Anyone with information about what happened is being asked to get in touch with police.

Bradford City release 11 players following their relegation to League Two.

Shots fired at an address in Huddersfield at the weekend were "targeted", police say.

Image source, Google

A property on Alder street was damaged in the incident, which occurred at about 06:15 on 5 May.

No-one was injured, but officers have increased patrols in the area.

Det Ch Insp Ian Scott said: "It has understandably caused concern in the community.

"We believe it was a targeted incident and I would like to appeal to anyone who saw this incident."

A driver has been stopped going at 120mph on the motorway through West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Police say the motorist was stopped on the M1 near Woolley Edge:

A petition has been set up calling for traffic problems in an East Yorkshire town to be sorted out before more houses are built.

Image source, Change.org/Brough Relief Road campaign

A group of residents has set up a campaign to stop 750 new houses being built in Brough until traffic congestion and safety concerns are addressed.

Amanda Good, who helped start up the petition which now has more than 1,000 signatures, says signatories want a relief road on the A63.

She said: "Brough has town status but we've got village roads and this is what the problem is."

Highways England says it will monitor the impact on the A63, but any upgrades to roads off it are a matter for the council.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council says it has major improvements planned as part of the housing development, including a new roundabout and the completion of the Brough relief road.

BBC Sport looks at how Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has worked his way up from the Conference to the Premier League.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A pub has vowed to add “additional controls” to an upcoming music festival after councillors described last year’s event as a “disgrace”.

Image source, GOOGLE

Chapelfest, which features local bands and raises cash for charity, is held each May at Chapel House, in Low Moor, Bradford.

However, the festival has come under threat after objections from councillors including claims last year's event led to anti-social behaviour, drug-taking and urinating on the site of the neighbouring church.

Pub chain Greene King now has to convince a licensing committee on Thursday to allow it to hold the event.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby said: “I object to this application on the grounds that behaviour, noise and disturbance to the community and neighbouring properties at the Chapelfest previously was a disgrace."

A spokesperson for the festival said: "Last year’s attendance surpassed all expectations and this year we are putting additional controls before the committee to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring this is a safe and fun event for all."