The actor William Simons, who played veteran PC Alf Ventress in the North Yorkshire-based TV show Heartbeat, has died.

Heartbeat was based on the Constable series of novels written by ex-policeman Peter N Walker, under the pseudonym Nicholas Rhea.

Simons appeared in all 18 series of the 1960s-set show which was filmed in Goathland on the North York Moors and set in the fictional Yorkshire villages of Ashfordly and Aidensfield.

Image source, Brian Robert Marshall

According to the Yorkshire Post,, external Simons enjoyed his role in Heartbeat so much that he bought a house in Goathland.

He sold it 14 years later saying Goathland had become so popular with tourists drawn by the Heartbeat factor that "it was impossible to step outside without being recognised".

This was the scene in part of Sheffield city centre a short time ago where a police cordon is in place this morning.

It's after a man was found unconscious in the street by the ambulance service at about 22:00 last night.

He was taken to hospital and the police cordon was put put in place as South Yorkshire Police try and work out what happened.

The severity of the man's injuries are unknown.

Updates on two investigations into Welcome to Yorkshire are due to be given to a meeting of the tourism organisation's board later.

Image source, PA

The inquiries were set up after the resignation of Sir Gary Verity (pictured) which came amid allegations about his expenses and behaviour towards colleagues.

Sir Gary, who resigned on health grounds, paid back £40,000 expenses before stepping down last March.

When his resignation was announced, Sir Gary said he had tried to "set the highest standards of personal performance and leadership".

In April, the tourism organisation announced the investigations looking into Sir Gary's expenses and behaviour since his appointment in 2008.

Campaigners fighting a decision to downgrade a North Yorkshire hospital's A&E unit insist they will continue to fight the plans.

Image source, Google

Northallerton's Friarage Hospital's A&E department was "temporarily" closed in March due to staff shortages.

Earlier this month, the Save Friarage Hospital group was granted permission to challenge that in the High Court.

However, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Trust which runs the hospital, has urged campaigners to drop their legal fight as it says services have improved since the closure.

In a statement, campaigners said: "Since the South Tees Trust took over the hospital in 2002, the people of Northallerton and the wider area have faced 17 years of cuts to the Friarage Hospital.

"Enough is enough - we will continue to fight for our services, our hospital and ultimately our lives."

No date has been fixed for the group's legal challenge to be heard by the High Court.

The brother of a vulnerable man who's been missing from Sheffield for two weeks has made an appeal for him to come home.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Minod Monger, 23, was last seen on Remington Road at about 17:30 on 10 June and police say his family is extremely worried for his welfare

Police are continuing to carry out inquiries in the Parson Cross and Ecclesfield areas of Sheffield as the search for Mr Monger continues.

In a video appeal, Mr Monger's brother, Prem Monger, says: "If you are in Sheffield, please look for my brother.

"Minod, we need to know you're safe. You are not in trouble with us, your family or the police."

Mr Monger is described as Asian, with dark black hair and about 5ft 4ins tall.

He was last seen wearing a white jacket, grey joggers and black Crocs.

Ch Insp Helen Lewis said: “If you see Minod, please do not approach him. He has vulnerabilities that mean he might find it distressing if he was approached by someone he doesn’t know.”

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

A largely cloudy but dry morning, but showers will develop with the chance of a few thunderstorms.

Watch my full forecast here:

A teenager and a woman have been taken to hospital following a house fire in Bradford.

Image source, West Yorkshire Fire Service

Emergency crews were called out last night to a property on Cemetery Road in Lidget Green.

Crews from Fairweather Green, Bradford and Odsal tackled the blaze, which started in a bedroom of the house.

One male teenager was treated for burns to his hands and the effects of breathing in smoke.

A woman at the property was also treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

A man has suffered "life-changing" injuries after he was stabbed in Doncaster.

Image source, Google

Police were called to Duke's Crescent in Edlington just after 23:30 on Friday following reports of a stabbing.

The victim received slash wounds to his upper arm and is still being treated in hospital.

Anyone who witnessed what happened is being asked to contact police.

Have you seen missing 12-year-old Thomas Marshall?

Image source, Humberside Police

Police say he was last seen in the Waveney Rd area of Hull at about 19:00 on Saturday night.

He's described as 5ft 3ins tall with brown brown hair and when last seen was wearing a dark blue hoodie, black skinny jeans and grey trainers.

Police want anyone with any information about his whereabouts to contact them.

If you were in Harrogate at the weekend, you might have wondered exactly what decade it was...

There was a plethora of gas masks, uniforms and smart hats as the town celebrated its annual 1940s festival.

Visitors enjoyed World War Two costumes, vintage vehicles and music from the wartime decade:

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

A 13-year-old boy has gone missing from West Yorkshire, police say.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Paul Powell was reported missing from school in Halifax on Friday and was last seen near Odsal Stadium in Bradford at about 21:00 that night.

He is described as black, 5ft 1in tall, of stocky build, with brown eyes and black hair.

Officers say when last seen he was wearing black jogging bottoms with white stripes and a grey coat.

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

BBC Weather

A largely cloudy but dry morning with showers developing.

More persistent bands of rain are expected to develop later, with the chance of a few thunderstorms.

Tonight, any lingering rain will clear to leave it dry and cloudy for much of the night:

The bodies of seven climbers who went missing last month have been recovered in the Himalayas, officials say.

Image source, Getty Images

A rescue team is searching for the body of an eighth climber, according to Indian officials who spoke to the BBC.

Four Britons, including University of York lecturer Richard Payne, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian made up the group, who had been attempting to climb India's second highest peak.

They went missing in a ridge between two glaciers near Nanda Devi last month.

The group was led by experienced British mountain guide Martin Moran, whose Scotland-based company, Moran Mountain, has run numerous expeditions in the Indian Himalayas.

Their bodies were spotted by an Indian rescue mission earlier this month, but attempts to retrieve them were postponed after a helicopter failed multiple times to drop rescuers on the peak.

BBC News Travel

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

However:

• The 06:31 York to London Kings Cross is currently running 43 minutes late
• The 06:54 Doncaster to London Kings Cross is running 40 minutes late
• The 06:53 from Wakefield to London Kings Cross is posted as delayed

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

A man's been taken to hospital after being found unconscious in Sheffield city centre.

Image source, Google

Police say they received a call from the Ambulance Service to Arundel Gate just after 22:00 last night.

The man was taken to the Northern General Hospital.

A cordon remains in place this morning as police investigate.