Police investigating "county lines" drug dealers have identified four criminal operations in the Harrogate district.

Image source, Getty Images

It comes after Harrogate Council's leader warned earlier this week of problems with drug dealers in his own ward.

North Yorkshire Police says its officers are investigating three operations into Harrogate and Knaresborough and one into Ripon.

"County lines" gangs are based in big towns and cities - and exploit children or vulnerable people to sell drugs in market towns and rural communities.

Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Council, says there's a "particular problem" with dealing in his town.

He claims landlords, both public and private, could do more to help police stamp the problem out.

There's been more disruption on the buses in Sheffield because of anti-social behaviour.

For a second night, Stagecoach Yorkshire says services on its No 1 route were affected by a string of incidents.

The same service was hit by youths throwing bricks on Tuesday night, causing it to be diverted along a different route:

Today will be mainly fine with a good deal of sunshine, although it will stay cool and breezy.

Cloud could build in the middle of the day with the chance of a few showers.

This evening will initially be dry and sunny, however cloud is expected to thicken ahead of a windy night with outbreaks of rain expected after midnight:

Police say they have concerns over the safety of a "vulnerable" woman who has gone missing from Hull.

Image source, Humberside Police

Roberta Agawu, 27, was last seen at 08:00 yesterday in the Wingfield Road area of the city.

Humberside Police want to hear from anyone with information which can help find her.

A "help me" plea left by a teenager who killed herself inspires her mum to help children's mental health.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is "very close" to signing a new deal with the club, says managing director Angus Kinnear.

Plans to create a new maritime visitor centre in Hull and to move the famous Arctic Corsair trawler into a nearby dry-dock have been granted conditional approval.

Image source, Hull City Council

The multi-million pound proposals for land next to the River Hull are central to the council's vision to attract more tourists to the city.

Last month, the Arctic Corsair, Hull's last sidewinder trawler, was taken a short distance to Alexandra Dock where it will undergo restoration work as part of the plans.

Hull City Council wants to renovate the Maritime Museum and North End Shipyard as well as the Arctic Corsair and the historic Spurn Lightship.

Councillors granted conditional approval earlier.

A schoolgirl used her ju-jitsu skills to fight off a knifeman who tried to rob her and a friend during a spate of attacks in a park in West Yorkshire.

Alex Jeanguillanune, 15, grabbed hold of the suspect and threw him to the ground when the pair were threatened in Wharfemeadows Park in Otley.

She said: "In these situations we're taught how to defend ourselves."

The attack was one of three knifepoint robberies which happened in the park on Friday, West Yorkshire Police said.

The student, who has been a member of the town's ju-jitsu club since the age of five, was with a friend when they were confronted and told to hand over their phones.

She refused and the knifeman pulled the weapon as if he was about to stab her friend.

The teenager said: "I grabbed hold of his arm and shoulder and shoved him to the floor and we ended up grappling on the floor."

The youngster said her training had taught her to run off in such situations, but because the pair were in an enclosed space she was forced to act.

BBC Sport

Hull City defender Angus MacDonald has been diagnosed with the early stages of bowel cancer.

Image source, PA Media

The Championship side said that the 26-year-old's "physical and mental wellbeing are our number one priority at this moment in time".

"Angus has shown great strength of character in the way he has reacted to this news," they said in a statement., external

"The whole Tigers family join together in showing Angus continued love and will support him in his recovery."

Sheffield Telegraph
Sheffield Telegraph

A "controversial’ artwork made of plastic will go on display as part of an exhibition at Sheffield's Botanical Gardens., external

Image source, Sheffield Telegraph

Humberside Police say a lorry which had become stuck on Hull's A165 Freetown Way has now been moved, but has warned there may still be some delays in the area:

A former EasyJet crew member has appeared in court to admit being drunk on a flight from Spain to Newcastle.

Julie Birkett, 48, from Huddersfield, was arrested after the flight from Alicante landed on 10 August.

Air Traffic Control had earlier alerted police.

She admitted performing an aviation function while unfit through drink at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

Birkett was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £21 victim surcharge.

The budget airline said: "A crew member was arrested, subsequently charged and no longer works for EasyJet."

Image source, Getty Images

A major route through Hull road has been blocked in both directions after a lorry became stuck.

Humberside Police say the abnormal load is too tall to go under North Bridge.

The force is advising motorists to avoid the area around George Street and the A165 Freetown Way while the vehicle is turned around.

It's thought a wrong turn led to the disruption.

The council is looking at whether it needs to remove street signs and lights to help get the vehicle moved.

A man who drove a car he'd stolen into its owner after fighting with the victim in his own home in West Yorkshire is being sought by police.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

The incident happened at a house on Leeds Old Road in Heckmondwike at about 22:10 on Monday 26 August.

Police say the man entered the house where a 53-year-old male and a friend were sitting in the dining room.

When he attempted to steal car keys and a handbag he was confronted by the victim and during the struggle both fell down the stairs into the garden.

Police say the suspect then got into the victim’s car, drove it into him and then drove away.

The 53-year-old man was left with cuts and bruises to his arms, legs and feet, say police.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or recognises the man in the e-fit image above is being asked to contact the West Yorkshire force.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Almost half of the 40 people arrested this year in the hunt for "county lines" drug dealing criminals in North Yorkshire have been under the age of 18, police say.

Image source, Getty Images

"County lines" is the term used when drug gangs from big cities expand their operations to smaller towns.

Officers have told Harrogate councillors that drugs are being brought into the county from as far away as Birmingham and Manchester as well as Bradford and Leeds.

Arrest figures show 15 of the 40 people arrested in "county lines" operations since January have been under 18 years of age.

Police say the young age of offenders has meant an increase in the number of officers liaising with local schools to identify vulnerable young people at risk of becoming involved in the crime.

Inspectors Penny Taylor and Steve Breen, from North Yorkshire Police, added that school-age children were using a variety of transports to avoid detection.

Insp Taylor said: “We’re seeing drug dealers using different modes of transport, hire vehicles, taxis, trains and buses. It’s an area of concern for us,”

Hull Kingston Rovers halfback Chris Atkin is to join Salford at the end of the season after two years with the Robins.

One of the security guards forced to hand over cash in an armed robbery in Leeds earlier today was doused in a liquid and threatened with a lighter, police have revealed.

Image source, YappApp

It happened as a van delivering cash to an ATM at an Asda store on Killingbeck Drive was targeted by armed robbers wielding an axe and a sawn-off shotgun at about 07:00 this morning.

Police say they can’t confirm what type of liquid the security guard was doused in until it can be tested.

A police spokesman added: "The threat was not seen through and he was not injured."

The suspects fled the scene in a white van which was later found on fire in a nearby cemetery.

Det Insp Al Burns, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "This was a really frightening experience for the staff involved.

"Although no-one was physically injured, they have been left very badly shaken by what happened."

The search for five or six men involved in the incident continues, police said.

Hull KR trio Josh Drinkwater, James Greenwood and Chris Atkin will leave the Super League club at the end of the season.

The man behind bringing the World Cycling Championships to Harrogate later this month says they plan to move onto the site next week.

Image source, Getty Images

It's almost 40 years since what's known as the "World Cup of cycling" was last held in the UK.

Andy Hindley, the boss of Yorkshire 2019, says on Monday all the contractors will arrive and start building on The Stray.

Mr Hindley says: "In North Yorkshire as a whole we're going to measure it in millions of people coming out to watch."

But some people have concerns about the disruption the nine-day event it will cause.

Georgia Eckard, who runs a bookshop in Harrogate, says she's shutting for all but one day of the event, saying: "I'm not particularly thrilled about it and think it's an awful lot of disruption to the town centre for nine days."

John Whitehead who runs a taxi business in Harrogate says he’s lost bookings because the details of the road closures came too late, but believes the event will "be a boost for the town."

Andy Hindley says he believes the benefits of the event will far outweigh the disruption it will cause.

London Broncos beat Hull KR 26-24 for a third straight win that lifts them off the bottom at their opponents' expense.