Local Democracy Reporting Service

Up to 400 new homes look set to be built in Rotherham after plans for the development were given the go-ahead by councillors.

Image source, Google

Approval has been granted for Jones Homes to build 100 homes on the site in Malty, with outline approval given for another three phases of the development.

Details for those will be decided later, but it will mean up to 400 homes in total on the site.

It was acknowledged the development would add to traffic in the area, but councillors were told it was projected that queues nearby would increase anyway and the impact of the new estate would not be “severe”.

Up to 50 motorcycles and quad bikes "put people's safety at risk" in Leeds on Thursday night, police say.

A police investigation into child sexual exploitation in Huddersfield has seen 27 men convicted.

Whirlpool used "chilling" non-disclosure agreements "to silence customers" while fire-prone tumble dryers remained in UK homes, a Leeds MP has said.

Image source, LFB

The manufacturer deflected concerns and was too slow to fix the fire danger, which first emerged four years ago, according to the Commons business committee.

Leeds West Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the committee, said: "Whirlpool's response to fixing safety flaws in its tumble dryers has too often owed more to PR management than to taking the practical steps to make its machines safe for customers.

"This has dragged on for far too long, leaving customers, now four years on, still fearing they may have potentially unsafe tumble dryers in their homes."

The committee said that Whirlpool had used non-disclosure agreements on 24 occasions, asking those affected to sign them.

Jeff Noel, vice-president of Whirlpool, said: "Through our ongoing campaign, we have resolved this potential safety issue - which concerns tumble dryers produced by the previous owner of the company - for more than 1.75 million people.

"This is up to five times the average success rate for a product recall in the UK," he added.

League One side Doncaster Rovers sign former Hamilton striker Rakish Bingham on a deal until January.

Thieves are thought to have stolen stones from churches in the Huddersfield area to use on driveways.

Workers fear the sack if they do not sign new contracts but Asda has softened its Saturday deadline.

A seven-year-old boy from Doncaster wants to help people so much that he's started volunteering at his local food bank.

Harper helps sort products and hand out food at Edlington Community Organisation:

Scientists say people living up to 100km downwind of last year's blaze were exposed to toxic fumes.

Alicia Steward snatched the child from its mother in a "moment of delusion", a court hears.

A motorcyclist has died following a crash on a Hull road.

Image source, Google

It happened at the junction of Holderness Road and Mount Pleasant at about 01:30 this morning.

The yellow Suzuki bike left the road and crashed, causing serious injuries to the biker, a man in his 20s. He died later in hospital.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the crash to come forward, especially the driver or passengers in a light coloured estate car and a dark vehicle, possibly a Ford Mondeo.

It's thought the two cars were taxis and might have been in the area at the time of the crash.

The officer was attacked while executing a warrant at a house in Sheffield.

Match commander David Duckenfield denies the manslaughter of 95 fans in the 1989 stadium disaster.

An organisation which works with children and teenagers in Leeds who have offended or are at risk of re-offending needs to improve, a watchdog has said.

Image source, Getty Images

The finding comes in a report into the work of Leeds Youth Justice Service by HM Inspectorate of Probation.

Inspectors found staff at all levels of the service were committed to young people and very good at engaging with them, with a clear understanding of what could be done to help keep them away from further offending.

But inspectors also found that Leeds Youth Justice Service staff underestimated the risk of harm to others and should pay closer attention to upholding the quality of its work.

The organisation's board should include representatives from organisations involved with youth justice services, the report added.

Justin Russell, Chief Inspector of Probation, said:“ The issues in this inspection are capable of being addressed quickly, so progress can be made.

"We have made a number of recommendations to assist Leeds Youth Justice Service with this and ensure children and young people who have offended get the best possible service.”

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was attacked with a hammer in Sheffield.

The officer was part of a group carrying out a warrant at a property Longley Hall Road, Longley, at about 11:10 this morning.

While at the address, the officer was hit by a man wielding a hammer, according to police.

The officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries and he has since been discharged.

A 34-year-old man is in police custody on suspicion of attempted murder.

This South Yorkshire police community support officer got more than he bargained for when "ticketing" a small yellow car last night.

This must be one of the most imaginative Halloween costumes going:

A Hull-based haulage firm has told the BBC it has seen a rise in the number of illegal migrants trying to use its lorries to get from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to the UK.

Image source, PA Media

Middlegate Europe says it believes people smugglers are telling people to try and get into the UK before Brexit.

According to figures from Belgian police, almost 350 were found trying to board ferries out of Zeebrugge in October, up from 87 in September and 196 in June.

Annelies Geldhof, from Middlegate Europe, said: "Almost every week we find immigrants in our trailers trying to make it to the UK.

"During the summer it was very calm, but now because of the Brexit date coming we are seeing the numbers going up."

Home Secretary Priti Patel has this week promised to send more staff to Zeebrugge to stop migrants coming into the UK illegally.

A drug dealer who was caught when his trousers fell down and drugs fell out of his pockets has been jailed.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Rommel Morgan admitted possessing class A drugs, possessing criminal property and intent to supply.

The 24-year-old was jailed for a total of six years and nine months at York Crown Court.

Morgan, of Ilbert Avenue, Bradford, was spotted by police officers meeting with two individuals in Harrogate in February.

When he ran off his trousers fell down and a number of items fell out, police said. They included 78 wraps of crack cocaine, 31 wraps of heroin and over £200 in cash.

More should be done to stop the late-night use of fireworks to celebrate weddings in a Bradford suburb, local residents say.

Image source, Sarah Woodhead

People living in the West Bowling area of the city say they're often being kept awake until the early hours.

Shahid Islam, a member of the Bradford4Better action group, says the number of fireworks being set off in the area has gone up "ridiculously" over recent years.

"It's not just a one-off. It's happening most Sunday nights and sometimes on a Saturday night," he said.

"It goes on from the late hours of about 22:00 until 01:00 and 02:00 in the morning."

Wardens are "keeping an eye out" for anti-social behaviour in the area, according to Bradford Council.

The remains of a Victorian whale have gone on display in Leeds after months of meticulous work to reassamble its bones.

Image source, Leeds Museums and Galleries

The pilot whale was killed by fishermen off the coast of Scotland over 150 years ago for its meat and blubber.

It is now the centrepiece of a display at Leeds City Museum aimed at highlighting the fragility of the world's oceans.

The whale's name, chosen through a public competition, has also been revealed. It's been named "Swale" - a play on the Yorkshire way of saying, "It's a whale", the museum says.

Clare Brown, from Leeds Museums and Galleries, said: “It’s amazing to see the whale reassembled and on display in such dramatic fashion.

“It’s our hope that seeing our whale from this new perspective, and learning more about its very sad story, will not only capture the imaginations of visitors, but also encourage them to think about our oceans and what they can do to support the spectacular array of life which calls them home."