About 240 workers at Wakefield-based Bonmarche could lose their jobs when the collapsed clothing retailer closes 30 under-performing stores as sister chain Peacock looks set to buy it out of administration.

Image source, Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

The womenswear stores, which employ about eight people each, will close on 11 December and staff will "potentially be made redundant", administrators acting for the business said.

Bonmarche's 285 remaining stores will continue to trade.

Peacocks has been named the "preferred bidder" for the retailer, although further negotiations are needed before the deal is secured.

Administrators FRP Advisory said 25 people were made redundant in a number of head office and middle management roles.

Tony Wright, joint administrator and partner at FRP Advisory, said: "There is still a lot more work to do before we can secure the future of the business.

"While we are optimistic a transaction can be completed, ultimately, it will depend on ongoing negotiations between our preferred bidder and landlords on market rents and there remains a risk the business could cease to trade," he added.

BBC News Travel

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

However:

• The 09:11 Bradford Forster Square to Skipton service has been cancelled
• The 09:21 Leeds to Scarborough service has been cancelled
• The 09:47 York to Scarborough service has been 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

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A plan to build a £103m bypass with the aim of cutting congestion around three West Yorkshire towns is to be discussed next week.

Image source, LDRS

Senior Wakefield councillors are expected to sign off an extra £590,000 of funding for a new link road around the south of Featherstone.

The road is designed to cut traffic in Featherstone, Pontefract and Ackworth and help cope with an influx of new homes over the coming years.

A council report claims the increased accessibility provided by the road could also create up to 2,000 new jobs in the Five Towns and Leeds.

The report says: "Delivery of the scheme will result in the removal of traffic congestion from Featherstone, Pontefract and Ackworth town centres, resulting in improved journey times and reliability.

"The scheme will deliver better connectivity for all modes, including buses, providing better opportunities for local people to access employment.

Wakefield Council's cabinet will meet at Wakefield Town Hall next Tuesday to discuss the plans, which won't be fully signed-off until 2021.

A man serving 40 months for robbery has absconded from a prison in Doncaster.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police said Scott Pankhurst, who was sentenced in March last year for burglaries in Leeds, failed to return to HMP Hatfield after being given day release on Saturday.

The 37-year-old has connections to the Kirkstall, Headingley, Hawksworth and Horsforth areas of West Leeds.

He is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, bald and of slim build.

Police have asked anyone with information to get in touch.

Three flood warnings remain in place for Yorkshire, external this morning.

Image source, Environment Agency/Flood Information Service

An Environment Agency (EA) flood warning means "flooding is expected and immediate action is required".

The warnings are for:

• North Sea coast at Hornsea. The EA says: "The areas at risk are properties along South Promenade, Hornsea Burton Road, Grainger Road and Pasture Road and the Leisure Centre. Please be careful along beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads as large waves and spray could be dangerous."
• Low-lying properties in the Upper Hull Catchment. This is in force due to continuing high levels on the River Hull around Frodingham in response to recent rainfall.
• River Esk from Briggswath to Ruswarp in North Yorkshire. The EA says: "Please avoid using low-lying or river-bank paths and avoid driving through flood water."

A total of four flood alerts have also been issued for East Yorkshire and four for North Yorkshire. Alerts mean "flooding is possible, be prepared"

Staff from the EA are in the area monitoring the situation and further rainfall.

There are currently no weather warnings for Yorkshire issued by the Met Office.

Why our digital life means political campaigners target us in ways we might not realise.

Kadeem Harris fires a late equaliser to rescue a point for Garry Monk's Sheffield Wednesday in his first reunion with old club Birmingham City.

Middlesbrough move out of the Championship relegation zone as they win for the first time in 11 games against bottom side Barnsley.

Hull City thump promotion-chasing Preston North End, who slip to their second Championship defeat in a row.

Insurers have received more than 4,000 claims from residents and businesses hit by flooding.

Barry Hawkins makes a maximum 147 break in a 6-2 victory over Gerard Greene in the opening round of the UK Championship.

A man in his 20s was left with "serious injuries" when he was hit by a car in Leeds last night.

The collision happened at the junction of Evanston Avenue and Kirkstall Road, in Kirkstall, at about 20:30, police say.

It involved a pedestrian, the man in his 20s, and a black VW Golf.

The car stopped at the scene.

Police would like to speak to anyone who might have seen what happened, or who might have dashcam footage.

A number of flood warnings have been issued as more rain is expected overnight.

Image source, Getty Images

The warnings say flooding is expected on the North Sea coast at Hornsea, at low lying properties in the Upper Hull catchment and at Barrow-upon-Humber.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in the East Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire region over the next two days.

The warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency and can be viewed on the government website., external

New images have been released of a missing man police are trying to find.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Anthony Richmond, from West Yorkshire, was last seen in Sheffield on Monday 11 November,

CCTV images show him in Wakefield the next day at about 10:15.

Police believe Mr Richmond may have travelled further afield into neighbouring counties.

He is described as being about 6ft and slim, with grey thinning air.

Images show him wearing a camo jacket and blue work trousers with a reflective strip on them.

Anyone who has seen Anthony is asked to get in touch with police.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Despite £12m being spent to speed up the police "101" call service in South Yorkshire, people are again waiting longer on the line, it's emerged.

A new non-emergency "Smart Connect" system was introduced a year ago and there was a big drop in waiting times for callers, but in recent months the delay has worsened, according to South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner.

Dr Alan Billings told a public meeting in Barnsley that demand remained high and the 101 service was too often being used for issues the police can do nothing about.

He said: "You would be astonished at how many there are. We have somehow got to educate people not to make these sorts of calls."

Former Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel joins the candidates to hold talks with Hearts about succeeding Craig Levein as team boss.

A dairy is recalling milk after an outbreak of E.coli in South Yorkshire, public health officials said.

Darwin's Diary was "advised" to recall products after 18 people fell ill.

Barnsley Council and Public Health England said a potential problem had been identified with the pasteurisation process, but the dairy was not confirmed as the outbreak's source.

Ben Darwin, who runs the dairy, said there was "no evidence or proven link to the cases of E. coli".

Those affected are currently recovering at home and in hospital.

Of the people who fell ill, nine are known to have consumed Darwin's Dairy products before becoming unwell, according to a joint statement from Barnsley Council and Public Health England.

They said the dairy was "cooperating fully" with their advice to recall products.

CCTV images of a man police in South Yorkshire want to speak to in connection with a rape inquiry have been released.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Officers say a 23-year-old man was raped at an address in the Balby area of Doncaster at about 03:00 on 27 October.

The force believes the man pictured could hold vital information about the attack.

Anyone who recognises the man is asked to contact the South Yorkshire force.

Jonathan Garner smothered his partner Samantha Gregson's 23-month-old daughter at their home.

One of South Yorkshire's most popular cafes has been given a prestigious award by a national cycling organisation.

Image source, Peter McDermott/Geograph

The Bank View Cafe at Langsett, between Stocksbridge and Penistone, has been given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Cycling UK.

The cafe - also known as The Spotty Cafe for the giant red spots painted on its exterior - is a magnet for cyclists and walkers.

The award was given to recognise its long-standing work.