Summary

  • General election 2019: Voting gets under way

  • CCTV appeal over woman's sexual assault

  • Man taken to hospital after early hours York river rescue

  • Seal pup dies after getting entangled in net on East Yorkshire beach

  • Children's Rotherham railway station fight sparks police appeal

  • Army crew takes on 3,000-mile Atlantic rowing challenge

  • North Yorkshire fossil hides UK's oldest amphibian track

  • West Yorkshire festive firefighters rewrite Christmas classic

  • Latest updates on Thursday 12 December 2019

  1. Boy slept on hospital floor due to lack of bedspublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Jack was photographed lying on a pile of coats on a hospital treatment room floor.

    Read More
  2. Top politicians in York for BBC general election specialpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    A special general election edition of the BBC's Question Time programme is to be broadcast from York this evening.

    University of YorkImage source, Google

    It's taking place at the University of York and will feature an audience of people all aged between 18 and 30.

    BBC Radio Five Live Presenter Emma Barnett will chair the election special live from the University.

    On the panel will be:

    • Conservatives: Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
    • Labour: Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary
    • Liberal Democrats: Leader Jo Swinson
    • SNP: Humza Yousaf, Justice Secretary in the Scottish Government
    • Plaid Cymru: Leader Adam Price
    • Green Party: Co-leader Jonathan Bartley
    • Brexit Party: Leader Nigel Farage

    The programme will be broadcast on BBC One at 20:30.

  3. 'Slow pursuit' as tractor fails to stop for policepublished at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    The driver of a stolen tractor was involved in a "slow speed" chase after failing to stop for officers.

    A tractorImage source, South Yorkshire Police

    Officers followed the tractor on the A1, M18 and into Doncaster in what police said was "a rather slow speed pursuit".

    The tyres of the tractor were punctured, bringing the vehicle to a stop.

    A man was detained, police said.

  4. Man being questioned after early morning Hull drugs raidpublished at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    A man's being questioned after a police discovered a number of cannabis plants during a raid at a property on Hull's Bransholme estate.

    Cannabis plantsImage source, Humberside Police

    The raid took place in the early hours of this morning after information was received about a possible cannabis grow at the property, according to Humberside Police.

    The force says one male has been detained and is having to "answer some awkward questions."

  5. Watch: Sheffield couple harking back to wartime Britainpublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    A Sheffield couple love the 1940s so much, they've dedicated their home to the decade.

    Dean Turner and Lynda Easton attended vintage events before making the decision to change from their modern lifestyle to one from wartime Britain.

    Their home is filled with memorabilia from World War Two and the couple only wear clothes styled from the 1940s:

  6. Police searching for missing Barnsley manpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Police are appealing for help to find a man who has been missing for more than three weeks.

    Richard DysonImage source, South Yorkshire Police

    Richard Dyson, 55, was last seen on 16 November in the Hoyland area.

    South Yorkshire Police say they are are "growing increasingly concerned" for his welfare.

    He is described as being between 5ft 10ins and 6ft tall.

    Anybody who has seen Mr Dyson is asked to get in touch with police.

  7. Pumps to be pulled out of flood-hit communitypublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Water levels around the flood-hit village of Fishlake have dropped back to "normal winter levels", say the Environment Agency (EA).

    Pipes on fieldImage source, Environment Agency

    The EA says the land drainage in the area is now able to manage without the need for pumping.

    A spokesperson for the EA says: "We’re starting the process of removing our pumps from Fishlake Nab - the road will reopen early this week."

    Hundreds of homes were affected across South Yorkshire, after torrential rain hit the region at the start of November.

    Fishlake floodingImage source, PA Media
  8. Lorry and two cars involved in A59 crash near Yorkpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    A number of people have been taken to hospital after two cars and a lorry collided on the A59 near York.

    Ambulance at scene of crashImage source, Station Manager, Tony Walker

    A Micra, a BMW and an HGV crashed at about 05:30 at Upper Poppleton, according to the North Yorkshire force.

    Officers say "several people" have been taken to hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

    Police have reopened the road in the last few minutes.

  9. Arson attack on Seacroft junior club's container homepublished at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Arsonists have torched a portable building bought only days earlier by a junior football club.

    Torched containerImage source, Seacroft Colts

    Seacroft Colts Football Club in east Leeds spent months raising about £1,500 for the unit used as a clubhouse, which was only delivered a week ago.

    In a statement the club said it was "absolutely devastated" by the fire.

    Coach David Mattison said the first they knew of the arson attack was when they turned up on Sunday morning for their home matches.

    The club, based at Parklands Primary School on Dufton Approach, runs sides for players aged four to 13.

  10. Police in drink-driving campaignpublished at 10:22 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Police officers have been stopping drivers in Sheffield this morning as part of their annual Christmas drink-driving clampdown.

    A police officer talks to a driverImage source, South Yorkshire Police

    The force says the festive period can see an increase in the amount of people drinking and then getting behind the wheel.

    The operation will see roads policing officers carrying out increased patrols.

    Targeted roadside breath tests, like the one on Sheffield's Penistone Road (pictured above), will also be taking place to catch those who may have been drinking the night before and may still be over the limit.

  11. Watch: Huge response to rehome Santa's reindeer dachshundspublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    More than 1,000 applicants have been received in 24-hours to rehome nine daschaund pups named after Santa's reindeer.

    The dogs are currently with the RSCPA in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where staff say they've been "amazed" by the response.

    Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, are all expected to be given new homes within the next few days:

  12. Door staff get marker spray to deter troublemakerspublished at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Nightclub bouncers in South Yorkshire are being given special marker dye by police to try to to cut down on violent customers.

    Spray on trouble makerImage source, South Yorkshire Police

    Smartwater canisters will be used by door staff working at pubs and clubs across the county.

    The dye shows up under ultra-violet light and contains a unique code number which allows police to link offenders to a particular incident.

    Police said the rollout comes after a trial in Sheffield.

    Dave Andrews, whose firm provides door staff to hundreds of venues across South Yorkshire, said the six-month Sheffield trial had shown the spray was a "fantastic visual deterrent".

    "We have had incidents where problems are bubbling at front doors of venues, but on seeing, or being told about SmartWater, situations are quickly diffused," he said.

    South Yorkshire Police said more than 70 door staff working across Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley had undergone specialist training.

    Supt Lee Berry said the spray would only be used "in serious incidents".

  13. Watch: Monday's forecast for Yorkshire and Lincolnshirepublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Lisa Gallagher
    Weather presenter, BBC Look North

    It's a windy start to the day with a Met Office weather warning in place for coastal areas.

    That's likely to bring a number of heavy showers with hail, though they will drift out into the North Sea as the day goes on.

    Elsewhere we will see plenty of sunshine with temperatures of about 7C or 8C:

  14. Emergency crews leave scene of 'serious' accidentpublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Firefighters and ambulance crews have left the scene of a "serious" accident on the A59 near York, according to the fire service.

    Emergency crewsImage source, Station Manager, Tony walker

    The road is closed in both directions between Poppleton and Hessay.

    The closure means traffic is backing up between the A1237 outer ring road and Hessay, according to traffic company Inrix.

    North Yorkshire Police are still at the scene.

    Drivers are being asked to avoid the area as delays are still expected.

  15. Check your Yorkshire train journeypublished at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    BBC News Travel

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

    However:

    • The 08:34 service from Leeds to Liverpool has been cancelled
    • The 08:38 service from York to Middlesbrough is running about six minutes late
    • The 08:54 service from Sheffield to Plymouth has been cancelled
    • The 09:00 service from Bradford Interchange to Leeds has been cancelled

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

    • A59 near York closed due to 'serious' accidentpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

      Emergency services are on the scene of an "serious" accident on the A59 near York.

      Emergency services vehiclesImage source, Station Manager, Tony Walker

      North Yorkshire Police said the road has been closed in both directions between Poppleton and Hessay.

      The closure means traffic is backing up between the A1237 outer ring road and Hessay, according to traffic company Inrix.

      Drivers are being asked to avoid the area.

      York mapImage source, Google
    • Police appeal for help to find missing 14-year-old girlpublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

      Police have issued an appeal for information after a 14-year-old girl went missing from West Yorkshire overnight.

      Ifra AliImage source, West Yorkshire Police

      Ifra Ali (pictured) was last seen yesterday in the area of Spen Valley Road in Dewsbury.

      Officers released an appeal for information just after 23:00 last night.

      The teenager is described as Asian, of slim build, with long black hair.

      She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white blouse, a beige jacket and grey slip on shoes.

      West Yorkshire Police have asked for anyone who sees her or knows where she is to get in touch.