Former Barnsley defender Chris Barker has died at the age of 39.

Image source, David Davies/PA Media

The Sheffield-born player helped the club to promotion from the third tier of English football in 2003.

Barker, whose other clubs included Stoke City, Cardiff and Queens Park Rangers, made 131 appearances for the Tykes.

South Wales Police have confirmed the sudden death of a 39-year-old man who was discovered at his home address in the Cyncoed area of Cardiff on New Year's Day.

The force added that the death was not being treated as suspicious and the coroner had been informed.

Barnsley players will wear black armbands at this evening's game with Derby County, it's been confirmed:

A woman died and several other people were hurt in a collision in North Yorkshire on New Year's Eve, police have confirmed.

Image source, goo

The crash, which involved a black Audi and a black Kia, happened at about 13:55 on Tuesday on the A19 at Escrick.

One woman, a passenger in one of the cars, was pronounced dead at the scene while a number of other occupants of both cars were injured.

Officers are now appealing for any witnesses who saw either vehicle prior to the collision, or who saw what happened, to contact them.

They say they are "especially keen" to hear from anyone who has dashcam footage to get in touch.

A government minister has said train operator Northern is not fit to operate and has reiterated the need to intervene on its franchise.

Image source, PA Media

Transport secretary Grant Shapps says the poor performance by Northern, which runs services across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, "cannot continue".

Mr Shapps issued a "request for proposals" from the firm and the Operator of Last Resort in October - the first steps towards taking services into direct government control.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Mr Shapps criticised the company saying it's "completely unacceptable" to have a situation where trains didn't run to a timetable.

"I simply won't put up with that. It's absolutely the case that Northern are not fit to run. I do not think the service being operated on Northern is anywhere near acceptable.

"I don't think it's right that people can't always rely on their train services...I will absolutely bring that situation to an end."

Responding, David Brown, managing director at Northern, said the franchise has faced "several material and unprecedented challenges" recently, outside of the company's control.

"We are delivering the biggest transformation of local rail for a generation, with 52 of our 101 new trains in service and driver training taking place on dozens more trains right now", he said.

"Alongside 2,000 extra services per week, this is part of a £600m investment in improving customers’ experience. We are continuing to invest in better stations, better offers for customers and more recruitment."

The fatal collision on the A19, between Selby and York, involved a black Audi and a black Kia.

Three men remain in custody this morning after being arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of a man in Sheffield yesterday.

Image source, Google

Police were called to reports of a fight between a group of men at about 04:20 in St Aidan's Road in the Norfolk Park area of the city.

An 18-year-old found with stab wounds was taken to hospital where he later died.

Two 18-year-old men and a 20-year-old man were arrested and remain in custody today, police have confirmed.

The stabbed man has not yet been formally identified but his family are being supported, according to the South Yorkshire force.

Dozens of charities, arts groups and young people have been chosen to get a slice of a £1.3m legacy which was left by an East Yorkshire woman when she died.

Image source, Other

Audrey Mosey, from Cottingham, who died in 2018 aged 91, left the money in her will for local good causes.

One of the first to benefit is the community centre and venue Cottingham Civic Hall, to pay for a new stage and lights.

Campaigners for better rail transport say today's price increases in Yorkshire and across the country are unjustified.

Image source, PA Media

The rise, announced by industry body the Rail Delivery Group in November, is lower than the 3.1% increase at the start of last year - at 2.7%.

Train companies say it is the third year in a row that average fares have been held below RPI - the inflation measure on which rises are based.

But the Campaign for Better Transport group says customers have been subject to cancelled, delayed, and overcrowded services.

"First and foremost the whole fares system needs reforming to provide more affordable fares and better value for money", the group said.

"We need to see speedier implementation of account-based tickets, part-time season tickets, pay as you go travel, multimodal and zonal fares, and an end to the unjustifiable RPI-linked annual increase."

Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions for Rail Delivery Group, said rail companies were investing in improving journeys while holding fare increases below inflation.

He said 2020 will see 1,000 extra weekly services and 1,000 more carriages added to Britain's rail fleet.

BBC Weather

A few mist patches to start to the day, but it will be a mostly dry day after that.

It'll be a grey day with a good deal of cloud around.

Rather breezy with fresh southwesterly winds:

Investigations are continuing this morning following the discovery of a man's body in a former bank in West Yorkshire earlier this week.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Asghar Badshah, 39, from Bradford, was found when police forced their way into the disused building on Commercial Street in Batley on Sunday.

Two men, aged 27 and 30, who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder have been released under investigation.

A 41-year-old woman was released on bail pending further inquiries.

Det Ch Insp Heather Whoriskey said Mr Badshah was reported missing on 4 December.

She added: "We believe he was last seen in the early hours of 30 November and I would appeal to anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity in Commercial Street around that time or since to contact my team."

Championship leaders Leeds United have striker Eddie Nketiah's loan move from Arsenal cut short by the Gunners.

The two 18-year-olds and 20-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of murder.

Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley says he is sure the club will investigate after sectarian chants were allegedly aimed at Stoke midfielder James McClean.

West Brom's Semi Ajayi scores at both ends as Albion and promotion rivals Leeds play out a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.

Hull City manager Grant McCann criticises Sheffield Wednesday for trying to put his team off before their narrow victory at Hillsborough.

Rotherham make it three wins in a row and move up to second in League One thanks to a late 2-1 victory over Blackpool.

Doncaster inflict only the second defeat in 16 matches on Oxford with a 1-0 triumph at the Keepmoat.

Jon Stead scored the only goal of the game as Harrogate complete a festive double over Hartlepool.

National League promotion hopefuls Halifax and Stockport play out a dour goalless draw.

On-loan sub Aramide Oteh scores as Bradford City climb to fourth in League Two by beating Morecambe.

Tyrese Campbell scores twice as Stoke come from behind to earn a thumping away victory at Huddersfield Town.