A widow from Rotherham is taking legal action to scrap "smart motorways" after the death of her husband in a crash on the M1.

Image source, Claire Mercer

Jason Mercer (pictured), 44, died when he was hit by an HGV near junction 34 of the M1 at Meadowhall, Sheffield, in June.

He was involved in a minor collision but when he and the other driver got out to exchange details they were hit by a lorry. Both died at the scene.

Mr Mercer's widow, Claire, has instructed lawyers to begin working on a High Court legal challenge calling for them to be scrapped.

Smart motorways see traditional three-lane motorways become four lane motorways by using the hard shoulder as a "live" lane.

Highways England says it can close lanes when operators spot issues such as a crash or breakdown on their cameras.

The government agency, which takes on average 17 minutes to rescue vehicles involved in incidents on smart motorways, says it'll include stopped vehicle technology on any new smart motorways built after March this year.

It added that it would support a review into smart motorways which was announced by the government in October last year following concerns over driver safety.

The future of the high-speed rail project HS2 is just weeks away, according to the government.

Image source, Siemens/PA Media

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed a decision will be made next month, with an announcement "weeks rather than months" away.

The proposed rail line runs from London to the north of England via Birmingham, with construction of the first phase under way.

Phase 2b, which goes from Birmingham through South Yorkshire to Leeds and into North Yorkshire, is due to open between 2035-2040 - but this is in doubt after a government review said the project could cost over £100bn.

"We are nearing the conclusion. I am now in the final stages of gathering all the data together for HS2, so it's a mega decision for this country," he told LBC radio.

"It's maybe the biggest infrastructure project, certainly in Europe, and the biggest this country's ever taken, certainly in peacetime. So we've got to get that right.

"The last piece of data is coming together and then I will make a decision, along with the Prime Minister. It is weeks rather than months (away)."

Image source, HS2

A person who set a car alight in Bradford earlier this month may themselves have been caught in the fire as the vehicle burst into flames, police say.

Image source, Google

The attack happened just before midnight on Wednesday 8 January when an Audi A5 outside Deli 29 (pictured) on Keighley Road in Frizinghall was set alight.

The suspect is believed to have used an accelerant and may have been burned in the blaze, officers believe.

Following checks at hospitals, police are now appealing for people who were in the area at the time to get in touch.

PC Dan Holdsworth said: "We believe this person would have suffered burn injuries which may need further treatment, so it is important we locate them firstly to make sure they have received appropriate medical care.

"We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at around that time, particularly to motorists as they may have dash cam footage which can assist our inquiries."

A rape charity said there had been an "unprecedented demand" for specialist services since 2012.

Two men have been arrested for drugs offences following stop-and-search police patrols across Sheffield yesterday.

Image source, SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE

Both men, aged 25 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs after a car was stopped by South Yorkshire Police.

The 20-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article and the 25-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of being over the prescribed limit for drink or drugs.

Both have since been released under investigation.

Serious Violent Crime Taskforce officers have stopped and searched 30 vehicles over the past three days as part of ongoing work to tackle organised crime in the city, according to police.

BBC Weather

A cloudy and misty start with patchy fog in areas, particularly on the hills.

Lifting to a cloudy day with the occasional bright spell and highs of about 11C (52F).

There might be drizzle in some places this afternoon:

Dozens of homes will soon be lost to the sea if coastal erosion at Skipsea continues at its current pace, a new report claims.

Image source, Paul Glazzard/Geograph

The report going before councillors later today estimates that up to 24 properties in the area could be lost to erosion by 2025.

County Hall is asking the government for more cash to deal with the effects of coastal erosion, saying it's currently not getting enough support.

Under current government guidance places like Skipsea can be left to naturally erode, external and, as a result, no Whitehall funding has been provided for sea defences there.

BBC News Travel

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

However:

• The 08:21 York to Edinburgh 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

Anti-fracking protesters say they are celebrating the news one company has withdrawn its ambition to frack in North Yorkshire.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Media

Third Energy got planning permission four years ago to carry out the process of drilling for shale gas at its site at Kirby Misperton in Ryedale.

The company says it wants to concentrate on being more environmentally friendly.

John Cossam, co-founder of Frack-Free York, said: "I am very, very pleased to hear that Third Energy are having second thoughts.

"I'm just really, really happy that the anti-frackers have had an influence on this. Effectively, we've won.

"We've got a long way to go of course before we can get off fossil fuels - and we really need to."

Dean Henderson has been in great form for Sheffield United this season, but should he be in the running to be England's number one for Euro 2020?

Sergio Aguero scores his sixth goal in his last three games as Manchester City edge a gutsy Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Promotion hopefuls Colchester and Bradford play out a hard-fought goalless draw in League Two.

Tom Barkhuizen scores twice and sets up a third goal as Preston overpower Barnsley at Oakwell to climb back into the top six.

A coroner asked if Scott Westgarth should have gone straight to a specialist neurological centre.

Leeds United sign Chievo goalkeeper Elia Caprile for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Detectives investigating an attack on a woman in Leeds which left her with a broken jaw have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

The 22-year-old victim was punched in the face in an "unprovoked" assault in Albion Street at about 05:00 on New Year's Day, police say.

The suspect is described as Asian,aged about 24 and 5ft 7ins tall.

He is said to be of medium build with short black hair. He was wearing a black jacket.

Anyone who recognises the man in the pictures is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police

A 42-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder in connection with a shooting in the Meersbrook area of Sheffield.

Image source, Google

No-one was injured in the shooting on Northcote Avenue which happened about 23:00 on 10 January.

South Yorkshire Police said the woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

She has since been released on bail.

A total of four people have now been arrested in connection with the incident.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Massimo Luongo has a three-match suspension withdrawn with immediate effect by the FA.

Wildlife officers are appealing for information after a kestrel was found shot in a Huddersfield village.

Image source, WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE

The bird of prey, a protected species, was found in the Hade Edge area on 18 January.

Staff at Meltham Wildlife Rescue Centre are giving the kestrel treatment, but its current condition is not yet known.

Image source, WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE

Wildlife officer CJ Newsome (pictured above) tweeted these pictures in an appeal for information.

She added a decision will be made about the kestrel's release in a couple of weeks' time - and if he can't be released he'll go to a sanctuary.

A report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds last year found a growing number of birds of prey are illegally shot, trapped and poisoned in the UK.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Firefighters in West Yorkshire are to be given extra training to deal with wildfires like those which devastated parts of Ilkley Moor and Marsden Moor last year.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Over the Easter Bank Holiday, fire crews dealt with two major moorland blazes which West Yorkshire Fire Service (WYFRS) says “tested" its capabilities.

One firefighter suffered serious burns while trying to bring them under control, according to the fire service.

A new review into how the fire service tackles moorland blazes has now been published which suggests WYFRS had “insufficient dedicated wildfire capability” last year.

The report makes several recommendations, including:

• Training some fire crews how to use an Argocat, a dune buggy-style vehicle designed to reach hilly areas
• Issuing more firefighters with Personal Protective Equipment specially designed for tackling wildfires
• Creating specialised "burns teams" within the service who would use controlled burning to stop the spread of fire
• Boosting training to prepare crews for the unique situations which tackling moorland blazes can throw up

The review is due to go before West Yorkshire Fire Authority’s Community Safety Committee on Friday.