An "east-west divide" has opened up in the number of start-ups created across the north of England, research reveals.

Image source, Getty Images

Data suggests a larger number of start-up firms are thriving on the west side of the Pennines, with significantly fewer to the east.

This runs contrary to the government's Northern Powerhouse ambition to "level up" the North, the study said.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it remains "committed to the Northern Powerhouse".

The Enterprise Research Centre (ERC) said its findings strengthened the case for better east-west rail links, and challenged the government to do more to help foster "best practice" for businesses.

Katerina Christodoulou
Look North weather presenter

After a chilly and cloudy start we are going to start to see the effects of Storm Jorge across the region.

There will be heavy outbreaks of rain throughout the day and overnight, and there may be some wintry showers on higher ground.

Temperatures will get up to about 8C or 9C:

BBC News Travel

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

However:

• The 08:31 service from York to London Kings Cross is running about 57 minutes late
• The 08:35 service from Sheffield to Huddersfield is running about 20 minutes late
• The 08:36 service from Wakefield Westgate to Leeds is running about 10 minutes late
• The 08:42 service from York to Newcastle has been cancelled
• The 08:56 service from Doncaster to London Kings Cross is running about 54 minutes late
• The 09:07 service from Bradford Interchange to York 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

People living in East Cowick were advised to leave their homes overnight as water levels rose in flooded fields around the East Yorkshire village.

A number of properties in the area and nearby Snaith have already flooded.

Frank De Planta, from the Environment Agency, said: "The flooding is caused by washlands, which hold vast amounts of water coming down the River Aire, overspilling into Snaith and East Cowick.

"We're now trying to protect as many properties as possible from flooding, by diverting the water away from untouched properties with sandbag operations.

"What we have to do now is wait for gravity to do its job - the only way the washlands will empty is when the River Aire is lower than those washlands."

Seven flood warnings remain in place in the area at Gowdall, Hirst Courtney, Hirst Marsh, Snaith, Temple Hirst, West Cowick and East Cowick., external

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Emergency services remain in the flood-hit towns of Snaith and East Cowick after more than 60 homes were evacuated.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said they now believed about 30 homes were flooded in Snaith.

Roads and schools in the area remain closed.

Paul Abbott, from the council, said water levels on the River Aire were being closely monitored."At the moment the water isn't going away quickly and we think it is going to be here for several days," he said.

People who have been forced from their homes in the flooded East Yorkshire town of Snaith say they're shocked at how quickly the water rose.

Christine Stewart, who lives on George Street, says she tried to stay in her home until the water knocked off her power.

It's after the River Aire overtopped earlier this week, flooding much of the town.

She said: "It really came about tea time yesterday. It got worse but it hadn't quite come up to my front door. So I thought 'I can hold on here. I can always sleep upstairs'.

"But then this morning it was at the front door and the power started to go.

"There was a knock and a voice that shouted 'Are you alright' and it was at that point I thought 'I'm going'."

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Thieves attempting to steal what's described as "a large amount of diesel" in York have run away empty-handed after being disturbed by police.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Suspects targeted a building site on Tadcaster Road last night, according to North Yorkshire Police.

A Vauxhall Corsa was found abandoned nearby, containing several large drums of suspected stolen diesel fuel.

Officers say the car has been seized and will be examined and the fuel will be returned to its rightful owner.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “We want the message to go out to would-be thieves that targeting building sites in York and North Yorkshire is simply not worth the risk.”

Anyone who witnessed the attempted theft is asked to contact police.

Schools in flood-hit Snaith are to remain closed on Friday.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said Snaith Primary School and Snaith Academy will be shut and Cowick Church of England School is likely to remain closed as well.

The authority said it was delivering more sandbags and it had deployed water pumps to East Cowick.

The A1041 is closed north of Snaith and at East Cowick.

Stephen Hunt, from the council said: “We’d like to reassure residents that our staff will remain in the area around the clock across the weekend and for as long as they are needed during this emergency situation.

“We would urge residents needing advice and information to please go along to Priory Church, Snaith Library or the town council offices, and our staff will help as much as they can.”

The coastguard, fire service and the Red Cross are just some of the agencies helping people in Snaith as residents are forced from their homes by rising floodwater.

The East Yorkshire town has been hit by rising water but levels have "stabilised", the council has said.

An emergency rest centre has been set up at the Snaith Priory Church to offer advice and information to people that have been affected.

Dozens of properties have been evacuated after the River Aire overtopped yesterday.

A business owner in Snaith has described the moment flood waters entered her nursery and hotel.

Samantha Mitchell's day nursery is among dozens of properties that had to be evacuated after the River Aire overtopped on Wednesday.

She said: "I've never seen anything like it. We've lived here 22 years and it's never, ever done this.

"We had to close the restaurant this morning after the guys had left the hotel due to the water coming in further, faster and faster. So we're completely shut on both sides.

"I've got to accept the fact that I can't do anything about it. We've done what we can inside the building. We've lifted all soft furnishings up and everything out as much as we possibly can.

She said 12 "pallets of sandbags" had been delivered to prevent further flood damage.

More than £600,000 has been donated to help people who were affected by flooding in South Yorkshire in November, it's been confirmed.

Image source, PA Media

More than 1,000 homes and businesses were affected by flooding near Doncaster last year, with a community fund being launched to help people.

Just over £600,000 has been donated to the South Yorkshire Flood Disaster Relief Appeal, with grants being shared between those who have been flooded.

The government said it would to match, pound for pound, any money raised by 28 February.

About 1,000 tyres which were dumped in the grounds of a nature reserve in North Yorkshire have been cleared away and recycled.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) said the huge pile of rubbish had been left at the entrance to its Brockadale Nature Reserve earlier this month.

But now the items have been taken away after an urgent appeal for help by the YWT was answered by a Sheffield tyre company.

Simon Hiorns, Protyre retail director, said: “The illegal fly-tipping of over 1,000 tyres in an area of outstanding natural beauty and a crucial habitat for wildlife is a terrible act of environmental vandalism."

The tyres are to be recycled.

A man who was found dead by the roadside 12 hours after a crash in Rotherham last week has been named by police.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

John Webb, 74, was involved in a crash at about 20:30 on 18 February, but his body was not discovered until police returned to the scene of the incident 12 hours later.

He is believed to have been involved in the initial collision on Long Road in Brampton en le Morthen.

His family has paid tribute to a "beloved dad, grandad and uncle to family members across the world".

In a statement, they said: "John Webb will be remembered as a loveable rogue who always lived life to the full.

"Although sadly diminished by an unforgiving condition, he never stopped exploring the place where he lived and enjoying his freedom. He will be missed."

Police continue to appeal for witnesses to the crash, especially those who may have dash cam footage.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office Of Police Conduct, but it was decided an investigation wasn't required.

The jobs of up to 160 people are at risk as the industrial bakery's owners say the site will close.

Water levels in flood-hit Snaith "appear to have stabilised" but there are warnings of further flooding risk, according to East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Image source, Humberside Fire & Rescue

The authority said it was planning a recovery operation in the town after more than 60 properties were flooded.

But efforts "can only begin when the risk of further flooding subsides", the authority said.

Paul Abbott, from the council, said: “When that happens, our officers will visit every affected property when it is safe and sensible to do so."

Image source, Humberside Fire & Rescue

Mr Abott said officers were "on hand" at the Snaith Priory Church rest centre and at Snaith Library to offer advice and information to residents.

Road closures remain in place at the A1041 north of Snaith and the A1041 at East Cowick.

Humberside's fire and rescue service are spelling out that people should be respecting the road closed signs in flood-hit Snaith.

A number of roads are closed in the town.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Almost 700 children and teenagers in Sheffield are on the waiting list for a first appointment with mental health services, a council report has shown.

Image source, Getty Images

There has been an almost 50% increase in demand for community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), the report suggests.

There has also been a 60% increase in the number of referrals accepted when compared to 2018-19.

Waiting times are improving, but council officers say there continue to be “challenges” in providing a crisis response to young people who are acutely unwell.

As of the end of December, a total of 699 children and young people were on the waiting list for a community CAMHS first appointment, though many will have an appointment arranged.

If someone is clinically urgent and deemed high risk, they are seen within two weeks.

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