Championship clubs unanimously back plans to finish the season when the coronavirus pandemic eases.

Kirklees Council has announced it is cancelling all "non business-critical" public meetings for the next month.

Image source, Chris Allen/Geograph

The full council meeting scheduled for 17.30 tomorrow is among the meetings to be cancelled.

Jacqui Gedman, Chief Executive of Kirklees Council, said: “We are absolutely committed as an organisation to promote and protect democracy, so this was not a decision we have taken lightly.

“Whilst coronavirus continues to spread, as a local authority we have a duty to keep residents as safe as possible and this has to be our priority at the moment.

“Full Council meetings also take a lot of organisation and resource and the right thing to do is focus this energy in doing what we can to help residents remain safe and informed."

The Tour de Yorkshire 2020 is postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Motorists are being asked to use contactless payments instead of cash when crossing the Humber Bridge.

The move, aimed at reducing contact, is a precautionary measure aimed at helping to keep the bridge operational during the coronavirus outbreak.

Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Arundel, said: "We have already equipped toll booth staff with sanitation products to keep their immediate environment clean, but now we are encouraging motorists to do their bit by no longer using cash and choosing contactless payment methods instead.

“We are entering a challenging phase where our priorities are our staff, our customers, and the safety of all bridge users, and balancing the needs of everyone is at the forefront of our minds."

The possible rescheduling of the cricketing summer amid the coronavirus outbreak is to be discussed by the ECB and county bosses.

Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons is creating 3,500 new jobs as it expands its home delivery service to cope with soaring demand due to coronavirus.

Image source, REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

The firm says it will recruit about 2,500 pickers and drivers to expand its online delivery.

It will also hire about 1,000 people to work in its distribution centres, it adds.

Morrisons has also set out measures to help staff, including a colleague hardship fund, a pledge to pay sick pay to all employees and redeploying colleagues who are vulnerable to the crisis.

David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said: "We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be very testing and we are determined to do our bit.

"These measures will support our very hard-working colleagues, enable us to provide more food to more people in their homes and create opportunities for people whose jobs are affected by the coronavirus."

People at a community cafe in Horsforth say they're concerned about self-isolation.

CCTV images have been released of a man police want to trace in connection with a sexual offence on a train between York and Harrogate.

Image source, British Transport Police

A man exposed himself and touched himself inappropriately at about 22:30 on Thursday 12 March, according to British Transport Police (BTP)

He left the train at Harrogate.

Officers say they'd like to speak to the man in the image.

Anyone who knows him is asked to contact BTP.

York Minster has been closed to the public until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak, it has been announced.

Image source, PA Media

The closure also applies to the Old Palace Museum, Library and Archives in Dean’s Park, however, Dean’s Park itself and the Minster School will remain open.

In a statement, external The Chapter of York, the governing body of York Minster, said: "Even though the Minster will be closed to the public, the Minster clergy will still maintain a pattern of daily prayer, praying for the needs of the nation and our world at this time."

More about coronavirus:

• EASY STEPS: How to keep safe
• A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?
• TRAVEL PLANS: What are your rights?
• IN-DEPTH: Coronavirus pandemic

Sheffield's half marathon and Hull's Running Festival have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

The Half Marathon, which had been due to take place on 29 March will now be held on 27 September, while the Hull Running Festival, scheduled for 19 April will take place on 16 August.

In a statement, external organisers Run For All said the decision had been taken in light of government advice to stop non-essential contact and all non-essential travel.

"Understandably there will be a lot of disappointed runners but the safety of you the runners and the public must come first," it said.

A man's been arrested after a hen harrier was shot on moorland in North Yorkshire earlier this year.

Image source, Chris Heaton/Geograph

Two members of the public told police they saw a male hen harrier being shot on Threshfield Moor, near Grassington, at about 10:45 on Monday 27 January.

A man was later arrested and has since been released under investigation, according to police.

Anyone with information about the incident, or who saw anything in the area shortly before the bird was shot, is being asked to get in touch with the North Yorkshire force.

Hospitals in parts of Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire have imposed restrictions on visitors as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Press Association

The North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust said the measure was to protect staff, visitors and patients from Coronavirus, external.

From today, only two visitors will be allowed per adult patient at either Grimsby, Scunthorpe or Goole hospitals - and no children under 16 will be allowed without permission from the ward.

For child patients, there will be two parents or carers allowed per child, but no siblings.

Visiting hours will be restricted to 14:00-16:00 and 18:00-20:00.

The changes will be regularly reviewed by the nursing and operational teams, the trust says.

The new owners of the world's largest potash mine officially take over the site in North Yorkshire today.

Image source, Sirius Minerals

The development, near Whitby, will be the UK's first major deep mine in 40 years.

Plans include a 23-mile long tunnel to transport minerals to a processing plant near the former Redcar steelworks.

A £405m rescue deal for the Sirius Minerals project by Anglo American was secured at the beginning of this month and is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs.

Anglo’s chief executive Mark Cutifani says: "Today our commitment is to continue over the next two years, $300m a year, with a view to pressing the button to go forward in 2022.

"Then another couple of years spending another $2.7bn and then start producing and getting product to the market place from about 2024 onwards."

Question marks have been raised over whether the Snooker World Championship will take place after the closure of the venue where it is held as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, PA Media

The Crucible, where the event has taken place since 1977, has been closed "with immediate effect", with all performances at the theatre and the neighbouring Lyceum Theatre cancelled until 5 April.

In a statement, external, Sheffield Theatres said: "For performances from 5 April onwards, we will continue to review and follow recommendations from the relevant authorities.

"We are sorry for any disappointment our closure will cause but we are committed to playing our part in helping people stay safe."

Theatre bosses said discussions were ongoing with World Snooker about the World Championships, due to start on 18 April, and that further updates will be give as soon as possible.

Earlier today, World Snooker postponed the Tour Championship in Llandudno.

In a statement, external, it said: "Announcements on future events including the World Championship will be made in due course, with all scenarios to be considered depending on further government advice."

One funeral director says he will waive the usual £62 fee for showing services online.

Conservation experts have added the finishing touches to new pipes for York Minster's historic grand organ as part of a £2m refurbishment.

Image source, PA Media

The pipes will replace some of the originals, which dated from the early 1830s and were found to be beyond repair.

They have been painted by graining and marbling specialists to match the distinctive gold, cream, green and red decoration of the originals.

The organ, which is due to return to the minster later this year, which weighs around 20,000kg and contains 5,403 pipes.

It was removed from the Minster in October 2018 to be repaired and rebuilt by specialists.

Sheffield Museums has confirmed that all its sites have been closed following the government's latest coronavirus guidance.

That means that the Millennium Gallery, Graves Gallery and Weston Park Museum are all shut until further notice:

The leader of East Riding Council has written an open letter saying everything will be done to support communities during the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Google

In the letter, councillor Richard Burton urges everyone to show 'community spirit' and help others, external.

He said: "I am writing this open letter to you as we enter unprecedented times for the world, the UK and for us all here in the East Riding.

"As we enter into unchartered territory, we at East Riding of Yorkshire Council pledge to do our absolute utmost to protect our most vulnerable residents.

"And we pledge to do our utmost to keep providing the best possible public services for you."

Mr Burton's letter follows new government measures which include that non-essential travel and contact should be avoided.

More about coronavirus:

• EASY STEPS: How to keep safe
• A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?
• TRAVEL PLANS: What are your rights?
• IN-DEPTH: Coronavirus pandemic

Police in South Yorkshire are appealing for help after two of these puppies, worth about £1,200, were stolen in a burglary:

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The Belgian Malinois dogs were taken after three men broke into an address on Sandybridge Lane in Shafton at about 21:00 on Thursday 12 March.

The men also stole a tree surgery climbing equipment kit bag, worth about £2,000, before fleeing in a white BMW, police say.

After carrying out "extensive lines of inquiry", police are now asking for the public's help in locating the puppies

Anyone who was in the area at the time and saw or heard anything suspicious, or who has seen the two puppies for sale in the area, is being asked to contact police.

The University of Hull has suspended all face-to-face teaching from today due to coronavirus.

Image source, University of Hull

It said there would be a "managed transition to online learning and assessment" in due course.

A spokeswoman said there were no cases of coronavirus at the university, despite a confirmed case in the city.

The move comes after the prime minister advised everyone in the UK to avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others.

In a statement, external, Vice-Chancellor Professor Susan Lea said details on the university's plans for online teaching would be "communicated very soon" and added further information is due to be released later today.

She said staff had been asked "to come to work as usual tomorrow in order to make necessary arrangements", but only if they were "comfortable to do so".

"We want to support our staff in working from home where practical and possible."

Ms Lea said support would be provided to workers who were unable to work from home because of "the nature of their jobs".

More about coronavirus:

• EASY STEPS: How to keep safe
• A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?
• TRAVEL PLANS: What are your rights?
• IN-DEPTH: Coronavirus pandemic