A team of hornblowers are to work from home as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Image source, PA

A horn has been sounded four times in Ripon's Market Place every night at 21:00 since AD886 to "set the watch".

The tradition will now take place behind closed doors after the government issued strict new guidance.

The council said the change meant the ceremony would still take place within the city boundary.

The last time hornblowing in Ripon faced such serious disruption was during the Second World War.

In a statement, the council said: "Given the extraordinary situation that the whole country and wider world finds itself in, our hornblowing team will now undertake the setting of the watch ceremony from their home address within the city boundary."

More about corona virus:

• LIVE:Latest updates
• A SIMPLE GUIDE:What are the symptoms?
• AVOIDING CONTACT:Should I self-isolate?
• LOOK-UP TOOL:Check cases in your area
• MAPS AND CHARTS:Visual guide to the outbreak

Police in Shefffield say they've had to take groups of youths home after finding them together in the city.

They're appealing to parents to keep their children at home during the coronavirus outbreak.

Writing on social media, police said: "Whilst on patrols we are witnessing groups of children out together without any parent in sight - this is not school holidays":

Staff at a foodbank in East Yorkshire are asking clients to stop visiting its premises.

The East Yorkshire Foodbank in Beverley says to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission it will deliver food to those who need it.

People using the foodbank for the first time are being advised to contact the Cherry Tree Centre in Beverley or East Riding of Yorkshire Council's welfare visiting team.

Richard Newby, from the foodbank, says: "Please could users respect the welfare of our volunteers by also observing government guidance for hygiene measures and limiting social contact."

The foodbank says it will continually review the situation and will keep users informed of any changes to its services.

More about coronavirus:

• LIVE: Latest updates
• A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?
• AVOIDING CONTACT: Should I self-isolate?
• LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area
• MAPS AND CHARTS: Visual guide to the outbreak

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Parking charges for hospital staff in Doncaster have been scrapped due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Google

Trust bosses said it gave staff "one less thing to worry about" during the global pandemic.

Latest figures from Public Health England show Doncaster currently has nine confirmed cases of Covid-19.

The hospital announced its first coronavirus death on Monday. The patient, who was in their 50s, had underlying health conditions, the trust’s medical director Dr Tim Noble said.

Bosses have already imposed strict restrictions on visiting hours and significantly reduced the amount of outpatient appointments which has freed up capacity in car parks the trust operates.

Richard Parker OBE, Chief Executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to offer free on-site parking for our colleagues during these exceptional times.

“With the challenges that lay ahead, ensuring the team can securely leave their car within our hospital grounds is one less thing to worry about."

Hospitals in parts of Yorkshire are set to ban all but a few visitors in a bid to protect staff and patients during the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Google

The new rule is in place at York, Scarborough, Malton, Bridlington, St Monica’s Easingwold, and Selby hospitals, as well as St Helen’s and White Cross Court rehabilitation units.

The York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust says says there will be some exceptions, but they will require the approval of senior ward staff.

Heather McNair, Chief Nurse said: “We are taking this precaution following government advice on social distancing and hope that people will be understanding in this extreme situation.

“As soon as it possible to safely relax the visiting restrictions we will do so.

There are three exemptions to the ruling which are for one parent of a sick child under 18, for the partner of a woman giving birth and for end-of-life care.

Three teenagers are being questioned over an alleged attempted burglary in North Hull in the early hours of this morning.

Image source, Google

Police were called to reports a group of youths were trying to get into a property on Village Green Way just before 03:00.

Two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old were subsequently arrested nearby on suspicion of attempted burglary, officers say.

Anyone with information about the incident or who saw what happened is being urged to contact police.

Famous players are supporting Leeds United fan Nathan with his at-home training.

They will provide hundreds of meals for workers and their families over the coming months.

Hospitals in Hull are set to ban all but a few visitors in a bid to protect staff and patients during the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Google

The new rule comes into force from tomorrow at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

The Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trusts says there will be some exceptions, but they will require the approval of senior ward staff.

Trust chief executive Chris Long said: “In light of the government’s instruction over social isolation and the need to stop all but essential travel, we have no alternative but to cease all visiting at our hospitals from Wednesday.

“This is not a step we take lightly, but it is a step we must take if we are to have any chance to protect our staff and patients from the virus.

"Exceptions include end-of-life care, birthing partners when a woman is in labour and one parent only for children in paediatric wards and neonatal intensive care unit."

The NHS trust says additional security will be brought in to ensure adhere to the new rules.

A statue of the famous inventor of the marine chronometer has had to be unveiled in private because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Better Barrow Community Group

The statue of John Harrison was unveiled in his home village of Barrow, in Lincolnshire, on what would have been his birthday.

It was unveiled early this morning by two members of the Better Barrow Community Group, which commissioned the statue, after the public ceremony had to be cancelled.

The statue shows Harrison, who was originally from near Wakefield, winding up his first "sea watch", known as H4, which he invented to solve the problem of calculating longitude while at sea.

People in North Yorkshire are being urged not to fly-tip or create extra waste doing DIY jobs following the closure of the county's waste recycling centres.

Image source, Google

Following the prime minister’s announcement yesterday of strict new measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus, North Yorkshire County Council has closed all its household waste recycling centres.

The authority is now urging people to avoid creating unnecessary waste until tips can reopen.

Councillor Andrew Lee said: “We've closed all household waste recycling centres to help reduce the opportunity for the virus to spread.

"We will continually review that position and we will reopen them at the earliest practicable opportunity."

The council says people should hang on to any bulky waste until the sites reopen and is warning people not to dump unwanted materials.

A "brazen group of criminals" has been jailed after gang members armed with machetes, axes and crowbars, raided homes and businesses across the north, including some in West and South Yorkshire.

Image source, GMP

The group stole £1.5m worth of items and caused £230,000 worth of damage.

Eleven gang members were jailed for up to 16 years at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Using stolen cars, the gang would ram-raid buildings and use weapons to threaten members of the public and police officers when challenged, police said.

On one occasion, officers stopped a vehicle for displaying false number plates, unaware the occupants had just burgled a business.

Two men emerged from the car wearing "Scream" masks and attacked the police vehicle with sledgehammers.

Four of the men were arrested after a burglary at a business in West Yorkshire, while a further nine were arrested during police raids in Oldham.

"This dangerous group of offenders showed blatant disregard for the safety of others as they savagely attacked members of the public as well as police officers and security staff," said Det Insp Rachel Smith.

Eleven men have been jailed for their involvement with the gang, who committed more than 50 burglaries and robberies between July 2018 and May 2019.

A man and a teenager have been arrested in connection with a spate of car fires in West Yorkshire overnight.

Nine cars were set alight in Batley, Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike late last night and in the early hours of this morning.

West Yorkshire Police said they received the first report shortly before midnight when two vehicles were targeted in Lime Tree Avenue, Batley.

A further four vehicles were set alight on New North Road, in Heckmondwike, at about 00:20 and then at 01:00 two cars were damaged in Barrington Parade, Cleckheaton.

A ninth car was set alight in Church Street, Heckmondwike, a short time later.

The force said a 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested in connection with the fires and are being held in police custody.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents is asked to contact police.

People told to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic share views from their windows.

The Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police has issued a statement following the prime minister's announcement telling people not to leave their homes except for a few "very limited purposes."

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Stephen Watson says: “We are all now being enlisted, not to fight in a war, but to play a very small but crucial role in the fight against Covid-19.

"All that is required of you is to stay at home and to cherish some time with those closest to you.

"In doing so, we are protecting the vulnerable and the elderly, many of whom have given more than this to protect us," he added.

The Chief Constable says his force will "inform, encourage and support," but says if it finds people "not willing to comply with the new rules" it will move to enforcement once it understands the detail of the legislation.

In a number of areas, councils are prioritising the disposal of household and clinical waste.

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering a woman found buried in a shallow grave has been discharged as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Dale Tarbox, 39, of no fixed abode, was on trial at Leeds Crown Court accused of murdering Susan Howells.

The body of Ms Howells, 52, from Harrogate, was found buried behind at a caravan site in Dunscroft in 2019

Mr Tarbox denied killing her while a second man, Keith Wadsworth, 60, from Doncaster, denied preventing lawful and decent burial.

While ongoing cases are being permitted to continue if it is possible to maintain social distancing in the courtroom trial judge Mrs Justice Lambert felt it was not possible in this situation and discharged the jury earlier today.

The trial has been adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Image source, PA Media

Across the country, people are being told to follow the advice to stay at home to help try to stop the spread of coronavirus.

For the next three weeks, the whole of the UK is asked to work from home, only go to the shops if necessary and only venture out once a day for exercise.

Image source, PA Media

In Leeds, it's a mixed bag - Albion Street, which is normally teeming with shoppers, was practically empty.

But there were a few people hoping to catch trains at the station and a branch of Greggs with its doors still open, although the chain has said it will close its outlets today.

Image source, PA M

Council-run car parks and on-street parking bays in Leeds will be free to use from today in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Leeds City Council has confirmed.

Image source, Getty Images

Parking charges for all car parks and on-street car parking run by the authority are suspended until further notice, with priority given to NHS and social work staff and other key workers, the council says.

Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "We are all extremely grateful to those working so hard on the front line in the fight against coronavirus and we’re keen to support them in any and every way we can.

"Over the coming weeks and months it’s also more important than ever that we all do what we can to help fight this pandemic by following the latest advice and guidance," she added.

These pictures are from the scene of yesterday's moorland blaze in West Yorkshire, which at one point needed more than 100 firefighters to tackle it.

Up to 20 crews were called at about 12:30 to a "mile-long fire-front" at Deer Hill Reservoir in Marsden, West Yorkshire.

The fire is believed to have been caused by controlled burning that spread.

Image source, West Yorkshire Fire Service

Image source, West Yorkshire Fire Service

Image source, HVMRS

Image source, West Yorkshire Fire Service