Firefighters from across West Yorkshire are tackling a "significant" moorland blaze in Marsden which is believed to have started due to controlled burning but which then spread.

A total of 15 fire crews have been dealing with the blaze at Deer Hill Reservoir after first receiving calls at about 12:30.

The fire service is now "strongly urging" landowners to stop controlled burning and for anyone using the moors to be "extra vigilant" not to accidentally start a fire.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Nick Smith said: “We are disappointed to see what has happened today, which could have so easily been avoided.

"We are currently trying to focus our resources on supporting the national effort to respond to coronavirus and this is unhelpful to us.

"These are unprecedented times and we require our resources to support communities and help the vulnerable, rather than having firefighters tied up for days on the moors undertaking this kind of arduous work."

A rare breeding scheme at an East Yorkshire stately home is expecting its second shire horse foal in a few weeks time.

Sledmere House, near Driffield, runs a conversation scheme for the farm animal which is on a Rare Breed Watch list.

There are fears shire horses may become extinct over the next decade as there are only about 300 breeding mares across the UK.

The new horse will join its brother Walter, who was the first shire born under the breeding scheme in 2019:

Susan Herdman hand-picked the potatoes and gave them free of a charge to people in North Yorkshire.

An appeal for people to "act responsibly" has been issued by Scarborough Council after its deputy leader was left "shocked" by the number of people visiting the resort yesterday.

In a statement, councillor Liz Colling said: “We must all take our collective responsibility to protect each other seriously and adhere to the strict government guidance on social distancing and the closure of bars, restaurants and cafes.

“I was shocked at how busy our seafront areas were yesterday and that many hospitality businesses were open for business, despite the warning given by government on Friday."

Councillor Colling said people should think about the "very serious nature of the ongoing situation".

In the statement, she urged residents, visitors and businesses "to act responsibly and compassionately with immediate effect by following what the Government is asking us to do."

Speaking from the resort yesterday, she said: "Stay at home and look after yourselves and loved ones, we will still be here when this is over."

A county council says it's stepping in to save a number of Yorkshire villages left without bus travel after services were cut as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Image source, North Yorkshire County Council

North Yorkshire County Council says it will use a vehicle from its own fleet to provide a service between Newton-on-Ouse and Easingwold, taking in Linton on Ouse, Aldwark and Tholthorpe.

A second bus will run between Sproxton and Easingwold, taking in Oswaldkirk, Ampleforth and Wass.

County councillor Don Mackenzie said: “The service we are putting in place is designed to help people to buy vital supplies.

“We anticipate there will be an ongoing reduction in bus services that will leave some communities without a bus.

"Where communities would otherwise be isolated, we will do our best to provide a skeleton service, as we have in this instance," he added.

He added: "If using a bus service for an emergency situation, people should keep 2m between themselves and other people."

Musicians in Sheffield are playing in their back gardens for free to raise community spirits.

A man who died when he was hit by an HGV has been named by police as a 74-year-old Australian tourist.

Image source, Family photo

John Spurling (pictured above) was killed when he was struck by the vehicle in Church Bank, Aysgarth, near to the Aysgarth Falls, shortly after midday on 12 March.

Mr Spurling was visiting the UK from his home in Perth, Western Australia, and was on a tour of the Yorkshire Dales at the time of the incident.

In a statement, his family said: “The profound sorrow at the loss of our dad in such tragic circumstances is almost overwhelming.

"His sudden loss has devastated us and his many friends."

Image source, Google

North Yorkshire Police said the driver of the HGV, a 28-year-old man, from Cheshire, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

Anyone with any information about the collision is asked to contact the force.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Views of York Minster "could become a thing of the past", according to the city's Labour councillors.

Image source, Robert Drayton/Geograph

The government is planning to change regulations to allow up to two extra storeys to be added to buildings without planning permission.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said developers should be encouraged to "build upwards" to get more homes completed.

Councillor Claire Douglas said: "We can expect to see the long-held objective to maintain Minster views in York put under significant pressure, as developers take advantage of the government's latest move towards a planning free-for-all."

She added: "Minster views may well become a thing of the past for many residents, if this slackening of planning powers is fully exploited."

The government said it expected the changes to be introduced in summer.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of recent flooding in parts of East Yorkshire and the response of the authorities and agencies involved.

Image source, PA Media

More than 80 homes were flooded in Snaith and East Cowick in February after heavy rainfall caused the River Aire to overtop.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said the investigation would allow it to produce a series of proposals for handling future floods and has appealed for people affected to contribute to the inquiry.

Paul Abbott, the council's head of housing, transportation and public protection, said : "We really want to hear from people affected by the recent flooding in the Snaith and East Cowick area - they may have photos or videos of the flooding and its effects, and we would like them to share them with us, or indeed any information that they feel might be useful.

"The investigation is an opportunity for the local community to get fully involved, and help to shape the final report which we produce, which will include recommendations for the future."

Anybody who has information to share is asked to email their pictures, videos or general information to floodinginformation@eastriding.gov.uk, external

With coronavirus guidance cancelling lots of sport, people are adapting to keep fit and healthy.

Fashion and furniture chain Laura Ashley has announced it plans to close 70 stores with 721 employees set to lose their jobs.

Image source, Getty Images

Last week the retailer, which has 13 branches in Yorkshire, said it would have to call in administrators after it was hit by a drop in trade linked to the coronavirus outbreak.

A host of retailers, including John Lewis and Ikea, have announced temporary store closures in the face of the pandemic over the weekend.

However, Laura Ashley is one of the first to announce permanent closures.

It said it will continue to trade from its remaining 77 UK stores, which will remain open while online operations also continue to trade.

Details of which stores are due to be closed have not been published.

A North Yorkshire MP says he's willing "to support any measures" the government needs to take to force people to follow safety guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon, posted his comments on social media, external in response to reports of people ignoring official advice by gathering at beauty spots and coastal resorts at the weekend.

Mr Smith described people converging outside as "reckless" in ignoring advice on "protecting NHS staff and UK citizens lives".

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has warned "tougher measures" could be introduced if people do not take the government's coronavirus advice seriously.

Mr Johnson said: "If you don't do it responsibly we will have to bring forward further measures."

The Yorkshire Dales National Park chief executive, David Butterworth, said visitor behaviour at the weekend "beggared belief".

"The number of people coming to the area and acting so irresponsibly at a time of national crisis cannot be acceptable," he said.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The national Armed Forces Day event due to have taken place in Scarborough in the summer has been postponed, due to the the Covid-19 crisis, organisers say.

The celebration, scheduled for June 27, was to have included a display by world famous Lincolnshire-based Royal Air Force display team, the Red Arrows.

A children’s parade involving 20 local schools, a gala dinner, and a live music concert at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre, was also scheduled to take place as part of the event.

Organisers say: "Armed Forces Day will now take place at a date not yet determined."

A Scarborough Council spokesman said the extra pressure placed on the authority and its colleagues in the emergency and public services meant the “planning and staging of such a significant national event” was not possible.

Councillor Tony Randerson said: “While I am sure you will be as disappointed as we are, you will understand the reason why this decision has been taken and for the need for the services to be focusing their attentions on the current exceptional issues facing the country."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Bradford-based supermarket Morrisons says it's taking on staff from charity shops to help elderly and vulnerable shoppers.

Image source, Getty Images

The supermarket plans to take on 500 volunteers from Marie Curie and CLIC Sargent charity shops, whose doors may need to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Their roles are expected to focus on helping the elderly and vulnerable with their shopping trips and at checkouts, as well as taking items to food banks and other charities in need of supplies.

A statement said: “Morrisons welcomes other charity shops workers who might be looking for temporary employment.

“These highly valued colleagues would continue to work the same hours and receive the same pay and conditions."

Matthew Reed of Marie Curie said: “To see such swift, compassionate, action from Morrisons to support our staff and pool resources to support the wider community, is truly overwhelming."

The Great Yorkshire Show has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, organisers say.

Image source, PA Media

The event, which attracts more than 130,000 visitors each year, had been due to take place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate, from 14 to 16 July.

Nigel Pulling, the chief executive officer of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: "Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we have taken the sad but sensible decision to cancel the Great Yorkshire Show this year.

"As this national crisis escalates day by day, we feel we cannot safely run the Show in 2020.

"We are extremely sorry to have to announce this news and appreciate that this will disappoint everyone who loves the Show as much as we do.

"We would like to thank everyone for supporting the Great Yorkshire Show and our goal is to return bigger and better next year.

"We hope you and your families stay safe and well through these difficult times."

This year's Great Yorkshire Show, in Harrogate, has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Academics from Sheffield and Ulster universities seek to understand the impact of the crisis.

A man in York came up with a novel way of showing his mum how much she meant to him on Mother's Day while still managing to observe social distancing guidelines.

The loyal son, who is too modest to have his identity revealed, marked the occasion by painting a message on the side of his van saying: "Mam I love you, happy Mother's Day."

Then he parked outside his mum's house, phoned her and told her to look out of the window.

The clever work-around followed people in the UK being urged by the government not to visit their mothers on Mother's Day, due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Police are appealing for witnesses after three masked men raided a house near Huddersfield.

The men threatened the occupants of the house with weapons after entering the property in Park Lea, Bradley, at about 18:45 on Friday.

West Yorkshire Police said the robbers took "a quantity of cash" before leaving the area in a small white van.

One of the suspects is described as a white male, approximately 6ft 2in and of large build. He was wearing a dark jumper with his hood up, dark trousers, dark-coloured boots and had his face covered.

A second suspect was described as white, of slim build and was wearing what looked like a black Nike jumper with a thick stripe around the body. He had his hood up and was wearing a black baseball cap under the hood. He was wearing dark shoes and also had his face covered.

Anyone who witnessed three men acting suspiciously in the area or saw men matching the above descriptions in the area is asked to contact police.

A North Yorkshire MP is calling for a "virtual" Parliament to be set up as members return to Westminster today.

The Labour MP for York, Rachael Maskell, says she wants to make sure MPs don't help to spread the virus by using technology to help them carry out their daily business.

She says: "The continuity of Parliament is absolutely vital, but it should be virtual, there's no reason why we have to sit in that chamber.

"For Parliament to operate it means MPs have to travel across the country putting themselves and others at risk.

"And, then, at the end of the week we come back to our own constituencies out of London, where they're seeing the sharpest increase of this virus."

Ms Maskell recently completed a period of self-isolation, after she met with health minister Nadine Dorries, shortly before she was diagnosed with coronavirus.