York City Football Club says it will be closed "for the foreseeable future" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, YCFC

In a statement the club says: "The sudden onset of the coronavirus pandemic, uncertainty around the conclusion to the 2019/2020 league and our inability to make plans with any real certainty, has had an immediate, unforeseen financial impact on the club."

The statement says club staff and players have been placed on furlough until further notice and the chairman, will ensure all staff receive 80% of their wage during this time.

Chairman Jason McGill said: “This virus and the current crisis which surrounds us all, is bigger than the club and bigger than football.

“So, for now, we urge supporters to take this time to focus on their health and that of their family and friends."

More than 20 of Yorkshire's MPs have signed a letter to the chancellor supporting calls for a business rate holiday for news publishers.

Earlier this week, Yorkshire Post editor James Mitchinson wrote to MPs across Yorkshire , externalasking for their help in securing tax relief to help cover a drop in revenue linked to the coronavirus outbreak.

He says that advertising income has dropped by 80% with staff being asked to take a pay cut to keep the newspaper running because of the virus.

JPI Media, that runs newspapers such as the Yorkshire Post and the Sheffield Star, has furloughed a "significant number " of staff, he wrote in the letter.

Now, 23 MPs have responded by co-signing a letter to Rishi Sunak MP asking for business rate holidays for news publishers as well using the newspapers to run a public information campaign.

A fire on a train is causing disruption on the railway.

Train operator Northern said as a result of the incident trains are not calling at stations between Todmorden and Rochdale.

Sheffield Teaching Hospital has reversed its decision to cut the training places of more than 60 trainee nursing assistants, it's been revealed.

Image source, GEOGRAPH/TERRY ROBINSON

Earlier this week, the 67 affected nursing associates were told they could either leave the trust or take up another role on a lower salary.

The move could have seen students take a pay cut of about £1,700 a year.

In a letter to the students, Deputy Chief Nurse Karen Jessop said the pandemic had led the trust to "urgently review its current workforce and capacity in order to prepare for and try to meet the forthcoming demand which is likely to be immense".

However, the trust has now apologised and said they're reversing their decision.

In a statement it said: "We are very sorry that we informed a new cohort of Trainee Nurse Associates that they could lose pay as a result of their training having to be paused due to COVID -19 and closure of the Universities.

"The information we gave had not taken account of the exceptional circumstances we are currently in and we can only apologise for this and any upset it has caused.

"We will be addressing the issue and there will be no loss in pay."

York's city walls were among number of landmarks across the UK to be bathed in blue light in tribute to NHS staff and other key workers dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

The ancient walls were lit up last night along with the Royal Hall in Harrogate.

Elsewhere, Windsor Castle and the London Eye were also lit in blue and a house in East Ardsley did it's best to get in on the act as well.

Image source, City of York Council

Image source, @HgtConventions

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

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Warehouse workers keeping "essential supplies moving" should be given greater protection, a South Yorkshire MP has said.

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Jarvis called for stronger social distancing measures for South Yorkshire's 21,000 warehouse workers.

Concerns have been raised over conditions at sites in the region used by clothing retailers ASOS and Pretty Little Thing.

The Labour MP for Barnsley Central, who is also mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said a "number of businesses" in the region "continue to operate unsafe working practices".

He said: "Coronavirus is going to dominate our way of life for the weeks and months ahead, so for everyone's safety, it's vital we look after workers making sure communities have the supplies they need.

"The government must provide clear guidance about the required social distancing practices. They must ensure they are implemented and take tough action where rules are broken."

Mr Jarvis said he had been working with trade unions and local authorities to protect workers' safety.

He has written to the Secretary of State for Business, Alok Sharma, asking for clearer guidance and enforcement of social distancing rules where businesses continue to operate.

Police officers in Halifax joined in the last night's second "Clap for Carers" tribute to NHS staff and other key workers.

Officers lined up outside Calderdale Royal Hospital to salute those dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Calderdale Community protection team, who filmed the spectacle, said: "We are extremely proud of our front line officers, partners and key workers - Well done all."

British Transport Police has admitted wrongly charging a woman who was fined £660 under coronavirus legislation.

Image source, Geograph/Stephen McKay

Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was arrested at Newcastle Central Station on Saturday after she refused to tell police why she needed to travel.

She was found guilty and fined at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court for breaching the new Coronavirus Act.

A police and Crown Prosecution Service review concluded she was charged under the wrong section of the act.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it had now agreed to contact the court and ask for the case to be relisted and the conviction set aside.

We're in for a mix of cloud and sunny spells this morning but that cloud will tend to develop through the course of the day leading to a mainly cloudy afternoon with the chance of the odd shower in places.

Tonight it'll stay cloudy with a possibility of showers but things should clear as the night progresses.

We should see top temperatures of about 9C today:

CCTV images of a missing teenager who disappeared from his home a week ago have been released.

Image source, Sussex Police

Owen Harding, 16, left his family home in Saltdean, East Sussex, on Thursday 26 March.

His mother has said he was upset and it is thought he may have set off on a 280-mile walk to see his girlfriend in Pocklington, East Yorkshire.

Pictures published by Sussex Police show Owen walking away from his home on the day he disappeared.

A new NHS Nightingale hospital will be built in Harrogate to help deal with the rising number of coronavirus cases, it's been confirmed.

Image source, PA Media

NHS England says the Harrogate Convention centre will be able to care for up to 500 patients during the coronavirus outbreak.

Three other similar hospitals are planned for Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol while a 4,000-bed facility at London's ExCel centre (pictured below) is due to open later today.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: “It’s nothing short of extraordinary that this new hospital in London has been established from scratch in less than a fortnight.

Sir Stevens says the go ahead has been given for the new sites, "hoping they may not be needing but preparing in case they are."

Richard Cooper, Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council, says he thinks people will be proud the town is playing its part in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Covid-19 cases have been filling wards at Bradford Royal Infirmary, and leaving staff with tough decisions to make.

An extra 1,500 beds will be provided across two new sites in Bristol and Harrogate, the NHS says.

Universities and schools are using their skills and equipment to make personal protective equipment.

South Yorkshire Police is asking retired officers and staff to return to work to bolster numbers and add extra resilience during the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, PA Media

The force is opening up a broad range of opportunities to former employees during the outbreak.

Retired officers and staff, and those on a career break, are being invited to consider returning for a temporary period so the force and the public can benefit from their knowledge and experience.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: "We are well prepared and equipped to deal with this pandemic. Our officers will remain on the front line and we will be here for the people in South Yorkshire who need us.

"In these unprecedented times, however, we are also calling upon those who have left us to consider returning to duties to provide a tremendous public service.

"The skillsets of these former colleagues will be invaluable as we get on with the job in front of us."

Pritti Mistry
BBC News

A major medical products manufacturer could start making ventilators for hospitals to help treat patients with coronavirus.

Image source, Getty Images

Smith and Nephew said the "large scale production" would begin at its facility in Hull as soon as the government deal was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The machines have been designed by the company along with experts from the University of Oxford and King’s College London.

A giant pig is turning the heads of drivers in North Yorkshire and encouraging people to stay at home.

Image source, Emma Sanderson

The straw sculpture is being used to urge people to heed the government's message to stay inside during the coronavirus pandemic

The huge smiling pig at the side of the A684 outside Northallerton also bears a message of thanks to NHS staff and all key workers.

An MP has called for stronger social distancing measures for South Yorkshire's 21,000 warehouse workers.

Police are urging motorists to obey the laws of the road after a driver was seen doing more than 130mph on a North Yorkshire road.

The driver was seen by a safety camera operator on the A168 travelling at 132mph earlier this week.

North Yorkshire Police say it comes amid a rise in dangerous, highly-excessive speeds as roads get quieter because of the coronavirus lockdown.

A driver was stopped by another force a short time later and was reported on suspicion of exceeding the speed limit.

Andy Tooke, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Some of the speeds we have recorded as the roads have got quieter are frankly ridiculous, especially at a time when people have been asked to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

"It’s unbelievable that some motorists are behaving in a way that puts more lives in danger at a time when NHS and emergency service resources are so vital.

"We will not tolerate North Yorkshire being used as a racetrack, and we are continuing to target those who put lives at risk by driving illegally."

A man has been arrested after six people were injured in a three-car crash in Doncaster.

Image source, Google

It's reported that a grey BMW 1 series and a red Audi A3 crashed on Carr House Road, before the BMW left the road and hit a third car and a tree at about 14:35 on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old driver of the BMW and a 27-year-old passenger were both seriously injured.

The driver of the Audi, a 21-year-old man, and a 22-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries, police say.

The 50-year-old driver of the third car, a grey Hyundai, was taken to hospital with minor injuries, along with the 70-year-old passenger.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs, South Yorkshire Police said.

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to get in touch with police.