1. Man injured in house explosion dies in hospitalpublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    A man has died in hospital after being seriously injured in an explosion at a house in Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury.

    Explosion at house

    The 55-year-old, who has not been named, was injured when the house in Crescent Walk, exploded and caught fire at about 11:35 yesterday.

    Police said the cause of the blast is not yet known, but it is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances.

    A second man injured by debris from the property is receiving treatment for a head injury.

    Det Insp James Bellhouse, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Work has been ongoing on site by partners to make the property and surrounding houses safe as we continue to investigate the cause of this explosion.

    "While those inquiries will take time we do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances at this stage."

  2. Man dies after Ravensthorpe house explosionpublished at 11:49 British Summer Time 1 April 2020
    Breaking

    A man has died in hospital after being seriously injured in an explosion at a house in Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury.

    More to follow.

  3. Coronavirus: Lockdown prompts clear fall in air pollutionpublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    Air pollution has started to fall in many UK cities in response to the lockdown measures introduced as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

    car exhaustImage source, Getty Images

    The trend mirrors that seen across continental Europe as people have spent less time in vehicles, offices and factories and more time at home.

    Data collected by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) shows marked reductions in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and in particulate matter (PM2.5).

    NCAS has produced a set of graphics, external that compare air pollution levels for 15 February to 24 March with an average over the last five years.

    The 10 cities considered are Birmingham, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, York.

    For PM2.5 (pictured below), which comes from a range of sources but which includes tailpipes, every city has experienced a dip.

    PM2.5 graphImage source, National Centre for Atmospheric Science

    James Lee, a professor of atmospheric chemistry from NCAS and the University of York, said: "The air is definitely much healthier.

    "These are big changes - pollution levels at the moment are the equivalent of a holiday, say an Easter Sunday."

  4. In pictures: Leeds posters celebrate NHS workerspublished at 10:42 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    A number of brightly coloured posters have appeared in Garforth thanking keyworkers and frontline NHS staff who are dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

    People in the town have been sharing the pictures on social media, with a search on to find out who's been creating the designs:

    A green signImage source, George Ledger
    A red signImage source, George Ledger
    A sign in GarforthImage source, George Ledger
  5. Convention Centre may be turned into coronavirus hospitalpublished at 10:14 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    Speculation is mounting that a North Yorkshire conference centre could be converted into a temporary hospital to cope with patients affected by Covid-19.

    Harrogate Conference CentreImage source, Google

    It's expected to be announced that Harrogate Convention Centre will become an NHS emergency centre similar to the NHS Nightingale Hospital being built at London's ExCeL Centre.

    Andrew Jones, the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, says: "I understand it will have several hundred beds inside the convention centre.

    "We know hospitals across the region are scaling up their capacity, but this is a welcome boost and we know it won't just be serving our area, but serving the whole of this region."

    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.

    He says: "We have a tradition of stepping forward in a national crisis and should it be confirmed this will be another example of that."

    Due to open this week, NHS Nightingale Hospital London (pictured below) will have between 4,000 and 5,000 beds.

    NHS NightingaleImage source, Reuters
  6. Coronavirus: 'Lonely' lockdown boy, 7, seeks pen palspublished at 09:52 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    A mother whose seven-year-old son was due to start a new school after moving 200 miles has appealed for pen pals to write to him.

    Harley GlenImage source, Ashley Glen

    Harley Glen, formerly from Edinburgh, was due to start Year Two in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday.

    His mum Ashley said moving during lockdown had been particularly tough for Harley, who loves being outdoors.

    She has asked would-be pen pals to post handwritten letters, care of Miss Ward at Western Primary, Harrogate.

    Ms Glen, who is a personal trainer, said she hoped the idea would be a way for youngsters to stay occupied during lockdown.

  7. In pictures: Hockney shares new art as 'respite from news'published at 09:23 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    Will Gompertz
    BBC Arts Editor

    David Hockney has shared ten new works of art created while in lockdown in Normandy.

    The Bradford-born artist said he was attracted to the area because it offered a broader range of blossoms, with apple, cherry, pear and plum trees, as well as the hawthorn and blackthorn he had painted before.

    "I began drawing the winter trees on a new iPad," he said. "Then this virus started…

    "I went on drawing the winter trees that eventually burst into blossom. This is the stage we are right now. Meanwhile the virus is going mad, and many people said my drawings were a great respite from what was going on."

    One of David Hockney's Normandy paintingsImage source, David Hockney
    One of David Hockney's Normandy paintingsImage source, David Hockney
    One of David Hockney's Normandy paintingsImage source, David Hockney
  8. Couple married for 70 years in FaceTime celebrationpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    A West Yorkshire couple will mark 70 years of marriage through a global video celebration with family who cannot visit because of the coronavirus outbreak.

    Alf and Betty RobinsonImage source, Robinson family

    Relatives were due to travel from New York for a party to celebrate Alf and Betty Robinson's platinum anniversary in Burley in Wharfedale, near Leeds.

    Instead the pair, who are both 91 and have seven children, 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, will catch up with them via an iPad at home.

    Alf and Betty RobinsonImage source, Robinson family

    Son Philip said: "Mum is really good on the iPad so we'll do a group FaceTime."

    Mr Robinson, 65, said because he was carer for his parents, he would be able to visit them on their anniversary at their home, but he would be the only family member who could do so.

  9. Wednesday's weather forecast for Yorkshirepublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    It'll be mostly cloudy today with a scattering of showers, though we may see a few bright spells

    Tonight will remain cloudy tonight with further showers pushing in at times on a moderate westerly breeze.

    weather
  10. Coronavirus: Sheffield has highest infection rates after Londonpublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 1 April 2020

    Sheffield has been named as having the highest level of coronavirus infections outside of London.

    Coronavirus poster in streetImage source, PA

    The Yorkshire city has 62 confirmed cases per 100,000 people, according to research by the Centre for Cities.

    It said the ratio of cases confirmed in Sheffield had increased more rapidly than in other cities of similar size.

    The council said the figures reflected more testing taking place in the city than other areas of the country.

    Greg Fell, director of public health in Sheffield, said: "People may find the reported number of cases in Sheffield worrying, but the data is simply a reflection that there's more testing happening here than in some other areas, so we know about more positive cases.

    "This doesn't necessarily mean that there's more chance of being infected here than other parts of Yorkshire.

    "Regardless of the current data, my advice is the same. Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives."

    More about coronavirus:

  11. Pride in Hull launches EuroPride bidpublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Organisers say they hope to plan a year of "rainbow" activity if their bid is successful.

    Read More
  12. Wildlife 'carries on as normal' during pandemicpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Robert Fuller has dozens of webcams in nests and a badgers sett in Thixendale, North Yorkshire.

    Read More
  13. Grants to help vulnerable people in East Yorkshirepublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    A number of organisations across Hull and East Yorkshire will get a share of £14,000 to help support vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak.

    An older person cookingImage source, Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    The Two Ridings Community Foundation has allocated the grants to groups that do work such as meals on wheels and supporting victims of domestic abuse.

    The list includes the Moorlands Community Charity in Goole, The Hinge Centre in Bridlington, Beverley Cherry Tree charity, The Hull, Phoenix project and the Hull Youth Support Trust.

  14. National League suspended indefinitelypublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    The three divisions of England's National League are suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Read More
  15. New job starters 'petrified' over wage help schemepublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Workers who started new jobs in March are not eligible for the government's wage grant scheme.

    Read More
  16. Angry gull warning as lockdown hits coastal crowdspublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Coastal residents are warned seagulls may become more aggressive over a lack of easy food.

    Read More
  17. Police 'amazed' by Manchester to Leeds food runpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Police in West Yorkshire say they've been left "amazed" by a motorist who drove more than 40 miles from Manchester to Leeds to go food shopping.

    POlice car in Leeds streetImage source, West Yorkshire Police/@WYP_RPU

    Officers say the man, and the friends he collected on route, have "all been dealt with."

    Writing on social media police, external said: "This is serious stuff people, think!"

  18. Tower to be lit up blue for NHS thank youpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    A tower in West Yorkshire is to be lit up blue every night as a way of saying thank you to doctors, nurses and NHS staff.

    Wainhouse TowerImage source, Calderdale Council

    Standing at 253ft (77m) tall Wainhouse Tower near Halifax was built in the late 19th Century by John Edward Wainhouse.

    Calderdale Council now says it's to light the tower blue to thank those on the frontline fighting the coronavirus.

  19. Watch: Artist shares film of wildlife 'untouched' by viruspublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    A wildlife artist has been sharing footage of wild animals filmed on his hidden cameras.

    Robert Fuller captured the animals near his studio in Thixendale.

    He said he wanted to share the footage to "spread a bit of joy":

  20. Footage shows aftermath of house explosionpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 31 March 2020

    Fire officers say the cause of the blast in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, is not yet known.

    Read More