A Chinese city has donated thousands of face masks to help protect staff at a West Yorkshire council.

Image source, Kirklees Council

The City of Taizhou has sent a shipment of 10,000 masks to Kirklees Council, which the authority says will help protect "staff on the front line delivering services and supporting the most vulnerable through the coronavirus pandemic".

In the autumn, Kirklees Council signed a letter of intent with the Chinese city, to develop stronger economic and cultural links with Huddersfield.

Councillor Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council, said: “This is a generous, thoughtful gesture and I cannot thank the people of Taizhou enough for their kindness."

Madam Bei Wang, from the regional government of Taizhou, said: “We totally understand the arduous situation now in the UK, and we are willing to show we stand together with Huddersfield and the whole of Kirklees.

"We hope the donation of the masks will be helpful to citizens," she added.

Ryedale Scrubs have more than 100 volunteers who are sewing scrubs for NHS workers.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to ban mourners from attending funeral services at cremations in Kirklees during the coronavirus pandemic have been reconsidered with new rules now being put in place.

Image source, LDRS

Kirklees Council says up to 10 mourners will now be allowed to be present at cremations taking place in Huddersfield and Dewsbury.

However, they must remain outside the chapel while the 20-minute “direct service” is being conducted by a minister or celebrant.

The policy is being kept under review as the coronavirus situation develops.

The council has also announced it will hold a Kirklees Day of Remembrance for all those lost during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Council leader Shabir Pandor said he was “really happy” the authority has been able to change its position.

He said: “We’ve carefully reflected on this and have found a way of being able to permit some mourners at funerals while ensuring social distancing is in place.

“Allowing mourners inside the chapel is sadly something that could not be safely done.”

The move was welcomed by Councillor David Hall, leader of the Conservative group, who previously described the decision to ban mourners as “cruelty layered on grief”.

A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being stabbed this afternoon in Sheffield.

Image source, Sheffield Now/Jim B

Emergency services were called to Lowedges Crescent, Lowedges, at about 14:00 to treat the victim, who is in his 20s.

A police cordon is currently in place as initial inquiries take place, South Yorkshire Police say.

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

Image source, Sheffield Now/Jim B

A network of volunteers sewing scrubs for NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic has been started up in Sheffield.

Image source, @sheffieldscrubsup

Becky Ashfield, co-ordinating the Scrubs Supporters volunteers in Sheffield, said their initial Crowdfunding target of £2,000 was quickly passed and now stands at over £8,000, on the way to a new target of £20,000.

Ms Ashfield said: "Initially the Sheffield group will support the NHS here, but if we end up with more resources than we need it will be spread around the country.

"We've got loads of amazing people who've volunteered to sew or donate money to it.

"At the moment each person individually has to cut out their pattern before sewing it so now we need to scale-up to speed up production," she added.

Ms Ashfield said the group wants to support local businesses and has been in touch with fabric shops, laser cutting companies and Sheffield's football clubs to ask about using their washing machines which are currently not being used due to the lockdown.

A motorway through South Yorkshire has been reopened after a body was found in the road in the early hours of this morning.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Emergency services were called to the M1 at junction 31 for Aston at about 03:20 this morning after reports of a body being in the road.

The northbound carriageway was closed from junction 30 at Barlborough to allow police to investigate what happened.

The road has now reopened, Highways England has said.

Human contact is vital for those dealing with alcohol and drug issues, a charity says.

Apple has launched a tool which reveals changes in the travel behaviour of people who use its Maps app in West Yorkshire.

Image source, Apple

The Mobility Trends Report produces daily percentage figures, showing how many fewer people are driving, walking and using public transport, compared with 13 January, before the coronavirus lockdowns came into effect.

It covers major cities and national figures for 63 countries. Hong Kong is included but not mainland China.

The UK cities covered include Leeds, Manchester, London and Birmingham.

David Roustoby is charged with killing John Clarke, who was found dead in the River Foss.

A number of RAF planes are over Yorkshire today as their pilots take part in "essential training".

Image source, Royal Air Force

The Brize Norton-based A400M Atlas aircraft have been seen over Doncaster carrying out the routine training, as well performing circuits around Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The training is not connected with the RAF's work involving coronavirus, the air force says.

A hospital boss says a serious shortage of protective gowns has been a "major concern" for days.

Image source, Google

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury Hospitals, said the problem was worsening stress for staff.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for problemsin supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline NHS staff.

The trust said it did not know when more gowns will arrive.

The government has put in place plans to tackle the problem and insiststhere is enough of this "precious resource" to go around.

A charity is delivering food parcels to veterans and is providing meals for hospital workers.

Image source, Reuters

An Army veteran who is 99-years-old and originally from West Yorkshire has now raised more than £6m to help the NHS in the fight against coronavirus.

Keighley-born Tom Moore aims to complete 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden by Thursday, walking with the aid of a frame.

He originally hoped to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together to thank NHS staff after recent treatment for a broken hip and cancer. By 18:00 BST on Tuesday he'd raised £2m.

By 09:00 this morning that had doubled to £4m and now, just a few hours later, the total raised is £6.2m.

Capt Moore said: "I do laps each day, so that eventually I'll get to 100, then after that I shall continue and do some more."

NHS Charities Together, which will benefit from the funds, said it was "truly inspired and humbled" by Mr Moore's efforts.

Pillow cases stuffed with suspected stolen goods, including a box of baby teeth, have been found by a dog walker at the side of a North Yorkshire road.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Watches, jewellery and a box containing the baby teeth, together with a coin with the words "Paige’s 1st teeth" inscribed on it, were found at the side of Kellington Lane, close to Eggborough power station, on Thursday 9 April, police say.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Some of the items' owners have since been found, but police say any recent burglary victims who recognise any of the items should come forward.

More of the items found can be viewed here, external.

A final memorial service to those who died has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Have you seen David Maxwell? The 45-year-old has gone missing from Doncaster and concerns are growing for his welfare, say police.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Mr Maxwell was last seen leaving a shop on Sandford Road in Balby at about 20:20 on Tuesday evening.

He's described as being about 5ft 11ins tall with a shaved head and is thought to be wearing green shorts and carrying a camouflage backpack.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts or who has CCTV footage of Mr Maxwell on Sandford Road is being asked to contact police.

Image source, @sheffieldscrubsup

Volunteers in Sheffield are sewing scrubs in their homes for NHS workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Sheffield Scrubs Supporters was initially set up to sew the equipment from a basic pattern and started with several Facebook groups around the city, like Sheffield Scrubs Up, external.

The idea is that basic patterns for scrubs are delivered to people’s houses, along with polycotton fabric.

They’re then sewed at home and sent back to be distributed at medical centres and hospitals.

Image source, @sheffieldscrubsup

Crowdfunding raised over £8,000 and volunteers say they're now struggling to find enough material to sew.

People can also make gowns, caps and wash bags, with children and people with even the most basic sewing skills able to make kit such as ear protectors for masks (pictured above).

Staff at a women's centre in Hull say they've seen a 65% increase in calls for help since the start of the coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images

Ann Clarkson, chief executive of the Preston Road Women's Centre, says: "The pandemic has made it difficult for women to seek support in a safe way.

"The current situation means people are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"It's an awful thing to say, but we do hear from a lot of our service users who say the only time they get any time to themselves is when they go to the loo."

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline has seen a 25% increase in calls and online requests for help since the lockdown, according to the charity Refuge.

Campaigners have warned the restrictions could heighten domestic tensions and cut off escape routes.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and released under investigation after driving a car the wrong way down a motorway, police say.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The driver of the blue Vauxhall Astra entered the M18 near Doncaster driving the wrong way before driving away from police, according to South Yorkshire Police.

He then drove for about 12 miles before leaving the motorway and heading onto A roads.

Police officers drove into the car in order to stop him causing harm to the public, they said.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

York City Knights player Danny Washbrook will raise money for charity by cycling the 380-mile length of the Tour de Yorkshire in his back garden.