Local Democracy Reporting Service

Doncaster Council is offering price reductions for the collection of bulky items like carpets, mattresses and wardrobes as tips and recycling centres remain shut because of coronavirus restrictions.

Image source, Getty Images

The council did charge £34 for the collection of up to eight bulky items, but due to the coronavirus lockdown, prices have been reduced to £17.

Building waste, including brick rubble and plasterboard from house fixtures and fittings, and garden waste such as soil and stones, are not eligible for collection.

Some councillors have previously called for collections of such items to be free of charge in an attempt to stop fly-tipping across Doncaster.

At a meeting in January, Adwick and Carcroft Labour councillor David Hughes said the fees were a "false economy" because it costs officers more to deploy staff to clear rubbish from roadsides.

The police watchdog is investigating the death of a 46-year-old man in police custody in Sheffield.

Image source, Google

Matthew Terrill died at Shepcote Lane police station on Wednesday 22 April.

Mr Terrill's family and the coroner have been informed and tests to find out how he died have been carried out.

The results are not yet known, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

South Yorkshire Police referred themselves to the IOPC following the death.

A spokesperson for the watchdog said officers were still gathering information and that the investigation was in the early stages.

People doing DIY during the coronavirus lockdown are being warned by Yorkshire Water to take care after a sewer became blocked with concrete, which will cost £25,000 to remove.

Image source, Yorkshire Water

The firm said it had dealt with large blockages as a result of people disposing of DIY items in their drains.

The firm blamed the problem on a rise in home improvement work at a time when recycling centres and tips had shut.

People have been reminded to only flush "pee, poo and toilet paper" down the loo.

Mark Hammond, from Yorkshire Water, said: "A lot of people are carrying out home improvement projects and looking for ways in which they can keep busy at home.

"With the usual disposal options difficult to access, a number of people have turned to our water and sewage system to get rid of their excess DIY materials, resulting in blockages and avoidable issues for our engineering team."

Yorkshire Water said it had dealt with several large blockages over the past month including a build-up of concrete in a pipe in West Yorkshire.

They will contribute more than £35,000 to the costs of Stray restoration work.

This is the scene on Wetherby Road in Roundhay, Leeds, this afternoon as emergency crews deal with an "incident".

Three fire crews and other emergency services were called to a domestic property at about 14:15 and remain at the scene.

More information as we get it:

Communal spaces are now restricted leaving many tower block residents increasingly isolated.

Fire crews are currently dealing with an "incident" in the Roundhay area of Leeds.

Three crews were sent to a domestic property on Wetherby Road at about 14:15 this afternoon, according to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Crews from Killingbeck and Moortown are at the scene at the moment, according to the fire service.

More information as we get it.

York's near-deserted streets during the coronavirus lockdown have been caught on camera by a photographer on his daily early morning exercise routine:

Image source, Garry Hornby

One of the common sights in the famous historic city's usually crowded streets is Gerald, York Minster's resident cat.

As you can see in the photograph above, he looks equally splendid during this unusual time, stepping out with far fewer feet to avoid.

Image source, Garry Hornby

Meanwhile, Garry Hornby, who took these photographs, says Lendal Bridge (above) at 07:00 is normally "bustling with activity.

Image source, Garry Hornby

And Gerald the cat isn't the only animal to have taken advantage of the emptiness to expand its horizons.

These geese (above), heading towards the city's railway station, seem to have decided to use as much of the newly created space as possible.

Mr Hornby quipped: "Good to see they are observing the 2m-rule while out on their daily walkabout."

Image source, Garry Hornby

There's an eeriness to the spectacle of a lone bike waiting to be collected in Parliament Street (above) and Betty's Tea Rooms without the long queues of customers eager for tea and cake (below):

Image source, Garry Hornby

Mr Hornby says: "The old normal seems to be a lifetime away - a lot of the shops have still got Mother's Day and Easter advertising in the windows...just seems surreal."

The death of a man whose body was found on an East Yorkshire beach on Monday is being treated as "unexplained", police say.

Officers were called to Hornsea beach, near the leisure centre, at about 14:00 yesterday afternoon after reports a body had been discovered.

Paramedics who were at the scene confirmed the man had died.

Police say they're investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and "our thoughts are with the man's family and loved ones".

Anyone with information which could help the investigation is being asked to contact Humberside Police.

A 16-year-old girl who's gone missing from her home in Leeds left the city on a train for Oxford via Birmingham, police have said.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Rawan Hussain was last seen at her home in Chapel Allerton on Sunday morning, prompting police to search nearby Gledhow Valley Woods to find her.

West Yorkshire Police have released CCTV images (pictured) of her at Leeds station at about 09:00 on Sunday, and confirmed she travelled to Birmingham.

Officers are now trying to work out if she travelled on towards Oxford.

Rawan is Asian, about 4ft 9ins and of medium build, with curly dark brown hair.

She was reported missing from her home at 13:00 on Sunday after last being seen there at about 05:00.

Det Insp Richard Holmes said: "We remain very concerned for Rawan's welfare and urgently need to find her and make sure she is safe."

York, with its many narrow streets and alleyways, poses difficulties for shoppers who have to maintain social distancing.

A CCTV appeal has been launched after a woman had "used tissues" thrown in her face while she was out running in Sheffield earlier this month.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The victim, a doctor in her 20s, was running down Division Street at about 19:45 on Monday 6 April when it is reported a man threw the used tissues at her.

He is said to have filmed the incident on his mobile phone, according to South Yorkshire Police.

A second incident, on Monday 20 April, saw a man coughing in another man's face on the Wicker.

The man pictured above could help officers with their inquiries into both incidents, police say.

Anybody who recognises him is being asked to get in touch with police.

Holiday park company Haven is extending the closure of its parks, including its two sites in Lincolnshire and four on the East Yorkshire coast, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Haven

The firm initially shut them until 14 May because of the government's coronavirus restrictions.

It's now said they will remain closed until 31 May.

But police commissioner Julia Mulligan also calls for social-distancing guidelines to be clarified.

A drive-through blood testing centre in Sheffield has been so successful it's being expanded, according to the NHS trust which runs it.

Image source, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Vulnerable patients who needed vital tests were encouraged to use the service, which is in a car park at the FlyDSA Arena, in a bid to keep them away from hospitals and keep them safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust now says it's been so successful it's expanding to include to all patients who need the tests.

Up to 200 people a day were being tested at the centre since it opened almost three weeks ago.

Patients don't need to leave their car during the test, the trust said.

Richard Wardle, from the trust, said: "We have the capacity to do a lot more than this and so want to make sure all patients are aware of this alternative blood testing service and do not put off getting their routine blood tests taken.

"For patients who cannot use the drive-through service, we will continue to provide blood tests at the Hallamshire and Northern General Hospitals, but with additional measures in place to limit the risk of transmission of infection and to ensure social distancing."

A man in his 20s is in hospital with serious injuries after being attacked with hammers in Bradford yesterday, police say.

Image source, PA

The assault happened in woodland off Scholebrook Lane just after 15:30.

The victim was taken to hospital with what's described as "serious, but non-life threatening" injuries.

Police say the suspects were driving a red Mitsubishi Shogun car and are thought to have been racing another red vehicle around Black Carr Woods in Pudsey, shortly before the assault.

The Shogun has since been recovered by officers, but anyone who saw the red vehicle driving in the area or saw it racing another vehicle is asked to contact police.

P&O Ferries - which runs North Sea Ferries out of Hull -has become the latest company to ask the government for financial support.

Image source, PA Media

The firm - which transports 15% of all goods in and out of the UK - is seeking £150m.

The company is owned by DP World, whose chief executive, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, says he has yet to get a response from the UK.

"P&O plays a vital role in the UK and thousands of jobs depend on this company. We have to be sure that when this is over we can bounce back and save these jobs," he says.

"We have applied to the UK government to support the company to save the jobs of these people.

"The government has been slow. We need to safeguard these jobs - a lot of people's lives depends on this company."

The Department for Transport said that £31m in subsidies have already been announced for critical ferry delivery routes, some of which were operated by P&O.

A minute's silence for Workers' Memorial Day will be more "poignant" when it's held later this morning because of the number of key workers who've died after being diagnosed with coronavirus, the trade union body the TUC has said.

At 11:00 the country will pause to pay its respects to the healthcare staff, transport workers and others who have died with coronavirus.

Over 100 NHS and care staff have died with the virus, as have many transport and other key workers.

Bill Adams, TUC Regional Secretary for Yorkshire and the Humber, says: "This is an annual event for us, but it's more poignant this year because workers on the front line have given the ultimate sacrifice and we think they're real heroes.

"One of the things about Workers' Memorial Day, external is that we tend to spent the day remembering them, so that their lives won't have been in vain," he added.

An arts festival that was postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak will take place next year, organisers say.

Image source, East Riding of Yorkshire Council

ArtWaves, which was meant to take place in Bridlington next month, has been rescheduled for the first week of March 2021.

Now in its its sixth year, it sees painters, photographers and artists come together for a week-long "visual arts festival", the council says.

ArtWaves director, Lauren Frost, said: "It was with great disappointment we had to make the decision to postpone the event but it was a necessary one, and we are extremely excited to be returning next year to fill Bridlington with culture and vibrancy.

"Our hope is that we can engage as much of the community as possible to bring some colour to the East Yorkshire coast and celebrate creativity, while helping to strengthen tourism by encouraging more visitors to the seaside."

A woman from Sheffield has donated over 260 sets of scrubs to hospital staff after launching an online sewing group.

Image source, Sarah Featherstone

Sarah Featherstone, who is from Bradway, saw an appeal for hospital scrubs so started making them from bed sheets.

She's now recruited more than 20 people to help her with hundreds of sets of scrubs being donated to hospitals in Sheffield during the coronavirus pandemic.

She's found herself working 14 hours a day to create the much-needed supplies, which come with a "thank you" label stitched into the clothing.

She said: "I'm super proud of our hub. They're absolutely brilliant.

"We delivered 100 to the Children's Hospital on Friday and now we're fulfilling an order for the Jessops neonatal unit.

"It's one of those where before you know it you've ended up with a full-time job," she added.

Image source, Sarah Featherstone