Nathalie Flintham says working on a coronavirus ward at Rotherham General Hospital has been "awful".

A study has identified a mutation that its authors say could make the coronavirus more infectious.

Rotherham College has confirmed its campus in Dinnington will permanently close from July, with jobs being put at risk as a result.

Image source, RNN Group

The RNN Group says following a consultation, it is pressing ahead with the move in order to "develop the curriculum" at other campuses.

Courses, and the majority of staff, will move to the Rotherham town centre campus, North Notts College in Worksop and Dearne Valley College in Wath upon Dearne from September.

A total of 26 staff - equivalent to 19 full-time jobs - remain at risk, the group said.

RNN hopes that with the site closed it can be sold, with the money being reinvested into other parts of the business.

A dad helps out his teenage son on a paper round - the same streets he delivered to 35 years ago.

A six-year-old Leeds boy has raised more than £1,000 for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic as he runs the equivalent of a marathon around his town.

Image source, Sasha Thompson

Ollie Thompson set a target of raising £100 for the health service, but has since raised almost 11 times that and he hopes to help pay for ventilators.

Ollie says he's been getting lots of support as he runs the 26.2 miles over two weeks in Horsforth.

He said: "I like running, but I'm not the fastest. - between really fast and quite slow.

"Normally, in the middle I get a bit tired. I always think I'm nearly there to keep me going.

"The money is going to the NHS because of the coronavirus. I hope it goes towards the machines helping people breathe," he added.

Image source, Matt Thompson

The idea started when Ollie asked to join his dad, Matt, running - but wanted to do the marathon over two weeks.

Mr Thompson said they set up the fundraising page for friends and family to donate - but it "exploded" with donations.

"We never thought we'd raise this amount of money - the idea was to just do something nice really. Quite blown away from it all," said Mr Thompson.

Ollie added: "I've run about 16 miles and need to finish it by Saturday. My auntie who lives in London said she's going to be cheering me on from there."

"Singing winger" Colin Grainger scored against Brazil and also once shared a stage with The Beatles.

A cannabis farm with a crop estimated to be worth £500,000 has been found in a village near Huddersfield, police say.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

About 500 cannabis plants were found in a raid on an industrial premises at Bankgate Mills, in Slaithwaite, yesterday after suspicious activity was reported by a member of the public.

Three men aged 23, 27 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of the production of drugs in connection with the discovery, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Insp Vanessa Briggs said: “This is clearly a very sizeable cannabis factory and we continue to hold three men in connection with it.

“I want to thank residents who get in contact with us - it’s really important people continue to let us know about suspected drugs offences in their communities and we continue to urge them to get in touch."

Police say the plants seized will now be destroyed.

Air quality in part of North Yorkshire has improved because there are fewer cars on the road due to the coronavirus lockdown, according to the local council.

Image source, Getty Images

Hambleton District Council says it's seen a drop in nitrogen dioxide in the air and says it's mostly down to the current ban on non-essential travel.

The council found that levels have dropped between 14%-45% thanks to fewer cars being on the road.

Councillor Stephen Watson said: "Air quality in Hambleton is something we should all protect. Our challenge now is to ensure these improvements are maintained when the current restrictions are lifted.

"Walking, cycling, car-sharing and using public transport would help to keep levels low and will also help us stay active and benefit from the improved air quality."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A Yorkshire MP has called on people to nominate candidates for the newly-launched Rother Valley Hero Awards.

Image source, Conservative Party

The awards aim to recognise those "going above and beyond to help others" during the coronavirus pandemic, for example by making PPE, delivering food, donating time or money, or even keeping community spirits alive.

Alexander Stafford, Conservative MP for Rother Valley, says he wants constituents across the area to nominate anyone who has been a "beacon of hope during these dark times so they receive the recognition they deserve".

Mr Stafford said: “We know times have been tough for the people of Rother Valley during this crisis and that everybody has made sacrifices.

“It's only right to show our gratitude to those silent heroes who are going the extra mile for our elderly, needy, and medically vulnerable," he added.

You can put forward your nomination by clicking this link, external.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A funeral firm boss has urged a West Yorkshire council to rethink a decision to ban mourners from inside crematorium buildings.

Image source, Google

Co-op Funeralcare's director of funerals David Collingwood said Leeds City Council's measures would deny families the chance to grieve.

The authority said its decision to allow only a funeral director and celebrant inside crematoriums was due to local pressures on health services.

The council said it had been an "incredibly hard" decision to make.

But Mr Collingwood claimed the decision was not in line with government advice on funerals, external.

"Although we all recognise social distancing is vitally important, the council's decision in Leeds will result in thousands of the region's mourners being denied the chance to pay their respects and to say goodbye to loved ones," he said.

The council said its approach was in line with other authorities and that mourners were not banned as up to 10 people could attend outside.

Luke Mortimer, seven, has had 23 operations and his family say his "determination knows no bounds".

Police say they're no longer looking for information about where a wanted man is following an appeal yesterday:

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Campaigners trying to protect a wildlife habitat in Sheffield say the lockdown has reinforced why green space is so important to their community.

Image source, Avant Homes

Avant Homes has submitted plans to build 72 homes, the first phase of a housing development, on Owlthorpe Fields near Crystal Peaks (pictured).

Up to 500 homes are planned for the site, which Sheffield Council says has been earmarked for housing since the 1960s.

But residents have run a lengthy campaign to protect the land, with 1,000 people signing a petition against developing it.

Over 260 people have officially objected to the Avant Homes scheme and residents have been backed by several wildlife and environmental groups.

Christine Rippon, on behalf of Owlthorpe Fields Action Group, said: “The effect of the Covid-19 lockdown has brought into sharp focus the need for a local green space, such as Owlthorpe Fields.

"Many of us have long understood the need to protect Owlthorpe Fields before this pandemic, but now many more residents have become keenly aware of their value."

Avant Homes says the site is a “logical location” for new housing and the ancient woodland could be used as an "attractive landscape setting".

"The majority of the Mosborough Townships took almost 20 years to complete. In-filling of remaining areas continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s

"That includes the Moorthorpe Rise development, the first phase of wider site/allocation to which this application relates, which appears detached from the surrounding area."

Sheffield Council is still considering the plans.

Five more people have been arrested in connection with an incident which left a man with a serious head injury after a gun was fired in York earlier this week, police say.

Officers were called to Leeman Road at about 12:45 on Monday after "loud bangs" were heard and a group of people was seen running away, according to North Yorkshire Police.

A man in his 30s was subsequently found with a serious head injury and was taken to hospital.

A blank shell casing was found nearby, according to police.

Four men, aged in their 20s and 30s, and a woman in her 20s, all from York, have been arrested overnight, according to the North Yorkshire force.

They are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, say police.

A man and a woman, both in their 20s, who were arrested earlier in connection with the same incident have been released on police bail.

If you've got to work through the night while so many people are sleeping, there have to be some perks - and this might be one of them:

Image source, West Yorkshire Police Dog Support Unit

Members of the West Yorkshire Police Dog Support Unit snapped this serene sunrise from the base of the Emley Moor transmitter.

Writing on social media, external, they described the opportunity to catch the dawning moment as "one of the benefits of a night shift".

Two people who were arrested when a man was taken to hospital with a serious head injury after a gun was fired in York have been released on bail, police say.

Officers were called to Leeman Road at about 12:45 on Monday after "loud bangs" were heard and a group of people was seen running away, according to North Yorkshire Police.

A man in his 30s was subsequently found with a serious head injury and was taken to hospital.

A blank shell casing was found nearby, according to police.

A man and a woman, both in their 20s, have been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, police say.

Rob England
BBC News

NHS staff at a hospital which has discharged nearly 200 coronavirus patients have offered words of encouragement on social media.

Healthcare workers at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS trust said: "We wish every one who is at home recovering from Covid-19 the very best, as well as those who are currently battling this horrible virus. Together we will win."

The South Yorkshire trust has treated about 400 patients with coronavirus.

The crew of a police helicopter helping to deal with incidents in North and East Yorkshire last night took a couple of pics you could only snap if you have the advantage of being sky high.

Image source, National Police Air Service

Writing on social media, external the crew of the National Police Air Service helicopter at Carr Gate in Wakefield said: "Overnight the crew lifted to incidents for North Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police and snapped these pics while transiting."

Image source, National Police Air Service

Tips and recycling centres across Kirklees are set to reopen to the public next week.

Image source, Getty Images

Kirklees Council says its five sites, which were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will reopen on Monday but with strict rules in place to ensure social distancing.

Residents will only be allowed to visit the sites in cars - no vans or trailers will be allowed in - and people must go alone.

People are also being asked to wash their hands before and after visiting and to be respectful to staff.

The council says it is expecting "significant queues" and is asking people to put off their visit for a few days.

Rob Walker, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “We recognise that having access to the household waste sites is important for many people, nobody wants bags of waste rotting outside their home.

"However, I urge you to think about whether you really need to visit before making the trip.

"Now really isn’t the time to start creating waste, whether that’s from DIY or clearing out storage spaces at home.

"Please help us to keep the queues as small as possible by continuing to store things safely wherever possible.”

BBC Weather

Today will be dry with plenty of sunshine and light winds.

It'll stay dry tonight but will turn cool with long clear spells a light breeze: