Huddersfield’s landmark George Hotel is to be bought by Kirklees Council which has submitted a bid to create a National Rugby League Museum in the building.

Image source, Google

The Grade II-listed hotel, which was built in 1851 and closed in January 2013, is famous for being the birthplace of rugby league in 1895.

When Kirklees Council launched its Huddersfield Blueprint vision in June 2019, it said it wanted to bring the building back into use.

In March this year, the authority announced it had agreed a deal in principle to buy the site - a deal the council's cabinet has now approved.

The council says it's now aiming to make the building a "crucial" part of the town centre after submitting a bid in May to create a National Rugby League Museum at the site.

Councillor Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council, said: "This is so much more than a building to people in Huddersfield and to rugby league fans.

"It’s a proud part of our history and we want to make sure it is also part of our exciting future."

Tyrell Robinson, 22, was sacked by Bradford City in February after he was charged.

Police in Sheffield have issued this CCTV picture of a man they want to speak to about an armed robbery in the city last week:

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The robbery, on Arundel Gate at about 14:00 last Wednesday, saw a man claiming to be a police officer demanding another man hand over £65.

The victim refused and the suspect instead threatened him with a knife and stole his bag of groceries.

The man pictured could help police in their investigation into the robbery, according to South Yorkshire Police.

The wife of a US fighter pilot who died when his jet crashed into the North Sea off the East Yorkshire coast on Monday has paid tribute to her "perfect" husband.

Image source, US Air Force

1st Lt Kenneth Allen's F15C Eagle crashed at about 09:40 yesterday while on a routine training exercise.

The American airman, known as Kage, had served with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk since February this year.

His wife, Hannah Allen, said he was "my absolute best friend".

She added she had "never been treated with more love and respect in my life" by her husband.

"No words to express how shaken I am. Kage was perfect," she said.

"I feel beyond blessed to have loved him in this life and can't wait to love him for eternity."

Lt Allen's plane went into the sea about 85 miles off the East Yorkshire coast.

The Coastguard and RNLI lifeboat crews from Bridlington and Scarborough were among those who took part in the search after the plane was reported missing.

A school in North Yorkshire has been criticised by a councillor for trying to "suppress" a report highlighting pupils' use of homophobic and racist language.

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An Ofsted inspection at Lady Lumley's in Pickering said such language was "endemic".

The school said the report did not give an accurate view and it had no choice but to take legal action.

County councillor Greg White said there was no justification for spending £100,000 on the case.

Ofsted inspectors visited the school, which has just under 1,000 pupils, in October, and gave it an "inadequate" rating.

The report, external found the standard of education offered to pupils was good, however it said a "large minority of pupils" did not feel safe in school and bullying was not properly addressed.

There were concerns about a minority of disruptive pupils and safety at the school site, it added.

The school's head teacher, Richard Bramley, and chair of governors, Steven Croft, said they were "bitterly disappointed" with the report, which was based on the views of a small number of pupils.

In a letter to parents, they said they had no choice but to challenge it through Ofsted's complaints procedure and take legal action when that failed.

"We know our pupils are not endemically racist or homophobic and we know our staff would not tolerate such behaviour," they wrote.

The Met Office has issued a series of weather warnings for thunderstorms and possible flooding over the coming days.

Image source, PA Media

A yellow "be aware" weather warning is currently in place across parts of West and South Yorkshire and will remain in place until 06:00 tomorrow.

The Met Office says: "A few places may see thunderstorms causing flooding and disruption."

A similar warning is also in place from 12:00 to 21:00 on Wednesday.

Toll booths on the Humber Bridge are set to reopen later this month as coronavirus restrictions are eased - but cash will not be accepted.

The booths on the landmark bridge have been closed since 29 March as part of the measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

But with traffic steadily increasing over recent weeks, the Humber Bridge Board has taken the decision to reopen the toll booth lanes on 29 June.

Customers can apply for a pre-paid tag which sits in their vehicle window, or they can pay via new contactless payment terminals on the outside of the booths which accept credit and debit cards, as well as Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Relevant risk assessments have been carried out and safety measures have been implemented to ensure toll booth operators and customers are protected, the Humber Bridge Board has said.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Two mobile coronavirus testing sites will open in North Yorkshire tomorrow for anyone showing symptoms to get tested.

Image source, Reuters/Carl Recine

The drive-through facilities will be set up at the Seamer Road park-and-ride site in Scarborough and at The Hydro car park on Jenny Field Drive in Harrogate.

However, people are being warned not just to turn up but make an appointment first.

Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms is being asked to register for a test on the NHS website, external.

People who don’t have access to the internet can ring the new 119 service to book.

Key workers and members of their household should register for a test on the government website, external.

Tests can be booked from 20:00 tonight.

Hull City loan striker Mallik Wilks will return to Barnsley after failing to agree an extension beyond the end of June.

Police searching for a missing 25-year-old woman in North Yorkshire are appealing for people in the area around her home to check gardens, sheds and outhouses.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Zoe Zaremba, 24, was last seen at her home in Aiskew, Bedale, at about 23:00 on Saturday and was reported missing on Sunday.

Anyone in the area who has a doorbell camera or CCTV is also being asked to check their footage for any sightings, as are drivers with dash cameras.

A mountain rescue team and other volunteers have now joined police officers, including the police helicopter and a police dog unit, in the search for Ms Zaremba.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

She's described as about 5ft 6ins tall, with brown eyes, of slim build, with brown hair which she usually wears in a ponytail.

Ms Zaremba is believed to be wearing a "Keep Calm" t-shirt (pictured), purple jogging bottoms, white and purple Lonsdale trainers and a silver heart-shaped necklace with an orange crystal.

Anyone who thinks they have seen her, or who has information about her whereabouts, is being asked to contact police.

Bikes used by Rotherham United's charity have been stolen from a storage container at the football ground, police say.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

A total of 15 bikes were taken between 1 June and 8 June after a container housing the bikes was broken into.

Police are now asking for help in finding them.

Some of the bikes had Rotherham United stickers on their frames, but it's thought they may have now been removed, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Anyone with information about the theft is being asked to contact police.

Hollywood Bowl, which has five locations across Yorkshire, says its centres will reopen from 4 July.

Image source, Getty Images

The 10-pin bowling alley firm has sites in Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York.

They are among 54 centres that will reopen for the first time since the UK entered the coronavirus lockdown in March.

Numbers of worshippers will be limited and other changes have been made to the historic building.

A nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who raised more than £120,000 by walking the equivalent of a marathon has set himself a new challenge.

Image source, Tobias’s Marathon Challenge

Tobias Weller, from Sheffield, completed his challenge earlier this month after being inspired by the efforts of Captain Tom Moore.

But after raising tens of thousands of pounds for two Sheffield charities, he has set himself the new challenge of running 26.2 miles with a specially-adapted race-runner.

The funds raised will go to his school, Paces Sheffield, and Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Image source, Tobias’s Marathon Challenge

A total of 12 people have been arrested and over £1m worth of cannabis has been seized by police during raids across Hull early today, it's been revealed.

Image source, Humberside Police

Humberside Police said it was part of an ongoing operation, with eight raids taking place this morning.

A dozen people have been arrested and over £1m worth of the Class B drug was discovered, the force said.

It's part of the force's Operation Galaxy, a task force "targeting criminals causing our communities the most harm", police said.

Image source, Humberside Police

Lindsay Hoyle has paid tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox, on the fourth anniversary of her murder.

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An agreement to buy Huddersfield’s George Hotel – the birthplace in 1895 of Rugby League – looks set to be signed off later today.

Image source, Kirklees Council

The process has been speeded-up to tie in with a key meeting over the future National Museum for Rugby League, a version of which formerly had a base in the building.

Papers to be put before Kirklees Council’s decision-making Cabinet today reveal the authority will pay “an enhanced premium” for the Grade II*-listed building, which was built in the 1850s.

Members of the Cabinet are not expected to stand in the way of the deal and the purchase is expected to be completed by the end of July.

A decision on the future of the hotel was expected at the end of June, however it was brought forward to strengthen the council’s bid to host the rugby league museum at the birthplace of the sport.

A four-year long project to launch the museum at Bradford City Hall was scrapped in April when the charity behind the project – Rugby League Cares – announced it was re-opening the application process for organisations to establish a museum.

The report to Cabinet reveals: "Kirklees and one other bidder remain in the process, with the final decision to be made following a presentation to Rugby League Cares on 18 June.“

"The control of the building is key to the success of the bid, hence why we are looking to take an urgent item to Cabinet on 16 June, in order that we can confirm we have made the decision to purchase the building before the final panel meeting."

Two teenagers have been re-arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of a 12-year-old boy in Huddersfield.

Image source, Google

The boy was seriously injured during the incident at Northfield Hall Community Centre, in Huddersfield, in March.

West Yorkshire Police said two 17-year-old boys have been re-arrested in connection with the shooting and a 55-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All three have been bailed.

Appealing for witnesses, Det Ch Insp Vanessa Rolfe said: "This was an extremely young victim and any outstanding witnesses should consider the absolute importance of coming forward and what it represents.

“All reports made to us will be treated and handled sensitively."

A 79-year-old man has been jailed for more than 19 years for attacks on children over nearly four decades.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Robert Brady, of Springfield Avenue, Batley, admitted 11 offences including rape and sexual assaults on three boys between 1985 and 2019.

Brady was jailed at Leeds Crown Court on Monday. Police said he was "a danger to children well into his later 70s".

West Yorkshire Police said bringing him to justice had been a "harrowing investigation".

Brady was jailed for 19 years and six months in relation to six offences, including rape, committed between 1985 and 2003 against one victim and five sexual assaults in 2019 against another two male victims.

Mountain rescue team members and other volunteers have joined police officers in North Yorkshire searching for a woman who's been missing since the weekend.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Zoe Zaremba, 25, was last seen at her home in Aiskew, Bedale, at about 23:00 on Saturday and was reported missing on Sunday.

A police helicopter and police dog unit have also been deployed in the search for Ms Zaremba.

She's described as about 5ft 6ins tall, with brown eyes, of slim build, with brown hair which she usually wears in a ponytail.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Ms Zaremba is believed to be wearing a "Keep Calm" t-shirt (pictured), purple jogging bottoms, white and purple Lonsdale trainers and a silver heart-shaped necklace with an orange crystal.

Anyone who thinks they have seen her, or who has information about her whereabouts, is being asked to contact police.