Passengers who ride in taxis or private hire vehicles in East Yorkshire will be asked to wear a mask, pay using contactless cards and share their contact details as part of the government's track and trace system.

Image source, East Riding of Yorkshire Council

The measures are being brought in to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Some vehicles have been fitted with plastic screens to separate drivers and passengers, with people being asked to sit in the back seats.

Taxis are to be cleaned after trips with passengers being asked to share their contact details in case they need to be contacted as part of the track and trace system.

East Riding of Yorkshire councillor Mike Stathers (pictured) said: "A driver may be entitled to refuse to accept a passenger or a booking if a face covering is not worn.

"The best advice it to make sure you pre-book a vehicle in advance and during that call find out what their requirements are. Many drivers have installed their own safety screens to give added protection to customers, which is welcomed.

"These measures are to keep everyone safe and to ensure we can stop the spread of Covid-19."

A union says the redundancy process at Scarborough Spa (pictured) and Whitby Pavillion should be stopped until the government gives details of its £1.57bn arts rescue package.

Image source, Julian Osley/Geograph

The GMB union represents workers at both venues, which are to be temporarily shut, owners Sheffield City Trust (SCT) said, after the Covid-19 lockdown left them in a "critical position."

Pete Davis, the GMB's senior organiser in Yorkshire says: "The government rescue package money will appear - we've seen subsidies the government promised appear elsewhere.

"It's no use throwing everybody on the dole and then putting an application in for a slice of that cake - why would the government give that slice to an organisation which has not safeguarded jobs?"

SCT says talks with Scarborough council and details of the government funding will be an essential part of the redundancy consultation.

It announced on Monday the mothballing of the coastal venues, but said it has "no plan for the permanent closure" of either venue.

It said it also intended to mothball Sheffield City Hall and Sheffield Arena.

Bus and train operator FirstGroup has warned it faces an uncertain future after coronavirus caused a collapse in passenger numbers.

The warning came as the firm announced annual losses of more than £150m, external.

Coronavirus saw average passenger numbers fall by 90% in March alone.

First warned about its ability to continue as a going concern - a fully-operating, profit-making business - although it said there is enough funding to get through the next year.

The operator, which runs services across Yorkshire, is pinning its hopes on a return of passengers as lockdown restrictions are eased further and people get back to work, school and social events.

Two men have been taken to hospital after being stabbed in Leeds.

Image source, Google

Officers were called to Whincup Gardens, in Hunslet, at about 15:15 on Tuesday, after reports a 22-year-old man had been stabbed.

West Yorkshire Police say enquiries then led them to an address in nearby Moor Close where a 20-year-old man was also found with a stab wound.

The force say both men were taken to hospital for treatment. Neither man is believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police.

It's hoped altering the times motorists are able to use bus lanes in Hull will encourage more people to cycle across the city.

Image source, PA Media

Currently, bus lanes are only enforced during peak times, but Hull City Council has said it is extending enforcement periods from next week.

Drivers will be bared from using bus lanes all day, between 07:00 and 18:30, from Monday 13 July in a bid to keep the space safer for cyclists.

The trial comes as the council wants more people to use bikes to move around the city.

Councillor Daren Hale said: “The first step is to extend the times then later in the summer we will be relining and marking the routes to make them much more visible for cyclists. We will also be looking at how we can assist cyclists along the route where there isn’t a bus lane to use.

“At this stage, we are not amending any of the waiting, parking or loading restrictions already in place.”

Simone Hancock was found with fatal wounds on Saturday in Sheffield later and died in hospital.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A mobile testing facility will open in Whitby tomorrow for anyone showing symptoms of coronavirus.

Image source, Getty Images

The drive-through facility will set up at the park-and-ride site on the A171 Guisborough Road.

It is being organised by the Department of Health and Social Care who have warned people to not just turn up but make an appointment first.

Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms should register for a test on the NHS website, external or, for those who don’t have access to the internet, by calling 119.

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

The Rugby Football Union confirms that County Championship will not be played again until 2022.

More than 100 jobs are under threat at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the aviation industry.

Image source, PA

The airport has begun consulting with staff on temporary and zero-hour contracts, who would usually be employed during the busy summer holiday season, and workers in some other roles.

A spokesperson for LBA said: “We are deeply saddened to be consulting with colleagues as a result of the impact of the global pandemic.

"We, like many other sectors, are operating in challenging circumstances and this has led to some difficult decisions."

"The long-term prognosis for aviation is very different to the short-term constraints our business faces and we remain committed to ensuring we have the right offer for passengers when the time comes through our replacement terminal scheme.”

However, the airport says plans to demolish the existing terminal and replace it with a new building, which could cost up to £150m, will not be affected by the potential job losses.

A Scunthorpe man has been jailed for 11 years after admitting robbing elderly victims in Hull.

Image source, Humberside Police

Christopher Holdstock, 44, of Rochester Close, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to battery, robbery and four counts of burglary, which happened in February and March.

In one, a 66-year-old man was left needing hospital treatment after Holdstock attacked him in Jameson Street, kicking and punching him before stealing his wallet containing just £50.

He also conned elderly victims out of money by knocking on their doors, asking them to change money into smaller denominations, then running off when money was handed over.

Det Con Tony Forbes, the lead investigator on these cases, said: “It is clear that Holdstock deliberately targeted people who are more vulnerable and preyed on their good nature.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe as they enjoy a day out or whilst in their home, and I hope that the significant sentence given to Holdstock for these offences helps to make the victims feel safer."

A South Yorkshire MP has sought reassurances from the government over fears Rotherham could face a coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, Parliament UK

Restrictions have already been re-imposed in Leicester which has the highest infection rate in the UK.

The government says it's working hard to ensure Rotherham doesn't face a "local lockdown," because of the large number of coronavirus cases in the town.

Addressing the Health Secretary in the House of Commons, the Conservative MP for Rother Valley, Alex Stafford, said: "Rotherham has one of the highest rates of infection in the country.

"What reassurances can you give the people of Rother Valley that it's safe to go out, safe to patronise businesses and that we're getting control of this virus?"

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock responded by saying: "Rotherham has a higher proportion of positive cases than the country as a whole.

"Nevertheless that rate is much lower than it was in Leicester and we're working with the council to make sure the necessary action is taken."

York Theatre Royal bosses say the venue has lost about £650,000 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Google

Tom Bird, the theatre's Executive Director, says: "We are down around £650,000 of income since the crisis hit.

"Sadly there are more losses to come before we can reopen and that's why we need investment in the sector now."

On Monday the government announced a £1.57bn emergency support package for the arts and culture industry.

A man was rescued from the Old Swan Inn by firefighters and is in critical condition in hospital.

Police say they're becoming "increasingly concerned" for the welfare of a man missing from Bradford for more than a month.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Ismail Ali (pictured), 46, was last seen in Gulams food shop on Cumberland Road (pictured below) on Friday, 29 May. He's described as slim with short black hair.

Image source, Google

Officers believe he has links to the Dewsbury and Batley areas, as well as Blackburn.

The West Yorkshire force says it is concerned for his welfare, particularly given the period of time that's now passed.

Anyone with information about his current location is being asked to contact police.

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A cloudy day with a mix of showers, dry sunny spells and gentle winds.

Outbreaks of rain, some heavy, will develop tonight, with clear intervals developing later:

A man in his 50s is in a critical condition in hospital after being rescued by firefighters from the roof of a blazing pub in North Yorkshire, say police.

Image source, NYFR

Fire crews used breathing apparatus, hoses and an aerial ladder platform to put out the fire at the Old Swan in Gargrave near Skipton last night.

Officers evacuated people from nearby buildings as a precaution and the A65 was also closed to traffic.

Image source, NYFR

Firefighters located the man on the roof of the pub and they brought him down just after 18:30.

An investigation has begun to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Luton Town and Barnsley draw at Kenilworth Road and remain in the bottom two with four Championship games left.

Huddersfield Town scrap their way to a goalless draw at Reading as they continue their fight against Championship relegation.

Leeds United sign on-loan Wolves winger Helder Costa on a four-year deal for a reported fee of £16m.

Callum Utley, 15, wanted to capture the "empty eeriness" of Hull in lockdown.