A judge in York has ruled that blanket bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit are unlawful and discriminatory.

Image source, Google

The "momentous" court ruling found a single mother-of-two in the city had experienced indirect discrimination when a letting agent refused to rent to her.

She ended up homeless with her two children and her case was taken on by housing charity Shelter.

District Judge Victoria Mark, hearing the case at York County Court, ruled: "Rejecting tenancy applications because the applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully discriminating on the grounds of sex and disability."

This was, therefore, contrary to the Equality Act 2010, she said.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: "This momentous ruling should be the nail in the coffin for 'No DSS' discrimination.

"It will help give security and stability to people who unfairly struggle to find a place to live just because they receive housing benefit."

Traffic trapped in a road closure on the M62 in East Yorkshire will take "hours" to turn around, Highways England says.

Image source, Highways England

The M62 is closed in both directions between junction 36 for Goole and junction 35 at Langham due to an ongoing police incident.

Drivers are being asked to stay in their vehicle as traffic is released onto routes nearby.

There is about two miles of traffic, Highways England said, something that will take "a number of hours" to turn around.

A woman found dead at a house in Doncaster on Saturday night has been named by police.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Claire Anderson (pictured), 35, from Doncaster, was confirmed dead by paramedics who attended the home in Thorne Road.

A 38-year-old man arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder has since been released under investigation.

Temp Det Ch Insp Mark Oughton said: “I’d like to make an appeal to the public who I hope can help us with information that might assist our investigation.“We are currently treating Claire’s death as unexplained.“We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has information about where she was between 20:30 on Thursday 9 July and 21:00 on Saturday 11 July."

BBC Weather

Any early showers will quickly clear away to leave a dry, cloudy, day, with sunny spells.

It'll remain mostly cloudy and dry through the night, although some showery rain may edge in from the west in the early hours:

A team of doctors in Hull were meant to be celebrating a colleague's retirement when they were asked to treat the UK's first coronavirus patients, it's been revealed.

Image source, AFP/Getty images

The infectious diseases consultants "didn't really think much of it" when they were asked to treat the pair, from China, who fell ill in York. They said they did not expect the patients to test positive for Covid-19.

Dr Anda Samson said: "We'd received a phone call in the afternoon from a GP in York saying they had some people who had arrived from China and they were showing symptoms that might be consistent with coronavirus.

"We'd had a couple of warnings beforehand so we didn't really think much of it but we said, 'OK, let them come'."

The two Chinese nationals - one a student at the University of York - were taken to Castle Hill Hospital in Hull for treatment.

The unnamed pair then tested positive for coronavirus and were transferred to Newcastle.

The doctors told Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's annual general meeting how they used their experience to deal with the subsequent surge in cases and to help with research into coronavirus.

Highgrove Beds in Liversedge is the latest bed factory in West Yorkshire to see coronavirus cases.

Police searching the River Aire in Leeds for a missing man have recovered a body.

Specialist officers were looking for Finley Jones, 21, who disappeared from an address in the city centre on Saturday, 4 July.

A search team found a body near to Skelton Grange Road at Stourton, just after 11:00 today

Police said a formal identification is yet to take place but believed it to be Mr Jones.

His family have been informed and the Coroner’s Office has been notified.

A police spokesperson said there were no suspicious circumstances.

The 'world's largest' thank you card is dedicated to NHS staff for their work during the pandemic.

A series of panda sculptures are to be installed at Sheffield's £66m New Era Square development.

Image source, New Era Development

The models are about the size of an SUV car and will mirror a larger version built on the side of a shopping centre in Sheffield’s sister city of Chengdu in China

The largest sculpture, measuring in at about 13ft (4m) and weighing 1,350kg – will sit on the corner of the New Era roof.

Elsewhere on the site, a 3ft (1m) panda will be climbing up one of the building’s pillars while another will be sat eating bamboo

Jerry Cheung, Managing Director of New Era Developments, added: “The inclusion of the panda sculptures aligns perfectly with the city’s originality and fun, creative nature."

Once finished the square will be home to 686 student apartments, private accommodation, office space and restaurants.

Eight members of staff tested at a bed factory in West Yorkshire have tested positive for coronavirus.

Kirklees Council said the employees at High Grove Beds, in Liversedge, had tested positive despite a recent inspection finding the site in Headlands Road had "presented high standards of infection control procedures and practices".

It said production at the factory has now stopped and a mobile testing unit is being set up at the site in order to offer all staff a test.

A council spokesperson said: "The company are working closely with Kirklees Council and Public Health England so those who have tested positive can be followed up by the NHS Test and Trace programme and self-isolate.

"While the risk to residents from this outbreak is very low, everyone in Kirklees should continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water and get tested if they have symptoms.

The outbreak is the third reported at a bed factory in West Yorkshire this month, following incidents at Dura Beds, in Batley, and Deep Sleep Beds, in Ossett.

According to the latest figures, as of Sunday 2,129 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Kirklees area, external with the latest Public Health England figures showing the rate of infection in the week ending 5 July was 29.9 per 100,000 population up from 26.2 the previous week.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

An MP has called for an urgent review of the law that’s allowed a councillor to continue serving despite pleading guilty to two charges of sex offences involving children.

Image source, Wakefield Council

Alex Kear, who sits on Wakefield Council as an independent, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to the charges, both involving a child under the age of 13, on Thursday.

However, the Labour-run authority is legally powerless to remove him from office and may only do so if he is jailed for three months or more.

As a result, Kear, who will be sentenced on 20 August, remains a serving councillor despite his convictions.

Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper said the seriousness of Kear’s crimes means he should not be allowed to continue serving.

“In circumstances like this Wakefield Council should be able to take immediate action," she said.

“Councillors have responsibility for important decisions on the welfare of children.

“If someone is convicted of or pleads guilty to serious sexual offences against children, there should be a clear and proper process to remove them from the council.

“I’m writing urgently to ministers to ask for a review of the law – which dates back to 1972 – to make sure councils can take action and can make clear that children’s safety always come first.”

Plans to double the maximum jail term for criminals who assault emergency workers to two years are being considered by the government.

Image source, Getty Images

Just two years ago, a previous law change doubled the maximum term from six months to 12 in England and Wales.

Ministers have launched a consultation on the issue.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said this sent a "clear and simple message" that "vile thugs" would not get away with such "appalling behaviour".

Last year, Labour MP for Halifax, Holly Lynch, who campaigned for the change alongside fellow Labour MP Chris Bryant, warned the new law was not proving enough of a deterrent.

Ms Lynch said she welcomed the consultation but said it was "frustrating" she and Mr Bryant had wanted to increase the maximum sentence to two years in 2018 but the Conservative government instead set the maximum at 12 months.

A police officer has been seriously injured after being dragged along by a car before the vehicle crashed into a tree.

Image source, Getty Images

The male officer was injured when he and a colleague attempted to speak to two men in a Toyota Yaris parked outside a shop in Ashleigh Street, Keighley, at about 17.30 on Friday.

West Yorkshire Police said a male passenger fled on foot as they approached and when the officer moved to detain the other man he began to drive off, pulling the officer along with him. The car then crashed into a tree.

Two men, aged 28 and 30, were arrested at the scene and a large quantity of Class A drugs was later found, as well as an air rifle, the force said.

A 30-year-old man was later charged with assault and causing serious injury by dangerous driving in connection with the incident.

Det Insp Ryan Bragg said: “This was an incredibly distressing incident for the officers involved as they were going about their daily duties.

"One of the officers has suffered a serious injury to his leg, but has since been discharged from hospital and recovering at home.

“I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has any further information to come forward and speak to us to assist with our ongoing investigation.

One of the largest wild birds ever seen in the UK has been seen roosting in the Peak District National Park.

Image source, Indy Kiemel Greene

The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said it was only the second time a bearded vulture had been seen in the UK.

Birdwatchers flocked to the moors to catch a glimpse and a photograph of the rare raptor, which is larger than a golden eagle.

Indy Kiemel Greene who photographed the bird, said he was so overwhelmed by the sight he "almost fainted".

The 15-year-old said he had woken up at 02:00 BST on Sunday to be driven for an hour-and-a-half and he then hiked for another 90 minutes to get to where the bird, also known as a lammergeier, was spotted.

"It was absolutely unforgettable," he said.

Pete Garrity, 58, also woke up early in the morning to get to Howden Moor near Sheffield.

He said: "It's a unique experience to see a bird like that in this country. It was very exciting - it made my mouth go dry."

BBC Sport

Sheffield United said it will support striker David McGoldrick after he was racially abused on social media.

Image source, PA Media

The club shared an image from McGoldrick's Instagram account showing the abuse, with the Blades player writing "2020 and this is life".

"This cannot continue", wrote the club. "Something needs to change".

McGoldrick scored his first Premier League goals as United beat Chelsea 3-0 at Bramall Lane on Sunday to move into the Premier League's top six.

Republic of Ireland striker McGoldrick's abuse follows the arrest of a 12-year-old boy in connection with racist messages sent to Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha on social media.

Players in England's top flight have been kneeling in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before every match since the season restarted in June.

Sheffield United added: "As a club we will support David McGoldrick and will do all we can to find the perpetrator of this disgusting message.

"We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the person behind this post is brought to justice."

A man arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman found dead at a house has been released while inquiries continue.

The 35-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was confirmed dead by paramedics who went to the home in Thorne Road, Doncaster, on Saturday.

Post-mortem tests were due to take place later.

The 38-year-old man from Doncaster was initially held but then released by officers, South Yorkshire Police said.

A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after his light aircraft developed a fault in mid-air over North Yorkshire.

Keith Myles was flying home from Sturgate Airfield, in Lincolnshire, on Sunday afternoon when he said his engine cut out.

He said: "I was at 1,800ft so I turned back towards Elvington. I did not really think I would be able to make it unless the engine came back to life, but the propeller was still spinning so I crossed my fingers and made a mayday call.

"But, very soon after that, the engine stopped completely and it was time to choose a field."

Speaking after the crash Mr Myles told the BBC he felt "absolutely fine" but feeling "very thankful".

Asked if he had had a lucky escape he replied: "If you're engine stops you're already unlucky and I think the thing I did right was just keep my head and fly the aircraft all the way down."

After responding to the incident North Yorkshire Police said on Twitter "the only casualties are some carrots".

Photographers across Yorkshire have had their eyes trained on the heavens this weekend in an effort to capture the spectacular Comet Neowise as it streaks through the skies above the UK.

It was discovered in late March and became one of the few comets in the 21st century that can be seen with the naked eye as it approached the sun.

The comet will be closest to the Earth on 23 July but will still be about 64 million miles (103 million km) away.

These pictures show the comet over Timble, near Blubberhouses, North Anston, Harrogate, Rotherham and Bradford.

Image source, Hollie Crabtree

Image source, Anston Dave

Image source, Andrew Hawkes

Image source, Gez Robinson

Image source, Andy Barker

Leeds United player Pablo Hernandez has dedicated his late winner against Swansea to the memory of club legend Jack Charlton.

Image source, PA Media

Charlton, who spent his entire 21-year playing career at Leeds and made a joint club record 773 appearances, died on Friday aged 85.

He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the last year and also had dementia.

Leeds saw off Swansea courtesy of Hernadez's 89th minute strike to put the club within touching distance of ending their 16-year Premier League exile.

Asked by reporters after the game 'Was that the perfect way to honour the memory of Jack Carlton?' he replied: "Yes, of course.

"Everybody in Leeds United, all the fans remember him. He's part of the history of this club and I think this three points is for everybody, for the fans, but especially for him, for his memory and I am sure that he [will] help us in the next weeks and games from the sky. This win is for him."

Dr John Wright on two young patients seen at Bradford Royal Infirmary's Covid-19 "survivors' clinic".