Local Democracy Reporting Service

A new coronavirus testing site opens in Harrogate tomorrow, with anyone suffering coronavirus symptoms able to get a free test at the drive-through facility at the Dragon Road Car Park.

Image source, Reuters/Carl Recine

The testing site is being organised by the Department of Health and Social Care which has warned people to not just turn up but make an appointment first.

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

Meanwhile, people who don’t have access to the internet can ring the 119 service to book.

Key workers and members of their household should register for a test on the government website. Tests can be booked from 20:00 tonight.

The testing facility will return to the car park on Friday, with booking available from 20:00 on Thursday night.

James Brunt uses natural materials to create his work, which is washed away when the tide comes in.

Rotherham United sign Chelsea goalkeeper Jamal Blackman on a season-long loan ahead of their return to the Championship.

Hull Kingston Rovers' chairman Neil Hudgell has announced he is to step down later this year.

Image source, Hull KR

In a letter on the club's website, Mr Hudgell said the coronavirus lockdown had given him chance to "reflect" over the last 16 years, saying it was "time for change".

He said he would look to stand down as chairman on 1 December, adding: "It has been a very difficult decision, especially as I came into it as a lifelong fan, but one I feel is in the best long-term interests of the club.

"Any incumbent would be taking over a club with a significant level of liquidity, as well as Super League status preserved.

"I am looking to hand over the club in a better place than where I found it."

PA Media

A four-year-old motorbike-mad boy from Doncaster was given a surprise when a large group of bikers sang "Happy Birthday" to him on his own doorstep.

Image source, Annie Wall/PA Wire

Jayden Walters was surprised by the bikers on Saturday after his mother, Sarah Jayne, made an appeal on Facebook to "put a smile on his face".

"He had an amazing time and he won't stop talking about it," Ms Walters said, estimating that about 150 bikers came to the family's home in Rossington.

As well as the bikers' visit, a local ice cream van joined in to give the birthday boy free ice cream.

Jayden was previously diagnosed with the rare Loeys-Dietz syndrome after being taken to a special care unit shortly after his birth and undergoing heart surgery.

His family has been fundraising for Bluebell Wood children's hospice, which has taken care of the four-year-old in the long term.

Ms Walters said the family was able to raise £240 for the hospice on the day of the bikers' visit.

She said the Doncaster Dragons motorcycle club, which organised the visit when members saw her post, is "part of my family" after the surprise which "made my boy's dream come true"

"Every one of the bikers made his day. They came from all over, but the Doncaster Dragons were the leaders," she said.

Annie Wall, whose father and brother were among the bikers, said: "I'm from a family of bikers and we've found it hard during lockdown too. We just wanted to help make someone feel special on their special day."

Dog walkers in a part of North Yorkshire are being urged to keep animals on leads after a bird of prey died showed signs of poisoning.

Image source, PA Media

A sparrowhawk experiencing seizures and clenching its talons was discovered in woodland close to Gillamoor village near Kirkbymoorside in Ryedale.

The bird died shortly after being found.

The symptoms shown by the bird suggest poisons could have been involved in its death, according to North Yorkshire Police.

A force spokesperson said: “We are keeping an open mind as to the cause of death, however, toxicology results may not be known for a number of weeks.

"So, we want to make the community aware so they can take precautions to keep pets, children and themselves safe.

“Once the results of the tests are known, we will update the community, but for the time being dog owners should take care to keep their dogs on leads when in this area, and remain vigilant.”

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

PC Darren Booth is said to have propositioned a woman while on duty in Castleford.

A busy Hull road is to be partially closed for seven weeks, prompting a warning to drivers about potential "chaos".

Image source, Google

Some lanes on Calvert Lane are shut from today and for several weeks because of the roadworks.

But drivers have been warned to expect delays and problems, with temporary closures coming into force until mid-October.

Traffic lights will be in place, but Liberal Democrat councillors have said it could create "traffic chaos" across the city.

Lib Dem councillor Maria Coward said: "We know how frustrating this is going to be for so many people, not just in our area but across the city.

"We hope CityCare and Hull City Council's Highways Department put everything possible in place to ensure congestion is tackled. We must avoid traffic chaos in our area."

The council said: "Partial lane closures controlled by traffic signals will be installed between August and October to allow for the safety of the operatives and works to be carried out for the new development at this site.

"As is always the case with roadworks, there will be an impact on traffic. But we have tried to reduce this by keeping traffic management to a minimum."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Criminal gangs taking drugs in and out of North Yorkshire have disguised themselves as key workers during lockdown, the county’s police, fire and crime commissioner has said.

Image source, PCC North Yorkshire

Julia Mulligan (pictured) told councillors that lockdown had made it much harder to move drugs and money around the county, forcing dealers to disguise themselves.

Speaking at a North Yorkshire County Council meeting, Ms Mulligan said: "A lot of the lockdown measures related to people travelling and the whole 'county lines' model is premised on travel.

"When drug dealers were travelling around the county, they did become somewhat more conspicuous than they had been. The criminals, of course, adapted as they always do and there were some that for example posed as key workers."

County lines is the term used to describe criminal gangs who move illegal drugs from big cities to more rural locations and sell them via dedicated mobile phone lines.

They recruit young and vulnerable couriers – often teens enticed by offers of friendship and protection.

They usually travel by train or coach around but due to reduced public transport, Ms Mulligan said that many were forced onto the quiet roads.

Ms Mulligan added as crime levels fell due to the restrictions on travel, officers were able to make “significant progress” on tackling drug gangs.

She said in a report that drug-related incidents were down 25% in March and April when compared to the same period last year.

When lockdown restrictions were further relaxed in July, there was a “significant spike” in drug-related incidents, up by over 50%, her report added.

The 74-year-old subjected a girl to sexual abuse in Aberdeen and Asia for a decade.

Work on the new social sciences building has been delayed, leading to complaints from residents.

Two dogs found "extremely matted" and covered in faeces have been rescued after being dumped in West Yorkshire.

Image source, RSPCA

The dogs were discovered in a lay-by on Moselden Lane, off Oldham Road, Rishworth, at about 19:30 on Monday 10 August.

RSPCA inspector Emma Brook said: “One of the dogs was reluctant to walk as the matting was so tight on his back legs, so I don’t think it’s possible they got to this location on their own.

"It took two vets over two hours to cut through the mats," she added.

After removing the fur, vets found both dogs to be in otherwise good condition, according to the RSPCA.

Image source, RSPCA

The dogs have since been named Frankie (pictured above right after treatment) and Benny (left).

Both are now being cared for at the RSPCA's Leeds, Wakefield & District branch animal centre.

Anyone with information about who the dogs belong to is being asked to contact the animal charity.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Small businesses and charities in Harrogate which missed out on government coronavirus grants are being told not to wait until the last minute to apply for cash grants.

Image source, PA Media

Harrogate Borough Council’s £2.3m discretionary grants scheme, external aims to benefit organisations which have not been able to access other national coronavirus grants.

Firms can apply for grants of up to £10,000, which will be staggered depending on the size and nature of the business, with the council deciding how to fairly distribute the money.

The final round of the scheme runs until this Friday, but the authority's advice is to not leave it until then to apply.

All submitted applications will be acknowledged by email and applicants will be contacted with a decision in September, according to the council.

PA Media

Vulnerable victims of crime will be allowed to pre-record evidence to then be used in courts following a successful pilot in Leeds, it's been confirmed.

Image source, PA Media

More courts are to offer the technology to allow children and vulnerable people to avoid having to go to court.

It follows trials in Leeds, as well as Liverpool and Kingston-upon-Thames, and hopes to reduce the stress some victims might face in courtrooms.

It is down to judges to decide if it's suitable in individual cases, with it being recorded in front of the judge, prosecution and defence lawyers as well as the defendant.

Victims' Commissioner Dame Vera Baird welcomed the move, saying it has the potential to "transform" experiences of the criminal justice system for many.

She added: "I have long been concerned that children who complained of victimisation should not spend a long part of their childhood beset with the worry of ultimately giving an account of what happened.

"If they can give their evidence at an early stage, they will then be free to get on with their lives. The sooner these arrangements are in place the better."

The technology can now be used in courts in Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield.

People living by a building site in Sheffield say it's like having "neighbours from hell" after the University of Sheffield had to demolish and then rebuild a structure.

Image source, Other

The university's new £45m social sciences building is being built on a former dam and reservoir on Northumberland Road.

But it said earlier this year that contractor BAM had found a problem on the site which will delay the project by up to 15 months.

After demolishing part of the structure and then starting to rebuild it, neighbours living nearby say it's been "an absolute nightmare".

Connor O'Callaghan, whose house backs onto the new building, says: "Presumably they're going to build it again next summer, which will also be a nightmare.

"To be honest, the University of Sheffield are the neighbours from hell. They've made our life absolutely impossible.

"The noise is deafening. It starts at 08:30 and it goes to six in the evening. They've apologised but have offered us nothing else."

The university says it has apologised to residents over the disruption and is working with contractor BAM.

BAM says it sympathises with neighbours who have been affected by the noise and inconvenience.

It adds "We've offered the close group of neighbours alternative working space away from the scheme and hope this will be of some assistance, although none have taken it up so far."

BBC Sport

Huddersfield Giants player James Gavet, Wigan's Jackson Hastings and Warrington's Riley Dean have all been sanctioned for breaching the Rugby Football League's Covid-19 protocols.

The trio have been fined and received 14-day bans, although Hastings' suspension has already elapsed.

Gavet's ban runs until 27 August, while Dean is suspended until 30 August.

The bans, which are in line with the recommended self-isolation period, run from the date of the transgression.

The 14-day bans span all rugby league activity, including both matches and training.

The RFL, which did not specify the nature of the offences, added that it would be providing a weekly update on any further breaches of its coronavirus protocols.

Police officers in Hull are trying to find a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing overnight.

Image source, Humberside Police

Leah Green was last seen at about 22:00 last night on Runnymede Lane in Kingswood.

She is described as about 4ft 8ins tall with long dark hair.

It's reported that she may have been wearing white Adidas trainers and a fluffy beige coat, Humberside Police said.

Anybody who has seen Leah, or knows where she might be, is being asked to get in touch with police.

A six-year-old boy from Otley has saved the life of a rare albino hedgehog which was near death when he spotted it in the middle of the road.

Image source, Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue

Ruben Wiggins realised the unusual hedgehog should not be out during the daytime and needed help.

The animal, since named Jack Frost, was taken to Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue and found to be "at death's door".

When Jack Frost was examined, he was found to be severely dehydrated, malnourished and infested with ticks, fleas and fly eggs which took hours to remove.

The creature has since been hand-fed and treated for internal parasites and will eventually be released back into the wild.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 74-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were taken to hospital with "serious injuries" following a collision on the M62 in West Yorkshire.

Image source, Google

The couple were travelling in a white Audi on the eastbound carriageway near junction 26 at about 08:35 on Saturday morning, when their vehicle and a DAF HGV collided.

The incident happened near the slip road from the M606, say police.

The HGV driver was unhurt.

Anyone who saw the collision, or what happened prior to it, is being asked to contact police.

An investigation is continuing after a man died and a woman was seriously injured when a chimney fell through the roof of their house.

Image source, PA

The couple were in a bedroom at their home in Knight's Fold, Bradford, when debris fell on them in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The man, 47, died and the woman, 28, was taken to hospital. Her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Neighbours reported hearing a "loud bang" and a woman screaming shortly after 04:30.

A family from a neighbouring property, including three children, were taken out of their house unhurt.

Awais Asghar, who works in a nearby corner shop, said: "A chimney collapsed straight on to their roof and straight through and unfortunately the man passed away. He was a regular customer of mine."

Det Insp Claudine Binns said work was under way to make the building safe and police had launched an investigation with Bradford council to determine the cause of the collapse.

It is believed the couple lived in a single storey property on the short cul-de-sac and the chimney fell from an adjoining two-storey home and through their roof.