An incident in Leeds which saw a man being "deliberately" run over by a car and left critically injured is being treated as attempted murder, police say.

Image source, Google

Officers were called to the scene, near the Sainsbury's Local store on North Lane in Headingley, at about 10:20 last night.

A 34-year-old man was found with life-threatening injuries and he remains in a critical condition in hospital, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Witnesses said they'd seen a fight between a number of men before a car was driven at some of those involved, officers say.

Three men have been arrested this morning in connection with the incident and remain in custody.

The car involved has been identified as a grey Mazda 3 Sport five-door saloon, registration YD60AKF, police say.

A large police cordon remains in place as forensic examinations and specialist searches are carried out.

Det Ch Insp Tony Nicholson says: "While our inquiries are still at a relatively early stage, we believe this has been a targeted attack on the victim resulting from the altercation in the street shortly before.

“We are working to locate and recover the grey Mazda 3 that was used and are keen to hear from anyone who has seen that vehicle since the incident or who has any information that could assist in tracing it."

The owners of Gerald, the York Minster cat, say they've been touched by messages from all over the world following his death.

Image source, Charley Harrington

Gerald was one of two Bengals who lived within and around the grounds of York Minster and who became a popular photographic opportunity for residents and tourists.

His owner, Justine Spencer, said: "I’ve had messages from complete strangers from all around the world.

"Gerald made friends locally and all around the world and we're touched as a family by how many others mourn him with us.

"He wasn’t just our cat, he was everyone’s cat," she added.

A spokesperson for York Minster said: "Gerald was a roamer. He was a regular sight in the streets around the Minster and very well-known to staff. Visitors adored him."

Image source, Charley Harrington

Heartbroken fans of Gerald have taken to social media to share their sadness and memories.

Donna Parker said: "I am heartbroken here in Ohio", while Lindsey Murphey commented: "In total shock, so devastatingly sad."

And Pam Curran said: "Heartbroken here in Vancouver - sending hugs and condolences to his humans."

In memory of the much photographed pet, the bells at York Minster rang out yesterday afternoon as a tribute.

The Dean of York Minster has also given permission for Gerald to be buried in what was his favourite spot, in Deans Park next to the minster.

A 75-year-old man has died after suffering what's thought to have been a medical episode before colliding with a building while driving in West Yorkshire, say police.

Image source, Google

The Volvo estate the man was driving hit a building outside the Navigation Inn on Chapel Lane in Sowerby Bridge yesterday at about 16:00.

Any witnesses to the incident, or anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage which might have captured what happened, is being asked to contact police.

Part of the A1M through South Yorkshire and into West Yorkshire is to remain closed until this afternoon following a lorry fire, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Highways England

Latest pictures from the scene, which is northbound between junction 38 for Redhouse and 39 for Barnsdale Bar, show the damaged lorry cab and trailer which has been totally destroyed:

Image source, Highways England

Highways England says recovery is taking place now the fire has been extinguished, but the road is expected to stay closed until "at least 14:00".

Image source, Highways England

It added: "Congestion on the A1M has decreased slightly, but the diversion routes are still slow moving."

Michael Buchanan
Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC News

A 59-year-old woman from East Yorkshire has spoken about how she's forced to live in a van because of a housing crisis in England.

Polly Richardson has lived out of a small camper van for more than a year, with belongings being stored in people's garages.

She said: "I don't want to live like this, no-one should live like this - but I don't have any options.

"This is my home. I've two sets of clothes in a box. I've got my cups and saucers in this drawer, my pans under this bed, and I have a little camping cooker.

"Winter time was horrendous because there was no heating."

The grandmother of four is one of half-a-million households that aren't even counted as waiting for a council or housing association property, according to the National Housing Federation.

She spent years working as a retail manager but after taking time off to look after her sick father, and then having a big argument with her sister, she found herself being forced to move into the van in March 2019.

"Without a job, you can't have a house. Without a house, they won't give you a job. I'm hoping somebody out there will give me a job," she says.

BBC Weather

Today will be another hot, dry and sunny day, with temperatures into the mid 20s.

It's expected to remain warm this evening, with late sunshine in places, but also some patchy cloud and a few passing showers:

Part of the A1M northbound has been closed following a lorry fire, Highways England has said.

Image source, Highways England

The road is closed between J38 Redhouse near Doncaster and J39 Barnsdale Bar near Pontefract., external

The fire has been put out, but the recovery of the vehicle and its load could take a further four hours, Highways England said .

The road is expected to need resurfacing, and motorists have been warned to expect "significant delays".

Hospitals in Leeds are among those saying their staff can't get tested quickly enough for coronavirus, leading to staff absences and services being put at risk.

Image source, Reuters

NHS Providers, which represents trusts in England, say some hospitals in Leeds, London and Bristol are reporting a shortage of tests, which means staff with symptoms are waiting too long to get the all-clear to return to work.

They want tests for health workers, their families and patients to be made a priority.

The Department of Health said last night that it was seeing significant demand but that it was processing 200,000 tests a day on average.

Schools will face staff shortages and disruption unless Covid testing is improved, say head teachers.

Official figures undercount the real numbers waiting for social housing by 500,000, a study claims.

Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale hopes to have his absent players back quickly after four missed Monday's T20 Blast game with Lancashire under Covid-19 guidelines.

Sorrell Leczkowski "would light up the room, singing and dancing," says her mother.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says "something special" is being built at the club after he celebrated signing a new contract with a 2-0 win at Sheffield United.

Warrington's Tom Lineham and Hull KR's Jordan Abdull could face long bans after separate 'low grab' charges by the RFL.

Supertram, which is operated by Stagecoach, says it will be moving to a "nearly full service" again.

The couple were on a 20-mile trip from their home in Knaresborough to a caravan dealer in Thirsk.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The annual bonfire and fireworks display held on Harrogate’s Stray has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's been confirmed.

Organisers Harrogate District Round Table traditionally host the event on 5 November – and this year would have been its 50th anniversary.

The popular event usually attracts thousands of spectators to the Stray with permission from Harrogate Borough Council, but volunteers said coronavirus restrictions have made it impossible.

Andrew Rickard, chairman of Harrogate District Round Table, said: “We are genuinely devastated to have to postpone the 50th anniversary of the Harrogate Stray Bonfire.

"We have held off making this decision for as long as we possibly could, in the hope it could go ahead.

"Unfortunately we have had to make the decision to postpone our 50th Stray Bonfire until 2021."

Volunteers said the government’s banning of social gatherings of more than six people was the “final nail in the coffin” for the event.

They said the cancellation will be a “huge blow” for scout groups and schools which normally hold fundraisers at the event, as well as charities which receive thousands of pounds in cash donations from the public.

Volunteers have now launched an online fundraiser for people to make donations in lieu of the event.

Bradford’s bid for the title of UK City of Culture is to be headed by artist and producer Shanaz Gulzar, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Tim Smith

The UK City of Culture title is awarded by the government every four years, with Hull hosting the title in 2017 and Coventry chosen for 2021.

Ms Gulzar, who is from Keighley, has worked extensively within Yorkshire and her career spans film, visual arts, theatre, public art and media.

She is also a producer at Manchester International Festival and last year brought an artist’s perspective to the Yorkshire landscape for the BBC's Yorkshire Walks TV series.

Ms Gulzar says she is "thrilled" to take on the role heading the Bradford 2025 bid, external.

"I know the only difference between successful artists and everyone else is opportunity and I’m proud that Bradford has put culture at the heart of its regeneration," she says.

"I’m looking forward to helping the whole district to make the most of this opportunity and to open doors to the fantastic young talent in the city."

After six years of trying for a baby, a Grimsby man has proposed to his girlfriend with a little help from their newborn baby daughter at a hospital in Hull.

Image source, NHS HULL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

Jessica Mayall and Steve Branson, from Waltham, have been together for 18 years, but have been struggling to conceive since 2014.

The couple's first child was stillborn in 2018 after a round of IVF treatment at Hull Royal Infirmary.

But Jess has now given birth to Baby Imogen at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital - and Steve asked the hospital for her help popping the big question.

Image source, NHS HULL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

He dressed his newborn daughter in a onesie carrying a message asking Jess to marry him - and she immediately said yes.

Midwifery assistant Jade Parker said: "It was so nice to be involved in something so meaningful and positive for this lovely couple after everything they have been through.”

Bradford has the worst Covid-19 contact tracing rates in England, according to Department of Health figures.

Just 42% of contacts of people who tested positive were reached through NHS Test and Trace in the week ending 2 September.

It falls behind the national average of 69% and the government's target of 80%.

The council blamed a lack of government funding for local test and trace, while the government said the system was reaching the majority of people.

Bradford Council said in the seven days to 8 September, the infection rate in the district was 71 cases per 100,000.

The authority has now brought in a team of specialist tracers but council leader Susan Hinchliffe said a lack of funding for local test and trace had hampered their efforts.

Contact tracing rates for the rest of Yorkshire also fall below the 80% target, including Sheffield at 52% and Hull at 54%.