Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans for a statue in Doncaster town centre to reflect the borough’s strong mining heritage look set to go ahead.

The 6ft-high statue of a miner is now expected to be in place on Printing Office Street before the end of March next year.

The bronze miner will stand between two walls which will feature real-life faces of former miners who worked in various pits across the borough.

There will be a total of 40 bronze portraits of people from Doncaster's mining communities in the sculpture, designed by sculptor and artist Laurence Edwards.

Individuals, businesses and organisations have been supporting the campaign through online pledges and donations at locations across the borough.

And Doncaster mayor Ros Jones contributed part of her allowance over her four-year term to help make the statue a reality.

Neil Armstrong, from Doncaster Council, said: "Currently, there is no significant recognition of the mining industry in Doncaster town centre and there is limited public art within the urban core."

A chilly start this morning. The day will be dry and fine, with patchy cloud this morning, but long sunny spells this afternoon.

It will be dry this evening and overnight, with cloud gradually building:

Two men have been arrested after shots were fired in Rotherham on Monday evening, police have said.

Image source, Google

Officers were called at about 20:15 following reports a silver 4x4 vehicle had collided with another vehicle in the Chaucer Road area.

Following the collision two males ran from the scene.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police says: "The collision is believed to be linked to shots fired.

"Two men have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. They remain in police custody."

There have been no reported injuries following the incident.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who thinks they might have useful CCTV or dash cam footage, is asked to contact police.

The death of an 88-year-old woman after she was found injured in her own home in North Yorkshire last week is being treated as "unexplained", police say.

The woman was admitted to hospital on Thursday 29 October after being found with injuries at her home in Carleton, near Skipton, and she died early yesterday morning.

Police say at this stage it's "too early" to say how she sustained her injuries and a post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine the cause of her death.

In a statement, North Yorkshire Police say: "We understand the incident has caused some concern among the local community.

"Although the events that led to the lady’s death are still to be determined, it is recommended that everyone follows our crime prevention advice at all times of the year.

A rare 12th Century coin minted by the "Alan Sugar of his day" has sold for £24,000 at auction after being discovered in North Yorkshire.

Image source, Dix Noonan Webb

The silver penny, which was issued in York by Baron Eustace Fitzjohn, was found near Pickering by detectorist Rob Brown, from Leeds.

Auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb say the coin is one of only 20 surviving examples with this design.

Baron Eustace Fitzjohn was the Lord of Malton and Knaresborough and served under King Henry I before supporting the Empress Matilda in a 20-year civil war against her cousin Stephen, a period known as The Anarchy.

On one side, the coin depicts a helmeted knight holding a sword with the inscription 'Eustacius'. On the other side is a cross within a quatrefoil and the words 'Ebor Acit Deft'.

Nigel Mills, expert in artefacts and antiquities at Dix Noonan Webb, said: "Baron Eustace Fitzjohn was a Justician of the North and became a great monastic patron.

"He was, to some extent, the Baron Alan Sugar of his day, coming from a humble background but achieving great wealth and prominence."

The 2020 Super League season will end with a six-team play-off series starting next week after Hull KR ended their campaign early.

Natalie Harker left her home for work but never arrived and was found dead in woodland in Catterick.

The direct service between Hull and London will be suspended after further coronavirus restrictions.

A 12-year-old boy is in a "critical" condition in hospital after being seriously hurt in a multi-vehicle crash in Doncaster this morning, police say.

Emergency services were called to the A614 Thorne Road at about 07:40 to reports of a crash.

Four vehicles were involved, with "several people" suffering injuries, officers say.

A 12-year-old boy, who was a passenger in a Vauxhall Corsa, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he remains in a critical condition.

The road was closed, but has since reopened.

Any witnesses to the crash are being asked to get in touch with police.

The mirror, which was used by the last queen of France, could reach as much as £20,000 at auction.

Scammers are asking for people's bank details claiming to be from the NHS, Barnsley Council is warning.

Image source, Yui Mok/PA Media

The council says it has seen an "increased number" of scams exploiting the coronavirus pandemic by people claiming to be from the NHS or the local authority.

It also warned against unannounced doorstep callers, saying genuine council workers will always wear a visible council ID badge should they knock on your door.

The council says: "We urge you to remain vigilant, be cautious and listen to your instincts. Don’t be afraid to hang up on a caller, bin a letter, delete an email or shut the door."

It adds that the NHS Test and Trace service will never ask for bank details or payment.

The Archbishop of York has co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister saying the decision to suspend communal acts of worship during the upcoming coronavirus lockdown is wrong.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Media

From Thursday, places of worship are to close unless they're being used for funerals, to broadcast acts of worship or individual prayer, the government says.

There are also restrictions on the amount of people attending some events, like funerals where a maximum of 30 people is allowed with social distancing maintained between people.

In the letter to Boris Johnson, the Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell (pictured), together with other leaders of the Church of England and the Catholic Church, says there is "no scientific justification" for the move.

The letter adds that places of worship have been made safe from Covid transmission.

The church leaders also say that common worship is necessary to sustain the health and well-being of the faith community, and that churches also provide social support - lessening the burden on the NHS.

A children's soft play centre in Barnsley may be forced to close its doors for good because of the second national coronavirus lockdown due to start on Thursday, its boss says.

Gillian Kirk (pictured below), director of Playmania, says thousands of pounds were spent on coronavirus safety measures before it re-opened just 10 days before it became clear it would have to close again due to South Yorkshire's "tier three" announcement.

Ms Kirk says: "Month-on-month the resources have been getting lower and lower - and sadly now we've reached the point where there are no more resources.

"So without any additional help it's not looking so good really."

Mason Deakin and Steven Duffield were riding on a flyover in Hull when they were hit by a car.

Two children from Rotherham have won a national fostering award for their "outstanding" contribution to foster care.

Image source, The Fostering Network

Abbie, 12, and Rowan, 7, won the Outstanding Contribution by Sons and Daughters Award from The Fostering Network.

Their family became foster carers in 2010 and have been looking after a boy with severe and complex needs.

The Fostering Network said their approach to fostering "shows boundless selflessness day in day out".

Abbie said: "We are very happy to have won the award. We like having foster children living with us and it’s nice we get noticed for all the help we give as well, because it can be very hard but also rewarding."

Mum Kaytie said: "We are very proud of Abbie and Rowan. This last year has been very difficult for everyone, especially during lockdown and having very little in the way of help, which was beyond anyone’s control."

The decision by Hull Trains to stop running all its rail services when the new England-wide coronavirus lockdown starts later this week was made to "safeguard the future of the business", the firm's boss has said.

Image source, PA Media

The company is stopping services for the second time this year after the government said England was to go into a second lockdown from 00:01 on Thursday morning.

It means fewer passengers are expected to use the services, which operate from Hull, when the lockdown comes into force.

Louise Cheeseman, managing director of Hull Trains, said: "It would be foolhardy of us to run trains when people are being asked to stay at home and our business isn’t in a position to be generating an income from passengers buying train tickets."

Due to the firm being an open-access operator, it can't get added financial help from the government, Ms Cheeseman added.

Services will resume "when it is financially viable to do so", she said.

A North Yorkshire pub formerly run by a landlord who was stripped of his licence after "blatantly disregarding" coronavirus lockdown rules is to be reopened by his daughter.

Image source, Google

The Coach and Horses in Harrogate was visited by police and council officers several times across the Spring bank holiday weekend in May.

Crowds of up to 45 customers were seen gathered to buy takeaway drinks.

Samantha Nelson told a licensing committee: "There is no way I'll make the same mistakes my dad did".

Ms Nelson said her father would continue to live in a flat above the pub but insisted he will have no involvement in the running the business.

At the time of the lockdown breaches in May, more than 40 people complained to the council after spotting drinkers gathering outside the pub, then run by John Nelson.

A lawyer for Mr Nelson previously said his client accepted he had made a "chronic error of judgement".

A boy who was left seriously injured when he was knocked off a bike in Hull last month has died, police say.

Image source, Google

Mason Deakin, 11, was riding on a bike with his friend on Anlaby Road on 19 October when they were struck by a car.

Mason was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but died yesterday in hospital with his family by his side, police have now confirmed.

His friend, Steven Duffield, 10, died last month as a result of the crash.

Humberside Police is continuing to appeal for witnesses to the crash to come forward.

It's turning a bit wintry in the Yorkshire Dales today...

This was filmed earlier by Thomas Beresford at almost 2,000ft on top of Wold Fell.

The usually green flat-topped grassy summit is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

And Thomas's ears are probably bright red because he says today he forgot his hat.

Meanwhile, of course, several flood warnings remain in place elsewhere in North Yorkshire.

A man has been arrested after a "large-scale" cannabis factory was discovered at an address in Hull following complaints from people living nearby.

Image source, Humberside Police

The factory was discovered at an address which spanned four floors and had a "sophisticated" ventilation, heating and watering system in place, Humberside Police said.

It was on Witham in the city centre, with a warrant being issued to raid the property following complaints from the local community.

PC Tim McGowan said: “The sizeable amount of cannabis was ready to flood the streets of Hull and due to our enforcement work this was recovered.

“I want to thank the community for their continued help and information and hope they see the benefits from our disruption and investigations into the supply of drugs and the associated crime."

The drugs and equipment were seized by police and will be destroyed, officers added.