1. Eulogy held for 'longest serving court watcher'published at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    More than 150 judges, barristers, solicitors and court staff have paid tribute to a man described as the UK's "longest serving court watcher".

    Andrew MollisonImage source, Wayne Digby

    Andrew Mollison, who has died aged 74, spent 42 years observing proceedings at Sheffield Crown Court.

    During a eulogy at the court, The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, described him as an "institution" who will be sadly missed.

    Mr Mollison, from Parson Cross, Sheffield, died on 10 November.

    Judge Richardson said he had been inundated with messages of condolence from across the country since his death, including letters from "Lord Justices, judges of all ranks and many others".

    He said: "They have written to me almost as if Andrew was a member of their family and, in a way, he was.

    "The role he fulfilled was very important, it is so very easy to forget in the current circumstances that our courts are open to the public, after all it's the public we serve.

    "As juries represent the wider public in terms of judgement it was Andrew, and others like him, who represented the public as observers of the administration of justice."

  2. New appeal over man missing since York night out in 2015published at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    On the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of a 29-year-old man after a night out in York, police are renewing their appeal for help and information.

    Rory HatfieldImage source, North Yorkshire Police

    Rory Johnson-Hatfield, from Skipton, went missing after a night out in the city on 20 November 2015.

    North Yorkshire Police initially feared he had fallen into the River Ouse, but his family disagreed and his body has not been found despite searches.

    CCTV footage shows Mr Johnson-Hatfield with friends at about midnight at York Travelodge.

    He left the hotel and six minutes later appeared on CCTV coming from Skeldergate Bridge.

    CCTV showing Rory runningImage source, North Yorkshire Police

    Other CCTV footage then shows him on a balcony overlooking the river.

    A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "The inquiry into Rory’s disappearance remains open and we will follow up any new lead which comes to light.

    "We are still urging people to come forward with information that has not yet been shared with the police.

    "No matter how big or small this detail is, you could hold the key that unlocks the answers Rory’s family have been waiting five painful years for."

  3. Driver's issue with train software 'led to crash'published at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    A new Azuma train hit an InterCity 125 at the Neville Hill depot in Leeds in November 2019.

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  4. Secret donor pays for Doncaster girl's life-changing oppublished at 16:41 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    A secret donor has offered to pay for a four-year-old girl from South Yorkshire's expensive spinal treatment so she has a greater chance to walk in future.

    Emily AndersonImage source, Paula Ratcliffe

    Emily Anderson, from Doncaster, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

    Her family had started a crowd-funding appeal to raise £10,000 for private surgery and aftercare, when a local businessman stepped in and offered to pay for it all.

    Emily's mother, Paula Ratcliffe, says she's "still speechless" following the offer.

    Ms Ratcliffe, from Armthorpe, says: "I got a call out of the blue on Friday with this absolutely amazing offer.

    "A local businessman, who wishes to remain anonymous, is offering to completely fund all Emily's surgery, treatment, rehabilitation and after-care.

    "That's along with any equipment she needs and, amazingly, he's even offering to fund a trip to Disneyland."

  5. Boy, 12, among four held over estate disorderpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Bricks and fireworks were thrown at police and their vehicles.

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  6. Jailed paedophile 'murdered in degrading attack'published at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    A man is on trial accused of assaulting and strangling Richard Huckle in his prison cell.

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  7. Seven fire crews continue to tackle Bradford tyre blazepublished at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Seven fire crews are continuing to fight a huge tyre blaze in Bradford which has now been burning for three days.

    Firefighters pumping their foam onto tyresImage source, WYFRS

    About 25 firefighters, five fire engines and two aerial ladders are at the scene of the blaze which started in the early hours of Monday morning at a go-kart track in East Bowling.

    Train operator Northern says services to and from nearby Bradford Interchange will remain cancelled or diverted today, external due to smoke and disruption is expected until the end of the day.

    About 15 road closures are still in place in the area due to the ongoing incident, according to Bradford Council.

    A full list of the streets closed can be seen here, external.

    In the last few hours the Environment Agency has set up an air quality monitoring unit, external as part of the response to the incident.

    A 59-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were arrested in North Yorkshire yesterday on suspicion of arson and have been released on bail as inquiries continue, police say.

  8. Murder arrest over woman's 'suspicious' death in Sheffieldpublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a woman in Sheffield this morning.

    A police car outside a house

    The 45-year-old woman was found with injuries at a house on Castlebeck Drive at about 06:10 and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

    Her death is being treated as suspicious, police say.

    A 45-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her death and he remains in police custody, according to South Yorkshire police

    A post-mortem examination is due to take place later to determine the cause of the woman's death, the force adds.

  9. Appeal after swan found suffocated by plastic bagpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Police are appealing for information after a swan was found suffocated in a park in Hull at the weekend.

    A police officer's jacket

    The animal was found at Oak Road playing fields pond at about 18:00 on Sunday.

    It had a plastic carrier bag tied around its neck and covering its head, police say.

    It's believed the swan suffocated because of the bag, according to Humberside Police.

    Anyone who saw what happened, or who has any information about the swan's death, is being asked to contact police.

  10. Air quality checks in Bradford as tyre blaze continuespublished at 13:42 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    The air quality in Bradford is being monitored as a major tyre blaze in the city continues into its third day, the Environment Agency has confirmed.

    Air monitoring UnitImage source, Environment Agency

    Firefighters have been tackling the fire at a go-kart track in East Bowling since the early hours of Monday morning.

    Several nearby schools have been closed and train services to and from Bradford Interchange have been affected due to thick smoke from the blaze on Upper Castle Street.

    The Environment Agency says it's set up an air quality monitoring unit, external as part of the response to the incident.

    The monitoring will be used to confirm the public health risk advice given by Public Health England, the agency says.

    A 59-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were arrested in North Yorkshire yesterday on suspicion of arson and have been released on bail as inquiries continue, police say.

  11. Scarborough sees bulk of virus fines issued in one weekpublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Almost all the fines issued by police in North Yorkshire to people who've breached coronavirus lockdown rules in the past week have been handed out in one borough, it's been revealed.

    Social distancing sign in Filey

    Of the 45 fines issued in the past seven days, 40 were given to people in the borough of Scarborough, which, according to figures from Public Health England, external, currently has the seventh highest rate of new Covid-19 cases in England, .

    A total of 20 fines issued in the borough, which includes Whitby, Filey, Hunmanby and surrounding villages, were to people outside their homes without a reasonable excuse, police say.

    Sixteen more were given to people gathering outside and four were handed out to people gathering indoors, according to the North Yorkshire force.

    Supt Mike Walker said: "This is a very serious situation. The number of cases is increasing.

    "If we do not take some serious action straight away, this situation is only going to get worse. Please consider every journey you make.

    "Do you have to leave the house for food or medical reasons, to care for someone or go to work or school? If you do not – then please stay home."

  12. Urgent appeal after woman 'pushed into car' in Leedspublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Police are appealing for information after a woman was "grabbed and pushed" into a car in Leeds last night.

    A police officer's jacket

    The woman, who is described as being "in distress", was seen being pushed into a silver or grey-coloured Range Rover at about 21:25 last night.

    It happened on Bradford Road, Bramley, police added.

    The woman is described as being white.

    Det Insp Richard Coulton, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “We are making urgent inquiries to trace the woman seen to check she is OK

    "I would urge anyone with information about what happened to get in contact. Likewise if you were involved in this incident please get in contact," he added.

  13. Two arrested on suspicion of arson over tyre blazepublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    The fire in Bradford caused widespread disruption to transport services and local schools.

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  14. Cancer charity unveils £8m Covid-delayed researchpublished at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    The funding includes a £1m trial to see if vaping helps people with mental illness quit smoking.

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  15. Woman charged over attack on dog and ownerpublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    The dog walker was spat at and racially abused and his pet was kicked in the attack in York.

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  16. Wednesday appoint Gardner as coachpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Former Birmingham City first-team coach Craig Gardner joins Tony Pulis' coaching staff at Sheffield Wednesday.

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  17. Quick turnaround Covid-19 tests to come to Rotherhampublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Rotherham is in line to receive quick turnaround tests for coronavirus, the government has announced.

    A lateral flow test being administeredImage source, PA Media

    Following a successful trial in Liverpool, public health bosses in Rotherham will receive the lateral flow tests which can provide a result in just 20 minutes.

    Rotherham will receive a batch of 10,000 antigen lateral flow devices as part of the pilot to enable them to start testing priority groups, it's been confirmed.

    It is hoped that testing people showing no signs of being infected with Covid-19 will help pick up more cases and halt the spread of the virus.

    So far, a total of 279 people have died at Rotherham Hospital to date after testing positive for Covid-19.

    Councillor Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “But we should also be clear that these are just one tool, not a magic solution, and this isn’t a Liverpool-style way of testing every individual person.

    “There will be a limited number of tests available which will be prioritised in the first stages to groups where faster results can bring particular benefits."

  18. Man appears in court charged with Sheffield murderpublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a Sheffield man at the weekend.

    Kamran KhanImage source, South Yorkshire Police

    Kamran Khan (pictured), 28, was found with serious stab injuries at a property on Club Garden Road, Sheffield at about 02:15 on Sunday.

    He died later in hospital as a result of a stab wound to the chest.

    Thamraze Khan, 30, of Club Garden Road, has appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court charged with his murder.

    He was remanded into custody and is due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, Sheffield Magistrates' Court said.

  19. Property searched in poisoned falcon investigationpublished at 10:39 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    Several "suspicious items" have been found at a property searched by police investigating the death of a protected bird of prey in South Yorkshire which it's thought may have been poisoned.

    FalconImage source, South Yorkshire Police

    The property, on Abbots Road in Barnsley, was searched on Tuesday morning in connection with the death of a juvenile peregrine falcon (pictured) in the Fish Dam area of the town in July, police say.

    Earlier, officers said forensic tests had revealed the bird was poisoned with the highly toxic pesticide bendiocarb.

    PC Fran Robbs de la Hoyde says: "It is a shame someone would wish to harm these animals in such a deliberate act. The bird is believed to have ingested bait laced with toxic substances.

    "This morning we executed a warrant and found a number of suspicious items. Inquiries into persons involved in the offence are ongoing."

    Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact South Yorkshire Police.

  20. Man and woman arrested over Bradford tyre blazepublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2020

    A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with a major tyre blaze in Bradford, say police.

    Tyre blaze in BradfordImage source, WYFRS

    Firefighters have been tackling the blaze in East Bowling since the early hours of Monday morning, with thick smoke leading to the cancellation of trains to and from nearby Bradford Interchange.

    About 60 firefighters are still at the site of the fire on Upper Castle Street.

    A 59-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were arrested in North Yorkshire yesterday for conspiracy to commit arson, in connection with the incident, according to West Yorkshire Police.

    Both have been released on bail while an investigation takes place.