New barriers designed to improve safety and reduce noise for people living alongside a busy West Yorkshire commuter route are now in place, Highways England has confirmed.

Image source, Highways England

The noise and safety barriers between junctions 6 and 7 along the M621, near Leeds, are just the second in the UK to be installed - similar to one built on the M1 at Wakefield.

Highways England project manager Sujad Hussain says: "It is great we've reached this important stage for a vital commuter route.

"Hopefully, the full benefit of the noise and safety barriers will be realised once these improvements are complete by spring."

Work to install more sections of noise barrier along the slip roads at junctions 6 and 7 will continue into the new year, according to Highways England.

PA Media

Planned strikes over the Christmas period by refuse workers in Doncaster have been suspended after an agreement was reached in a dispute over claims of bullying and harassment.

Members of Unite who are employed by Suez Recycling and Recovery were due to stage several walkouts from 15 December after voting in favour of industrial action.

Unite said that as part of the agreement, a new CCTV and monitoring policy will be introduced and adequate training provided.

The industrial action will be suspended until March to allow for the new policy to be implemented, the union added.

Regional officer Shane Sweeting said: "Unite made it clear that workers were striking as a last resort and that it was fully prepared to enter into negotiations to resolve the dispute."

A GP surgery in York says it'll be relying on staff volunteering in their spare time to get 60,000 patients vaccinated against coronavirus.

Image source, Reuters/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

Dr Abbie Brooks, from the Primary Medical Group, which has nine practices across the city, says: "The response we've had from staff has been phenomenal.

"Everyone has signed up to volunteer to work extra to get this Covid vaccine set up and going."

On Wednesday, the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for mass vaccination.

It's thought the vaccine could be rolled out in some parts of Yorkshire as early as next week, with the elderly and front-line health workers expected to be the first to benefit.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A negative coronavirus test is not a “free pass” to a virus-free Christmas, Barnsley’s health boss has warned.

Image source, Reuters/Carl Recine/File Photo

Julia Burrows, Barnsley’s director of public health, has pleaded with people not to let a negative test “give you a false sense of security”.

Ms Burrows added: “I really want to make it clear that a single negative test pre-23 December is not a passport to a virus-free Christmas with your family and friends.

“If you are tested shortly after becoming infected but before the virus has reproduced enough copies of itself, a test could fail to detect the virus and produce a false negative result.

"You might also be in the early, undetectable stage of infection. Or you might get infected after you took the test."

Barnsley’s infection rate has fallen to 188 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, but Ms Burrows says this is still “too high”.

“We are still seeing pressure in the hospital and sadly 370 people have died of Covid-19 in the borough since March,” she says.

YorkMix

Emergency services are at the scene of a partial crane collapse near York city centre, external.

There are no reports of any injuries but part of Layerthorpe and Hallfield Road has been sealed off while crews deal with the incident:

Image source, YorkMix

Dr Basem Enany is now recovering following complications as a result of contracting Covid-19.

Thousands of starlings are entertaining onlookers at a former quarry in Ripon by taking to the skies to perform spectacular aerobatic displays.

As dusk falls, huge flocks of starlings are gathering to roost, swooping in dark clouds as they prepare to find a perch for the night in reedbeds on the city's Wetlands nature reserve.

The gatherings, known as murmurations, are thought to be formed as birds try to protect themselves from predators, keep warm and exchange information.

Starling numbers swell in autumn and winter due to the birds migrating from Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe to spend the colder months in the UK.

A "serious collision" has led to the closure of a major route in West Yorkshire, say police.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

The southbound carriageway of the A1(M) is closed at Wetherby Services (J46) following the incident.

Traffic is queuing for eight miles to J48 (Boroughbridge).

Officers at the scene say they expect the road to be closed for "at least an hour" and are advising drivers to use alternative routes until further notice.

The former Bradford City player admitted sexual activity with a child at a hearing in June.

Two dogs have taken their owners for a run up a snow covered Yorkshire Dales fell.

Image source, Brian Stallwood

Teasel, a border terrier (above left) and pal Harry, a Border Collie (above right), ran up Pen-y-Ghent, the lowest of Yorkshire's Three Peaks at 2,277ft, this morning.

Image source, Brian Stallwood

They forced their fell-running humans, Brian Stallwood and Hester Cox (pictured below), along with them.

Image source, Brian Stallwood

Brian (pictured below), who lives in Horton in Ribblesdale, said: "It's full on wintry conditions up there. It's at least 2ft-deep and was more like wading than running."

Image source, Brian Stallwood

Brian and Hester say they're used to scooting up the fell much quicker and are experienced with the conditions in the area and take all appropriate precautions.

Image source, Brian Stallwood

Brian says: "Normally we'd be up and down in an hour, but it took more than twice that long this morning."

A further arrest has been made in connection with a sex attack in Sheffield last month, police have confirmed.

Image source, Google

A 21-year-old woman was attacked in High Hazels Park in the Darnall area at about 18:00 on 23 November.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested this morning on suspicion of joint enterprise rape, officers say.It comes after a 16-year-old boy was charged yesterday with rape and a 14-year-old boy was charged with attempted sexual assault.

A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were released on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape, South Yorkshire Police said.

A Sheffield fitness coach has won the BBC Yorkshire's Unsung Sports Hero award.

Dave Hembrough, who founded the Hallam Barbell Club, was nominated by those who've been helped by him.

This was the moment he found out he'd won live on BBC Look North, when Tanya Arnold surprised him with the news:

The 50-year-old clinical psychologist and mother-of-four is described by colleagues as an "inspiration".

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was the victim of a serious assault in Rotherham.

Image source, Google

The attack happened in Wath at about 17:00 on Thursday, 26 November as a 33-year-old man was crossing Burman Road, near the Sandygate junction.

The man was "clipped" by a blue Volkswagen Polo before two men got out of the vehicle and attacked him, police believe.

A passerby intervened and the two men drove off.

The victim was taken to Rotherham Hospital where he's being treated for head and facial injuries, officers say.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has dashcam or CCTV footage from the area that evening, is being asked to get in touch with the South Yorkshire force.

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been busy capturing the blanket of snow covering some higher parts of Yorkshire this morning. Glyn B snapped this slippy looking road in Denholme near Bradford:

Image source, WeatherWatchers/GlynB

Ashersphere79 went a long way up to snap this panorama at Holme Moss on the border of West Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

Image source, WeatherWatchers/Ashersphere79

And Brownowl49 was out and about as the sun rose above fields near Huddersfield.

Image source, WeatherWatchers/Brownowl49

A drone's been used to capture the moment the Christmas lights were switched on in Hull.

Thousands of people usually gather in the city's Queen Victoria square to witness the event.

But this year more than 45,000 lights were switched on without the usual crowds of people watching because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Press play to enjoy an aerial view of the streets shot by Hull City Council:

People travelling into North Yorkshire by train at the weekend are being warned they'll be asked where they're from and why they're visiting.

Image source, Google

North Yorkshire's in tier two - high alert - coronavirus restrictions but surrounding areas, including the East Riding and South and West Yorkshire, are covered by tier three - very high alert -restrictions.

Supt Mike Walker from North Yorkshire Police said: "Those travelling into railway stations will see an increased presence by British Transport Police.

"It's our job to engage with the public and find out the purpose of their journeys, especially if we see groups of people arriving.

"The more we can encourage people to only travel when necessary, the better."

Meanwhile police have been stopping motorists from outside North Yorkshire attempting to cross into the county and checking they're not "inadvertently bringing coronavirus with them".

The North Yorkshire force is also using number plate recognition technology to police the regulations.

BBC Weather

A breezy and chilly day with rain, some heavy. Some sleet or snow is possible for a time over hills.

Tonight will be wet and windy, easing off towards morning as clear spells develop:

Two teenage boys have been charged over a sex attack on a woman in a Sheffield park.

Image source, Google

The 21-year-old woman was attacked by four males in High Hazels Park in the Darnall area at about 18:00 on 23 November.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with rape and a 14-year-old boy with attempted sexual assault.

A 13-year-old and a 15-year-old boy have been released on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape, South Yorkshire Police said.

Overlooked at Chelsea but thriving at Leeds - Patrick Bamford returns to where his Premier League journey began this weekend.