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Humber Bridge tolls will go permanently cashless from New Year's Day, it's been confirmed.

Drivers wanting to cross the landmark bridge over the Humber Estuary from 1 January 2021 will have to use card or mobile payments or by using what's known as a HumberTAG account.

The move follows a decision earlier this year to temporarily dispense with cash payments for bridge crossings as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Andrew Arundel, chief operating officer at the Humber Bridge, said the move would protect customers and staff and would also ensure the bridge remained as efficient as possible.

Mr Arundel said: "Our users have adapted during the pandemic, which we thank them for,.

"The feedback we have received is that with the virus still around, contactless methods of payment are the preferred option."

The move could also make crossings quicker and bridge operations more efficient, he added.

Reading move up to fourth in the Championship after a draw at 10-man Sheffield Wednesday.

Tom Eaves scores a late winner as League One leaders Hull secure three points against Doncaster Rovers.

Two otters have found love in lockdown in North Yorkshire after losing their former partners.

Image source, Sea Life scarborough

Harris, from the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, whose partner died four years ago, moved to Sea Life in Scarborough to be with Pumpkin.

She was lonely after losing her elderly partner Eric and her animal care team said they hoped a new male otter would cheer her up.

Experts say to ensure the best chance of success for a new pairing of Asian short clawed otters, it is best to introduce a new male into a female's territory so the male more easily submits to the female on first meeting.

Sea Life Scarborough said things were going "swimmingly" and the otters had enjoyed a series of dates.

The curator at the sanctuary, Todd German, said: "We are delighted to report that not only is Pumpkin happy once again, but Harris has settled in extremely well."

The otters have now moved into their new home together.

Tamara Cooper, curator at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, said it was "the perfect fairytale ending".

A police officer appears in court over an alleged assault on a boy after a football match.

People who were told to leave their homes earlier following the discovery of what was thought to be an explosive device in a Sheffield garden are being allowed back, police have said.

Bomb disposal experts were called to Ashleigh Road following the discovery and an exclusion zone was placed around the device - but the all clear has now been issued.

An 89-year-old man has been left seriously hurt after the car he was travelling in hit a lamp post in Wakefield.

Image source, Google

The crash happened at about 16:50 on Tuesday when a blue Hyundai i10 which was travelling towards the M1 northbound slip road at Junction 39 on the Durkar Interchange roundabout left the road.

The man, who was a passenger in the car, suffered injuries which are believed to be potentially life-threatening, police say.

The driver was unhurt in the collision.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has dash camera footage from around the time of the crash, is being asked to contact West Yorkshire Police.

A man's been treated in hospital for a "serious injury" to his arm after being attacked by a group of machete-wielding men in Huddersfield, police say.

Image source, Google

The male, in his 20s, was attacked in the Crosland Moor area after four males smashed the windscreen of the white Mercedes he was sitting in, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The group of men parked in front of the Mercedes in a black VW Golf in the Francis Avenue/Boothroyd Drive area at about 17:00 yesterday, officers said.

They argued with the victim before attacking the car and then striking the man with a weapon the force believes was a machete.

The man's injury is not believed to be life-threatening, police say.

Anyone who saw what happened is being asked to get in touch with the West Yorkshire force.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

It could be a “long journey” to get North Yorkshire into tier one coronavirus restrictions, people living in the county have been warned.

Today, York and North Yorkshire started their first day in tier two - high alert - restrictions which place curbs on household mixing.

The county’s infection rate now stands at 107 cases per 100,000 people, below the average for England which is currently 154.

Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council’s corporate director for Health and Social Care, told a meeting of the Local Resilience Forum that hard work to keep rates down must continue.

He said: “It is very good news we have come out of lockdown and I'm pleased and relieved we are in tier two, as last week I wasn’t sure if some parts of the county could be in tier three.

"The advice we are getting from the chief medical officer and others is that it might be quite a long journey to get out of tier two into tier one. I know there will be some parts of the county very anxious to see that change."

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire’s director of public health, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, said: "What we have to be careful of is that we don’t lose momentum and people think we have come out of lockdown and drop their guard."

Four teenage boys have been arrested after a woman was raped in a park in Sheffield, police say.

Image source, Google

The 21-year-old victim was attacked by a group of four males in High Hazels Park at about 18:00 on Monday 23 November, according to South Yorkshire Police.

The boys, aged 13, 14, 15 and 16, were arrested earlier today on suspicion of rape, officers said.

They are currently being held in police custody.

Work on a giant mural of Leeds rugby league star Rob Burrow is set to be completed this week.

Image source, Leeds City Council

Burrow, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, won eight Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups in 17 years with Leeds Rhinos, making a total of 493 appearances.

The mural is being painted by street artist Akse on the side of Leeds Beckett University’s Students Union, off Woodhouse Lane.

Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said: "Rob's selfless mindset, positivity and determination since being diagnosed with motor neurone disease has resonated with people not just close to home but right across the world.

"He continues to be an outstanding role model to people of all ages.

"This mural in the city centre is therefore a fitting tribute to him as a person and also marks the tremendous career that he enjoyed at the Rhinos."

The mural will feature in this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year event on 20 December.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The cancellation of this year’s Christmas market in Harrogate due to the coronavirus pandemic will mean a loss to the local economy of nearly £3m, a study has claimed.

Image source, Harrogate Christmas Market

The popular town centre attraction, which regularly attracts over 80,000 visitors, moved online as a result of the cancellation, with a website promoting stall holders and their offerings, external.

The annual event would have been held for four days in mid-November and according to a study carried out by Where the Trade Buys, its cancellation comes at a cost of £2.7m to Harrogate's economy.

The calculation was based on the presumption that each visitor would have spent £34 on food, drink and gifts at the market, which is organised by a group of volunteers headed by Brian Dunsby.

Mr Dunsby said volunteers were “tremendously disappointed” the event was cancelled but added they look forward to welcoming back businesses and festive shoppers next year.

"The market is vital to Harrogate businesses and it also benefits many charities with thousands of pounds raised for local causes each year," he said.

Sandra Doherty, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the market not only benefits stall holders, but also surrounding hospitality businesses.

"This £2.7m figure should not be looked at in isolation, but as part of a bigger picture to just how much money has been lost to the local economy in recent months...I’d say the figure of £2.7m barely scratches the surface."

A man found dead at a property in Bradford on Monday morning sparking the launch of a murder investigation has been named by police.

Image source, PA Media

Santokh Singh, 59, was found with a "serious head injury" at a property on Airedale Road after officers were called to reports of an assault.

Mr Singh was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 24-year-old man was later arrested in connection with his death and remains in police custody, officers say.

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday which found Mr Singh, who was also known as Charlie, "died from significant head injuries," according to police.

West Yorkshire-based women's fashion chain Bonmarche has fallen into administration, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Adam Davy/PA Wire

The chain, which has its head office in Wakefield and which has 225 stores around the country, was owned by retail tycoon Philip Day.

Administrators said the stores would continue to trade while options for the business were explored.

Damian Webb and Gordon Thomson of RSM Restructuring Advisory have been appointed as joint administrators of the firm, known as BM Retail Limited.

Mr Webb said: "We will shortly be marketing the business for sale and based on the interest to date, we anticipate there will be a number of interested parties."

Train services between Dewsbury and Leeds are currently disrupted due to a "police incident".

National Rail Enquiries says: "Emergency services are dealing with an incident between Dewsbury and Leeds.

"As a result of this, trains may be cancelled, delayed or diverted."

Disruption is expected to continue, external until at least 13:30.

Bomb disposal experts have been called to Sheffield after a suspected unexploded device was found in a garden, police have said.

Image source, PA Media

Officers were called to a house on Ashleigh Road at about 08:55 this morning following the discovery.

The device is thought to be a World War Two explosive, according to police.

An exclusion zone has been placed around the device and people are being advised to avoid the area.

An Army unit is also attending the scene, South Yorkshire Police has said.

A brass band which has been entertaining people in Barnsley for more than 100 years is fighting for survival because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, PA Media

With events and busking cancelled due to the virus, members of Barnsley Brass say they've had to turn to crowdfunding to keep their instruments playable.

Throughout the pandemic, the band's income has been non-existent, with funds "quickly reducing" to keep the band alive.

Band manager Martin Bland launched the £9,600 crowdfunding campaign in a bid to save the tradition.

He said: "In December, what normally happens is we close down all rehearsals and spend the whole of December busking, whether that be at Meadowhall or supermarkets.

"We raise enough money during that period to keep the band alive for the next year. We know this year that's not going to happen."

PA Media

A 19-year-old man who launched an unprovoked attack on a 16-year-old boy at York railway station has been detained for four months.

Image source, British Transport Police/PA Wire

Harry Powell (pictured) was sentenced to four months in a young offenders institution at York Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to assault, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

The boy was sitting in a waiting room at the station when the attack happened.

The court heard Powell was accompanied by a group of friends when he aggressively confronted his victim - who has not been named - before spitting at him and kicking him hard in the face.

The victim was left in so much pain and distress by the attack on 30 October that he could not complete his journey and had to be collected, BTP said.

PC Mollie Chapman, said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack on a stranger who was simply minding his own business.

"Powell is nothing but a bully who was clearly attempting to play the big man in front of his mates and deliberately picked on someone who was alone.

"This vile assault has caused the 16-year-old victim great distress, prevented him from resuming his normal routine and hobbies and left him afraid to travel alone by train."

CCTV images have been released of two men after a knifepoint robbery in a village near Barnsley.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Staff were threatened with a knife in the incident at the Co-op on Barnsley Road in Cudworth at about 07:40 on Saturday, 21 November, police say.

Two men entered the shop and stole cigarettes.

A police spokesperson said: "During the incident, one of the men threatened staff with a large knife.

"No-one was injured, but staff members were left distressed by what happened."

Police want to speak to the men pictured above or anyone who has information about the robbery.