A senior officer warns partygoers they could jeopardise efforts to drive down infection rates.

A site in Hull has been chosen as the proposed location for what would be the UK's first plant to process rare earth materials.

Image source, Google

Rare earth oxides are used to make powerful permanent magnets, critical to the offshore wind and electric vehicle industries.

The proposed plant at Saltend Chemicals Park would process materials from a sustainable mine in Angola.

Pensana Rare Earths said the plant would be one of only two major producers outside China of rare earth oxides and would help create "the world's first fully sustainable magnet metal supply chain".

It could also attract £100m in investment and create about 100 jobs, a spokesperson said.

Chairman Paul Atherley added: "It is very clear that it is no longer acceptable for British and European companies to import the raw materials critical to the green economy from unsustainable sources.

"The Saltend facility has the potential to become a world-class producer of rare earth oxides."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The new leader of Sheffield City Council says being appointed to the position is an "unbelievable honour".

Image source, LDRS

The ruling Labour group selected councillor Bob Johnson last night following the resignation of Julie Dore.

He will formally replace Ms Dore as both Labour and council leader in January.

Mr Johnson, said: “It is an unbelievable honour to be elected as Leader of the Labour Group and I would like to thank my colleagues for putting their trust in me.

"I am Sheffield born and bred and am passionate about our city delivering on the huge potential we have."

Ms Dore is standing down after almost a decade in charge.

A councillor for Park and Arbourthorne for 20 years, she will continue to represent the ward until her term ends in May 2021.

Police were called to four separate illegal house parties in Scarborough and issued 14 fines to lockdown rule breakers over the weekend.

Image source, Pritti Mistry

North Yorkshire Police said those fined were in breach of tier two regulations and was "really concerned" as the town had a high infection rate last month.

Ch Insp Rachel Wood said it was "quite shocking" to see people "having parties and jeopardising that progress".

The force said it also handed out an additional three fixed penalty notices over the weekend to people who visited Whitby from the Cleveland area, breaching their tier three restrictions.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

One of Bradford’s oldest cinema buildings could be brought back into use as an extension to a city centre wedding and events venue.

Image source, LDRS

The Scala building, on the junction of Shipley Airedale Road and East Parade, was built in 1913 as a picture house. The 700 seat cinema closed in 1922.

Since it fell out of use as a cinema, the building has been used in conjunction with the neighbouring St Mary’s church, as well as providing community facilities.

Now, a new planning application has been submitted which would see the Grade II listed building refurbished to become a conferencing, banqueting and wedding venue.

The application says the work would “ensure a landmark of Bradford once again is occupied and used.”

A television game show contestant who scooped the programme's top prize said the win had "saved 2020" for him and his family.

Rich Williams, from East Yorkshire, won the £28,000 jackpot on BBC One's The Wheel, broadcast on Saturday night.

He became emotional after he told host Michael McIntyre how much the money would mean to him and his nine-year-old daughter Cherry.

The former public sector worker, who had to retire from his job due to illness, said winning the prize "hadn't sunk in yet".

The 51-year-old, who has diastrophic dwarfism, retired following numerous operations to replace joints in his legs and shoulders due to severe arthritis.

With the encouragement of his daughter, he took up weightlifting and has since won five para-powerlifting world titles.

Mr Williams, who also visits schools to talk to pupils about diversity, said he was going to use the money to pay off some bills and to take his family on holiday.

BBC Weather

Today will be wet and breezy with frequent outbreaks of heavy and persistent rain.

Tonight will start cloudy with rain continuing into the early hours:

Motorists in North Yorkshire are being warned not to make 2020 "even worse" by drinking and driving this Christmas.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

North Yorkshire Police says "key routes and rural backroads" will be targeted as officers set up roadside breath tests "around the clock".

Traffic Sgt Andy Morton said: "It’s fair to say 2020’s been a terrible year, however, it’ll get even worse for those caught drink-driving.

"When you’ve had to break devastating news to families, you have no sympathy for those who choose to drink and drive.

"My plea to drivers is never, ever 'just chance it'. Don’t make 2020 even worse – don’t drink and drive."

A total of 100 motorists were arrested in North Yorkshire during last year’s Christmas campaign, with some blowing more than three times the legal limit, police said.

An industrial magnet is among the objects which have been thrown at buses in South Yorkshire in a series of recent attacks, smashing windows and putting people at risk, police say.

Groups of teenagers have attacked buses on a number of "key" routes in Sheffield and Rotherham in the past few weeks, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Bricks, rocks and metal objects have been thrown at buses in Ferham and Arbourthorne, leading to the suspension or diversion of bus routes, officers say.

Sgt Karen Holmes says: “I don’t need to spell out how dangerous this is.

"As well as the risk of damage and injury to drivers and passengers, this type of activity is stopping people getting around the city.

"It’s stopping people getting to work as easily, including key workers, and it’s also preventing the elderly from getting their supplies from town."

Police patrols are being stepped up on the affected routes, police say

Earlier, bus operator First South Yorkshire said it was working with police and councillors to reinstate the suspended routes "as soon as possible" but added it had a "duty of care" to staff and customers.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in West Yorkshire as part of a 1,250-mile whistlestop royal train tour of the country.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The royal couple have been thanking teachers, meeting schoolchildren and praising paramedics for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Batley Community Centre was their third stop today, meeting volunteers who have supported elderly members of the community throughout the pandemic by sending cards, having regular phone calls and dropping off shopping, food bags and activity packs.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

William and Kate also met Len Gardner (above), a local resident with whom the duchess has been chatting on the phone after she secretly volunteered through the NHS Volunteer Responder Check In And Chat scheme.

Do you recognise this man? Police in York want to speak to him following a homophobic incident in a McDonalds restaurant in the city earlier this year.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

A man is reported to have shouted homophobic language at another person in the restaurant at Monks Cross between midnight and 00:05 on 18 August.

Police have so far been unable to locate the suspect and have issued this CCTV image of a man they want to talk to about the incident.

Anyone who recognises the man in the image is being asked to contact North Yorkshire Police.

Fundraising efforts by Leeds Rhinos' director of rugby Kevin Sinfield have passed the £1.4m mark after he finished seven marathons in seven days earlier today.

Image source, Reuters

After begining his first marathon on 1 December he finished his seventh at 11:14 this morning, running each one in under four hours.

Sinfield set out to raise £77,777, but the total raised now stands at over £1,450,000.

The former Leeds Rhinos, England and GB star is raising money for his teammate and friend Rob Burrow who has Motor Neurone Disease and to raise awareness of the condition.

He ran seven marathons because Burrow always wore the number seven shirt on the rugby pitch.

A few moments after finishing his final marathon he said: "I'm so happy we got it done."

Witnesses are being asked to come forward following the death of a motorcyclist who was seriously injured in a crash in West Yorkshire in October.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Richard Grant (pictured), 70, died from his injuries on Monday 30 November following the crash on the A629 Halifax Road in Cullingworth at about 11:50 on Sunday 11 October.

The black BMW bike Mr Grant, from Sowerby Bridge, was riding is believed to have been in collision with a VW Caddy van near the junction with Manywells Brow, police say.

The driver and passenger of the Caddy van were not injured in the crash.

Anyone who saw either vehicle, or who has dash camera footage from around the time of the incident, is being asked to get in touch with West Yorkshire Police.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Bus passengers on part of a Sheffield estate say they're struggling after services were withdrawn following a spate of attacks on vehicles.

Image source, LDRS

Operator First South Yorkshire suspended and re-routed services in Arbourthorne last week after objects were thrown at buses, leading to concerns for the safety of drivers and passengers.

The 41 and 51 services are suspended from Monday to Friday between 17:00 until the end of service and on weekends from midday until the end of service.

Local resident Stacey Mitchell said: "It definitely needs sorting. A lot of elderly residents rely on these services as a lifeline to independence."

Local councillors Ben Miskell, Jack Scott and Sophie Wilson (pictured) have voiced their frustration with a banner at a bus stop saying "Arbourthorne Needs Buses".

Mr Miskell said: "This is causing a problem for people trying to get to work and also people who are trying to visit relatives across the city."

First South Yorkshire said it appreciated the inconvenience caused, but it had a duty of care to staff and customers and its main priority was for their safety.

Managing director Nigel Eggleton said: "As soon as we can be reassured the vandalism will stop and customers can travel safely with no threat of windows being smashed through objects being thrown at them, we will reinstate buses to the area."

Mr Eggleton added that the firm was in communication with police and councillors and hoped the issue could be solved "as soon as possible".

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to close a popular "rat-run" route in York city centre have been unveiled.

Image source, Google

The scheme would see part of Navigation Road (pictured) made one-way only and means drivers would no longer be able to use the road to cut past traffic on Foss Islands Road.

The move would improve the neighbourhood for local residents, according to a City of York spokesperson.

There are also plans to upgrade cycle routes in the area, the authority says.

Councillor Andy D’Agorne, executive member for transport, says: "Creating a safe and attractive route for people walking or cycling about the area is an important part of enabling more people to choose sustainable travel options.

"These proposals have been drawn up following local feedback on traffic issues in the area to improve the safety of all road users while minimising any disadvantages for vehicle access to businesses and residential areas."

A public consultation over the proposals has now been launched and runs until 4 January, external.

A photographer from West Yorkshire has managed to capture a picture of a duck - made up of thousands of starlings during a murmuration.

Peter Lau said there was "no CGI, no Photoshop...just good luck" in capturing the spectacle on camera.

Mr Lau had travelled to Fairburn Ings nature reserve near Castleford on Saturday evening to show his grandchildren the murmuration.

He said: "So glad they saw this amazing sight. Perhaps a memory that will live with them for years. Some interesting shapes presented."

Almost 400 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £200,000 have been seized in a raid on a house in Hull, police say.

Image source, Humberside Police

About 385 cannabis plants were discovered and seized at an address on St Matthew Street, alongside "sophisticated" equipment used to grow cannabis, according to Humberside Police.

Following the raid on Sunday, a man has been charged with production or being concerned in production of a controlled drug and abstracting electricity, police said.

He's due to appear at Hull Magistrates' Court later.

Kevin Sinfield raises more than £1m after he runs seven marathons in seven days in support of Rob Burrow, who has Motor Neurone Disease.

A new BBC radio station for Bradford which promises to be "a celebration of the city with its welcoming people and richly diverse culture" has begun broadcasting today.

The new radio station hits the airwaves on weekdays from 06:00 to 14:00, with Rima Ahmed (pictured right) hosting the breakfast show, followed by Sanchez Payne (pictured left).

Rima says: "This has been a long time coming for the city and it’s the listeners who will really own the show."

Sanchez Payne adds: "I relish the opportunity to serve the Bradford community by sharing their stories, their voices, music, events and everything that makes the city so special."

Chris Burns, head of BBC audio and digital, says: "Bradford is a unique and exciting city and we want to provide more localised content, especially at this time.

"BBC Radio Bradford will provide sport and local news and information to help people make sense of what is happening where they live."

BBC Radio Bradford is available on Medium Wave and online at bbc.co.uk/radiobradford.

The new station is planned to continue broadcasting in Bradford until March 2021.

Leeds Rhinos director of rugby Kevin Sinfield has completed his final marathon of seven consecutive marathons in seven days, raising more than £1.1m in the process.

He crossed the finish line of his seventh run at 11:14 this morning.

He began on 1 December and ran each marathon in under four hours.

Sinfield set out to raise £77,777, but the total raised now stands at £1,119,930.

The former Leeds Rhinos, England and GB star is raising money for his teammate and friend Rob Burrow who has Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and to raise awareness of the condition.

He ran seven marathons because Burrow always wore the number seven shirt on the rugby pitch.

A few moments after finishing his final marathon he said: "I'm massively overwhelmed, it's unbelievable.

"After the first day I was worried I'd bitten off more than I could chew."

On learning he'd raised more than £1m for charity he said: "I'm made up for Rob and his family and the MND community."