Rising coronavirus infection rates on the North Yorkshire coast have been described as a "major concern" by the county council.

Scarborough has been highlighted as a particular focus of attention, with cases there increasing since the most recent England-wide lockdown eased.

North Yorkshire remains under tier two - high alert - Covid-19 restrictions.

The council said "community and household transmission" was a key factor in the spread of the virus.

The Scarborough district, which includes the popular destinations of Scarborough, Whitby and Filey, has a seven-day infection rate of 214 cases per 100,000 people.

Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said the district was "lucky not to be in tier three" and his major worry was the "concerning position" of Scarborough.

"The lockdown eased, the figures went up from 132 at the end of lockdown to 214. Some areas in the south of England at that level are actually in tier three," he said.

Mr Webb stressed the "great majority" of residents were following the rules, but there was a "small minority letting the side down".

The Kirklees district is one of 63 areas to take part in the mass coronavirus testing programme.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Work to refurbish a landmark Leeds building is unlikely to start for "several years", it's been confirmed.

Image source, Google

The frontage of Temple Works, a former flax mill, was designed to resemble an Egyptian temple and the building, in Holbeck, is one of the "most important historic industrial buildings in the country", according to Leeds City Council.

However, stabilisation works would have to be carried out on the Grade I-listed building before refurbishment could begin, a new council report says.

"The start of development on site is likely to be several years away", it adds.

The building suffered major structural damage in 2008 when part of the roof and frontage fell in.

Fashion brand Burberry dropped plans to move into the building in 2017 and the latest plans are to move part of the British Library into the large space.

A statement from owners CEG said a £5m stabilisation would begin in the coming months.

A 21-year-old woman was attacked in Sheffield's High Hazels Park last month, police say.

Thieves knocked a hole in the wall of a building in Rotherham to steal nine five-week-old Border collie puppies and two female Jack Russell dogs, police say.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The suspects broke into an outbuilding at an address in Killamarsh Lane on 14 December at about 21:00, according to South Yorkshire Police.

A spokesperson for the force said: "The owner of the puppies and dogs is devastated.

"Were you in the Killamarsh area at the time? Did you see or hear anything suspicious?"

Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call police.

A travel boss tells a council it is not up to drivers to police the use of face coverings on board.

A delivery driver's been charged with being almost three times over the drink-drive limit, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Image source, PA Media

The man, in his 40s and from the Darlington area, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after his van was stopped in Threshfield, near Skipton.

Police say the driver was the 63rd to be arrested on suspicion of drink or drug-driving offences during a Christmas campaign which the force began on 1 December.

Traffic Sgt Andy Morton said: "As our month-long campaign passes its mid-way point, some drivers are clearly still not getting the message – if you drink and drive in North Yorkshire you’ll be caught."

David Rhodes
Journalist, BBC Look North

There are long queues in Batley today as people have turned out to take part in the mass coronavirus testing programme organised by Kirklees Council.

The programme uses what's known as Lateral Flow Tests, which can give people a result as to whether or not they have Covid-19 within 30 minutes.

The aim is for up to 50,000 people to get tested under this programme in the coming weeks.

Members of the military are being brought in to help run the system, but testing will be carried out by council staff.

Why is mass testing important? It's thought that one in every three people who have Covid-19 don't show any particular symptoms.

That means they can spread the virus without knowing it.

It's hoped that mass testing can put a lid on that and get the numbers down

According to the most recent figures, Yorkshire's seen its first rise in six weeks in the number of people testing positive for Covid-19.

With mass testing schemes like the one in Kirklees, it's hoped those numbers can be brought down in the coming weeks.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Covid-19 is "the gift none of us wants" this Christmas, people in North Yorkshire are being told as the county gets ready for the festive rules relaxation.

Image source, PA Media

Under current government plans, up to three households in England will be able to mix between 23 and 27 December.

However, there are fears it could lead to a spike in cases in January and now a direct plea has been made to people in North Yorkshire to think carefully before deciding to spend Christmas with loved ones.

The county council’s director of Health, Richard Webb, told a meeting of North Yorkshire’s Local Resilience Forum this week that just because the rules say people can meet up it doesn't mean they should.

Mr Webb said: “While people have worked hard to comply with tier two restrictions in North Yorkshire and our infection rates are static we still need it to be coming down.

"Covid is the gift that none of us want on Christmas Day."

He added: "Please take what steps you can to minimise contact and to keep safe and please start doing that now."

A man's appeared in court charged with making explosives following the discovery of a "suspicious item" in East Yorkshire earlier this week, police say.

Image source, Google

Market Place in Pocklington was cordoned off for several hours on Monday and the bomb squad was called following the discovery.

Linas Ponomariovas, 26, of Market Place, Pocklington, has since been charged with making an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose.

He appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court yesterday and was remanded in police custody.

He's due to appear at Hull Crown Court on 15 January 2021.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "We want to be clear and provide reassurance that this incident is not believed to be terrorism-related."

A teenage boy has been charged over a sex attack on a woman in a Sheffield park, police say.

Image source, Google

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

A 15-year old boy has been charged with sexual assault and is due to appear in court later today, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Four teenagers aged 13, 14, 15 and 16, were arrested in the Darnall area on 2 December in connection with the attack.

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

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

At least 40,000 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco have been seized in Hull, police say.

Image source, Humberside Police

They were found in a parked vehicle and in two shops on Newland Avenue and Beverley Road, according to Humberside Police.

They were discovered as Trading Standards officers and police conducted three searches in the Hull area on Wednesday.

At both shops, a "large amount" of cigarettes and tobacco were found underneath false floors (pictured) and inside false shelving units, police say.

Later, the search of a car parked on Hessle Road yielded more counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco was also found.

No arrests have been made as yet, the Humberside force adds.

A South Yorkshire reservoir which dates back to the 18th Century and which feeds a Derbyshire canal is to be given a £5m upgrade, the Canal and River Trust has confirmed.

Image source, Canal and River Trust

Harthill Reservoir was built on the South Yorkshire/Derbyshire border over 200 years ago to supply water to the nearby Chesterfield Canal - a role it still plays today.

Work to re-model the reservoir's overflow spillway as well as other "operational enhancements" will start in 2022 and is expected to last about 12 months.

The water level of the reservoir will be "temporarily reduced" while the upgrade work is carried out, the Canal and River Trust says.

Sean McGinley, from the trust, says: "Rotherham Sailing Club, model boaters, anglers and Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers are just some of the groups that regularly enjoy the wonderful amenity of this beautiful, rural reservoir.

"We understand that temporarily reducing the reservoir water level is not ideal. However, this important upgrade work will secure Harthill Reservoir’s long-term future and ensure people can continue to enjoy the benefits of being by water for many years to come."

Marcus Rashford scores twice as Manchester United come from a goal down to beat winless Sheffield United in the Premier League.

Mass community testing for coronavirus is due to start in one part of West Yorkshire today.

The testing in Kirklees follows a pilot project in Liverpool, where people without symptoms were offered rapid testing and infection levels fell.

It'll be used in places with "persistently high infection rates," as well as workplaces where people are thought to be most at risk.

Kirklees Council says four testing hubs will operate in Batley, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

Members of the military are being brought in to help run this testing system, but testing will be carried out by council staff.

BBC Weather

A dry start to the day followed by rain this afternoon. There will be a brisk southerly wind.

Tonight outbreaks of rain will continue for most of the night, accompanied by brisk winds and cloudy skies:

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A major flood defence scheme in Calderdale will be fully completed by Christmas, while the New Year will see work begin on new defences for a neighbouring town, it's been confirmed.

Image source, LDRS

The £41m Mytholmroyd scheme will be completed in a very short time except for some final touches, according to Paul Swales from the Environment Agency (pictured).

Mr Swales told Calderdale Council’s Flooding Scrutiny Panel the project would be "winter-ready, watertight and up to flood defence level by Christmas".

He said the Mytholmroyd project was exceptional - although taking five years after the 2015 Boxing Day floods, it had been completed in about half the time a project like this usually took.

The panel also heard a flood alleviation scheme for nearby Hebden Bridge would begin next year.

Meanwhile, the demolition of a chapel at Rochdale Road in Todmorden had been completed, better protecting about 250 properties in the town, the panel was told.

Schools have found new ways of celebrating the festive period during the coronavirus pandemic.

Seven-month-old Marley Powell's parents say they need £1.6m to pay for a new gene therapy treatment.

There's been a "massive increase" in motorbikes and quad bikes being illegally ridden on West Yorkshire moorland which was devastated by fire in 2019, the National Trust has said.

Image source, National Trust

Quad bikes and motorcyles are being illegally driven over moorland close to the village of Marsden, the trust says.

Craig Best, from the trust, says: "We've seen a massive increase in illegal off-road motorbikes and quad bikes on the moorland. It's causing a huge amount of damage to the landscape.

"Rangers and police are out on weekends trying to catch motorbikers and quads."

He added: "We're not going to tolerate illegal use of the moor by bikes. We're going to stop that."