The number of motorists arrested on suspicion of drink or drug-driving in North Yorkshire has already passed the number stopped last year - with 10 days of a police operation still to go.

Since the start of the month, a total of 100 drivers have been arrested in North Yorkshire as part of the drink and drug-driving operation - 19 of those after collisions, say police.

So far, 52 of the arrests have been drug-related in some way, with one man in his 60s almost four times over the limit, the force said.

Two people have been arrested three times and a further two people have been arrested twice so far during the campaign, officers added.

A police spokesperson said: "Anyone who gets behind the wheel while under the influence of drink or drugs not only puts themselves at risk, but also innocent people going about their daily lives.

"Don’t be the reason a family receives the devastating news they’ve lost a loved one this Christmas at the hands of a drunk or drug-driver."

A West Yorkshire hospital for men with learning disabilities has been placed in special measures after there were "serious risks to patient safety".

Image source, Google

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Cygnet Woodside, in Bradford, in September following allegations of abuse by staff towards a patient.

Dr Kevin Cleary, CQC deputy chief inspector of hospitals and lead for mental health, said there were "inherent risk factors and warning signs", including a high turnover of employees and an inadequate number of skilled staff looking after patients, which compromised care.

He added: "The service showed warning signs that increased the likelihood of a closed culture developing.

"This would have put people at serious risk of coming to harm if we didn't take action".

Following the unannounced inspection, the commission also suspended the nine-bed hospital's current "good" rating for caring.

It has been given an overall rating of "inadequate" after a strong odour of urine, damaged walls and peeling paint on wards were also found.

Cygnet Woodside said it was "disappointed" with the CQC's assessment, that their report was "disproportionate" and "does not provide an entirely accurate representation" of the hospital.

Thousands of people will stand on their doorsteps and ring bells for two minutes on Christmas Eve as part of a campaign to combat loneliness.

Image source, PA Media

The idea came from Mary Beggs-Reid, from Harrogate, in a bid to "end 2020 with a bit of magic, hope and togetherness" in her hometown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds are backing the plan to ring bells at 18:00.

The idea is also to "give someone a bell" if they are likely to be alone.

More than 445,000 people across the world have now signed up to take part in the event through Facebook.

It includes the "Christmas Eve Jingle" as well as a plea to people to pick up the telephone and speak to loved ones who may be suffering from loneliness.

A man died and three other people were injured when a car hit a tree last night near Leeds, police say.

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Emergency services were called to the A650 Drighlington bypass at about 21:00 after a silver Nissan Navara collided with a tree, according to West Yorkshire Police.

One man, a 26-year-old passenger, died at the scene, officers said.

The driver suffered serious injuries and is being treated in hospital. Two other passengers were taken to hospital with injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who saw the silver Nissan Navara before the collision, is being urged to contact police.

The cross-party group of Bradford politicians says the attacks can leave vulnerable people cut off.

A man who is part-way through a three-year sentence for dangerous driving has escaped from a prison in Doncaster, police have said.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Prison officers found Jose Blanco-Medina, 28, had absconded from HMP Hatfield at about 22:00 on Saturday 19 December by forcing a fire door.

Blanco-Medina is described as about 5ft 8ins tall and has links to Riddlesden, near Keighley, and Bradford, South Yorkshire Police said.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call police.

The team is knocking on doors in Scarborough to emphasise the need for people to stick to the Covid-19 rules.

Christmas came a couple of days early at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park as rangers handed out presents to the animals.

Image source, Yorkshire Wildlife Park

The team at the park in South Yorkshire, dressed as elves or in Santa hats, handed out portions of fruit and vegetables in boxes to the meerkats and armadillos.

Meanwhile, the wallabies and lemurs enjoyed some seeds and nuts packed into festive crackers.

Image source, Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Fish and meat treats were also handed out to the Amur Tigers, leopards and lions, in tinsel-covered buckets as festive food was spread around the 150-acre park.

Debbie Porter, Animal Manager of the park at Branton, near Doncaster, said: “We always try to make the holiday season a special one for the animals.

"With over 450 animals, it takes all week to make sure they all get a special Christmas treat."

Image source, Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Dr. Matt Hartley, Head of Animals, added: "Caring for the animals year-round is always such a pleasure for us, but on Christmas we like to give them an extra special treat.

"It’s such a joy to see the animals open their presents.”

A West Yorkshire councillor has said he will not apologise after saying "if you can't feed, don't breed" in response to an email about supporting school meals.

Image source, Reuters

Roger Taylor, an independent on Calderdale Council, was replying to to a message from the Unison trade union.

Mr Taylor said he supported free school meals, but parents were responsible for feeding their children during holidays.

The email from Unison contained a letter to councillors asking for their help to stop the school meals service from becoming a "casualty of the pandemic", which they said had led to cuts to the service, staff numbers, pay and hours of work.

In his response, Mr Taylor said: "If you can't feed, don't breed. Simples."

Addressing his comments, Mr Taylor said: "During the holidays it is the parents' responsibility and I make no bones about that."

Jon Richards, Unison head of local government, said: "It's beyond belief that someone could show so little compassion. Children all over the country are going hungry because of the pandemic."

A full investigation into what caused a canal bank in East Yorkshire to burst is to be launched, once an operation to plug it is completed, the Canal and River Trust has said.

Image source, East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Fields near East and West Cowick flooded when the Aire and Calder was breached on Sunday.

No properties were affected and water levels have stabilised after water pumps were brought in, East Riding of Yorkshire Council said.

Sean McGinley, from the trust, says: "We've concentrated over the last few days on filling the hole and making sure it's safe. The next step is to understand in more detail what happened.

"So, we'll carry out a full investigation and work out exactly what the problem was, so we can ensure such things don't happen again."

Members of a helicopter crew dropping bags of aggregate to plug holes in the bank are expected to complete their task today.

The bells of York Minster will stay silent on New Year's Eve to help prevent gatherings in the city amid Covid-19 restrictions, it's been confirmed.

The landmark is traditionally a focal point for 31 December celebrations, with people meeting up outside to welcome in the new year.

The minster's governing body said the move reinforces the city's strategy of helping to control coronavirus rates.

York and North Yorkshire remain in tier two - high alert coronavirus restrictions.

After referring to the government guidance, the Chapter of York said six bells can be rung on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day under York's current restrictions.

The team of bell ringers "will be taking a rest" on New Year's Eve, with the cathedral's automatic chimes switched off between 20:00-08:00 as usual.

Rev Canon Vicky Johnson, precentor at York Minster, said this "most unusual and difficult year" will draw to a quiet close.

"The minster will be quiet and still on New Year's Eve, so for this year, we're asking everyone not to gather at the minster or elsewhere in the city," she said.

Staff at a shop in Doncaster were threatened with a knife during an armed robbery by a hooded man wearing a homemade high-visibility social distancing vest, police say.

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The man entered the shop on Askern Road in Bentley holding a knife and ordered staff to open the till, before taking about £300 in cash, at about 19:00 on Sunday 20 December.

A police spokesperson said: "The suspect is thought to have been wearing a dark top and bottoms and a yellow high-visibility vest with the words 'two metres' written on the back, which looked to be in drawn in black marker pen.

"It's believed he was wearing a black snood to cover his face and a black hat/hood."

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

Drugs worth about £600,000 as well as weapons and cash have been seized in Rotherham during a series of early morning raids, police say.

The raids were carried out between 13 November and 18 December and 21 people were arrested, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Eight of those arrested have since been charged, with the rest still under investigation, officers add.

In total, about £550,000 worth of cannabis and £48,000 worth of Class A drugs were seized as well as two firearms and two grenades.

Det Insp Scott Szymczak said: "This operation has led to a significant amount of drugs and cash being seized in a very short space of time.

"Four very dangerous weapons have also been recovered, preventing them falling into the wrong hands."

A helicopter dropping bags of aggregate to plug holes in a burst canal bank in East Yorkshire is expected to complete its task today.

Fields near East and West Cowick flooded when the Aire and Calder was breached on Sunday.

No properties were affected and water levels have stabilised after water pumps were brought in, East Riding of Yorkshire Council said.

Sean McGinley from the Canal and Rivers Trust says: "There's still a trickle of water but we're vastly improved from where we were.

"We'll carry on putting more stone in and line it with clay, so the leak should be completely solved and the situation resolved."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

People travelling to Leeds from other parts of the country over the festive period have been asked by the city council to "consider self-isolating".

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

It follows the discovery of a new variant of Covid-19 in London, the south east and east of England which has led to stricter lockdown rules in those areas.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: "We would urge everyone to follow the latest advice to ensure they protect themselves and their loved ones.

"People should also take extra care if they think they might possibly have been in contact with the virus or if you’ve recently arrived in Leeds from elsewhere and should consider whether they might need to self-isolate."

The authority is urging everyone to look at the "consequences of their actions" as the next couple of days is likely to be extremely busy in the city with Christmas shoppers.

Among the guidance it has given out is to continue 2m social distancing as well as not meeting family or friends indoors unless they are in your support bubble.

Shrewsbury beat Doncaster Rovers to secure a third straight league win and climb out of the League One relegation zone.

Vicky Foster's former partner was killed by the man who helped thwart the London Bridge attack.

The UK's first black archbishop John Sentamu to be ennobled months after retirement.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The leader of Leeds City Council says she is "honoured" to have been chosen as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.

Councillor Judith Blake was named this afternoon among the new peers announced by the government, meaning she is to step down from her current role.

It's thought her successor as leader of the council will be announced in the new year, but it has not yet been disclosed when Ms Blake's peerage officially begins.

Councillor Blake has served as leader of Leeds City Council since 2015 and was deputy leader for five years before that. She has also been a ward councillor in Leeds for 24 years.

Responding to the announcement, she said: "It has been a great privilege to serve as leader of my home city of Leeds for the last five and a half years.

"Joining the House of Lords will allow me to continue to represent the interests of our city in Westminster."

A river in West Yorkshire is to become the first in England to be designated a bathing site.

A stretch of the River Wharfe in Ilkley will have its pollution levels monitored by the Environment Agency to ensure it is safe for swimming.

The move follows a campaign by local residents who said they'd seen "human solid waste" on the river bank.

Becky Malby, from the Ilkley Clean River Group, said she was "absolutely over the moon" at the news.

Ms Malby said the group had been campaigning over pollution levels for over two years after human sewage was seen where people were "picnicking and playing".

She said she was "delighted" the designated bathing area encompassed the nearby sewage treatment works.

"That is going to have to trigger a major clean-up of the system," she added.

From 2021, samples will be taken from the popular swimming and paddling spot between May and September - if bacteria levels are too high then action will be taken to reduce pollution.