Staff at a shop in Leeds were threatened with a knife during an armed robbery by three masked men, police say.

Image source, Google

One of the men stayed outside the Nisa store on Easterly Road while the other two, one armed with a knife, entered the premises and threatened staff at about 19:50 on Sunday.

The suspects left the shop on foot with cash and cigarettes.

No-one was injured in the incident, officers said.

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

Extra fire safety measures are to be put in place at three blocks of flats in Huddersfield.

Image source, Google

Harold Wilson Court will have "immediate 24-hour a day patrols" to ensure fire safety for the 11-storey block, according to Kirklees Council.

Meanwhile, Holme Park Court and Bishops Court, both in the Berry Brow area of Huddersfield, have also had immediate additional safety precautions put in place, the authority adds.

The action was ordered by the council and KNH, which manages the council’s housing stock, after planned safety inspections revealed concerns about materials used for insulation on the outside of the buildings.

The additional safety measures will remain until a permanent solution is in place, Kirklees Council said.

Kirklees Council’s cabinet member for housing and democracy said: “Nothing is more important than the safety of residents. That’s why we are taking this immediate action."

A manager and her assistant abused people with learning difficulties at a Rotherham care centre.

A defibrillator was stolen from the back of an ambulance in Hull as its crew dealt with an emergency call early yesterday morning, police have said.

Image source, Humberside Police

The device was taken at about 01:00 on Monday as ambulance staff attended an emergency at a house on Newland Avenue, officers said.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said; "As the emergency was being dealt with, someone accessed the back of the ambulance and took a valuable and life-saving defibrillator from the vehicle."

Anyone who knows anything about the theft is being asked to call police.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Football star Harry Maguire has been spreading some "festive cheer" to pensioners in the Sheffield suburb where he grew up.

Image source, LDRS

The England and Manchester United player was joined by brother Joe, sister Daisy and mum Zoe as he gave out food parcels in Mosborough on Monday.

Maguire said he hoped it would help put "smiles on people's faces" at what was a difficult time for everyone.

The player, who started his career at Sheffield United, said: "It's really important to go back to my roots where my family and friends still live.

Maguire, who paid for the food parcels supplied by a shop in Mosborough, added: "It's only a little bit, but putting a smile on someone's face is what it's all about."

Alan and Brenda Burton were among the recipients and spoke to the footballer from their doorstep.

Brenda, 71, said: "We were hoping for family to come up for Christmas so it's nice for him to do this for us.

"It's really thoughtful of him, he's a local lad and he's not forgotten where he's from."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A replica of Stonehenge is part of plans for an archaeological attraction at a village near York, it's been revealed.

Image source, Reuters

The proposed attraction at Wigginton would have areas dedicated to the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age periods.

It would include a Neolithic long house and long barrow, Iron Age roundhouses and animal pens for pigs, goats and sheep.

The application is supported by the University of York.

Nicky Milner, professor of archaeology at the university, said: "We are excited by the proposed plans which would see a number of prehistoric archaeological buildings replicated.

"York is known internationally for its archaeological heritage and Yorkshire has a rich prehistoric past which deserves the attention this centre will bring."

The attraction would be named Wichestun, thought to be an earlier name for Wigginton, dating back to the 11th Century.

The application to City of York Council has been submitted for green belt land off Narrow Lane in Wigginton, however the documents give no indication of the size of the replica Stonehenge.

A helicopter has been used to drop bags of aggregate to plug holes in a canal bank in East Yorkshire which burst due to heavy rain.

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.

Plans to use the helicopter to drop one-tonne bags of sand and stone in an attempt to stem the flow of water on Monday were abandoned due to foggy weather.

Writing on social media, external, East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "The helicopter has arrived and is now undertaking remedial work to fix the breach on the Aire and Calder Navigation embankment.

"Water levels have remained stable and the flood risk to properties in East Cowick and West Cowick has reduced."

Three men and a woman have been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Huddersfield, police say.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Jamal Nedd, 26, from Fartown died after being shot on Ripon Avenue, Fartown, at about 21:10 on Saturday, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Three men, aged 27, 31 and 39, have all been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, officers said.

All four - as well as two other men who were arrested earlier this week - remain in custody.

Det Ch Insp Marc Bowes said the shooting was believed to have been a "targeted attack".

He asked any witnesses or anyone with information about what happened to come forward.

Concerns about the buildings' outside insulation came after safety inspections, say the council.

Jose Blanco-Medina, 28, escaped from HMP Hatfield on Saturday by forcing a fire door, police said.

A teenager who died after the car he was driving hit a bridge in West Yorkshire has been named by police.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Piotr Piekara, 17, died in hospital after the collision on an entry slip road on the A64(M) in Leeds on Saturday night, according to West Yorkshire Police.

A police spokesperson said: "A Ford Fiesta left the carriageway and was in collision with a bridge.

"The driver, a 17-year-old male was taken to hospital and died from his injuries.

Two male passengers, aged 17 and 18, were taken to hospital but have since been discharged, officers said.

Piotr's family have said they would like to "thank everyone for the thoughts, the prayers and the love" shown towards them during their difficult time.

Anyone who saw the collision, or who saw the Fiesta prior to the incident, or who has dashcam footage they think might be useful, is being asked to contact police.

A mass Covid-19 vaccination site opens in York today.

A primary care provider is delivering the vaccine to eligible patients working with 11 GP practices in the area at an open-air site at Moor Lane car park, Askham Bar.

Patients are invited to attend for vaccination by their surgery and will have to return for a booster jab at a later date.

York-based primary care provider Nimbuscare Ltd said the vaccine would be given to priority patient groups first.

Professor Mike Holmes said: "This programme is one of the most important moments in the history of the NHS."

More than 4,000 festive cards have been posted to a care home in Hull to raise Christmas spirits among the residents.

The cards, some of which were sent from as far as North America, were mailed to people living at Saltshouse Haven Care Home following an appeal by staff.

Sarah Patrick, who runs activities at the care home, said the residents' faces lit up when they saw the "amazing" pile of boxes and bags.

Ms Patrick said: "It was absolutely beautiful to see their faces when they were opening them and they couldn't believe that people were thinking of them. Some had tears.

"We want them to feel happy and still feel loved, even though families can't come to see them."

She added: "There's 4,058 cards. We've had them from all over. People have been so kind, so generous."

A "shocking" number of fines were issued to people from tier three - very high alert coronavirus areas, visiting York at the weekend, police say.

Image source, PA Media

Large numbers of visitors from tier three areas, who had "chosen to ignore the warnings and put local residents at risk by flouting the regulations," were encountered by officers in tier two York, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Supt Mike Walker, said: “Looking at the numbers of fines handed out at the weekend, we believe we've handed out over 160 tickets, with the vast majority being issued to tier three residents who visited York to mix and socialise indoors.

“Some people who were spoken to did go home. However we encountered large numbers of people who weren't responsive to advice, leaving us no option but to enforce through fixed penalty notices."

A helicopter will drop bags of aggregate to plug holes in a canal bank which burst.

Image source, Humberside Fire and rescue

Fields near East and West Cowick in East Yorkshire 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.

Plans to use the helicopter on Monday were abandoned due to foggy weather.

One tonne bags of sand and stone will be dropped in an attempt to stem the flow of water.

Image source, Tom Bayston

John Ward from the Canal and River Trust said although the soft earth had washed away and let water through, the solid piles in the canal bank appeared to be holding.

"At the moment we are OK. But clearly we need to fill that hole and that's what the plans is - bring the helicopter in, lift those stone bags in.

"That will fill the hole and then we'll bring the clay in and that will provide the seal to stop the water leaking in."

The Environment Agency said flood warnings remained in place and advised drivers to avoid low-lying roads near the canal and rivers.

A pony had to be put down after being attacked by dogs in its paddock in Conisbrough, police say.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

The owners of a small holding on Spring Bank Road heard the disturbance and dogs barking outside at about 23:00 Thursday 10 December, police said.

CCTV showed three dogs enter the paddock through a hedge and torchlight in the distance but no offenders have been traced, "due to the poor quality of the footage," according to South Yorkshire Police.

A spokesperson for the South Yorkshire force said: "When they went to bring their pony in from the paddock the following morning, they discovered several deep wounds to its rear legs and neck.

"Sadly, the pony had to be put down as a result of its injuries."

Anyone with information about the incident is being urged to contact police.

Tara Whelan, 18, was last seen in Market Street in Halifax town centre on 15 December.

No properties have been flooded and water levels have "stabilised" following water escaping from a canal breach, police say.

An operation to stem escaping water pouring into fields near East and West Cowick is continuing after the Aire and Calder Navigation was breached on Sunday, according to the Environment Agency.

The Canal and River Trust says there’s no immediate flood risk to properties in East Cowick and is confident the floodwater will be contained.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council says: "Today’s operations will focus on plugging the breach using bags of aggregate and clay. Additional pumps from the Environment Agency are en-route to support operations."

Darren Downs, Ch Supt at Humberside Police, said: “I want to reassure residents and businesses all partners will continue to have staff, equipment and resources on site for as long as is needed to respond to this incident.

"Whilst no properties have been flooded and water levels have stabilised, if needed, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has put contingency plans in place for the provision of a rest centre and transport."

Three people have now been arrested since the man, 26, died after being shot on Saturday.

Wakefield Trinity appoint Hull FC's former interim head coach Andy Last as an assistant coach.