Local Democracy Reporting Service

Hundreds of laptops could be "gathering dust" during the coronavirus pandemic because school insurance doesn’t cover pupils using them at home, a Leeds councillor has claimed.

Image source, PA Media

Councillor Ryan Stephenson said he believed several academies in the city were “reluctant” to allow students to take IT devices home.

A government scheme has put computers into the homes of many underprivileged children since the start of the pandemic to help with their education.

But Councillor Stephenson, the Leeds Conservative group’s education spokesman, said a number of laptops already in the possession of some schools were not being used.

It’s understood that in some cases the excess for claiming for damage to a laptop used outside school property could be as much as £250.

Speaking at a Leeds education scrutiny meeting, Mr Stephenson said: “For every day a child’s out of school, it’s damaging their education. Remote learning is not as good as learning in person.

“All schools have laptops and devices that are used to assist with learning. Even with the children of key workers in school there will be enough devices left over and unused in schools.

“I’m aware some schools are reluctant or are refusing to hand those devices out to children at home, because the insurance doesn’t cover their use outside of school.

"So these devices will be left on shelves, gathering dust presumably," he added.

Leeds City Council's head of learning improvement, Dave Clark, said he would make inquiries into how widespread the problem is across the city.

Drivers in North Yorkshire are continuing to be warned not to travel unless it's essential and to reconsider their routes after snow caused dangerous road conditions.

Image source, NYCC

These are the latest pictures from North Yorkshire County Council's weather cameras.

The picture above was taken at the famously steep Sutton Bank this afternoon, showing just how dangerous conditions are there.

Image source, NYCC

The picture of the the B1257 at Chopgate (above) was taken at 13:20.

Image source, NYCC

This picture above of the A61 at Carlton Minniot, near Thirsk, was taken half an hour ago.

As was the picture below of Blue Bank at Sleights, near Whitby.

Image source, NYCC

The snow is forecast to continue in many parts of Yorkshire until this evening.

Motorists are being reminded by police that under current national lockdown rules, residents must not leave home except where necessary.

Leeds Rhinos captain Luke Gale is likely to miss the start of the Super League season after tearing a pectoral muscle.

An investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl who later took her own life fell "well below" expected standards, say police.

Emily Greene told South Yorkshire Police she had been assaulted by a man, but the force dropped the inquiry.

She was found dead in a field near Barnsley in November 2018.

Senior Coroner David Urpeth found there had been "deficiencies" in the way the initial allegation had been investigated.

In his Prevention of Future Deaths report, external, Mr Urpeth also criticised the fact Emily was not seen personally to explain the decision to cease the investigation.

He said police had "mishandled" a subsequent investigation into her disappearance.

The force admitted it took officers more than three hours to attend her home address after she was reported missing on the day of her death.

In a letter to Mr Urpeth, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police Stephen Watson said the force was "committed to learning the lessons from this case" and has already taken action in respect of the findings.

Snow's been falling thick and fast and parts of North Yorkshire, with more forecast into the evening.

Image source, North Yorkshire County Council

The picture above was taken at the famously steep Sutton Bank this morning, showing just how treacherous conditions there have been.

Image source, High Lions/BBC Weather Watchers

Meanwhile, the sheep pictured above at Ampleforth will be thankful for their thick woolly jumpers today as the snow continues to fall.

Image source, Chrissie/BBC Weather Watchers

And Askrigg in Wensleydale clearly hasn't escaped a thick covering of the white stuff either, it seems.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police is urging people to only head out when necessary due not only to the weather conditions, but also the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

Critical care workers are dealing with "psychological trauma" during the Covid-19 pandemic which is only going to get worse, an East Yorkshire nursing leader has warned.

Image source, Niki Credland

Nicki Credland said the situation in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) was "desperate" and "like a war zone".

The University of Hull lecturer said she feared a mass exodus from the NHS as staff will be "traumatised".

Mrs Credland, who is chair of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses, said: "We always knew back in February and March that we were never going to have enough ICU nurses - we knew that from day one.

"But it's been exacerbated now. We've got significant staff sickness across the country through Covid, self-isolation and the psychological trauma."

Mrs Credland added: "Already staff are presenting with PTSD and needing counselling and we're already seeing people start to have breakdowns."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We have invested over £1.5m in research into the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of NHS staff alongside £15m to support the mental health and wellbeing of staff and develop a national support service for critical care staff who are most vulnerable to severe trauma."

A man from Sheffield who is known for pushing a pram around the city and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity has received his coronavirus vaccine.

Image source, Sheffield CCG

John Burkhill, from Sheffield, who has just turned 83, wore his famous green wig and Macmillan Cancer Support t-shirt while getting the jab.

Mr Burkhill has raised close to £1m for the charity by pushing a pram across the city collecting money, however he's had to stop his fundraising tours of the city due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A photo of "the man with the pram", complete with fluorescent green wig, was posted on Twitter, external after his first vaccine dose at Manor Park medical centre.

According to Sheffield's Clinical Commissioning Group, Mr Burkhill "said it was painless and encourages others to have theirs".

These are the latest pictures of driving conditions in part of North Yorkshire following snow showers:

They were taken in Pannal, near Harrogate, a short time ago.

The snow is forecast to continue in many parts of North and West Yorkshire until this evening.

Meanwhile, 10 miles away in Boston Spa, a walk by the River Wharfe for Hazel the dog is definitely crisper than usual underfoot:

Image source, Julia Rushworth

It looks like snow's been falling hard and fast in Harrogate.

And it appears to be causing some problems on the roads just now as a result:

Drivers in North Yorkshire are being warned not to travel unless it's essential and to reconsider their routes after snow caused dangerous road conditions.

The A169 from Pickering to Whitby is closed due to vehicles getting stranded, the county's roads policing group says.

In West Yorkshire, Holme Moss in Kirklees is shut from the A628 Woodhead Pass due to the conditions.

Snow showers are forecast for many areas in North and West Yorkshire until Friday evening.

Under current national lockdown rules, residents must not leave home except where necessary.

Sgt Paul Cording, from North Yorkshire Police, says: "If you are out and about on an essential journey, please drive to the conditions. Make sure you've got your lights on and can be seen.

"We don't want to put any more pressure on our already overstretched NHS, so please take care."

Earlier, Traffic Con David Minto, also from North Yorkshire Police, tweeted this:

A woman from West Yorkshire with incurable cancer who has raised thousands of pounds to help others is now fundraising to try to prolong her own life.

Image source, Other

Lorraine Wilby (pictured) from Ossett, near Wakefield, has ocular cancer which has spread to her liver and the only treatment which could help is currently not available on the NHS.

The 56-year-old said she wanted to live longer to be able to walk her daughter down the aisle later this year.

She needs to raise £120,000 to pay for treatment privately.

The grandmother has raised more than £10,000 for charity over the years by taking part in countless runs and challenges.

She said: "It's a very, very aggressive cancer. I was initially given six to nine months if the treatment doesn't work and two to three years if it does."

Mrs Wilby is hoping to raise enough to pay for the procedure, which costs £40,000 per session and needs to be repeated several times.

An 89-year-old man who had gone missing from his home in North Yorkshire has been found, police say.

George Hall was reported missing from Pateley Bridge yesterday evening, sparking police searches in several areas.

Mr Hall is "safe and well" and the North Yorkshire force has thanked people for sharing its appeal for information.

Leeds United loan winger Jordan Stevens to West Yorkshire neighbours Bradford City for the rest of the League Two season.

Leeds United and Huddersfield Town's grounds will be among four new vaccination hubs, the NHS says.

BBC Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold with showery outbreaks of sleet and snow.

Through this evening, any remaining sleet or snow flurries will tend to die away.

It'll turn dry and cold overnight with clear periods and light winds:

Two people were left injured after a gun was fired at a property in Sheffield earlier this week in what police say was one of two "linked" firearms discharges in the city on the same night.

In the first incident, shots were fired towards an address on Castledale Croft on the Manor at about 20:00 on Wednesday night, according to South Yorkshire Police.

A 42-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man who were inside the property received minor injuries and needed hospital treatment as a result. The woman remains in hospital.

Then, at about 21:00, a gun was fired on Prince of Wales Road, officers say.

The two incidents are believed to be linked, police add.

Anyone with information about what happened, or who has dash camera or CCTV footage from around the time of the incidents, is being asked to contact the South Yorkshire force.

League Two side Bradford City sign goalkeeper Will Huffer from National League North club Bradford (Park Avenue).

Huddersfield Town sign Newcastle United winger Rolando Aarons on a deal initially until the summer of 2023.

Leeds United's Elland Road site will be one of four large coronavirus vaccination centres in West Yorkshire.

Image source, George Wood/Getty

The ground will be joined by Huddersfield Town's John Smith's Stadium, Jacob's Well in Bradford and Spectrum Community Healthcare CIC in Wakefield.

As well as large non-clinical sites, hospitals and dozens of GP practices across the county will also be used to rollout the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, it has been revealed.

The Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCG) said 17 of 19 primary care networks in the city are now providing vaccinations from centres with the final two expected to start next week.

The Oxford vaccine does not need to be stored at ultra-low temperatures and is much easier to move so is easier to use in care homes and will mean GPs can now start vaccinating housebound patients.

All services will continue to be appointment only and people will be invited for vaccinations through a national booking system, which will allow them to choose the most convenient location for them.

Dr Jason Broch, GP and Clinical Chair for LCCG said: “It is great news that we will be able to protect more vulnerable people. We are working with partners in Leeds to make sure people can get their first vaccination as quickly and easily as possible and are ready to expand the rollout as fast as supplies become available."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Sheffield hospitals are "not overwhelmed" but Covid cases are "far too high" and still on the up, the city's health chief says.

Image source, PA Media

Greg Fell, director of public health in Sheffield, told a full council meeting: “A significant proportion of hospital beds have someone with Covid.

He said: “Yorkshire hospitals are in a different position to hospitals in London, but it’s a very high proportion of people with Covid in hospital beds. It’s difficult to manage as hospitals are busy at this time of year."

In some parts of London, infection rates are about 1,200 per 100,000 people while in Sheffield it's 250 per 100,000 people, the meeting heard.

Mr Fell said rising cases and the new variant of Covid-19 meant there was “zero room for manoeuvre".