NHS England chief visits the Newcastle hospital that dealt with the UK's first Covid-19 cases.

Buildings across Leeds city centre are to be lit up this weekend to remember those who've died during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Image source, Leeds City Council

It's exactly 12 months since medics were called to a hotel in York to what became the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in the UK.

The virus has since claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people in this country, with more than 1,300 of those deaths in Leeds., external

In a statement, Leeds City Council said: "As a mark of respect, buildings including Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds Town Hall, Leeds City Museum and Leeds Arena will be illuminated blue in tribute to NHS staff and yellow, the colour which symbolises grief awareness.

"The sombre landmark comes amid the more positive news that almost 80,000 people in Leeds have now received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine."

Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “This weekend we reach a solemn milestone for our city and for the whole country as we mark one year since the beginning of what has been one of the most anxious and uncertain times in living memory.

“The sadness of losing so many lives cannot be overstated and commemorating that loss and expressing our solidarity with those who have said goodbye to friends, loved ones and family members will be a poignant moment."

A man's leg has been broken in an attack on playing fields in York, say police.

Image source, Google

A man approached another man and pushed him to the ground on playing fields near Union Terrace at about 11:00 on Monday 25 January, according to North Yorkshire Police.

The assault resulted in the victim suffering a broken leg, police said.

A police spokesman said: “We're appealing for anyone with information about the identity of the man involved or another man who was on the field at the same time.

“One man left the scene on a mountain bike and the other on foot. Both were seen heading onto Clarence Street.”

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

Hull FC's star 2021 signing Josh Reynolds is already settling in well after three injury-hit years in the NRL.

A 23-year-old motorcyclist has died in a collision with a lamp-post in Rotherham, police say.

Image source, Google

Emergency services were called to Centenary Way, near the junction with Canklow Road, at about 12:00 yesterday, where a black Daelim motorcycle had hit a lamp-post, according to South Yorkshire Police.

No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the collision, police said.

The rider of the motorcycle, who was from Sheffield, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, officers added.

Anyone who saw the incident, or who has dash camera footage of the crash, is being asked to contact police.

Work to install a new lifting flood gate at York's Foss flood barrier has been completed by the Environment Agency.

Image source, Oliver Harmar/Environment Agency

The old gate has been replaced as part of a £38m upgrade to the barrier and pumping station, promised to reduce flood risk for 1,200 homes.

Installation of the new 18-tonne gate, which is 28ft tall, was paused due to high water levels during Storm Christoph last week.

Upgrade work is due to end in June.

The agency said the taller replacement gate would better protect homes and businesses by stopping flood water from the River Ouse backing up along the River Foss after heavy rainfall.

The capacity of the station's eight pumps has been increased, and mechanical and electrical equipment operating the gate has been replaced.

The work was ordered after the city was flooded in December 2015 when the barrier was lifted to prevent its control room from flooding.

The man was rearrested on suspicion of murder over the death of Lewis Williams in Mexborough, police said.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Pontefract Squash Club will open as a Covid vaccination site next week, it's been confirmed.

The venue, on Stuart Road, has been closed to members because of the coronavirus lockdown.

However, it will now be re-purposed as a pharmacy-run vaccination centre from next Tuesday, the local NHS has said.

It joins other local landmarks, including Castleford Civic Centre and Sandal Rugby Club in Wakefield, in being used to administer the jab.

Meanwhile, residents and staff in all care homes across the Wakefield district, will have been offered the vaccine by the end of this week.

Ruth Unwin, from Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group, told a scrutiny meeting on Thursday that take-up of the jab locally had been “positive”.

She added that the proportion of over-80s who had been vaccinated in Wakefield was the “highest across West Yorkshire”.

Police officers were pelted with bricks, bottles and fireworks during the disturbance, a court hears.

Exactly one year on from the first UK cases of coronavirus being discovered in a York hotel, the city's director of public health has said she initially found out about the outbreak in local media.

Image source, Google

Sharon Stoltz says she learned of the potential outbreak of Covid-19 at York's Staycity apartment-hotel from a newspaper report.

It quoted a woman who had seen a man in the back of an ambulance wearing a mask and surrounded by paramedics in white "quarantine suits".

Ms Stoltz told BBC Radio York: "I guess I was kind of praying York wouldn't be the place.

"But we train and we prepare for these things, so once I got over the initial shock, you just launch into the job really."

You can listen to BBC Radio York's documentary When Coronavirus Came to York on Sunday at 09:30 - or listen later by clicking this link.

People in Kirklees are being warned to "be alert" after several local residents received telephone calls from people pretending to be police officers requesting personal bank details.

Image source, PA Media

No cash is believed to have been handed over following the calls, which were received by three different people in the district between 18 an 19 January, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Officers investigating these incidents are urging people not to hand over any personal details to cold callers.

Det Con Vicky Foley said: "The police would never call someone to request their personal banking details or ask you to transfer money to other bank accounts.

"One of the callers appeared to have personal information about the person they telephoned, so we would also ask people to look after sensitive information and dispose of any documents with this on safely."

Off-road bikers and quad riders have caused "heartbreaking" damage to farmers' fields in South Yorkshire, say police.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

These photographs show the damage caused "solely by off-road bikers" to fields next to the A630, near Conisbrough, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Officers in the area have issued a warning to those responsible that extra patrols by the local neighbourhood team and police off-road bikers are taking place to tackle the issue.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Insp Adrian Luscombe said:“This is heartbreaking for farmers and it’s also really costly for them to repair.

“I would like those responsible to know we are watching - and we are taking action."

He added: “When you’re riding over a field to get your kicks on your bike, you’re destroying someone’s livelihood, the crops that put food on their table and yours.

“Think about that and think twice about what you’re doing," he urged.

Stevenage sign Ilias Chair, Elijah Adebayo, Jordan Gibson and Calum Dyson on loan, while Oliver Byrne signs a permanent deal.

A Yorkshire wildlife artist has recorded rare footage of a tawny owl laying its first egg this week.

Image source, Robert Fuller

The owl, nicknamed Luna, was filmed on cameras hidden inside a purpose-built nest at Robert Fuller's Thixendale home.

The artist said he was "delighted and very surprised" when Luna laid her first egg on Monday, as tawny owls usually lay their eggs in March.

Mr Fuller said: "Although it is very early for a tawny owl to lay eggs in winter, it’s not unheard of, and I’m looking forward to seeing her complete the clutch.”

Luna the tawny owl is expected to lay an egg every other day until her clutch is complete.

John Whitehouse and his wife plan to turn the rescued timber into a window seat for their home.

The new flood gate is a "major milestone" in a £38m upgrade to York's Foss barrier, officials say.

People in North Yorkshire are being warned of a Covid vaccination email scam designed to appear as if it's from the NHS.

Image source, Reuters

The email asks the recipient to follow a link to book their vaccination which involves filling out extensive personal details, police said.

North Yorkshire Police's financial abuse safeguarding officer, Andy Fox, said: "We've previously seen email scams promising vaccines in exchange for money, but this one is particularly worrying given its more convincing appearance.

"If you receive any suspicious emails, delete them immediately and if you think you have fallen victim to this scam, or any other, please call the police and contact your bank immediately too."

Doncaster Rovers sign striker Omar Bogle on an 18-month deal after he spent the first half of the season with Charlton.

Two men who organised a mass snowball fight in Leeds during the latest coronavirus lockdown have each been fined £10,000.

Hundreds descended on Hyde Park when heavy snowfall carpeted the city earlier this month.

West Yorkshire Police said the men, aged 20 and 23, had put those who took part or watched at "a significant and completely unnecessary risk".

Ch Supt Damien Miller said the event, on 14 January, had been a "blatant breach" of the rules.

"We take absolutely no pleasure in handing out such heavy fines to these two young men, but their actions encouraged hundreds of people to be in close proximity to each other," he said.

The 23-year-old had previously received a fine for breaching restrictions on mixing households, the force said.

Police declined to give any further details about how the men encouraged people to attend the snowball fight.

Motorists in East Yorkshire are being warned to be on their guard following several reports of catalytic converters being stolen from cars.

Thefts have taken place in Goole as well as in several places in northern Lincolnshire in the past month, according to Humberside Police.

Insp Dave Stephenson said: "While all cars are potentially at risk, thieves are most likely to target hybrids – where the catalytic converter is used less and the metals are less likely to be damaged – or vehicles with a higher ground clearance, such as vans and SUVs.

"We’re investigating all the reports we have received and are following up a number of lines of inquiry.

"In the meantime, we want to help prevent further thefts from occurring, so please pass on our advice to anyone you think may be at risk and, if you see anyone acting suspiciously, please call us on our non-emergency 101 line."