People in Hull are being reminded it's their responsibility to "stay safe" as the city moved to the top of the national league table for coronavirus infection rates.

Image source, Google

Hull now has 171 new weekly cases per 100,000 people, with almost as many Covid patients in the hospitals across Hull and Cottingham as there was in the peak of the first wave of the virus.

Dr Makani Purva, chief medical officer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals said: "We need the hospital environment to be safe for all patients, so we need to bring down the number of Covid patients we have in our hospitals so that we can provide care.

"So every person in the community has a responsibility for staying safe."

Chocolate maker Thorntons, which was founded in Sheffield in 1911, has said none of its stores will reopen after coronavirus lockdowns are lifted.

Image source, PA Media

The decision to shutter 61 shops - including stores in Sheffield, Keighley, Leeds and Huddersfield - will put more than 600 jobs at risk.

The company said it had been badly hit by the pandemic, which hit trade during the crucial Christmas and Easter holidays.

"The obstacles we have faced and will continue to face on the High Street are too severe," said Thorntons retail director Adam Goddard.

"Despite our best efforts we have taken the difficult decision to permanently close our retail store estate."

Hundreds of people took part in a vigil in Leeds last night aimed at highlighting the abuse and harassment of women.

It followed the death of Sarah Everard, the marketing executive from York whose body was found after she disappeared while walking home in south London.

Organisers said they were also protesting against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently being debated in Parliament. If passed, police would have more powers to restrict demonstrations.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said they fully understood the "genuine safety concerns" of women following the death of Ms Everard.

"It is entirely normal that the public wish to express their solidarity and concern in these circumstances," a spokesperson said.

"However, the threat from coronavirus remains, and any large gathering is a real risk to health," they added.

Meanwhile "immediate steps" aimed at improving safety for women and girls in England have been announced by Downing Street after Sarah Everard's death.

Among them is an additional £25m for better lighting and CCTV as well as a pilot scheme which would see plain-clothes officers in pubs and clubs.

BBC Weather

Rain initially this morning will soon clear leaving it cloudy for a time.

The cloud should clear by the afternoon to reveal plenty of sunshine.

Tonight will be dry and partially clear this evening and overnight, with just high level cloud:

Shied Riasat walked out of the open prison in 2012 before leaving the UK to make a new life in Malaysia.

The mother of missing York woman Claudia Lawrence says she plans to write to Sarah Everard's parents because she says she knows "exactly how they feel".

Sarah Everard (pictured), 33, who was originally from York, disappeared as she walked home in Clapham on 3 March.

Her body was found one week later in Kent woodland. Serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with her murder.

Joan Lawrence's daughter, Claudia, was 35 when she was last seen on 18 March 2009. Police believe she was murdered but her body has never been found.

Speaking of Ms Everard's parents, Mrs Lawrence said: "I've been thinking about them, especially Sarah's mum...I'm just wondering how they're coping with it all.

"I'm hoping to get in touch with Sarah's mum because I know exactly where she's coming from and how she feels.

"Because she comes from York, it seems more significant for me."

Claudia Lawrence's father, Peter, died last month without ever knowing what happened to his daughter.

Emma Glasbey
Journalist, BBC Look North

Hundreds of people are attending a protest in Millennium Square in Leeds against the way police in London handled a vigil for Sarah Everard at the weekend.

The event, which organisers Reclaim the Night Leeds have asked attendees to wear masks and socially distance at, is also to protest at the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police says: "We understand the genuine safety concerns women have, concerns which have been amplified following the recent tragic death of Sarah Everard.

"Women should always feel safe to walk the streets of West Yorkshire and we remain committed to making the county a safe place to live and work for everyone.

"It is entirely normal the public wish to express their solidarity and concern in these circumstances."

However, the statement adds that "the threat from coronavirus remains and any large gathering is a real risk to individuals' health".

"We would ask everyone to consider the current risk to their own health and think about attending public events at a later date, when it is both safe and legal to do so."

Residents of Leven wondered if a shiny black rock which crashed noisily into a back garden was originally from space.

A delivery driver whose car was so full of parcels he could not see out of the passenger window almost caused a collision, police in South Yorkshire have said.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Officers posted an image of the car online after stopping it in Sheffield.

In the Facebook post, South Yorkshire Police said: "We fully appreciate people working and don't want to hinder your working day, however we see examples of this far too often".

The driver has been reported for traffic offences, officers added.

The South Yorkshire force advised: "Do not overload your vehicle beyond its capacity and ensure your vehicle is safe to drive, which includes being able to see through the front windows/wing mirrors."

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

BBC Weather

It will be a dry start to the night for Lincolnshire, but rain will move in later.

Here's the latest forecast:

West Yorkshire Police says the officer who has been charged has been suspended from the force.

BBC Radio Bradford

A group of off-road drivers and riders have made a "total mess" of a field in the south of Bradford, according to police.

Officers from the Steerside Enforcement Team, which tackles anti-social and criminal behaviour on Bradford's roads, are working to identify the drivers and riders who drove in the field at Shetcliffe Lane.

Posting on social media, police described the individuals as "selfish, thoughtless, anti-social off-roaders":

Fines for coronavirus breaches were issued to "several" people who were still at the scene, police have said.

Illicit tobacco and thousands of pounds in cash has been seized during what's described as a "weekend of action" in North East Lincolnshire.

A "large amount" of tobacco plus approximately £4,000 cash was recovered from several properties on Freeman Street in Grimsby, according to Humberside Police.

Officers from the town's neighbourhood patrol joined Trading Standards officers in visiting a number of properties in the area.

People intending to join a planned protest in Leeds city centre this evening are being asked by police to "consider the risk" due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Image source, EPA/Neil Hall

Reclaim the Night Leeds plans to hold the protest in Millennium Square from 17:00, with organisers asking those taking part to wear a mask and socially distance.

The protest is over the way police handled a vigil for Sarah Everard in London at the weekend and also against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, organisers say.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police says: "We understand the genuine safety concerns women have, concerns which have been amplified following the recent tragic death of Sarah Everard.

"Women should always feel safe to walk the streets of West Yorkshire and we remain committed to making the county a safe place to live and work for everyone.

"It is entirely normal the public wish to express their solidarity and concern in these circumstances."

However, the statement adds that "the threat from coronavirus remains and any large gathering is a real risk to individuals' health".

"We would ask everyone to consider the current risk to their own health and think about attending public events at a later date, when it is both safe and legal to do so."

PA Media

A man who ran a stately home in North Yorkshire which was made famous in two major TV series has appeared in court charged with child sex offences.

Simon Howard, 65, appeared by videolink at York Crown Court accused of indecent assault and incitement to commit an act of gross indecency against a girl aged under 14 at Castle Howard in 1984.

Mr Howard managed his family's stately home - which has featured in Brideshead Revisited and the Netflix show Bridgerton - for more than 30 years.

The court heard a provisional trial date has been set for 18 October.

Mr Howard, who appeared alongside his solicitor on the videolink during the brief hearing, did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name.

At a previous hearing at York Magistrates' Court, Mr Howard, who now lives near Malton, North Yorkshire, indicated he would enter not guilty pleas to both counts.

A family statement released in January said Mr Howard denied the charges.

It read: "Simon Howard's whole family are shocked by these allegations and are fully supportive of SH's confidence that he is innocent of all charges - which he denies in the strongest possible terms."

In a statement, the Castle Howard estate said: "Simon Howard is no longer involved with Castle Howard, having stepped down as a director and shareholder five years ago."

A further hearing is expected to be held at York Crown Court on 8 October.

The RAF says there are "no plans" to cut funding to the world famous Lincolnshire-based Red Arrows aerobatic team, despite reports the "clock was ticking" on their future.

Image source, Niall Carson/PA Wire

There's been speculation that new technology needed to keep the Hawk jets in the sky was too expensive, but an RAF spokesman has told the BBC there was a commitment to support the team, which is currently based at RAF Scampton.

In a statement, the RAF said: “There are no plans to change the Red Arrows’ funding. We remain committed to supporting the Red Arrows who inspire the next generation of pilots and are a great source of national pride.”

The exact locations where high explosive bombs fell during a World War Two air raid in Leeds have been fully mapped for the first time.

Image source, Leeds Photographic Archive

An estimated 25 tons of bombs were dropped on the city on 14 March 1941.

It led to the deaths of 65 people and caused more than 100 serious fires, damaging 4,500 buildings.

Students at Leeds Beckett University have used a range of sources to create the interactive map, external to mark the 80th anniversary of the raid.

Image source, Leeds Photographic Archive

The raid aimed to damage the gas works and the industrial areas surrounding the River Aire.

However, others sites were also hit including the Town Hall, City Museum, telephone exchange and homes.

Dr Henry Irving, senior lecturer in public history, said he and the students were struck by how little had been written about the raid.

"The students also worked to connect individual incidents with the people affected, adding details about the legacies of the raid," he said.

Two men appear in court after Jason Clark, 40, was found fatally injured outside a flat in Hull.

Kevin Singleton says he forgives wife Joanne for attacking him over fears he was having an affair.

A Lincolnshire charity which provides end-of-life care says it could be forced to scale back some services because of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Google

St Barnabas Hospice says it is losing about £1,300 a day in income because of the closure of its shops and cancellation of its fundraising events due to Covid-19.

Managers say the challenge is that people increasingly need the service they provide.