Tributes have been paid to a "beloved" motorbike rider who died after a bird hit his helmet, knocking him off his bike.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

William Jackson, known as Billy, 73, is said to have collided with the animal after he overtook two cars on Mortimer Road, Sheffield at 12:20 on Tuesday 30 March.

Mr Jackson's bike then left the road, leaving him in a ditch.

He died at the scene, police said.

Paying tribute, Mr Jackson's family said he was "a beloved husband, devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend."

They added: "He lived life to the full and leaves us far too soon. With happy and fond memories he will be truly missed."

An appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision has been launched by South Yorkshire Police.

Firefighters in Harrogate helped remove a toilet seat from a toddler's head.

Image source, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said a crew went to the Allotment Gardens area of the town on Tuesday afternoon.The incident report said firefighters "gave advice to lubricate the area with soap and the child's mother was able to remove the toilet seat".

A 15-year-old boy who died when his bicycle collided with a car in East Yorkshire has been named by police.

Image source, Humberside Police

Riley Ketley died in hospital after the crash on Woodhall Way in Beverley on Thursday 8 April.

Humberside Police said his family was being supported by specially trained officers.

The force is appealing for anybody who witnessed the incident to contact them.

Civic buildings in Leeds were lit up in green to mark the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Image source, Leeds City Council

Leeds Museum and the Civic Hall were among those taking part.

You can find out more about Ramadan here.

The Pensions Regulator claims as many as 245 people were persuaded to transfer money into 11 schemes.

Two men have died after being found collapsed in the street in separate incidents in Cleethorpes, police said.

Image source, Google

On Monday evening a 21-year-old man was found in Grant Street and was taken to hospital where he later died.

At 01:15 BST on Tuesday emergency services were called to a separate incident on Sea View Street. The man involved also later died in hospital.

Humberside Police said neither death was thought to be suspicious, but inquiries to establish the cause of each death were continuing.

Sarah Wakefield
BBC Radio Leeds News

A homelessness charity in Leeds is opening a new base to help recovering addicts.

Image source, St George's Crypt, Leeds

The Growing Rooms service, which is part of St George's Crypt homeless charity, helps people who've been addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The new hub is based in Armley and has a group therapy room, dining room as well as counselling rooms.

John Davis, who leads the service, said: "The Growing Rooms service is getting bigger and more people are coming to us for help now they know where we are. There wasn't enough space for us to eat together before, which is an integral part of dealing with addiction and communicating."

During the pandemic, Growing Rooms has seen five people from its group complete the programme, staying away from drugs or alcohol for 12 months.

A car crashed into the side of a house in Skegness before the driver fled the scene, police have said.

The white Vauxhall Insignia crashed into the property on A52 Croftbank at about 23:30 BST on Monday.

The road was closed between Low Road and Cowbank Lane near to the Pintrees Leisure Park while investigations were carried out.

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

A 28-year-old solicitor from Sheffield has become one of the first people in England to receive the Moderna vaccine as part of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Emily Sanderson received the jab the Sheffield Arena vaccination centre.

Ms Sanderson, who has an underlying health condition, was due to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine but it was changed to Moderna, the NHS said.

She said it felt "brilliant" to get the jab and urged other people to get vaccinated."It's really important so we can all go back to normal life, hopefully, and also protect other people who are more vulnerable than ourselves."

UK regulators have said that people under the age of 30 should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying there was a possible link between the jab and "extremely rare" blood clots.

A man was stabbed in the arm and leg by muggers in West Yorkshire.

Image source, Google

The 19-year-old victim ended up in hospital following the attack in the early hours of Sunday on Lyndon Road in Bramham.

The teenager, whose injuries are not life-threatening, told police he had been walking in the street when he was approached by the three men who assaulted him and took cash from him before they ran off in the direction of Clifford Road.

Five people have been arrested for "alcohol-fuelled disorder" in North Lincolnshire, Humberside Police said.

Image source, Humberside Police

In a social media post the force said "a very busy night across North Lincs, anybody would think the pubs have reopened".

Officers dealt with incidents in Ashby, Ferry Road, Westwoodside, West Butterwick and Barnetby,Police urged people to drink responsibly.

People driving to pub beer gardens are urged to "be a hero" and not drink alcohol, as police expect an upsurge in drink-driving because of easing coronavirus restrictions.

Image source, PA Media

North Yorkshire Police said 871 drink-drivers were arrested in the county last year - an average of more than two people a day.

From 1 January to 31 March this year 136 people have been arrested for drink driving offences despite pubs being closed, the force said.

Its new campaign, "Be a hero, stay at zero", asks people not to drink alcohol at all if driving to pubs, and encourages people to use public transport, choose a designated driver and report drink-driving - even friends and family members - in order to save lives.

“After months of being stuck at home, it's only natural that people will want to go out and celebrate the latest step in the roadmap to ease coronavirus restrictions, Sgt Andrew Morton said.

But he added: "During the past year we’ve heard a lot about ‘heroes’ and this is your chance to be one; make the right call – be a hero, stay at zero.”

Mr Morton said officers would be patrolling the county's roads "around the clock" on the lookout for drink-driving. "No drink is worth a fine, a ban, yours or even someone else’s life," he said.

Image source, Sammy Jayyne

Firefighters have spent the night tackling a huge blaze at an industrial site in Dewsbury.

Large plumes of smoke and flames could be seen for miles around from the premises at Bretton Park Way in Savile Town.

Image source, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Victoria Cook

Eight fire engines and two aerial appliances were deployed after the fire started just after 19:00 BST on Monday.

The fire service said damping down was taking place and the response had been scaled back with one engine and aerial appliance still on scene.

There were no reports of injuries but residents were told to keep windows and doors shut due to the smoke.

A senior Humberside Police officer has urged the public to remain vigilant despite the continued easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Assistant Chief Constable Darren Downes said despite non-essential retail reopening and the relaxation of rules on bars and restaurants public safety was the "top priority".

ACC Downes said officers would continue with increased foot patrols in "hot spot" areas where there had previously been problems.

He added: "Officers will implement the 4Es with Engage, Explain and Encourage being our focus.

“This approach has worked successfully throughout the course of the pandemic and there are no plans to move away from this approach. Enforcement will be a last resort, but we will enforce the government guidance and issue fixed penalty notices, if and when necessary.

“If you have any concerns over the current guidance, please talk to our officers while they are out on patrol, they are there to help you and keep everyone safe."

BBC Weather

Today will be a dry day across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire with plenty of bright sunshine this morning but turning cloudier in the afternoon.

Staying largely dry tonight also, with just the slight risk of the odd isolated shower.

The cloud will be patchy, giving plenty of clear spells and frost in places.

England is giving out its first doses of the Moderna jab, the third Covid-19 vaccine in the nation's rollout.

Image source, PA

It will be available at 21 sites, including the Sheffield Arena.

Along with the Pfizer jab, it offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.

Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, said the move "marks another milestone" in the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

The news comes as the Government confirmed that it has met its target of offering a Covid-19 vaccine to the highest priority groups by mid-April - those over the age of 50 and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

Khuram Javed's employer pays tribute to him after he was shot dead in Sheffield on Saturday.

West Yorkshire Police staff member Carl Hardcastle admitted possessing an indecent image of a child.

A West Yorkshire Police employee who was caught with indecent images of children has been handed a community order after appearing in court.

Image source, PA Media

Carl Hardcastle, 57, pleaded guilty to making an indecent photograph of a child at Leeds Crown Court today.

Hardcastle, from Otley, was sentenced to the two-year order, which also includes undertaking a programme for sex offenders.

He had worked in Protective Services Crime but resigned from the force.

Det Con Elkie Gardner of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “I hope this prosecution demonstrates that it doesn’t matter who you are, if you are found to be in possession of indecent images of children, we will investigate and take action against you.

“Hardcastle was a member of police staff and suspended from duty as a result of this investigation. Being complicit in sexual offences against children goes against everything that we value and work for as a police service.

“He has already resigned from the force but, following the conclusion of this court case, we will progress with misconduct proceedings looking at preventing any future employment within the police.”

It is hoped the scheme will boost trade and encourage people back to the town centre.