Fire crews were called to the flats on Bryan Close in Castleford just after 13:30 BST on Thursday.

Sussex bowl Yorkshire out for 150 on day one of their County Championship fixture before finishing the day on 118-3 in reply.

Three people discuss ditching the car, cutting plastic use and campaigning against exhaust fumes.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

People in North Yorkshire are being warned to remain "cautious" as the county's Covid situation is described by health officials as "encouraging but volatile".

Image source, Reuters/Toby Melville

Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said since the easing of lockdown restrictions infection rates had fluctuated around national average levels with some small outbreaks.

He warned the public not to think the threat of coronavirus had gone away and told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum briefing people "still need to be careful and thoughtful".

He said: "Yorkshire has some of the highest rates of continuing infection in England and there is no single explanation for that."

Out of England’s nine main regions, Yorkshire and the Humber currently has the highest weekly infection rate with 52.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire's director of public health, said there was still a need for people to remain on their guard to ensure more restrictions can be lifted on schedule next month.

She said: “I’m sure since the easing of restrictions over the past few weeks many people have taken the opportunity to meet up outdoors. But I want to take this opportunity to remind everybody just how important it is to meet up safely."

Parents in York have been thanked by police for helping to keep an area of the city trouble-free last weekend and have pledged continued increased patrols there.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Last week, officers asked for parents' cooperation in tackling drinking, littering and intimidating behaviour by young people seen on Little Knavesmire (pictured) over previous weekends.

Insp Lee Pointon, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "My thanks goes to those who supported us and our plea to parents to make sure they knew where their children were and what they were doing.

"The weekend passed off quietly with officers only needing to speak to one group when they asked them to consider local residents, which they duly did."

Officers carried out high-visibility patrols into the early hours of the morning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and put dispersal orders in place to deal with any groups causing anti-social behaviour or worse, according to the North Yorkshire force.

Insp Pointon said there would be "more of the same" over the coming weekend and the dispersal orders would remain in place.

A shop worker was left "shaken" after being threatened with weapons during a robbery at a convenience store in North East Lincolnshire last night, police say.

Image source, Humberside Police

It happened between 20:30 and 20:50 at a store on Brereton Avenue in Grimsby.

The robbery involved three men who were caught on CCTV as they threatened the shop worker and stole various items.

Det Insp Kerry Bull, from Humberside Police, says: "We are conducting extensive inquiries to establish the identity of the men in these images.

"This incident has left the shop worker understandably shaken, but thankfully she wasn’t physically injured.

Image source, Humberside Police

Anyone who recognises the men in the CCTV images is being asked to contact police.

A woman's been attacked during a robbery involving four masked males, one armed with a knife, at a petrol station in Leeds, say police.

Image source, Google

Four men wearing dark clothing entered the BP service station, in York Road, Whinmoor, shortly after 19:30 last night, according to West Yorkshire Police.

A spokesperson for the force said: "One of the males was armed with a large knife and grabbed hold of the lone female staff member and threw her to the floor before forcing her to open the till.

"The suspects stole cash from the till as well as quantity of cigarettes before driving off."

Det Insp Michael Herbert said: “This was obviously a frightening experience for the member of staff involved and she has been left understandably distressed by it.

“We're carrying out extensive inquiries to identify those responsible and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the suspects in the vicinity."

Police say the 32-year-old died after being stabbed in the Manor area of the city on Saturday.

Organisers of the family-run Deer Shed music festival in North Yorkshire say they've had to cancel this summer's event due to a lack of Covid insurance, external.

Image source, Andrew Barton/BBC

The three-day festival was due take place near Topcliffe in July, but organisers say they've been unable to secure insurance to protect them from Covid cancellation.

The live music industry has been calling on the government to provide cancellation insurance for festivals.

That would allow organisers to go ahead with their plans without suffering financial losses if they were forced to cancel their events due to a new spike in Covid cases.

Image source, Andrew Barton/BBC

But after months of lobbying, no such scheme has been put in place and Deer Shed organisers cited that as the main reason for cancelling the festival.

Director Oliver Jones said: "Without Covid insurance we can't risk it, not with the amount of money we have to lay out before the event starts,

"Perhaps half our budget is spent on deposits or artists and contractors and the phone call you're dreading is there's been a local outbreak.

"The risks of running without insurance leaves us financially exposed well beyond our comfort zone."

An investigation's been launched after a firearm was discharged towards a vehicle in South Yorkshire, police have confirmed.

It happened on Wath Wood Road, Rotherham, at about 23:00 on Wednesday 14 April.

Police believe a black Nissan Navara pick-up followed a silver/grey Land Rover before an occupant of the Land Rover got out and fired the weapon in the direction of the Navara.

The 23-year-old driver of the Navara was not injured in the incident, officers say.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has any information which they believe might be helpful to police, is being asked to contact the South Yorkshire force.

People in a Lincolnshire town say they are worried they have waited over 12 weeks for their new jab.

A teenager is being treated in hospital after he was seriously injured in a knife attack in Leeds, say police.

The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was found in Harehills Park, on Coldcotes Avenue, at about 20:50 last night with a serious injury to his shoulder, according to West Yorkshire Police.

He was taken to hospital and is continuing to receive treatment. His injuries are not life-threatening, police said.

A police scene has been set up in the park while forensic examination and searches take place.

A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire force said: "The victim was in the park with a male friend, also aged 16, when they were approached by a large group of black and Asian males who attacked them.

"The friend received minor injuries consisting of bruising."

Det Insp Michael Herbert said: “The victim has received a very significant injury and we are currently working to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident and to identify those responsible.

“We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw a large group of males in the vicinity of the park either at the time of the attack or in the period leading up to it."

Everyone aged 50 and over in York and North Yorkshire has been offered a Covid-19 vaccination, the NHS has confirmed.

Image source, Reuters/Paul Childs

The national target for the over-50s has been met and people aged 45 to 49 are now being encouraged to book their vaccinations, NHS North Yorkshire and NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says.

Dr Charles Parker, clinical chair of NHS North Yorkshire CCG, says hitting the target as promised by 15 April is "fantastic news" and is "thanks to an army of GP practice staff and volunteers".

"I would like to say thank you to everyone, including the public in North Yorkshire and York, who have enabled us to meet this important milestone," he adds.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for the CCG, says: "I encourage everyone offered the vaccination to come forward when you are invited.

"Taking the vaccine is the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and those around us so that we can move towards a more normal life."

A Lincolnshire man who wrongly believed police were following him led officers on a chase reaching speeds of up to 110mph, a court heard.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Tracy Hercules, 22, who had never held a driving licence, sped away when he saw a patrol car approach with its blue lights and siren on, police said.

The officers, who had been heading to an unrelated call, gave chase, pursuing Hercules for 25 minutes until he crashed into a ditch.

Hercules, who admitted dangerous driving, was jailed for eight months at Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had pulled out in front of the police car near Spalding, Lincolnshire, on 8 March.

He then drove at speeds of up to 110mph in a 60mph limit area in a bid to get away, the court was told.

"He twice went through red traffic lights and caused other drivers to take evasive action to avoid a collision," Ms Leonard said.

Police later deployed a stinger, but the defendant drove through it, again travelling at speed before losing control and ending up in a ditch, the prosecutor added.

Recorder Charles Falk, passing sentence, told him: "This was seriously bad driving."

Hercules, of Wellington Way, Market Deeping, admitted charges of dangerous driving, having no licence or insurance and possession of cannabis.

Three more men have been arrested after a man was found dead in a Sheffield street at the weekend, police say.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Danny Irons (pictured above), 32, was found stabbed at Fretson Green in the Manor area at about 00:35 on Saturday. Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 24-year-old man from Rotherham, and two 29-year-old men from Sheffield were arrested on suspicion of murder last night, according to South Yorkshire Police.

All three are currently being held in police custody officers said.

A 28-year-old Sheffield man arrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder was released under investigation the following day, officers said.

Det Ch Insp Simon Palmer, said: "I continue to appeal to anyone who has information about what happened to Danny to get in touch with us.

"We are particularly keen to hear about any vehicles that were seen in the Fretson Green area around the time of the incident."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Electric bikes are now available to hire across York as part of a year-long trial to increase "green" options for travel in the city, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Tier Mobility

Private company Tier launched a trial of electric scooters for hire in York last year as part of government transport plans, and the firm says it has now added 50 electric bikes to their fleet.

A total of 250 rental e-scooters have also been upgraded with smaller decks to stop two people riding them at the same time.

The upgraded e-scooters have also been fitted with improved identification plates so people can report irresponsible riders.

The scooters have been used by more than 6,500 people since the trial was launched and there are nearly 40 marked parking areas.

The government is currently carrying out a survey for users of the Tier app to hear residents’ experiences.

Privately owned e-scooters are still illegal to ride on public land. E-scooters and e-bikes cannot be used in York’s pedestrianised streets, but can be used on roads and cycle paths.

A group of firefighters from Leeds have raised more than £7,000 completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge while dressed in their full kit.

Five members of white watch at Hunslet Fire Station set off on the 24-mile route between Pen-y-ghent and Ribblehead at about 06:30 yesterday morning.

The walk route takes in Pen-y-Ghent at 2,277ft (pictured below), Whernside at 2,414ft and Ingleborough 2,372ft.

The crew undertook the challenge to raise awareness of motor neurone disease (MND).

Image source, Phillip Halling/Geograph

One of the team was Mark Newton, the brother-in-law of Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow.

Mr Burrow was diagnosed with MND in December 2019, two years after ending his playing career by helping Leeds Rhinos to a record-extending eighth Super League Grand Final in autumn 2017.

Mr Newton, said: "To everybody who donated, thank you very much, it means the world.

"It went well until the last peak - that's when it hit home.

"It was like having razor blades on the bottom of your feet while somebody stood on your back, but we did it for one reason, to raise money for MND."

Ahead of local elections on 6 May, we break down how our local authorities spend your money.

Today will be mostly dry, fine and clear. It will feel mild in the lengthy spells of sunshine.

Tonight will be chilly with light winds and areas of frost:

Hull KR hooker Jez Litten signs a new deal to remain with the Super League club for a further four years.