Neighbours have told how the stepfather of a man who died in a house fire tried in vain to go back into the property to save him.

About 30 firefighters were called to the blaze in Tooley Street in Boston at about 12:15 BST on Monday.

Police said the man who died was believed to be in his 30s, but he had not yet been formally identified.

Neighbour Martin Tunstall said he "dragged" the stepfather away as it was too dangerous to go back in the house.

Mr Tunstall said the "back room was engulfed with flames".

"[The man] said 'I must go back into the house' and we held him back.

"He's a very brave man to do this."

A joint fire and police investigation has begun to find out the cause of the blaze.

Six fire appliances attended from Boston, Spalding, Horncastle and Donington, according to the fire service.

BBC Radio Leeds

West Yorkshire's newly-elected mayor Tracy Brabin has called on bus companies to "do better" after complaining about her journey to work.

Writing on Twitter, Ms Brabin said the online timetable "doesn't match actual arrival/journey times" and said the "15min drive" had taken "1hr+ on the bus".

Ms Brabin has previously said she wants to bring buses in West Yorkshire back into public control as part of her plans to overhaul transport in the region.

Responding to her comments, a spokesperson for Arriva Yorkshire, which run the bus route Ms Brabin commented on, said: "We are aware of issues Mayor Brabin unfortunately encountered on her bus journey this morning and we’ve reached out to her directly, to ask for more information on the bus route so we can fully investigate."

The new opening of Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

A man has been charged in connection with a stabbing in Rotherham which left a 30-year-old in a critical condition.

Image source, Google

The victim was injured in an incident in Churchill Avenue in Maltby at about 11:00 on Sunday.

South Yorkshire Police said a 32-year-old Rotherham man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article.

He is due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court later.

DCI Simon Palmer said: “Officers have remained in the area over the past 24-hours and searches will continue in Maltby today."

Anyone who was in the area and saw, or captured anything on dashcam or CCTV footage, is asked to contact police.

An estimated 170,000 car insurance claims in 15 months are suspected to have been linked to "crash for cash" gangs, investigations suggest.

Image source, LV= GENERAL INSURANCE

Crash for cash is the name given to a fraud when criminals deliberately cause a road collision to claim compensation.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), which shares intelligence within the sector, said there were 2.7 million motor insurance claims across the UK from October 2019 to the end of last year, of which 170,000 could be linked to suspected crash for cash networks.

It said the main hotspots were the B25, B34 and B8 postcode areas of Birmingham, and the BD7 and BD3 areas of Bradford.

It hoped that by pinpointing crash for cash hotspots, people would be encouraged to be vigilant as more drivers start to take to the roads.

Police say the weapon was "seized and made safe" after being discovered in a skip.

BBC Sport

A 24-year-old man has been arrested after a video emerged on social media appearing to show Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie in an altercation with some young men.

Image source, PA Media

In the video, a man is seen stamping on the phone he is being filmed on, before fighting with another man.

North Yorkshire Police said that "a 24-year-old man" had been "arrested in connection with an incident which involved another man being assaulted".

He remains in custody.

The police statement added: "The 21-year-old victim sustained facial injuries during the incident, which happened shortly before 8.30pm on Saturday, 8 May on High Street in Knaresborough."

Police said the boys, aged 15 and 16, and from Hull, were held after several "tragic and distressing" calls were made.

A cordon has been put in place around part of a North Yorkshire woodland after a suspected hand grenade was discovered.

Image source, Google

Writing on social media North Yorkshire Police said, external: "A member of the public has reported finding what's thought to be a hand grenade in Brayton Barff woods."

Members of the public are being advised to stay away from the area.

Stephen Brady, the leader of Hull City Council, has announced he is stepping down from the role after 10 years.

Mr Brady has been the leader of Hull Labour Group since 2007 and council leader since 2011.

In a statement he said he would not seek re-election at the forthcoming AGM, though will continue to serve as a councillor for the Southcoates until 2022.

He said his time as leader had been an "absolute honour and privilege".

He added: "We have achieved some great things with huge business investment, a very successful time as the UK City of Culture in 2017 and some major redevelopment works across the city.

"Hull is a great city with great people and I have been proud to have served as I have."

Mr Brady was awarded an OBE in 2018 following the success of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.

Labour retained control of Hull Council at last week's election despite losing one of its seats.

A group of schoolchildren from Bradford tell the world what their city means to them.

Two boys have been arrested in connection with a series of hoax phone calls telling people a loved one has died in a car crash, say police.

Image source, PA Media

Humberside Police said the boys, aged 15 and 16, are being questioned over a number of "very distressing" calls to members of the public.

A force spokesperson said: "The boys were arrested following our inquiries into a series of hoax calls to members of the public informing them of the death of a loved one in a fatal road traffic collision which is a very distressing call for anyone to receive."

Det Insp Andy Robinson added: “I would like to reassure people that we are treating these hoax calls extremely seriously.

“As police officers, we would never contact a member of the public by telephone to inform them of such a tragic and distressing incident."

Anyone who has received a similar call is asked to contact police.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to install two 300m zip wires in Whitby have been dubbed as "a crass idea" with fears the resort could turn into "Blackpool".

Image source, Pritti Mistry

The zip lines have been proposed between the Pavilion down to the West Pier lighthouse by an events firm.

But the Whitby and District Tourism Association said the "awful idea" was "totally out of keeping" with the resort's image.

The Barnsley-based company, Big Bang Promotions, said the zip lines would be a "pop up" attraction for the summer between 23 June and 5 September, which would boost the local visitor economy, "create local jobs and provide educational workshops".

Managing director Jon Snape confirmed it was in the "very early stages" of discussions with Scarborough Borough Council.

But it has been met by fierce opposition including the Whitby Town Council, which has voted unanimously to object to the proposal.

John Freeman, the association's chairman, said: "I find it amazing that anyone could even think of such a crass idea.

"It is totally out of keeping with the image Whitby wishes to project. We are not Blackpool or Scarborough and certainly do not want to go down that road."

Scarborough Borough Council said it was involved in talks but "a decision on whether to consider the proposal further" had not been made.

A woman has died in a hit-and-run collision in Bradford, say police.

Image source, Google

The woman, in her 30s, was killed when she was struck by a grey Citroen C1 in Lonsdale Street at about 15:00 on Monday.

West Yorkshire Police said the driver of the car left the scene before officers arrived.

A 41-year-old man was later arrested in connection with the incident and is being held in police custody.

Appealing for witnesses, Ch Insp Daniel Ware said: "A woman has lost her life and I would like to express my condolences to her family and friends.

"There were a number of people in the area at the time of this collision.

"I urge anyone who saw any part of this incident to please get in contact with us as a matter of urgency."

BBC Weather

Today will start dry with plenty of sunshine.

In the afternoon, cloud will develop and heavy showers will move in towards the evening.

This evening heavy showers will continue and may become thundery.

It will gradually turn drier overnight with some clear spells developing:

An online memorial service is due to be held later to remember the 56 football fans who died in the Bradford City fire.

Image source, Bradford City

Bradford City were playing Lincoln City at Valley Parade when the fire killed 54 Bradford fans and two Lincoln supporters on 11 May 1985.

The annual memorial service, featuring readings and prayers, was first moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic last year.

The service today is due to be streamed from 11:00, according to City of Bradford Council.

Writing on social media, Bradford City said, external: "May those tragically lost - on this day 36 years ago - be forever remembered."

Credit company Provident Financial has announced it is withdrawing from doorstep lending after 140 years.

Image source, Getty Images

The Bradford-based company blamed "changing industry and regulatory dynamics" as well as "shifting customer preferences" for the decision.

The move, which puts 2,100 jobs at risk, is part of plans to become a "broader banking group to the financially underserved customer", said chief executive Malcolm Le May.

Provident said its home credit business would now either be sold or wound down.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The new Leader of Sheffield Labour Group says he has approached opposition parties to discuss forming a coalition.

Image source, David Martin/Geograph

Terry Fox says he has requested meetings with both the Liberal Democrats and Greens after his party lost overall control of the council.

Labour lost eight eight seats, with the Greens picking up five and the Lib Dems gaining three, to fall two short of the 43 seats needed for a ruling majority. Meanwhile the Conservatives secured their first seat since 2007 in Stocksbridge.

The political parties will now need to forge a working partnership ahead of the council’s AGM on 19 May.

Mr Fox, who replaced Bob Johnson after he lost his seat, said: "I have requested a sit down meeting with both the Lib Dems and the Greens to discuss going forward.

“It’s incumbent on politicians to get an administration over the line so we can start serving the people of Sheffield and I will do everything I can to get that done by 19 May.”

Work begins to clean and restore the Buffalo as part of efforts to see it on public display.

The newly-elected mayor of West Yorkshire says it is an "enormous privilege" to be the first woman in the country to become a metro mayor.

Tracy Brabin said bringing a woman's voice to the table of metro mayors was a "great moment in our history".

Ms Brabin has stepped down as Labour MP for Batley and Spen, external after winning the post of West Yorkshire mayor with 60.1% of the vote.

She said it was a "really great step" for West Yorkshire.

"All the other metro mayors in the country are men and it's important to have a woman's voice around that table, and more importantly, a Yorkshirewoman's voice," she said.

"The first ever woman metro mayor in the country, what an enormous privilege."

Ms Brabin, who was 60 on Sunday, replaced Jo Cox as Batley and Spen MP in a by-election in 2016 after Ms Cox was murdered by Thomas Mair.

As the new West Yorkshire mayor role encompasses the county's police and crime commissioner post - previously held by Mark Burns-Williamson - Ms Brabin has had to step down from her Westminster seat, triggering a by-election.