Highways England says warm temperatures meant newly-laid tarmac had failed to set.

PA Media

Firefighters and the RSPCA have had to rescue a rabbit which had got stuck behind the dashboard of a van in North Yorkshire.

Image source, RSPCA/PA Wire

The animal escaped from her hutch while she was being driven to her new home and ran to hide in a hole in the carpet where the automatic van's clutch would be.

Owner Mark Hyde, 51, from Selby, called the RSPCA for help on Monday night.

Inspector Claire Mitchell could feel the rabbit was out of reach and left food in the hope of enticing her out.

But the animal was still stuck on Tuesday morning, so rescue officer Leanne Honess-Heather was sent to the scene and called for help from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Image source, RSPCA/PA Wire

She said: "There was no way to get hold of this rabbit because of the tight space she was in and she was so high up. I think I would have had more of a chance pulling a rabbit out of a magician's hat.

"So, I called the fire service and a crew from Selby were able to quickly take off the dashboard while also shutting off any further escape routes - and she was finally caught and handed back to her delighted owner."

Mr Hyde will now name his pet Claire-Leanne in honour of the RSCPA officers who came out to help, and her male companion will be named Grant after the firefighter who rescued her.

He said: "I just couldn't believe how she managed to get up there - but am so happy that she was unscathed from her ordeal."

The proposed statue will be a "symbol of hope" for York after the Covid pandemic, documents suggest.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Nearly 500 people have told City of Lincoln Council there are few suitable alternatives to the public toilets which have been earmarked for closure.

Around 816 people responded to a consultation on the council’s plans to save £86,000 by closing the urinals at The Lawn on Union Road and Newport Arch permanently, reopening facilities at Lucy Tower for special events only, while Westgate car parks facilities would be used by Radar key holders only.

However, the toilets at the new bus station, Castle Square, Tentercroft Street, Boultham Park, Hartsholme Country Park and the cemetery will be retained as part of the new plan.

Under the proposals, toilet attendant jobs will be lost at all facilities except the bus station, while a new city-wide scheme will change access to disabled toilets via an electronic card registered to a specific user.

Meanwhile, the Sincil Street facilities will only open for events until the refurbishment of the market is completed.

City of Lincoln Council’s Policy Scrutiny Committee has heard that a consultation on the plans launched in January saw 57.8% (around 472 people) of respondents say they would be affected “personally to the extent that they would not be able to make use of a suitable alternative”.

Of those, 123 people said that was due to health conditions, while 80 mentioned the distance created as a result of the closures.

A report on the consultation said: "This feedback is not very conclusive, unfortunately, but shows generally annoyance at the closures, it could be suggested."

Police are appealing for information after a large crowd gathered around a fight in a West Yorkshire town at the weekend.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

It broke out on Post Office Road in Featherstone shortly before 18:00 on Sunday 6 June, police say.

Officers called to the scene broke up a large crowd which had gathered around the incident, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

A spokesperson for the force said: "A report was received of damage being caused to a parked car as part of this incident and an offence of criminal damage has also been recorded."

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Anyone who witnessed the incident is being asked to contact police.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A statue of the Queen could be installed at York Minster next year - but details of its design remain a closely guarded secret.

Image source, Reuters/Toby Melville/Pool/File Photo

The statue would be installed in an empty niche or recess at the front of the minster to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, according to a planning application for the statue.

It will also be "part of the public campaign to signal the recovery and resurgence of the city from the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic and as a symbol of hope", the application adds.

However, the Rt Revd Dr Jonathan Frost, Dean of York Minster, says in the documents outlining the plans that details of the statue's design remains "confidential and need to be given only essential and limited circulation".

The statue "must come from the creative womb of the Minster Stoneyard", the planning documents add.

The niche where the new statue is set to be installed may never have had a statue placed within it before, it's thought.

The minster’s neighbourhood plan also includes proposals for a new public square, to be called the Queen Elizabeth Square.

The bomb squad was called out to two separate incidents in Lincoln on Wednesday after the discovery of unexploded devices, police say.

Image source, PA Media

An old flare was found in a garden on Addison Drive and a hand grenade was found in the River Witham next to Waterside North, according to Lincolnshire Police.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit attended both scenes.

A spokesperson for the force said: " Both items will be safely removed by the EOD unit and transported to RAF Scampton where they can conduct controlled explosions so there is no risk to the public."

A swan which was treated in Yorkshire after being shot in the head in an air rifle attack that saw his partner killed has found a new mate and started a family.

Image source, Yorkshire Swan & Wildlife Rescue Hospital

Stocky was taken in by Yorkshire Swan and Wildlife Rescue Hospital in May 2020 after suffering four bullet wounds with air rifle pellets still lodged in his skull.

His partner, who was incubating their eggs at the time, was killed in the attack at Turnerwood, on the Chesterfield Canal.

Image source, Yorkshire Swan & Wildlife Rescue Hospital

While recovering at the Yorkshire Swan and Wildlife Rescue Hospital in Selby, he met a female swan who arrived at the facility covered in oil.

After bonding, they were both released together and have now successfully incubated three eggs, with cygnets being born in the last few days.

Image source, Yorkshire Swan & Wildlife Rescue Hospital

BBC Weather

Today will see a mixture of sunny spells, patchy cloud and occasional showers, with a gentle south-westerly breeze.

Tonight it will remain largely dry with clear spells. Feeling mild.

A warning of an increase in violent crime and drink-driving has been issued ahead of further easing of Covid restrictions and the start of the delayed Euro 2020 football tournament.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

A campaign to raise awareness of crimes such as domestic abuse, drink driving, one-punch manslaughter and sexual assault has been launched by the Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) of West Yorkshire Police.

ACC Hankinson said: "After months of restrictions we want people to be able to go out and enjoy themselves, we also want people to get home safely.

"With trips to the pub to watch the football and having friends over for barbecues in the garden, we do see increases in offences such as drink driving and domestic abuse.

"We have had instances in West Yorkshire of one-punch manslaughter and people need to be aware of the potentially very serious consequences of a disagreement turning violent."

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

People should consider their own personal safety, such as how much they drink and how they are going to get home, ACC Hankinson said.

She added: "A good night can quickly turn bad if you find yourself in the back of a police van, hungover in a police cell or waking up in a hospital bed.

"We want everyone to look out for themselves and each other and ensure that summer 2021 is a summer that we can all remember for the right reasons."

The chief constable says he aims to make Lincolnshire the "safest place in the country".

Adults who have not yet received a dose of a coronavirus vaccine are being invited to a pop-up clinic in Sheffield this weekend.

Anybody aged 18 and over can go to the Crucible Theatre on Saturday from 09:00 to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

There is no need to book an appointment, the NHS in Sheffield said.

The vaccination clinic will close at 14:00 on Saturday.

A promising young footballer drowned after jumping into a West Yorkshire river with friends, an inquest has heard.

Image source, Bradford City AFC

Tomi Obi Solomon, 13, jumped into the River Calder from Huntington Road bridge, Brighouse, on 1 June, Bradford Coroner's Court heard.

The teenager, who was an academy player with Bradford City, failed to resurface after entering the water and his body was later recovered by police divers.

The full inquest into his death has been adjourned until 28 September.

The court heard that Tomi, who was born in Leiden in the Netherlands, was pronounced dead more than three hours after going missing.

Tomi represented Bradford City's under-13s side, playing for the club for three years.

At the time, the club's chief executive said they were "heartbroken" by the news.

Tomi's cause of death has been provisionally identified as drowning with further reports being prepared, the inquest heard.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after reports of a fight in Sheffield city centre earlier.

It's thought a number of men believed to be armed with a knife and a metal bar were involved in the incident on Arundel Gate at about 11:30 this morning.

A 20-year-old man was taken to hospital after being stabbed and is in a serious but stable condition.

Investigations are ongoing and a cordon remains in place in Norfolk Street, according to South Yorkshire Police.

The fire in Blue near Granary Wharf on Tuesday did not involve any cladding, say fire chiefs.

YorkMix

York has gone high-tech in the battle against traffic congestion.

It has become the first city in the UK to introduce city-wide real time transport modelling to help ease congestion and pollution., external

Image source, YorkMix

A former primary school teacher has denied historical sex offences against young girls.

Image source, Geograph/Joanne Davies

David Thomas, 68, of Harding Close in Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire, faces four charges relating to incidents between 1980 and 1984.

It is believed he was a teacher at Bowl Alley Lane Junior School at the time, which is now called Horncastle Community Primary School.

At Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday, Mr Thomas was granted bail.

He pleaded not guilty to a serious sexual offence and three charges of indecent assault.

Mr Thomas is due back before the crown court on 10 January.

A South Yorkshire primary school went into lockdown after a fight broke out between adults as children were being dropped off, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Google

Four men got out of a blue Volvo parked outside Sandringham Primary, Doncaster, and reportedly damaged a Ford Fiesta and assaulted its driver, police said.

The school said its gates were closed to help secure the building, with no weapons involved in the disturbance.

A witness quoted by the Doncaster Free Press, external said one of the men involved was wearing a balaclava, with a member of staff seen closing inner gates as the fight spilled into school grounds.

The offenders and the victim fled the scene separately, with those involved yet to be traced, according to South Yorkshire Police. The school said all pupils and staff were safe and unhurt.

Beryce Nixon, of Exceed Learning Partnership Trust, which runs the school on Sandringham Road, Intake, said: "While these incidents can never be anticipated, the headteacher, school staff and members of the community responded instantly, ensuring the safety of all pupils has been paramount.

"We are confident this is an isolated incident and have received excellent support and reassurance from the police that this is the case."

Officers remain at the scene to carry out an investigation and to reassure residents, police added.

Two men have been arrested in drugs raids in Leeds in which £2.4m of suspected cocaine was seized, say police.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Officers said 30kg of the suspected drug was found at addresses in Tingley and Rodley.

Two men, aged 40 and 51, both from Leeds, were arrested in the raids which took place at 10:30 on Monday.

The 40-year-old was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and remanded in custody.

The 51-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and released under investigation.

Det Ch Insp Andrew Howard from the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit said: "Inquiries remain ongoing into this. I would urge anyone who suspects illegal activity in their area to contact police so it can be investigated."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Dewsbury is set to receive a £50m cash boost in a bid to transform the town centre.

Image source, LDRS

The money – a combination of government cash and council funding – is aimed at kickstarting several projects to improve the local economy and environment for residents and businesses.

Among the plans are improvements to Dewsbury Market (pictured), the creation of a new town park and the regeneration of the 1880s Grade II-listed Dewsbury Arcade.

Dewsbury Conservative MP Mark Eastwood called it “great news”, but said action was still required to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as on-street drinking in the town centre.

News of the cash injection comes five months after the council made a bid for £25m from the government’s Towns Fund.

It received £24.8m, which has been match-funded by the authority. Further bids will be made for pots of cash in the public and private sectors.

Announcing the award, Luke Hall, Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, said he was “excited” by Dewsbury’s plans.

Meanwhile, Shabir Pandor, the leader of Kirklees Council, said the news represented “a big deal” for Dewsbury.