Daragh Corcoran
BBC Radio Leeds

Muslims in Bradford are celebrating the first Eid ul-Adha since coronavirus restrictions were relaxed.

For Zain Ulabdin (pictured above left) and his friends the day started at 07:00 followed by prayers at their local mosque.

"We've just gone to all our family's houses, and had some food, and now we're going to finish our rounds and watch the Pakistan v England cricket match," he said.

This Eid is particularly poignant for Noreen Amin and her father Mohammed (pictured above) after he spent 40 days in hospital last year with Covid-19.

She said: "As a family we suffered. He was put on palliative care, but with the prayers and some TLC, we nursed him back to health. They called him 'miracle man'."

Noreen says it's now time to celebrate.

"My mum's like the best cook ever, so we all come to my mum's," she said.

"There are eight of us, we're still waiting for them all to arrive, and then the next stop is down the road to my uncle's house."

Mazhar Iqbal (above) is celebrating Eid tomorrow, as his mosque follows the sighting of the moon in Morocco.

He says his family is still going to be cautious.

"With covid cases still going up, people are still wary," he said.

"Generally, social distancing is still in our minds, so we'll see people but we'll still distance a little bit."

A nightclub owner says his industry is being used as "a political football" after the government announced clubbers would need to be fully vaccinated from the end of September to gain entry.

Image source, Stephen Craven/Geograph

Currently nightclubs and other crowded venues are only encouraged to ask clubbers to show proof of vaccination, a negative test result or immunity.

Tony Gorbet, who runs more than 40 venues across the country including Atik in Hull, said the reopening of nightclubs on Monday felt "like scoring the winning goal in a cup final" but the announcement had taken the shine off things

"The nightclub industry is starting to be used as a political football," he said.

"We are really disappointed. There is no difference at midnight between a late-night bar and a nightclub.

"Well there is a difference in a nightclub, because if you go into a modern, well-invested nightclub now our air changes every five minutes, it's so safe."

Latest figures show 35% of 18 to 30-year-olds have not had their first jab.

Speaking on Monday Boris Johnson said he was taking the step as "I don't want to have to close nightclubs again as they have elsewhere".

BBC Radio York

A senior archaeologist is urging people to dig into their history at a special event on the North Yorkshire coast.

The Big Dig is due to take place in the town this weekend as part of the Big Ideas By The Sea festival.

Former city archaeologist for York John Oxley says the event is about “taking the festival to the community".

He said: “There’s loads going on, we want to get families and children involved - we’ve got activities for them in the Market Hall.

“We’re looking for pottery that was made here 800 years ago. The history in this town is incredible.”

A theatre's first full-capacity performances since last year have been cancelled after cast members tested positive for Covid-19.

Image source, Johan Persson

Hull New Theatre had been due to stage a short run of smash-hit West End show Six the Musical this week.

Touring company Kenny Wax said it was left with no choice but to cancel the performances after members were forced to self-isolate.

The theatre apologised and said shows had been rescheduled to next April.

A spokeswoman for Kenny Wax Productions said the whole touring company had to self-isolate as a result of close contact with members who had tested positive.

"We are left with no option, in order to follow government guidelines, other than to have to cancel all performances of Six at the Hull New Theatre this week," she said.

The M62 has been closed westbound at West Cowick, near Snaith, due to a collision, police say.

Humberside Police say emergency services are in attendance.

A new plan by Scarborough Council will draw on updated research on erosion and climate change.

BBC Business News

The prospect of a bidding war for UK supermarket Morrisons has receded with the withdrawal of one potential suitor.

Image source, PA Media

US investment firm Apollo, which was considering making an offer, has now changed its mind.

Instead, it wants to join forces with another consortium whose £6.3bn ($8.7bn) takeover bid has already been accepted.

Earlier this month, Bradford-based Morrisons agreed to an offer by another US group led by the owner of Majestic Wine.

The takeover bid - led by US private equity firm Fortress Investment Group - is subject to shareholder approval.

However, the supermarket group's directors are recommending acceptance.

A man has been killed in a crash involving two cars and a lorry in Lincolnshire.

The man, who was in his 30s, was driving a blue X type Jaguar when it collided with a white Vauxhall Ampera and a white curtain side Renault truck near Caenby Corner at about 05.55.

Lincolnshire Police said the man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force has appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Kirklees Council has voted to formally object to a £1.56bn rail improvement project in an attempt to “secure strengthened negotiation” with Network Rail over its plans.

Image source, Network Rail/LDRS

The Transpennine Route Upgrade includes remodelling Huddersfield Station and knocking down, replacing or improving eight bridges between Huddersfield and Westtown in Dewsbury as well as widening and electrifying the line.

Network Rail says it will mean more seats, more trains and faster journeys between Manchester and York via Huddersfield and Leeds.

But the improvements will also cause significant disruption lasting several years, potentially affect flagship housing schemes and lead to the felling of hundreds of trees along the route.

Addressing a meeting of full council in Huddersfield Town Hall, senior officers said: “We need to get to a point where we understand exactly what is being proposed and what impact that’s going to have on our residents – not just during construction but when it’s built, as well.”

They said the authority was supportive of the investment coming into the borough but it wanted to ensure that everybody – residents, businesses and commuters – benefited.

They said making a formal objection – which will go to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps – would strengthen the council’s position.

That could mean a public inquiry in November “to best represent and uphold the council’s interests”.

A clinically vulnerable woman has urged people to be careful as Covid-19 restrictions ease across England.

Jacqui Drake, 58, from Apperley Bridge in Bradford, has stage four melanoma and spent 25 weeks shielding in 2020.

She said: "Do the right thing with the masks, be safe, but please if you've not been vaccinated, do it.

"Not just for yourself but for everybody."

A man's body has been recovered from a lake in West Yorkshire.

Image source, Yappapp

Emergency crews had been searching Pugneys Country Park in Wakefield after a man was reported getting into difficulty in the water on Sunday.

A body was found in the water at about 13:25 on Monday, West Yorkshire Police said.

The force said it was working to identify the man "but it is believed this is the same male who was reported to be in difficulty in the water".

Councillor Michael Graham, from Wakefield Council, which runs the site, said the man's death was "a stark reminder of the very real dangers of swimming in open water".

He urged people not to swim in places that "are not specifically created for swimming".

"We want everyone to be aware of the risks of cooling off in open water such as ponds, lakes and quarries," he added.

The park is expected to reopen today, the council confirmed.

BBC Weather

Yorkshire will see another dry and fine day, with plenty of strong sunshine.

A few fairweather clouds will develop during the afternoon. Feeling hot in the sunshine.

For Lincolnshire, it will be a mostly sunny day, but a few showers will develop during the afternoon.

Some of the showers will be locally heavy, with hail and thunder likely. Another hot day in the sunshine:

People visiting and working in Bridlington give their views on the lifting of England's lockdown restrictions.

CCTV footage has been released by police after a 79-year-old man was left injured following a collision in Leeds.

The man was travelling in Leadwell Lane/Carlton Lane, Rothwell, at about 14:20 on Sunday 4 July 2021 when he was involved in the collision with what is believed to be a white Fiat Panda.

The Fiat driver failed to stop at the scene and the man was assisted by several members of the public who witnessed the incident, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The man was taken to hospital and his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, the force added.

The CCTV footage has been released by officers in a bid to trace the driver of the Fiat, who they say may be able to help them with their inquiries.

Police say they'd also like to speak with anyone who may have been travelling along Carlton Lane/Leadwell Lane prior to the incident or those who have dashcam footage.

John Peter Noble was caught as part of an online sting, North Yorkshire Police say.

Julia Bryson
Journalist, BBC Local Live

Talking to business owners and shoppers in Ilkley today, it seems most people will carry on wearing their masks until there is more of a marked change in public opinion.

At bustling cafe La Stazione, where takeaway services have helped the business during the pandemic, co-owner Max Crane said things are working "as normal".

He said: "When I opened up this morning, I did the first half hour without a mask, but just from looking at the customers I felt it was the wrong time.

"There are other businesses in Ilkley who are keeping the masks, and I think we all need to stand together."

At the nearby Dalesway Hotel landlord Ian Collins said it's part of pub life for people to want to stand or sit at the bar.

"We are taking away all the restrictions that were in place, so now people can come in, they can sit at the bar, there are no perspex screens anymore," he said.

"Staff don't have to wear masks but it's at their discretion. Hopefully, things will get back to normal."

Luke Raven, who is a co-owner of Ilkley Brewery, said: "I feel conflicted I suppose. It is really nice to see people out enjoying themselves and feeling a bit more relaxed, but at the same time it is nervous from a business point of view, bubbles bursting left, right and centre, it is affecting us.

"We had 20% of our staff off last week.

"It looks like there is a lot of sensibility out there though, people saying they are going to carry on wearing masks, so that's quite reassuring."

Wakefield's director of public health says she feels "anxious" about the potential impact of lifting Covid restrictions.

Image source, Google

Anna Hartley told BBC Radio Leeds she was feeling "rather worried" as infection rates continue to rise in the area.

The infection rate in Wakefield rose from 585 to 667 per 100,000 people, with 2,324 new cases identified in the week to 14 July.

Ms Hartley said: "I feel quite anxious about the fact that at the very moment our rates are rising we are also reducing restrictions. As director of public health for Wakefield I'm feeling rather worried."

She said she believed the majority of people would act responsibly but feared a minority may "throw caution to the wind".

"That worries me a bit, because they are the people that may not have been vaccinated, who may not be wearing face coverings and who may also be mixing significantly with other people," she said.

"[Personally] anything little thing I can do as someone who cares about other people, myself and my community I'm going to be doing, regardless of what the government legislation says."

Passengers at Barnsley Interchange have told the BBC they are happy to keep wearing their masks despite there no longer being a legal requirement to do so.

Despite changes to the law around masks nationally, in South Yorkshire public transport users have been asked to continue wearing them by regional mayor Dan Jarvis because of an increase in cases.

Abel Abraham, 18, who travels from Sheffield to Barnsley for work, says wearing a mask makes him feel safer when on the train.

"Understanding how the virus passes through, it makes me a bit more secure wearing my mask around places in case someone else might have contracted the virus," he says.

"In my head, the virus will still be there so staying safe and keeping the right measures is important for me."

Adam Eddison, 27, says he is looking forward to rules being relaxed, but would keep wearing a mask when asked to by members of staff.

"I've felt safe using public transport," he says" "Everyone is in the same boat and followed the rules and if everyone is wearing their masks we should be safe like they [the government] said."

When asked why he isn't wearing a mask in the bus station, Mr Eddison says wearing them everywhere is "a pain".

"If someone came up to me now and told me to put a mask on, I would put it on straight away.

"The rules are for everyone not just me so I'll just follow the trend. If people don't want to wear it, then why do I need to wear it?"

For regular bus user Jackie Reay, 67, she said she will continue wearing her mask to protect her adult son, who is diabetic.

"I can't let him catch it, so I'm wearing mine on public transport and everywhere I go," she says.

"I would prefer people to wear their masks still. People have to play their part."

People in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will see big changes to Covid restrictions from today.

Image source, Reuters/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

What's changing?

Social distancing

• No limits on how many people can meet
• 1m-plus guidance removed (except in some places like hospitals and passport control when entering)
• Face coverings no longer required by law, although the government still "expects and recommends" them in crowded and enclosed spaces
• Some shops and transport operators will still require masks

Events and gatherings

• Nightclubs can reopen
• Pubs and restaurants no longer table-service only
• No limits on guests at weddings and funerals
• No limits on people attending concerts, theatres or sports events
• No restrictions on communal worship

Travel

• Guidance recommending against travel to amber list countries removed. (Those returning from France to England, Wales and Scotland must still quarantine for 10 days)
• Under-18s and fully vaccinated adults no longer have to self-isolate after visiting amber list countries

Other changes

Limits on visitors to care homes will be removed.

From 16 August, most Covid restrictions in schools - including "bubbles"- will end.

From the same date, fully vaccinated adults will not need to self-isolate after contact with a positive case.

Sarah Corker
BBC 5 Live Business Presenter

Businesses can now set their own rules on things like masks and how many people they allow in to shops or pubs at one time.

Legal requirements are being replaced by people being told to make informed decisions and take personal responsibility.

Jane and Chris Ord run gift shop Out Of The Ordinary in a Victorian shopping arcade in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

"Customers aren’t changing their behaviours, people have got used to wearing masks and most of them are continuing to do so," Chris Ord tells BBC 5 Live.

"I’m not signed up to the idea that it’s a magic week and everything is back to normal. But a lot of people need to get out and about and support local businesses, who are still talking lots of precautions."

Louise Fowlds, the owner of Blue Ginger Boutique in Keighley, tells BBC 5 Live that her business will be introducing a series of measures to reassure customers and give them the confidence to get back on the high street.

"On a Monday, we’ll have a quiet hour where people can come and will have to wear a mask," she says.

"It’s a way to put customers at ease who might feel a bit nervous."

Staff will continue to wear visors and the plastic screens are here to stay.