Thousands of square metres of roadside verges in North Lincolnshire have burst into bloom.

Image source, North Lincolnshire Council

Large swathes of land alongside Mortal Ash Hill, Queensway and Mannaberg Way, in Scunthorpe, have exploded into colour with wildflowers planted by North Lincolnshire Council and Broughton Bloomin Wombles.

The displays have attracted plenty of compliments with one person saying: "The meadow on Mortal Ash is breathtaking already, it’s a different journey."

A council spokesperson said: "The verges will start to wilt towards the end of August but mowing will be held off until the plants have set seed.

"They will be carefully managed in order to become self-sustaining, supporting wildlife and insects and ensuring another spectacular display next year."

An expected High Court challenge of July's Batley and Spen by-election result has failed to materialise.

Speaking on the morning of 2 July following the count, Workers Party candidate George Galloway said: "On multiple grounds we will apply to the courts for this election result to be set aside."

However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the 21-day deadline for a submission has now passed, with no challenge - known as a petition - issued.

Speaking to the Press Association, Mr Galloway said he is confident a judge will hear his legal challenge against the result despite the initial deadline having passed.

Labour's Kim Leadbeater retained the seat for the party, with the Conservatives coming second and Mr Galloway finishing third.

News of the tournament being pushed back prompts a mixture of emotions around England.

Former England defender Michael Dawson retires following his release by Nottingham Forest.

PA Media

A planned strike on Sunday by workers on Hull Trains has been called off after talks over a pensions dispute.

Image source, Hull Trains

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will continue to take other forms of industrial action, including an overtime ban.

Sunday strikes on August 15, 22 and 29 will go ahead unless the dispute is resolved.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said in a message to members that the union's Executive Committee had decided to call off Sunday's strike so recent developments can be considered in more detail.

He added: "However, I would advise that the overtime and rest day working bans remain in place, as well as the intended strike days already scheduled to take place until further consideration has been given later next week."

A man has been taken to hospital with serious head injuries after an attack outside a bar in Wakefield.

Image source, Google

Officers were called to the Bull Ring at 22:00 on Thursday after a man in his 30s was assaulted near the Blind Pig.

West Yorkshire Police say he is in a stable condition in hospital and a suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The force has asked for any witnesses to come forward.

Officials in Lincoln. which has England's highest infection rate, ramp up efforts to tackle the virus.

A second giant bear statue put on display in Sheffield as part of a charity arts trail has been damaged.

Image source, City Taxis

The Steampunk Bear, one of 61 sculptures in the city centre, has had its glasses broken.

Last week, the Be Nice & Be Together bear was broken off its base with vandals being blamed for the damage.

The Children's Hospital Charity, which is auctioning off the bears to raise money for a new cancer ward, said it was important they were looked after.

City Taxis, who sponsored the Steampunk Bear, said it was "sad" to see the damage inflicted on the statue outside Sheffield Cathedral.

A bandage has been placed on the broken part of the sculpture until it can be fixed by the charity team.

Image source, City Taxis

A man who groomed and sexually abused a 15-year-old girl has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

Malcolm Peter Barwick, 68, committed the offences in Harrogate between April 2014 and 2015.

His victim, now in her 20s, reported the abuse last June, and Barwick was charged with seven counts of sexual activity with a child.

Barwick, 68, of Edens Way, Ripon, admitted the offences and was jailed at York Crown Court on Wednesday.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

BBC Weather

A largely dry and cloudy start to the day.

However, heavy thunderstorms will develop for many later, especially during the afternoon.

There will be a risk of local surface water flooding:

CCTV images of a man police want to speak to after a customer was set alight in an "unprovoked" attack in a bar have been released.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

The victim's hair was deliberately burnt at about 01:00 on Monday in Mist, St Thomas Street, Scarborough.

He suffered hair loss but did not have serious injuries after he was helped by bystanders, said North Yorkshire Police.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to the attack near the club's front door.

PC Liam Cromack said: "This was a highly unusual and completely unprovoked assault on another man who was simply trying to enjoy his night out.

"Thankfully, due to the quick thinking of some nearby bystanders, no permanent injury was caused to the victim."

Adam, 23, says he's so scared of needles he's been unable to get a Covid-19 jab.

It is the first graduation ceremony to be held in front of family and friends since the pandemic began.

Storms could bring flooding to parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire at the end of the week and over the weekend, forecasters have warned.

Image source, Met office

A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued by the Met Office covering both Friday, external and Saturday., external

Forecasters say: "Homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater."

They also warn: "Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures."

A yellow warning means you should plan ahead thinking about possible travel delays, or the disruption of your day to day activities.

The Met Office says it's monitoring the developing weather situation and is urging people to "keep an eye on the latest forecast" and be aware the weather may "change or worsen, leading to disruption of your plans in the next few days."

Sarah Wakefield
BBC Radio Leeds News

A huge environmentally friendly artwork has been created in a West Yorkshire field by Kaiser Chiefs lead singer Ricky Wilson.

Image source, Arla

The work is 25m by 25m and was created using reusable materials suck as milk cartons, wellies, soil, leaves and grass. It was produced to mark the launch of a new type of environmentally friendly milk carton.

Ricky also had some help from children at Settle and Kirby Primary Schools, who made paper flowers to add to the art.

Image source, Arla

Ricky said: "It was a great day out, we created the planet Earth, used a lot of blue paper and it was interesting to see how switched on kids are when it comes to the environment. They've got it nailed on."

The project aims to reduce flooding in three Lincolnshire villages by slowing the flow of water.

Brooklyn Bell, 18, is accused of the fatal attack on Simon McMinn in Aireville Park, Skipton.

An Extinction Rebellion protester from Lincolnshire has become the third to have their conviction quashed at the Old Bailey in as many days.

Image source, PA Media

Amelia Halls, 23, from Stamford, was told she should not have been given a criminal record for peacefully obstructing a road during a 2019 demonstration.

Her win comes amid mounting questions for the Crown Prosecution Service over cases brought against the protesters.

A judge at the Old Bailey pressed prosecutors to explain whether they stand by a string of XR convictions.

Since 2019, XR says that hundreds of its followers have been convicted of blocking roads.

Many of those convictions now appear to be in doubt after the Supreme Court recently ruled that peacefully and briefly obstructing a highway, external for a genuine political cause was lawful activity.

BBC Sport

Jack Sinfield, son of Leeds legend Kevin, has signed his first professional contract with the Rhinos.

Image source, Leeds Rhinos

The 16-year-old half-back has signed a deal with the club in the same week that his father left his position as director of rugby.

Kevin Sinfield won seven Grand Finals and two Challenge Cups during a glittering playing career with Leeds.

"He's thoroughly professional and trains incredibly hard," head coach Richard Agar told the club website., external

"We're pleased to get his signature. It will come with some pressure with the name but I think he's a kid that is not going to let that worry him one little bit."

Sinfield described signing the contract as "a dream come true".

A paramedic who used stolen morphine while working - injecting herself in a hospital toilet on one occasion - has been struck off.

Elisa Stevens admitted taking the drug after a Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) investigation found 67 vials unaccounted for over seven months.

A Health & Care Professions Tribunal Service panel also heard she altered dosage information on a patient record.

The tribunal heard the vials of morphine went missing between February and September 2017.

In its ruling, the panel said she should be removed from its register.