BBC Radio Leeds

A West Yorkshire food processor says its prices may have to rise to deal with increasing energy costs.

Image source, Google

Zeina Foods in Ossett, near Wakefield, which specialises in the processing of pistachio nuts, has been responding to warnings of "significant rises" in the cost of energy.

The company says its energy contracts are fixed until next year, but it is concerned costs will have gone up substantially by the time it has to agree new deals.

Marketing director Hussein Mehdi told BBC Radio Leeds: "So far we haven't put up prices, but any new business we look at, we obviously have to take that into the picture.

"We don't know what the future's going to hold. Obviously we need to take that into the picture when we go into the next year and we start to renegotiate contracts."

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Hull FC release winger Mahe Fonua from his second spell with the club after coming to a financial agreement.

Stephen Port was jailed after he raped and murdered four men using fatal overdoses of the drug GHB.

PC Chris Dwyer is alleged to have taken them from a charity tuck shop without paying in full.

North Yorkshire's police boss said Sarah Everard "never should have submitted" to an arrest.

The bus hub is part of a five-year plan to get more people using public transport, the council says.

The extra day at the 2021 show due to Covid measures is now to be a fixture at the Harrogate event.

North Yorkshire's police and fire commissioner has refused to resign over comments he made in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard.

Philip Allott told BBC Radio York that women should be more "streetwise" and that Ms Evarard, originally from York, should not have "submitted" to the police officer who detained her under the guise of an arrest.

Wayne Couzens was handed a whole-life term last week for attacking and murdering the 33-year-old as she walked home from a friend's house in south London on 3 March.

In an interview today with BBC Look North, Mr Allott apologised again, saying: "I'm deeply sorry for the comments I made. They are not the kind of language that I would normally use, and I am so deeply sorry.

"It’s men, it’s ultimately men, who hurt and kill women and I’m just so horrified at how my comments have been seen."

The Conservative commissioner's earlier comments were attacked by politicians across all parties as well as religious leaders and domestic abuse charities.

When asked whether he would step down. Mr Allott replied: "No I will not, because it’s more important that I carry through the mandate I was elected to do.

He added: "I have thought about it, I’ve gone back and I’ve reflected on my position."

BBC Radio Leeds

An American TV show is coming to Leeds to give a scout camp a makeover.

Image source, Google

The Fixers, which is similar to DIY SOS, travels around the world, revamping properties and carrying out life-changing projects.

The producers have decided to come to Bramley to sort out Hunters Greave Scout Camp.

Warden and scout leader Gavin Birkett says: "It's a lovely spot, it really is. It's a tranquil campsite down by the canal - but to add a bit more for the children, it's going to get some more activities.

"With the lockdowns and everything, scouting face-to-face has been suspended and now's the time to put an emphasis on what we do."

Filming will take place during half term, but it's not yet known when the show will be on TV in the USA.

The Humber Bridge will close from on Saturday night for essential repairs.

Hhundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend Hull Fair on Walton Street over the next week.

The event, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, gets under way tonight and despite being described by one public health boss as ‘a potential superspreader’ for coronavirus, organisers and the city's health boss are reassuring the public that it is safe.

Julia Weldon, Hull's director of public health said "What we are trying to do here within the best interests of our local communities is provide as safe a fair as possible taking into account covid impact and the social wellbeing and economic wellbeing of our city.

"We've put mitigations in place so that we can keep everyone as safe as possible."

Supt Matthew Peach said: “Police officers and PCSOs will be present at the fair every day and night to make sure that both visitors and workers feel safe throughout the week.

"You can come up and speak to us to report any concerns or to tell us about your time at the fair."

Steven Linley was a "popular and much-loved young man" his family say after Dawood Kasuji's jailing.

Council officers in Bradford have been told to take urgent action to improve children's homes.

Hull Fair is back in business after a Covid-hit year, as ride owners prepare for bumper crowds.

BBC Radio York

It's been confirmed the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, external is going to be permanently staged over four days.

Image source, GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society says a raft of changes were implemented at this year’s show, one of the region's biggest events, due to Covid-19 regulations and some were very successful.

It says after consulting with members, visitors, livestock and trade exhibitors, it's been decided to keep them in place, which includes running the show over four days, from Tuesday 12 July to Friday 15 July next year.

There will also be a limit on attendance each day to ensure everyone has what's described as "a relaxed and enjoyable experience" and membership numbers will also be capped.

Tickets will be sold in advance only and they will go on sale earlier than usual - from Monday 1 November.

The daily programme of events is still to be finalised but this will be made public early next year.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Work is nearing completion on a £12m programme of repairs and the creation of a new surgical theatre at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

Image source, LDRS

The works follow a water leak at the site in April which damaged the east wing of the building, causing some paediatric and maternity services to be relocated.

Dr Kirsty Edmondson Jones, director of estates and facilities, said: “We are thrilled that work is now ongoing to create this high-quality ward and theatre block at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

“Since the water leak occurred earlier this year, we have had to make space within the hospital for some of our displaced services, such as paediatrics, which, given the activity driven by Covid-19, has made things challenging."

The handover date is expected to be 8 December with services transferring to the new ward shortly after.

A man who pushed a teenage girl into a West Yorkshire canal before indecently touching her and a friend is being hunted by police.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

The man, believed to be in his early 20s, approached the 14-year-old, who was with friends, and spoke to the group before pushing the girl into the canal at Schofield Bridge near Dewsbury.

When she got out of the water, he spoke to her indecently, before touching her a and a friend indecently, say West Yorkshire Police..

The victims, both of whom were shaken but not physically harmed, ran from the scene.

Insp Lee Baragwanath said the force had conducted extensive enquiries since the incident at 14:00 on 14 August and had released an efit and picture of a man they wanted to speak to.

He added: “Due to the nature of the incident this matter was recorded as a sexual offence and we have been speaking with the victim’s and their parents.

“Thankfully incidents of this nature are rare and no subsequent offences of this kind have been reported."

Aisha Iqbal
Political Reporter

There are calls for urgent action in Bradford to improve council-run children's homes after four were downgraded by inspectors in recent weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

The inspections have led to a variety of suspensions and warning notices being issued, with affected homes banned from taking in new children - and some youngsters being removed.

Council bosses blame ongoing staffing challenges. However, they have admitted the physical condition of the homes also needs to be looked at, and a clear plan is needed for basics such as upgrading fire alarms and boilers.

A new report, prepared for the council’s children's services scrutiny panel, says an external organisation was drafted in last month to review the quality of the children’s homes, and to identify areas for improvement.

At a meeting, councillors from across parties called for radical systemic changes.

Independent councillor Talat Sajaawal said: “This has been a ticking time bomb for quite a while now. We are failing children. The children in our own care have been overlooked and this is what Ofsted has highlighted to us."

Liberal Democrat councillor Brendan Stubbs told BBC Radio Leeds the children’s home issues showed that recent investment and changes to internal structures weren't working.

However, Marium Haque, Bradford Council’s deputy director of children’s services, told the meeting an urgent action plan was now under way and many of the vacant senior roles had now been filled.

Eight places across the country are in the running to succeed 2021-winner Coventry.

North Yorkshire's police boss said the murder victim "never should have submitted" to an arrest.