BBC Radio York

A state-of-the-art electric car charging hub in York which was due to open in July 2021 is still not in use.

The "HyperHub" at Monks Cross, which can power 38 vehicles at a time, was due to start operating more than six months ago.

Its construction followed the announcement of government plans to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

The delay to its opening is reportedly to have been caused by a connection problem to the power grid.

In a statement, City of York Council, external, which has developed the site, said it was "finalising commercial and contractual arrangements before the hub officially opens".

"There is no additional cost as a result of this delay," it added.

Ian Ward, who works at a nearby car dealership, said: "I think the infrastructure still needs a lot of work. The more charging hubs available to customers will stop that thing called 'range anxiety'.

"But we are going to be at a point soon where there's not enough charging points."

The hub is one of three in York which the council plans to open.

Bus company First is so short of drivers in Sheffield it's suspended 26 of its services.

Image source, Geograph/Richard Vince

First says it's "critically short" of drivers and needs to recruit 65 to be at full strength.

The company says the problem is being made worse because of the pandemic.

Nigel Eggleton, First managing director for South Yorkshire and the Midlands, says: "We've got more than a dozen drivers away from work because they have Covid or are isolating.

"It looks as though the number of Covid absences might have peaked and we review the situation at the middle of every week.

"So, some services are suspended for a fortnight and by the middle of the week we'll know when we can put services back."

Mr Eggleton adds that "all manner of things" are being done to recruit more drivers, including increasing the starting pay rate.

The full list of suspended services can be seen on the company's website, external.

Hundreds of taxi and minicab drivers are on strike in Leeds in a row over over plans to revoke their licences if they get six penalty points in a year.

Leeds City Council's new "six point policy" comes into force on 2 February and will result in a three-year suspension of offending drivers' taxi and private hire licences.

The council said the move would "improve passenger safety".

But drivers say council officials don't understand the pressures they face while at work and the policy is "too draconian" and "disproportionate".

Hundreds of drivers protested against the plans outside Leeds Civic Hall last week (pictured).

An appeal has been launched following the death of a 12-year-old boy in a collision in Lincolnshire.

A Mercedes-Benz A220 and a Ford Galaxy collided on the B1190 at Bardney, near Lincoln, shortly before 09:50 on Sunday, police said.

The child, a passenger in the Ford, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man driving the Mercedes was taken to hospital. Police have not yet released details of his injuries.

Anyone who saw the incident, or who has dashcam footage from the area at the time of the collision, is asked to contact police.

A fifth person has been arrested in connection with the death of a man in Rotherham on New Year's Day, police have said.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Fatjon Oruci (pictured), 22, died on Doncaster Road in the early hours having been beaten and stabbed.

A 44-year-old Rotherham man was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of assisting an offender and remains in custody for questioning, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Mr Oruci, from London, died from "catastrophic injuries" following violent disorder, police said.

Three people previously arrested have been released and are no longer being treated as suspects, according to the South Yorkshire force.

A fourth, arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released under investigation.

A robber who assaulted a man and stole his phone then made threats to kill the victim's mother, police say.

Image source, SYP

Officers have released an e-fit image of the suspect following the attack in Sheffield on 3 January.

The 19-year-old victim was walking in Richmond Hall Road at about 13:40 when a man approached him, assaulted him and stole his phone.

The attacker then approached the victim’s mother, who had witnessed the assault, and made threats to kill her, according to South Yorkshire Police.

The suspect then left the scene in the direction of Richmond Road.

Anyone who recognises the man in the image is asked to contact police.

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Growing up in Yorkshire, Persephone Rizvi was a self-professed party girl. She lived for the weekend nightlife: drink, boys and fun – in any order. But it all got too much and something needed to change. Five years ago, Persephone embraced Islam, finding a solution to her problems. But in leaving her old life behind – swapping parties for a life of reflection and her stud-pressed stilettos for a headscarf – she also cut off ties with the close friends she grew up with, disappearing without so much as a word.

Seven years on, Persephone’s settled into her new life as a Muslim and is back in her hometown of Huddersfield. But for her, one thing remains unresolved: closure with the old friends she cut off when she converted (or ‘reverted’ as Muslims term it). In this unique and moving documentary, the cameras follow Persephone as she reaches out to her old friends. It’s no simple matter. Can she resolve the issues which soured some of her friendships and have been left festering over time; can she overcome deep nerves to meet the people she once called her ‘ride and dies' and then cut off without a word.

Exploring friendship, faith and growing up, ultimately Persephone has to ask a simple question: she and her friends may have moved on – but can they get on?