BBC Radio Humberside

Covid-19 restrictions will still be enforced at all Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust sites despite a relaxation of Plan B rules across England.

From today face coverings and Covid passes are no longer legally required.

However, patients, staff and visitors at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill in Cottingham are being asked to continue with the precautions to help safeguard hospital services.

Visiting restrictions are also still in place, though there are exemptions for parents who have a child needing treatment and people caring for a loved one with learning disabilities or dementia.

BBC Radio Humberside has been told the trust is still caring for more than 100 patients with the virus and officials are taking the measures because of high infection rates in the local community.

A spate of knife-point robberies in an area of Sheffield have prompted police to warn people to keep to well-lit areas and walk in groups.

Image source, Google

The warning comes after five separate attacks involving groups of three to five males.

The suspects wearing balaclavas or masks approached five different victims in the Weston Park area of Sheffield, between 16 and 25 January.

All the victims were subjected to "frightening ordeals," South Yorkshire Police said.

In one incident a woman in her 30s had a flick-knife held to her face, in another a man was pushed against a wall with a large long-bladed knife.

Each victim was threatened with a knife and forced to hand over possessions, including wallets, phones, cash and headphones, by males thought to be aged between 16 and 19 and speaking with local accents.

All five robberies are thought to be connected and happened during the hours of darkness, usually in a location away from the main thoroughfares.

Officers said people in the area should stick to the main routes, keep an eye on their surroundings and avoid distractions.

The number of high-visibility police patrols has been increased to reassure people and deter further offences, police say.

Doncaster Rovers sign West Ham forward Mipo Odubeko on loan until the end of the season.

Listen to BBC radio commentary from Saturday's action in the National League, National League North & National League South.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion says drug gangs are making life in parts of the town "horrendous".

An inquest has opened into the death of a young footballer who was killed in a crash in Lincolnshire.

Image source, Family photo

Ted Vines, 12, from Alford, died after the Ford Galaxy in which he was a passenger collided with another car near Bardney on 16 January.

The inquest at Lincoln Coroners' Court heard he had been on his way to a match at the time of the crash and died as the result of a head injury.

Proceedings were adjourned for a full hearing to take place at a later date.

The 12-year-old was "loved by everyone", his family said.

He had been on his way to Branston to play football for Alford Under-12s when the crash happened, they added.

Alford Town Football Club has since launched a memorial appeal, with donations going to projects or initiatives to help others, and an event to celebrate Ted's life.

Developers want to build a Roman-themed attraction, a hotel and 153 apartments in York.

Oliver Coppard will seek to replace Dan Jarvis as the county's mayor in the May election.

Richard Madden
BBC Radio Humberside

Crime rates across Northern Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire are falling faster than the national average, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Humberside Police has seen a 6.3% fall in recorded crimes compared to a national average of 0.4%.

The latest figures, for the year to September 2021, show sexual offences, burglaries, theft, vehicle offences and shoplifting incidents have all fallen.

Drug-related crime has increased by 6.2% though the force says the rise is down to an increase in targeted operations and more stop-and-search activity.

Assistant Chief Constable Darren Downs has welcomed the results saying: "It is really encouraging that our crime rates have reduced once again in the 12 months to September.

"While these figures will hopefully serve to reassure the public, as a force we want to keep improving and, although the reduction of crime rates in our area reinforces our belief that we are on the right path, we will never rest on our laurels."

BBC Radio York

People are being urged to "be considerate" and "use your loaf" following the relaxation of Plan B rules across England.

Image source, North Yorkshire County Council

From Thursday face coverings and Covid passes are no longer legally required.

However, Richard Webb, who is part of the team managing North Yorkshire's response to the pandemic, told BBC Radio York infection rates in the county are still high and urged people to remain cautious.

He said: "Use your loaf, common sense. Continue to wash your hands. If you're felling uncomfortable wear your facemask. Take all those sensible precautions and grab a jab, if you haven't had your jab or booster, please come and get one."

Jayne Allport, North Yorkshire area organiser for the shop workers union USDAW,, external called on people to keep wearing face coverings to protect employees, adding: "When it's not mandatory it's really difficult to get customers to observe those safety measures.

"We would ask that customers show support and respect for shop workers by continuing to wear face coverings, observe hand hygiene and maintain social distancing."

Hull City sign Sheffield United midfielder Regan Slater for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

A woman who kicked another woman in the face with her stiletto heel in a bar attack has been jailed for 15 months.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Thereese Soper, 29, from Doncaster, (pictured) admitted a Section 20 wounding offence at Sheffield Crown Court.

The "unprovoked attack" which took place in a bar in Doncaster on 11 January 2020 saw Soper punch her victim before kicking her, police said.

The 33-year-old woman was left with significant facial injuries caused by Soper's heel.

South Yorkshire Police said the victim had been socialising at Jacques Bar in Lazarus Court when Soper, of St Catherine's Avenue, became confrontational towards her.

The woman required hospital treatment after the assault.

Det Con Danielle Green said: "This was an unprovoked attack on an innocent woman in a busy bar.

"Soper's behaviour was unjustified, unnecessary and dangerous.

"I am pleased her sentencing reflects the severity of the injury caused."

Three men deny murdering Khuram Javed in Sheffield city centre in April 2021, a jury hears.

Comedian and writer Barry Cryer has died at the age of 86, his representatives have confirmed.

Image source, PA Media

Cryer, from Leeds, wrote for several comedy giants, including The Two Ronnies, Bob Hope, Tommy Cooper and Morecambe and Wise.

He regularly appeared as a panellist himself on shows such as Just A Minute and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.

Leading the tributes on Twitter, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth said Cryer was "just the loveliest guy; funny and generous".

League Two side Bradford City sign Salford City striker Tom Elliott on loan until the end of the season.

Labour have selected Oliver Coppard as their candidate for the South Yorkshire Mayoral election in May.

Image source, Oliver Coppard

Mr Coppard - who stood as Labour’s 2015 parliamentary candidate in Sheffield Hallam - said he was "proud and grateful" to be chosen to contest the vote.

Dan Jarvis, the present incumbent and the Labour MP for Barnsley Central, announced in September he would not seek re-election.

Other candidates already announced as standing in the election are Simon Biltcliffe, for The Yorkshire Party, and Bex Whyman, for the Green Party.

The election will take place on 5 May.

An appeal for witnesses has been launched following an unprovoked attack which saw a woman knocked unconscious and treated in hospital after being pushed from behind.

Image source, Google

The 33-year-old victim was walking along Peel Street in Barnsley at about 02:00 on New Year's Eve when she was assaulted and fell, hitting her head.

Police say the victim's face was swollen and bruised as a result of the incident.

An investigation, including scrutiny of CCTV footage from the area, has so far failed to provide information, according to police.

Officers are now asking for anyone who saw what happened, or with dash cam footage from the area at the time of the attack, to get in touch.

A 12-year-old girl has been stopped by police after being seen riding a quad bike on a main road in West Yorkshire.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

The girl was found riding the vehicle through South Kirby last week, as part of a wider traffic operation.

The vehicle was seized and the child was issued with a "community resolution" for using a vehicle on a road without a licence or insurance, according to West Yorkshire Police.

PC Richard Shaw, said: "We stopped a child riding a quad bike as part of an operation to help address community concerns about the use of scooters and off-road bikes on roads in the district.

"We'll continue to act on information from members of the public and I urge people to report any anti-social or illegal use of off-road vehicles to us."

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Today is expected to be a largely dry and bright day with plenty of sunshine.

The afternoon will see some patchy cloud, but it will stay mostly dry and sunny.

Tonight will be a largely dry night with clear skies for all:

Edie Pilkington, 16, says it was a relief to have the condition confirmed by a private consultant.