BBC Radio Leeds

A woman from Wakefield says she is "thrilled" after receiving hundreds of cards from strangers, to mark her 101st birthday.

Irene Downes couldn't celebrate turning 100 last year because of Covid-19 restrictions, so staff at her care home wanted to make a big fuss this year instead.

And thanks to an online appeal, she has now received around 350 birthday cards.

Irene, who lives at Woodlands Residential Home in Woolley, said: "Thank you very, very much for all the good wishes I've received. I'm absolutely overwhelmed.

"It's absolutely fantastic. I'm so thrilled. I'll have to have someone to help me to open them."

To mark the special occasion, Irene is being visited by family and the Mayor of Wakefield, and care home staff are putting on a Downton Abbey style afternoon tea.

The group left the extremely vulnerable girl with long-term mental health problems, a court hears.

Bournemouth's Championship match against Nottingham Forest on Friday is among six games postponed as Storm Eunice sweeps in.

Sixteen LGBT+ flag paving slabs have been laid in Leeds city centre to coincide with LGBT History Month, external.

Image source, Leeds City Council

The slabs commissioned by Leeds City Council are to become a permanent fixture in the city's gay quarter.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: "Lower Briggate is the city centre’s primary LGBT+ quarter, and in planning an improvement scheme, we spoke to businesses about what they’d like to include, in order to reflect that status.

"Businesses asked for the paving slabs and new rainbow lighting features.

"The paving is being installed this week, while the lighting features will be installed by the end of April."

The paving features the Pride Progress flag which represents the diversity of the LGBT+ community.

It'd design includes the six coloured stripes of the original rainbow flag of the LGBT+ community.

To this, it adds five coloured stripes in the shape of an arrow, which represent trans and non-binary people, marginalised people of colour in the LGBT+ community and people living with HIV.

Paul Robson was found in Skegness after being reported missing from HMP North Sea Camp on Sunday.

Two roads are blocked in Lincolnshire after trees were blown down by Storm Eunice, police say.

Image source, PA Media

Both trees came down in the Stamford area., external

One tree is blocking Tinwell Road with another blocking Greatford Road, according to Lincolnshire Police.

The Highways Agency is aware and dealing with the situation, police said.

People in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire intending to travel to London by train have been warned not to attempt the journey.

Image source, LNER

The warning follows damage to overhead electric wires between Kings Cross and Peterborough, caused by Storm Eunice.

It's meant all lines are blocked between the two railway stations, external on the East Coast Main Line, LNER said.

The operator said: "There is significant disruption across our network - we continue to advise you not to travel."

Meanwhile rail services from Hull to the capital have stopped running due to the storm., external

Image source, Hull Trains

Hull Trains said: "Due to severe weather and very high winds we are running no services to King's Cross.

"If you hold Hull Trains only tickets for Friday we strongly recommend that you travel on Saturday 19, Sunday 20, or Monday 21 February."

An amber "be prepared" weather warning, external is in place for Lincolnshire until 21:00 on Friday.

A yellow "be aware" warning, external for snow and a yellow "be aware" warning for wind, external is in place in Yorkshire until 18:00.

Two flood warnings have been issued for parts of East Yorkshire due to strong winds from Storm Eunice.

Image source, PA Media

The Environment Agency, external (EA), has issued warnings for the Humber Estuary at East and West Hessle foreshores.

The storm is expected to cause waves and spray overtopping on the estuary this evening, the Environment Agency said.

A flood warning means "flooding is expected, act now."

The agency warned people should: "Stay away from beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads as the expected large waves and sea spray will be dangerous."

Meanwhile five flood alerts have also been issued for other parts of Yorkshire.

A flood alert means "flooding is possible, be prepared".

These include:

• Humber estuary from Hessle Haven to Faxfleet, external
• Ings Beck and Oakenshaw Beck, external in the Wakefield area
• Lower River Calder catchment, external
• River Seven catchment, external in Norh Yorkshire
• Upper River Ouse, external in York

The EA says it's "closely monitoring the situation".

David McAdam, who died last week, spent more than 30 years rescuing and saving animals.

Humberside Police said some of the footage made for "hair-raising" viewing.

Lincolnshire Police has taken on more staff in its force control room to cope with increase in demand as Storm Eunice takes a hold.

Image source, EPA

Mike Modder-Fitch, from G4S, whose staff work as call-handlers in the control room, said: "When we see events like this, we can see demand go up as much as 10 or 15% depending on the severity of the wind conditions."

Lincolnshire County Council's highways team had also brought in more staff, according to highways manager Richard Fenwick.

He said: "We've got extra emergency gangs, extra tree surgeons available and we've also got extra drainage gangs and gangs that can deliver sandbags."

An amber "be prepared" weather warning, external is in place for Lincolnshire until 21:00.

People have been urged to stay at home and the emergency services have warned of disruption to transport.

BBC Radio York

A 35-year-old man who died in a shark attack in Australia this week was a former airman based in North Yorkshire.

Image source, Simon Nellist

The Royal Air Force has told BBC Radio York Simon Nellist served with 34 Squadron at RAF Leeming.

He was the the victim of Sydney's first fatal shark attack in nearly 60 years on Wednesday.

Mr Nellist, who was a diving instructor, was mauled by a great white shark just off Little Bay in east Sydney.

BBC Radio York

A decision is due to be made today on a pilot scheme which could see vehicles banned during busy times of day outside a North Yorkshire school.

Image source, Google

Councillors are looking at whether it should go ahead at Seamer and Irton Community Primary, external near Scarborough.

It is part of county council plans to improve safety and encourage walking.

Councillor Don McKenzie, who has responsibility for transport, told BBC Radio York: "The report lists a total of five schools and this is the first one.

"If it's successful then we will expand it. How do we measure the success? We'd like to see, for example, whether more pupils and their parents walk to school, or cycle or scoot, rather than coming by car."

Parent Sian Harrison said: "It's carnage, with cars mounting the pavement, there are unhappy drivers, people are parked on yellow lines that clearly say do not park."

North Yorkshire County Council is set to examine the impacts of the Department Of Transport-backed School Streets initiative over 18 months, just weeks after ratifying a new 20mph zone policy, under which the authority is going to scrutinise where it could lower speed limits outside schools.

The Humber Bridge will close to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists at 13:30 on Friday, external, ahead of Storm Eunice.

The bridge is currently closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles and has a 30mph speed limit., external

Officials at the bridge said: "Due to very high winds forecast today the Humber Bridge is to close to all traffic from 13:30.

"We can’t say when it will reopen but it’s likely to be closed for several hours.

"Please avoid the area. Further updates will be posted on our website and social media."

A yellow warning, external for snow came into place in Yorkshire at 03:00 on Friday with a yellow warning for wind, external in place from 07:00.

Lincolnshire and parts of Yorkshire are covered by an amber wind warning, external, which is due to expire at 21:00.

Trains from Sheffield to London are severely affected by damaged overhead power lines, according to a train operator.

There is damage to the overhead wires at St Albans, East Midlands Railway (EMR) said.

This means the line between Luton and London St Pancras is slow.

Just one train line is open while workers try to fix the issue, but congestion is building in the area with some services not being able to run, EMR said.

The delays are currently about 60 minutes towards London.

Calvert Lane, in Hull, is set to undergo major works to ease traffic flow after years of complaints.

Special sensors will be fitted to some Harrogate bins that will tell the council when they are full.

Rail passengers across the region have been warned not to travel as Network Rail responds to Storm Eunice.

Image source, Network Rail

A yellow warning, external for snow came into place in Yorkshire at 03:00 on Friday with a yellow warning for wind, external in place from 07:00.

Lincolnshire and parts of Yorkshire are covered by an amber wind warning, external, which is due to expire at 21:00.

The company says it's put additional workers at key locations on the railways across the region which are likely to be affected by the storm.

It said services would be "significantly reduced" and trains will run at lower speeds, with the risk of trees being blown onto the line.

Matt Rice, from Network Rail, said: "As the weather worsens I’d advise passengers to avoid travelling on Friday and, wherever possible, try to plan your journey for when conditions improve."

A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape following an incident in a park in Lincolnshire, police say.

Image source, Google

The 20-year-old man was taken into custody after a serious sexual assault at Wyndham Park, Grantham, according to Lincolnshire Police.

The incident happened between 04:00 and 05:00 on Sunday 13 February, officers said.

The suspect has been released on police bail while an investigation takes place.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Amber "be prepared" and yellow "be aware" weather warnings are in place for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire with Storm Eunice set to cause disruption on Friday.

Image source, Met Office

An amber "be prepared" weather warning, external is in place for Lincolnshire from 05:00 to 21:00.

The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum said the storm could bring gusts of up to 80mph in some areas, leading to possible damage to property, train cancellations and power cuts.

People have also been warned not to venture too close to the sea.

Meanwhile a yellow "be aware" warning, external for snow came into place in Yorkshire at 03:00 on Friday with a yellow "be aware" warning for wind, external in place from 07:00.

On the trains LNER said significant disruption is expected to services.

Northern said high winds and heavy rain will badly impact services across their network.

TransPennine Express said people should defer their travel until tomorrow.

On the roads the A66 from Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire to Penrith in Cumbria is closed,according to National Highways, Yorkshire., external

In Sheffield the B6085 Darnall Road is closed in both directions because of flooding between Chippingham Street and Allende Way.

Drivers hoping to use the Humber Bridge have been warned to watch out for closure announcements., external