Police say replica guns were altered to fire live rounds and sold to criminals in northern England.

The inquest into the death of footballer Emiliano Sala in a plane crash in January 2019 in which a pilot from Lincolnshire also died is now under way.

Image source, Reuters

Sala (pictured), 28, died when the plane he was travelling in from Nantes in France to Cardiff crashed into the English Channel.

The plane's pilot, David Ibbotson, from Crowle, Lincolnshire, also died in the crash. His body has never been found.

The man who organised the flight, David Henderson, 67, of Hotham, East Riding of Yorkshire, was found guilty in October of recklessly endangering the safety of an aircraft.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The Dorset coroner's inquest will also consider pilot David Ibbotson's qualifications, the flight itself, and the search for and recovery of Mr Sala's body.

The condition and maintenance of the aircraft and the design of its exhaust system will also be assessed.

BBC Sport

Bradford City have sacked manager Derek Adams after eight months in charge at the League Two club., external

Image source, Bradford City AFC

Adams' last game in charge was Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Exeter City, his ninth loss in 31 league games in charge that left the club in 11th place.

The 46-year-old joined the Bantams from Morecambe in June, but won only nine of 37 games in all competitions.

In a statement released on social media, external, the club’s chief executive officer, Ryan Sparks, said: "On behalf of the board, it is with deep regret we have come to the decision to part company with Derek Adams.

"A sustained period of consideration has led to this decision and it is felt that, with all things taken into account, the club must move in a different direction with regards to the role of first-team manager.

"We would like to thank Derek for his efforts while at Valley Parade, and wish him the very best for the future."

Assistant boss Mark Trueman will take charge of first-team affairs, including Saturday's game against Oldham.

Paul Robson, who is described as a "menace to women", walked out of HMP North Sea Camp on Sunday.

A grandmother who died after an ambulance taking her to hospital crashed has been named by police.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Christine Lafferty, 70, died in hospital three days after the ambulance and a blue Mercedes collided on Sheffield Road in Doncaster on 1 February.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: "She suffered further injuries as a result of the collision and sadly died three days later in hospital, on Friday 4 February."

Paying tribute, her family said: "Our mum was a fun-loving, beautiful and a generous lady who was loved by anyone who knew her.

"We are devastated that she was taken so tragically.

"She leaves behind her loving partner Ken, her two children Rachel and David and five grandchildren, who loved, admired and cared for her deeply."

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

BBC Weather

Today will start with patchy cloud, scattered showers and sunny spells.

It will be a largely dry afternoon with sunny spells.

A dry and cloudy start to the evening will be followed by a band of rain sweeping in from the south-west which should continue throughout the night:

Police hunting a "dangerous sex offender" who absconded from an open prison have released further details to help people identify him.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Paul Robson (pictured), 56, who entered a woman's home through a cat flap and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint, was given a life sentence in 2000.

He was reported missing from HMP North Sea Camp, Lincolnshire, on Sunday.

Officers say Robson could be anywhere in the country, and have warned people not to approach him, but to report sightings of him.

Robson, believed to be originally from Oxford, is described as white, slim and bald. He was last seen with a long goatee beard.

Details of what he's thought to be wearing have been published in a latest appeal by Lincolnshire Police.

A spokesperson for the force said: "He may be wearing a black long-sleeved Berghaus top, a grey 'French' t-shirt, dark bottoms, a dark coloured woollen beanie and a light-grey donkey-style jacket with orange on the shoulder area."

Det Ch Sup Andy Cox, said: "Robson is a dangerous sex offender and while he presents a particular danger to women and young children, I believe he can cause real harm to anyone he comes across."

A man's been treated in hospital for injuries to his head following an attack in Whitby, police say.

Image source, Google

The 50-year-old victim was assaulted while walking along Windsor Terrace, near the library, shortly after 21:00 on Friday, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Officers say they want to speak to a man and a woman seen in the area at the time of the attack in connection with the incident.

A force spokesperson says: "The man is described as being in his 40s with a bald head and tattoos on his hands and arms.

"The woman is described as being younger than the man, with blonde hair and was wearing a long brown coat."

Anyone who recognises the description of the man and woman, or who witnessed the attack, is asked to contact police.

BBC Radio Humberside

Work is under way to redevelop Queens Gardens in Hull city centre to allow the area to better hold large-scale events and reflect the area's maritime history.

Image source, Hull City Council

As part of the work on the gardens, which were once the UK's largest dock before being filled in during the 1930s, will see new mature trees planted to increase biodiversity and help with climate change.

The project will also see the existing bandstand moved to Pickering Park and the Rose Bowl Fountain given a new water system and decorative lighting.

Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: "Today marks the start of this fantastic project that will transform our city centre and play an important role in our future prosperity."

The work is being carried out in two phases and is expected to be completed in late 2023.

Two men have been arrested after drugs, cash and weapons were seized during a police raid in Hull.

Image source, Google

Humberside Police said £6,000 in cash, a quantity of Class A drugs and weapons were found at an address on Hessle Road on Friday 11 February.

Two men, aged 46 and 49, were arrested following the operation.

They've since been released while an investigation takes places, officers said.

Anyone with information about drug offences is being urged to contact police.

The proposals for Lincoln's historic Bailgate have proved "divisive", councillors are told.

Former England international Kabir Ali joins the new set-up at Yorkshire as assistant coach

Parts of Yorkshire could be battered by winds gusting to 90mph later this week, forecasters have warned.

Image source, Met office

An Amber "be prepared" weather warning has been issued by the Met Office ahead of Storm Dudley.

Periods of very strong winds could cause disruption later Wednesday and during Thursday, the Met Office said., external

The warning is set to be in place from 18:00 on Wednesday until 09:00 on Thursday.

Image source, Met office

The Met Office said, external: "There is still some uncertainty in the timing and location of the strongest winds, but there is the potential for inland wind gusts of 70-80mph in places.

"Gusts of 80-90mph are possible around exposed coasts and hills."

The Met Office has also issued a yellow "be aware" warning, external for high winds during Storm Dudley.

It covers from 15:00 on Wednesday to 18:00 on Thursday.

A man has been left seriously injured after a crash in Lincolnshire involving three vehicles including a tractor.

Image source, Google

It happened at about 18:00 on Saturday at Gunby roundabout on the A158 Lowgate at Scremby when the tractor, a silver Vauxhall Insignia and a blue Skoda Fabia were in collision.

The driver of the Vauxhall, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who may have captured dashcam footage of the crash, is being asked to get in touch with Lincolnshire Police.

Officers say they're particularly interested in hearing from the driver and/or passenger of a red people carrier, possibly a Citroen C3, who it's thought may have seen the collision.

Two visitors will be allowed to see patients on Rotherham wards without Covid cases, the trust says.

Richard Madden
BBC Radio Humberside

Former Hull FC and Rugby League Hall of Fame member Johnny Whiteley has died after a short illness in hospital.

The 91-year-old made more than 400 appearances for the Black and Whites between 1950 and 1965.

His playing career saw him win two club championships, the European Club Championships and two World Cups and the Ashes as part of the Great Britain squad.

After finishing his playing career, he went on to coach Hull FC and city rivals Hull KR, as well as taking charge of the national side.

Mr Whiteley was awarded an MBE for services to Rugby League and community in the Queen’s 2005 New Year’s Honours list.

He was also awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of Hull and was made a Freeman of the City of Hull.

Mr Whiteley was most recently named in the Rugby League Hall of Fame back in 2018.

A body has been found close to the site of a car which crashed into a field in South Yorkshire, police say.

Image source, Google

It's thought a blue BMW 320D, being driven along Kingsforth Lane towards Thurcroft in Rotherham shortly after 20:00 on Friday, went out of control after a bend.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: "A 30-year-old man was found outside the vehicle upon officers’ arrival.

"However it's believed he was inside the vehicle at the time of the collision."

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who saw the vehicle before the crash, is being asked to contact police.

Officers say they want to speak to witnesses and anyone with dash cam footage.

BBC Radio York

An electric scooter and bike rental trial in York could be extended today.

Image source, Tier

City of York Council is due to decide whether the trial should continue for another eight months.

The e-scooter scheme originally began in September 2020 and was expanded in January 2021 to include e-bikes.

Scooters can be hired using a phone app at the city's two universities, the hospital and locations in the city centre and they can only be used on roads and cycle lanes, not on footpaths.

Tier, the scheme's operator, says the service has been used by more than 25,000 residents in the city so far, with users making around 20,000 trips a month.

The government changed the law in 2020 to allow electric scooters to be used as part of council-run rental schemes and riders must hold at least a provisional driving licence and be insured.

It remains illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on roads.

Staff at universities in Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and York start a five-day strike today in a row over pension cuts.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are striking, with more than 40 other institutions across the country in the walkout.

The UCU has demanded a £2,500 pay increase for members, an end to "pay injustice" and zero-hours contracts and action to tackle "unmanageable workloads"

A further 24 universities are due to join the action next week.

It is unclear exactly where or how much tutorials and lectures will be affected as union members don't have to tell their university employers whether they will be walking out.

Chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, Raj Jethwa, previously called industrial action an "unrealistic attempt to try to force" all 146 employers to reopen a concluded national pay round "aimed at harming students".

Hull's Queens Gardens, a former dock, will be revamped to hold larger events and will get new trees.