There are big changes across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire today as coronavirus restrictions ease in line with national guidance.

Image source, The Magpie

Six people or two households can now meet indoors, with overnight stays allowed.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants can serve customers indoors. The region's cinemas, theatres, museums and tourist attractions are also re-opening.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Together we have reached another milestone in our roadmap out of lockdown, but we must take this next step with a heavy dose of caution."

Ahead of the reopening of indoor hospitality today John Senior, who chairs South Bay Traders' Association in Scarborough, said there was an appetite for the "familiarity" of English resorts.

Many businesses also reported high numbers of advance bookings, such as at Number 21 guest house in York.

Owner Simon Boyle said: "I can't put it into words how excited we are, we can't wait for people to come back into the house, make it feel alive again."

Here's how the rules have changed?

• People can now meet indoors in groups of up to six or two households, or in groups of up to 30 outdoors. Overnight stays are allowed
• Pubs, bars and restaurants can serve customers indoors
• Museums, cinemas, children's play areas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadiums can all reopen, as can hotels
• Social distancing guidance is changing and contact with other households like hugs is a matter of personal choice

BBC Weather

After a cloudy start with occasional showers sunny spells should develop.

Heavy, possibly thundery, showers are expected by noon and to continue through the afternoon.

Rain should ease this evening allowing clear spells to develop:

Breaking news, sport, weather and travel updates from across North, West, East and South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

A 15-year-old held along with a man over the attack have been released on bail.

A 15-year-old is held along with a man over a serious attack on a police officer in Scunthorpe.

Police say the charges relate to "a multi-million pound" class A drugs operation.

The university says it reviewed the decision after "listening carefully to feedback from students".

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A "handful" of Indian variant cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Lincolnshire.

Image source, Reuters

Professor Derek Ward, Lincolnshire County Council’s director for public health, said it was "very small numbers" and he was "comfortable" the cases had mainly centred around people who had returned from foreign travel or who were connected with people who had.

Officially called B.1.617.2 - it is one of four mutated versions of coronavirus which have been designated as being "of concern" by UK public health bodies, with others first being identified in Kent, South Africa and Brazil.

Experts believe the India variant has mutations that may make it more transmissible, but it is not yet known if it causes more severe disease or if it might make current vaccines less effective.

Professor Ward said: "With this variant, it looks like the vaccines are working perfectly well, it looks like you’ll get the same sorts of disease, no worse no better. It’s just a bit more transmissible."

BBC Weather

Today it will be mostly cloudy and dry with a few sunny spells towards the evening.

Tonight will start dry with patchy rain moving in later:

Seventeen players have left Scunthorpe United at the expiry of their contracts, including Alex Gilliead and Kevin van Veen.

Trains taken out of service after cracks were found are to be reintroduced following "rigorous safety checks", the Rail Delivery Group says.

Image source, PA Media

Some of the Hitachi Class 800 trains have cracks on the lifting plate, but as this is used for maintenance and not passenger journeys, regulators have agreed they are safe to return.

There has been disruption for passengers since Saturday

The rail minister warned travellers to expect disruption for "some time".

The Rail Delivery Group said Great Western Railway and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will ramp up services.

Travellers are being advised to continue to check with their operator before they travel.

BBC Weather

This morning will be dry with patchy cloud and spells of sunshine.

In the afternoon, a few scattered showers may push in from the west, however these should clear later on in the day.

Tonight, thicker cloud will build in from the east through the night and it will turn overcast. It should remain dry, however.

The swan was rescued after being spotted with a black sock pulled tightly over its head.

BBC Weather

Today will see patchy cloud, with plenty of sunshine and scattered showers throughout.

Tonight, showers will largely ease away and it will turn drier, with some occasional showers:

Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership says the move follows a rise in abusive behaviour towards staff.

An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire in Tooley Street, Boston.

Police say the weapon was "seized and made safe" after being discovered in a skip.

BBC Weather

Today will start dry with plenty of sunshine.

In the afternoon, cloud will develop and heavy showers will move in towards the evening.

This evening heavy showers will continue and may become thundery.

It will gradually turn drier overnight with some clear spells developing:

Work begins to clean and restore the Buffalo as part of efforts to see it on public display.

Officers search the area after reports of a youth carrying a firearm near St Peter and St Paul Academy.