Summary

  • Alton Towers admits safety breach over crash which injured Barnsley teenagers

  • Axe attack police officer 'recovering well' in hospital say colleagues in Sheffield

  • Former Darfield Co-op manager jailed for stealing £90,000 of stamps

  • Plans for new travellers' site at Swallownest rejected after residents' complaints

  • Updates on Friday 22 April 2016

Live Reporting

Kate Linderholm

  1. Goodbye: Our live coverage across the day

    Kate Linderholm
    BBC Local Live, Sheffield

    Updates on Sheffield and South Yorkshire have finished for the day but Katie Galbraith will be back at 08:00 on Monday.

    Have a lovely weekend. I hope you get a chance to get out and about and if you can take a photo of where you are we'd love to see it.

    This image of a beacon lit to celebrate the Quenn's 90th birthday yesterday evening was taken by Keith from Wortley at the village of Green Moor near Sheffield at a panoramic point known locally as "the Isle of Skye".

    Beacon against the sunsetKeith Bartram

  2. Happy Birthday Bernie Clifton - and he doesn't look a day over 79!

    Kate Linderholm
    BBC Local Live, Sheffield

    Entertainment legend Bernie Clifton got a few surprises recording his Live-ish show at BBC Radio Sheffield today. 

    You can tune in tomorrow to listen but get a load of that 80th birthday cake with Bernie astride his ostrich. 

    Bernie Clifton and show producer David Markwell

  3. Millers travel to Wolves with no new injury woes

    Rotherham boss Neil Warnock, whose side need one point to secure their survival, does not have any fresh injury concerns.

    Lee Frecklington (calf) will be assessed but defender Lloyd Doyley (knee) misses out.

    Neil WarnockGetty Images

  4. Weather: A dry and fine evening with a touch of frost possible overnight

    Keeley Donovan
    BBC Look North

    Staying fine with some sunshine before dusk but feeling chilly with temperatures quickly dropping this evening. Cold overnight with prolonged clear spells allowing a frost to form. A chilly start to Saturday with showers and sunshine with more rain expected Sunday.

    hourly forecast

  5. Watch: Google Gori's top tips for Doncaster businesses

    Kevin Larkin
    Doncaster Reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

    I've been at the Doncaster Business Conference today where more than 200 business leaders met to discuss how the borough is doing economically.

    The mood was upbeat after the recent opening of the Great Yorkshire Way link road with the M18 and construction beginning on the new High Speed Rail College, but there are continuing concerns over skills and how to market Doncaster to the rest of the world.

    Gori Yahaya from Google was on hand to offer advice to small businesses about their websites. I asked him what his top tip was for Doncaster businesses.

  6. Your views: Sheffield tram tracks danger for cyclists

    Campaign group Cycle Sheffield today called for safety improvements around the city's tram tracks.

    Tram tracks intersecting with cycle pathsCycle Sheffield

    Sheffield City Council say accidents are a worldwide issue but they are looking at specific accident hotspots.

    This is what you had to say:

    Maybe the council could run some common sense classes, preferably in an area where people with a lack of it don't have to cross any tram tracks.

    Alan Jenkinson

    As I approached Bamforth Street tram stop the platform overhangs the road and I moved into the space between tracks to pass the stop. On moving back my front wheel fell in the track and I was thrown over the handlebars. I cracked helmet, lost a lot of skin elbow to wrist on my right arm, suffered deep grazes right ankle to right knee and a swollen knee. I was shocked and upset and too terrified to get back on the bike. I wheeled my bike home and sold it.“

    Kay Guccione

  7. Fly-tipper who dumped rubbish in Rivelin Valley has to pay £351

    A man's been ordered to pay £351 in fines and costs by a magistrate in Sheffield after being caught dumping rubbish in a local beauty spot.

    Darren Butterworth, 38, of Buchanan Road in Sheffield, appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court after some detective work by an environmental protection officer who found the pile of rubbish (pictured) at Rivelin Valley Road. 

    Pile of Rubbish dumped in Rivelin Valley RoadSheffield City Council

  8. Pair who 'tortured' vulnerable man in Thurcroft jailed for 25 years each

    Jenny Cork
    BBC Sheffield news

    A man and woman have each been jailed for 25 years for attempted murder after a prolonged attack on a man in a wheelchair in Thurcroft last October.

    Toni Ackerman and Paul LyonsSouth Yorkshire Police

    Paul Lyons, 47, of Ravenfield Street, Denaby and Toni Ackerman, 35, of Cunningham Road, Doncaster were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court for an attack on a 55-year-old man at his home in Thurcroft in October last year.

    Det Con Janelle Dexter-Lowe, the investigating officer, said:

    This was a vicious, targeted attack on a vulnerable and defenceless man carried out by two evil individuals. The man used a wheelchair to get around the local area and Lyons and Ackerman took advantage of him, even befriending him prior to the attack. The man was effectively tortured in his own home for up to two hours, during which time he was punched, stamped on, stabbed and burnt with an iron."

  9. Latest Headlines: Pair jailed for 'torture' attack in Thurcroft and Alton Towers operator faces 'big fine' over Smiler crash

    Kate Linderholm
    BBC Local Live, Sheffield

    The top stories in Sheffield and South Yorkshire this afternoon include:

    • A man and a woman who "tortured" a vulnerable man in Thurcroft in a brutal and prolonged attack have been jailed for 25 years each for attempted murder and robbery
    • The company which runs Alton Towers has admitted breaching Health and Safety law when its rollercoaster crashed - seriously injuring two teenagers from Barnsley
    • A campaign group concerned about the number of accidents involving cyclists on Sheffield's tram tracks say they're taking legal advice to try and force changes

  10. Sheffield Wednesday winger suspended for trip to Derby

    Sheffield Wednesday will be without suspended winger Ross Wallace for their away match against Derby County tomorrow.

    However, the versatile Jeremy Helan is expected to feature following his return from loan.

    Midfielder Sam Hutchinson returned to training last week following glandular fever and could feature. 

    Sheffield Wednesday playersGetty Images

  11. Doncaster MP Ed Miliband says town's image is improving

    Kevin Larkin
    Doncaster Reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

    The Labour MP Ed Miliband says he thinks the image of Doncaster is improving. 

    He's one of the speakers at a big Doncaster business conference taking place today at the town's Legacy Centre.

    MP Ed Miliband at conferencebbc

    The Doncaster North MP thinks the way residents feel about the area is changing.

    Because we've got the National Rail College coming with High Speed Two, I think that's really having an impact on people's perceptions, and I think people recognise that the council has sorted it out and that Doncaster is projecting a positive vision of the future."

    MP Ed Miliband

  12. Smiler crash: HSE hopes Alton Towers admission of guilt will help victims

    The owner of Alton Towers theme park has admitted breaching health and safety laws over the rollercoaster crash that left five people seriously injured.

    Smiler ride

    Merlin Attractions Operations said it accepted responsibility for the crash.

    Leah Washington and Joe Pugh from Barnsley were among those seriously hurt in the accident on the Smiler ride in June last year. 

    Neil Craig is from the Health and Safety Executive:  

    Those injured on the second of June had every right to expect a carefree and fun day out. The incident was profoundly distressing for all those involved both physically and mentally. It left some of them with life-changing injuries. We hope this first step in this criminal case will help those affected in their recovery.

    Neil Craig, Health and Safety Executive spokesman

  13. Severe travel problems on the A1 southbound in Doncaster

    BBC Travel

    Disruption for drivers travelling on the A1 Southbound between J37 for the A635 Barnsley Road and J36 for A630 Warmsworth Road.

    A1 one land closed very slow queuing traffic for eight miles.

  14. Barnsley thief stole 'inordinate amount of stamps' say police

    A man's been jailed for 20 months for stealing £90,000 worth of stamps from the shop he worked at in Barnsley. 

    Co-op at DarfieldGoogle

    Andrew Swales, 39, from Holmfirth stole thousands of books of stamps whilst he was manager of the Co-op on Snape Hill Road in Darfield between 2009 and 2012.

    Det Con Graeme Badcock says an "inordinate amount of stamps" were stolen and then sold them to a second-hand stamp dealer in London:

    There is a market for second hand stamps. If companies for example go out of business and they have a quantity of stamps that they want to get rid of there is an outlet to sell surplus stock. But, Mr Swales took advantage of that and saw an opportunity for himself to make some extra money."

    Det Con Graeme Badcock

  15. Rotherham man jailed for inciting sexual activity with girl

    A 36-year-old man from Rotherham who sent sexual messages to a 15-year old girl and then threatened her with violence to keep her quiet has been jailed for more than three years.

    Aftab Hussain, also known as Amaan Hussain, of Holywell Place, admitted two counts of inciting sexual activity with a child, attempted witness intimidation and possession of cannabis at a hearing last month.

    He was handed a 40-month jail sentence today at Sheffield Crown Court.

    Aftab HussainSYP

  16. Watch: Chapeltown teacher reunites with favourite pupil after more than 60 years

    Rony Robinson
    Presenter, BBC Radio Sheffield

    I played host to a wonderful moment today when we reunited Betty Sanderson with one of her favourite pupils at Warren School at Chapeltown more than 60 years after they last met.

    She was known as Miss Corbett to her pupils and she bought one boy Albert Holmes his first pair of football shorts, he went on to become a captain at Chesterfield Football Club.

  17. Healthy eating on the menu for Sheffield's charity cookathon

    For the eighth year running, the Children's Food Trust, based on the East Parade in Sheffield city centre, is running a cookathon this weekend. 

    Last year's winners were the Brownlie family (pictured).

    Brownlie family with childrenChildren's Food Trust

    This year’s Big Cookathon will see schools, workplaces and community groups all cooking the same recipe of cottage pie over the weekend.

  18. Council backs off fee hike for Sheffield community market

    Gina Bolton
    BBC Radio Sheffield

    Plans to raise the fees for a community market in Sheffield have been abandoned.

    Market posterSVCA

    Organisers of the Sharrow Vale Community Market told BBC Radio Sheffield earlier this week that proposals to increase fees from £25 to almost £800 put their future in doubt.

    City councillors have now voted against the price hike.

  19. Latest headlines: Alton Towers admits safety breach and Rotherham veterans get Legion of Honour medals

    Jenny Cork
    BBC Sheffield news

    The top stories in Sheffield and South Yorkshire this afternoon include:

  20. Former Co-op manager jailed for stealing £90,000 of stamps

    A man has been jailed for stealing £90,000 worth of stamps from his employer in Barnsley which he used to fund foreign holidays and gambling. 

    Stamps

    Andrew Swales, 39, of Woodland View, Thongsbridge, in Holmfirth, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today where he was sentenced to one year and eight months for theft after admitting theft. 

    The court was told from 2009 to 2012 he ordered and then stole thousands of books of first and second class stamps while manager of the Co-op convenience store on Snape Hill Road, Darfield.