Elly Fiorentini
BBC Local Live, York

A new system introduced to help reduce patients' waiting times at York Hospital's A&E department is working well, staff there say. 

A "navigator" has been introduced to assess patients when they turn up in the department. 

As a result, about 20% of them are being redirected and sent to their GP or a pharmacist. 

I've been finding out how it works:

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

Christmas is coming, as if you hadn't noticed, and with that in mind a North Yorkshire-based army regiment has continued a festive tradition near Ripon.

Image source, Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

Members of 21 Royal Engineer Regiment carried a 20ft tree into the visitor centre of Fountains Abbey yesterday - and with military precision proceeded to erect it and adorn it with lights.  

Got any pictures of Christmas trees being put up near you in North Yorkshire? Why not help us all get into the Christmas spirit by sending them to us via Twitter, external, Facebook, external or email.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

Two Environment Agency flood warnings, external are still in place in North Yorkshire this morning after heavy rain earlier this week:

• On the River Derwent at Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill

• And on the River Ouse at Naburn Lock

We'll bring you any more updates as we get them.

BBC Radio York

The top stories from the York newsroom so far this morning include:  

• York Hospital say a new system in the Accident and Emergency department means people are being seen more quickly
• It could be easier to get around York in the future after a council vote opens the way to about £70m of improvements to roundabouts on the outer ring road
• A North Yorkshire MP who wants to give families "the best Christmas present" is putting pressure on the NHS to fund a drug which could save lives

BBC Weather

A touch of frost in places at first, otherwise dry with light winds across the region.

Although rather cloudy in places at first, sunny spells should become more widespread during the day as cloud thins and breaks.  

BBC Travel

It seems to be a generally trouble-free start in most places on North Yorkshire's roads this morning.  

However in York, Paragon Street is currently closed in both directions due to ongoing water main work between George Street and Barbican Road:  

Image source, Google

And in Old Malton, delays are expected due to temporary traffic lights and roundabout construction on the A169 at Edenhouse Road:

Image source, Google

Meanwhile, trains in and out of York Railway Station are generally running to schedule, according to the station's live departure board, external.   

However, the 07:24 service to Manchester Airport is currently running 15 minutes late and the 07:27 service to Reading via Doncaster is running seven minutes late.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

I'll be with you until 14:30 with all the latest news, travel, sport and weather from across North Yorkshire. 

Later we'll have news of a new system to improve waiting times at York Hospital's Accident and Emergency department - and a possible £72m improvement to York's roads.

But let's start the run-up to the weekend with this glorious sunshine over York Minster, taken from the edible garden behind York's Art Gallery, sent in by BBC Weather Watcher Garry Hornet.

Listen to live BBC local radio commentary from Saturday's action in the National League and FA Trophy.

A jury is dismissed after failing to reach a verdict on five counts of sex offences allegedly committed by a former boarding school teacher.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

That's it for me today, but updates on breaking news and travel will continue for the rest of the afternoon, through the evening and night.

Meanwhile, here are five things we've learned about our county so far today:

1. The company behind plans to construct a potash mine on the North York Moors has secured initial funding of about £1bn
2. York's Labour MP has described the murdered Yorkshire MP Jo Cox as "a huge force for good"
3. Work to meet a revised completion date for the rebuilding of Tadcaster Bridge, following serious flooding at the end of last year, is "on schedule"  
4. A farm in Tadcaster is hoping to lead the world in research into pigs
5. And a host of knitting Ninjas have created a huge woollen White Walker, external from the TV series Game of Thrones as the centrepiece of the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate

I'll leave you with this BBC Weather Watcher pic sent in by the intriguingly named MWUK1958.

To me, this looks a little like an Austrian village at the foot of a mountain, but it's actually a snow-capped Pen-y-Ghent fell, taken six miles south in Settle:

Gareth Barlow
Journalist, BBC Radio York

The University of Leeds is hoping to become one of the world's leading pig research facilities, thanks to £7m of new investment into its farm near Tadcaster. 

The extra funding means the university can expand its herd from 200 to 600 sows, increasing the capacity for research. 

One key focus is sow nutrition and the role it plays in producing healthier, more vigorous piglets and how that could reduce costs and antibiotic use for farmers. 

I joined Professor Helen Miller, director of the University Farm and an expert in pig nutrition, to see what impact the new funding is having:

Increasing the number of live music events at Scarborough's Outdoor Theatre in 2017 could boost the resort's tourist economy by £5m, its promoters have said.

They've announced they're planning to schedule 18 concerts at the venue in 2017, compared to the 10 hosted in 2016.

Image source, Rhodes Media

A planning application has now been submitted by the venue's owner, Scarborough Borough Council, which will be presented to its Planning Committee for a decision in early 2017.

If plans are approved, promoters Cuffe and Taylor say about 108,000 tickets will go on sale across the 18 planned events for 2017.

The Beach Boyshave already been confirmed to appear at the theatre next year.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

The company behind plans to construct a potash mine on the North York Moors has secured initial funding of about £1bn.

Sirius Minerals said it had raised enough money to begin construction of the mine near Whitby. 

Planning permission for the mine and a tunnel to transport the mineral, used in fertilizer, for processing on Teesside has already been granted.

The money has been generated through new shares and convertible bonds.

Image source, Sirius Minerals

The plans include building a minehead at Dove's Nest Farm, Sneaton, with shafts 4,921ft deep.

The minerals will then be transported 23 miles underground to Wilton International, external, near Redcar.

Joanita Musisi
Reporter, BBC Radio York

Yesterday, I told you the news that knitters in Selby have produced a 600-yard scarf to wrap round Selby Abbey.

I bet those knitting Ninjas will appreciate an event in Harrogate starting today - the Knitting and Stitching Show which is the UK's biggest textile art and craft event.

And look at this amazing creation taking centre stage. It's a woollen Game of Thrones White Walker.

The TV network HBO approached The Embroiderers' Guild last year to create a work to mark the DVD release of Game of Thrones' fifth series and the launch of season six. 

The Guild led the design and production of the piece and invited stitch partners Hand & Lock - a social enterprise which trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework - to participate. 

The creation, which took two months to make, is 5m long and 4m high and was put together by 160 different embroiders based all over the UK.

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

A dry afternoon across North Yorkshire with some bright or sunny spells, although cloud will tend to increase from the east. 

Brisk northeast winds making it feel cold near the coast with highs of about 7C (45F).

BBC Radio York

A company which wants to sink the first mine in the country for nearly 50 years will find out today if it's raised enough money for the first phase of its construction in North Yorkshire.

Sirius Minerals wants to build a potash mine near Whitby. 

The term "potash" is used to describe a range of minerals containing potassium, with the company mining polyhalite.  

The scheme's attracted investment from an Australian mining company, city investors and thousands of local shareholders. 

Here are some shots of the site:

Sirius claims the scheme will create more than 1,000 jobs, but opponents say it will damage the landscape and wildlife.  

Plans include building a minehead at Dove's Nest Farm, Sneaton, with shafts 4,921ft deep.

It aims to initially produce 10 million tonnes of fertilizer per year, rising to 20 million tonnes subject to council approval.

BBC Radio York

The top stories from our York newsroom this lunchtime include:

• Work to build a potash mine near Whitby could come a step closer later, with Sirius Minerals expected to announce it's raised enough money to start work on the first phase
• More than £70m could be secured to upgrade some of York's roads as officials meet to consider whether to join the West Yorkshire Transport Fund
• Work to meet a revised completion date for the rebuilding of flood-hit Tadcaster Bridge is "on schedule", according to North Yorkshire County Council

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

An 11th century medieval church in York is due to be filled with musicians on Friday for a concert to raise money for a local mental health charity.

Image source, John Illingworth

The concert's roots go back to humble beginnings in 2013, when the York Mind charity decided music lovers in the city deserved "a treat for the ears" to see them through a cold winter’s evening.

Since then, the Winter Concert has become the organisation's annual flagship music event in the city.

Image source, York Mind

Holly Bilton, from the charity, says: "We aim to bring supporters of better mental health together in one of the most beautiful venues in York, the National Centre for early Music, to experience an evening of acoustic music and raise as much money as possible."

You can click here to see the concert line-up, external.

More on the news that work to finish repairs to Tadcaster Bridge, which was damaged in the Boxing Day 2015 floods, is "on schedule", according to North Yorkshire County Council.

Image source, PA

Earlier this month, the completion date for repairs to the 18th century Grade II-listed bridge was put back from the end of December to the end of January following problems with "unusual and persistent" high river levels, later found to be due to damming by Network Rail downstream.

Councillor Chris Metcalfe says: "Our contractors continue to pull out the stops to complete this complex, painstaking job.

"We understand the difficulties and frustrations residents and businesses face while repairs to the bridge are undertaken. Our goal remains getting Tadcaster back on its feet."

Joanita Musisi
Reporter, BBC Radio York

The UK's biggest textile art and craft event, the Knitting and Stitching Show, is being held in Harrogate over the next four days.  

I've had a look around this morning and took a few pics of some of the creative creations:

Jean Littlejohn and Jan Beaney, aka Double Trouble, are pictured at the top showing off their creations.

Down at the bottom, that's Tash Jackson and Amy Gorman who are selling knitting and crocheting kits.

I've just seen the star attraction of the show, which is a terrifying creation from a very well known TV fantasy show. I'll show you a film of that soon and you will be impressed!