Joanita Musisi
Reporter, BBC Radio York

One of the most prestigious events in snooker starts today at the York Barbican.

The UK Championship is being held for the 12th time in the city with 128 players involved.

I was allowed a sneak preview of final preparations before the auditorium fills up and the stars take to the tables:

BBC Radio York

The top stories from our York newsroom this lunchtime include:

• Drivers in North Yorkshire are being warned to take care on the roads, as plenty of routes are still affected by surface water following last night's heavy rain
• The High Court is examining a challenge from campaigners who want to stop fracking from going ahead in part of North Yorkshire 
• Snooker's UK Championship gets under way at York's Barbican later, with several big names taking part including Jimmy White

BBC Travel

Roads across the county are being monitored at the moment after persistent, heavy rain yesterday and overnight which has led to local flooding and road closures:

• The A169 Blue Bank near Sleights was closed at 18:00 last night and remains closed, after gravel from the escape road next to the carriageway washed out because of the large amount of water running down the bank

• Cattal Bridge near Tockwith is currently closed on the approach roads and the road from Bishop Monkton to Roeclife also remains closed due to flooding
• The A1039 is closed between Muston and Flixton near Filey. Diversions are in place via Hunmanby for people travelling from Staxton to Muston

North Yorkshire County Council warns: "It is very important people continue to drive carefully owing to surface water on roads across the county."

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

Thanks to Rob Brown in North Yorkshire for sending us these dramatic shots of the aftermath of yesterday's bad weather.

It wasn't just rain but wind which caused problems, as can be seen by this picture of a fallen tree at Lawkland, near settle, which came down due to overnight gales.

Image source, Rob Brown

Image source, Rob Brown

BBC Radio York

North Yorkshire cleaned up at last night's White Rose Awards, external, which honoured the best of our region's tourism. 

Fifteen of the 17 winners were from here in North Yorkshire. 

Image source, Welcome to Yorkshire

The Hare Inn at Scawton took the restaurant of the year award, while the Yorkshire pub prize went to The Coach and Horses in Harrogate.

The best large hotel award went to The Devonshire Arms in Skipton, while there was an arts and culture award for the Scarborough-based Yorkshire Young Sinfonia.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

Several properties were flooded and cars had to be abandoned after getting stuck at Sleights in North Yorkshire after a landslip, it's emerged.

The landslip followed torrential rain last night and saw gravel from an escape road next to the carriageway washed out because of the large amount of water running down the bank.

Image source, Google

A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman says: "Numerous properties were flooded, vehicles abandoned and large amounts of debris, mainly from the gravel trap, blocked the carriageway.

"Gullies, manholes and property entrances were blocked for the full length of Coach Road."

Work to clear the road is ongoing using a gully emptier, JCBs and high pressure jets.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

The fight to stop fracking from taking place at a site in North Yorkshire has moved to the High Court in London today.

Two groups are challenging last May's decision by county councillors to allow fracking at Kirby Misperton, near Pickering. 

But the county council insists it gave what it calls "proper regard" to the application. 

Doctor Tim Thornton, from the campaign group Frack Free Ryedale, says the area has become what he calls a "sacrifice zone":

BBC Travel

The rain is having an impact on traffic and travel in North Yorkshire today.

On the roads, these are the latest problems:

• The A65 in Gargrave is just passable in both directions between Church Street and A59/A629/Gagrave Road
• The B6161 Leathley Lane is just passable between Cinder Lane and the A658
• In Cattal, Cattal Moor Lane is blocked in both directions between Ox Moor Lane and Fleet Lane and there are vehicles stuck in the flood water

There are quite a few delays on the trains too. Here's the departure board at York Railway station., external

Southport sign York City defender Jack Higgins on a season-long loan deal after Callum Howe is recalled by Lincoln.

Mike Kemp
Reporter, BBC Radio York

Here's the scene outside the High Court in London, with anti-fracking campaigners gathering as a judge hears a challenge to last May's decision by county councillors to give the go-ahead to fracking at Kirby Misperton near Pickering.

While the council insists it gave what it calls proper regard to the application, Frack Free Ryedale and Friends of the Earth are expected to argue here that the decision was made unlawfully.

Joanita Musisi
Reporter, BBC Radio York

One of the biggest events in the sport starts in York today, as snooker's UK Championship begins.

It's the 12th time the event has been held at The Barbican, and organisers say crowds have hit "record levels year on year". 

The tournament is considered the second most prestigious in snooker, behind only the World Championship.

Play goes on until a week on Sunday.  

I'm at the Barbican in York right now and I'll have some interviews and pics for you very soon.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

A number of roads across North Yorkshire remain closed this morning because of localised flooding following heavy rain yesterday and overnight. 

The Environment Agency says no homes have been flooded, but a total of five flood warnings remain in place across our county. 

• On the River Esk at Ruswarp, Egton Bridge, Lealholm
• The River Ure at Roecliffe Caravan park

• The River Seven at Sinnington

There are also currently no issues with Tadcaster and the River Wharfe which was badly hit by the Boxing Day floods in 2015. 

You can see more from your area via the Environment Agency here, external.  

Mike Kemp
Reporter, BBC Radio York

I'm outside the imposing building that houses the Royal Courts of Justice where a judge will hear a challenge to last May's decision by county councillors to give the go-ahead to fracking at Kirby Misperton near Pickering.

While the council insists it gave what it calls proper regard to the application, Frack Free Ryedale and Friends of the Earth are expected to argue here that the decision was made unlawfully.

A short while ago Frack Free Rydale began a protest outside the High Court:

Georgey Spanswick
Presenter, BBC Radio York

More now on the hearing about fracking today at the High Court in London examining whether North Yorkshire County Council was right to allow it to go ahead in Kirby Misperton near Pickering.

I've been talking to the local Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake.

He supports the plans for fracking, but told me if it can't be done within safe environmental limits, he will join the campaign against it:

It'll be rather cloudy today with showery outbreaks of rain, some heavy during the morning but not as torrential as yesterday.

Showers should become lighter and well scattered throughout the afternoon. 

Watch my forecast here:

BBC Radio York

Some children living in Scarborough are almost two years behind their peers in other parts of the country when it comes to progress at school, new figures show.

Image source, BBc

A study for the Ambition School Leadership charity has found that deprived youngsters in the Scarborough area are 20.1 months behind at GCSE level.  

The town is one of six named by the government so far.

Even children considered to be wealthier, in other words those not on free school meals, aged between 11 and 16, made nearly five months less progress compared to others nationally, according to the charity.

Sensible advice from North Yorkshire Fire Service this morning after a day and night of heavy rain across the county:

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

Campaigners who claim a decision to allow fracking at a site in North Yorkshire is unlawful are due to take their case to the High Court in London later.

They're trying to overturn last May's county council approval of fracking at Kirby Misperton, near Pickering. 

The council insists it gave what it calls "proper regard" to the application. 

Simon Bowens is Yorkshire campaigner for Friends of the Earth, one of the groups bringing today's legal action, and this is what he says the reasons are for the challenge:

BBC Travel

Here's a quick update on the roads south of Harrogate.

The A61 in Pannal is currently closed in both directions, between Follifoot Road and Fulwith Road due to flooding.

Image source, Google

Nathan Turvey
BBC Radio York News

The top stories from the York newsroom this morning include:  

• Campaigners who claim a decision to allow fracking at a site in North Yorkshire is unlawful take their case to the High Court in London later
• It's been an anxious night for flood risk areas of Yorkshire, after heavy rain yesterday and overnight
• Some children living in Scarborough are almost two years behind their peers in other parts of the country when it comes to progress at school, new figures show