Nathan Turvey
BBC Radio York News

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

• York City Knights finally has a new owner. It end months of uncertainty about the future of the rugby league club 
• The route of next year's Tour de Yorkshire cycle race will be revealed this morning
• A cheese made by a North Yorkshire dairy has won a Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards, external

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

Yesterday I told you about a North Yorkshire Police officer giving a gentle, late night helping hand to a barn owl sitting in the road on the A170 near Helmsley.

I mentioned I'd come across several barn owls just sitting in the middle of the road myself over the last few months and wondered what's going on.

I promised I'd endeavour to find out. The answer's coming up, but first here's a reminder:

I've been in touch with BBC Winterwatch and team member Laurence Whitaker, who knows all there is to know when it comes to anything ornithological, kindly gave this explanation:

BBC Radio York

York City Knights finally has a new owner. 

The rugby league club's future has been uncertain since earlier this year.

A statement from the club confirms the sports management consultant, Jon Flatman, has taken over ownership from John Guildford. 

Mr Flatman has previously worked with Hull FC, Wakefield and the Rugby Football League. 

He says he's now "looking forward to the 2017 season and beyond" and is "committed to deliver a club to be proud of."

The club's been up for sale, after Mr Guildford initially said in July it would close, he then agreed to keep it going until the end of the season.

Alina Jenkins
BBC Weather

Mostly dry with variable cloud and some sunny intervals through the morning. 

However, there may be a downturn in the weather later.

You can watch my full forecast and find out more here:

BBC Travel

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

All seems to be running smoothly on the rails too.

Here's the departure board at York Railway Station so you can keep a check on things, external.  

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.

Let's start with a nice chilly pic, as we enter the festive season. 

This frosty sunrise over Glusburn, near Craven, was sent in by Julian Poynton.

You can send in your pictures - chilly or not - via Twitter, external, Facebook, external or email.    

A Rotherham councillor who was convicted of sexually assaulting a colleague says he will resign.

Defender Aarran Racine and striker Rhys Murphy join York City on loan from fellow National League club Forest Green.

An "ever present" threat of death from floods hangs over the residents of Calderdale, a report says.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

That's it for me today, but updates will continue throughout the afternoon and evening.    

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

1. A woman from North Yorkshire says she was conned out of £300,000 by someone she met on a dating website
2. Richmondshire has the highest rate of homelessness in Yorkshire compared to its population, a new report suggests
3. Campaigners fighting to save Scarborough's Futurist Theatre from demolition ask people to lobby those in power ahead of a decision on the future of the historic building
4. York is counting down to Christmas with a city-wide "living Advent calendar"
5. And owl's well that ends well as a North Yorkshire Police officer gently nudges one of our feathered friends out of harm's way

I'll leave you with this sweeping North Yorkshire vista sent in by BBC Weather Watcher Elle Nin, of Levisham, near Pickering:

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

A York company has been appointed to continue a £2m refurbishment project on the city's landmark Mansion House, after a previous firm went into administration while working on the building.

The Mansion House is the official home of the city's Lord Mayor and was built in 1732.  

The project is being funded by a £1.2m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as funding from City of York Council and donations.    

External works have taken place over the autumn including repairing the chimney stacks and removing old paint from the stonework      

The job has now gone to restoration contractor William Birch and Sons Ltd.

The company started life in the city, building and restoring many of its high profile properties, including the York Minster Library, Fairfax House, and York Theatre Royal.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

A child protection charity says it's been contacted by over 1,400 people from the Yorkshire and Humber region in the space of 12 months asking for help to stop viewing abusive images of youngsters.  

The figures have been released as part of the Stop It Now campaign which is run by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

The foundation offers anonymous support for people who are worried about their online sexual behaviour, or that of others. 

Lisa Thornhill, from the Stop It Now campaign, says it's "not the people you'd expect" looking at such images:

BBC Business News

York food producer Nestle says it has made a scientific breakthrough that can sharply cut the sugar in its chocolate.

Image source, Science Photo Library

The Swiss-based company, which makes Kitkat and Aero, says its researchers have found a way to structure sugar differently, so that it uses 40% less.

It claims this can be done without affecting the taste.

Nestle says it is patenting the findings, external, and it would start using the new sugar across its range from 2018.

Its scientists altered the structure of sugar so that it dissolves more quickly.

Joanita Musisi
Reporter, BBC Radio York

If you've been in York city centre recently, you might have noticed some of the shop windows have been covered over and replaced by a number.

I was walking past Browns the other day and there's a big number four in one of its windows.

This set my detective senses soaring, so I decided to investigate and find out what's going on.

I've now discovered that its all part of the city's first "living Advent calendar":

BBC Radio York

The top stories from our York newsroom this lunchtime include:

• Police warn people to be careful on dating websites after a woman from North Yorkshire was conned out of £300,000
• Richmondshire has the highest rate of homelessness in Yorkshire compared to its population, a new report suggests
• Campaigners fighting to save Scarborough's Futurist Theatre from demolition ask people to lobby those in power ahead of a decision on the future of the historic building

BBC Travel

We've had an update from National Rail Enquiries, external about the situation on rail services heading northwards from York.

Delays are now expected on rail services between York and Newcastle until at least 16:00 this afternoon after a gas leak on the line near Durham.

Trains are currently unable to run between Newcastle and Darlington and are being delayed by up to 80 minutes while they wait for engineers to assess the issue. 

Buses are running between Newcastle and Darlington. More details as we get them, in the meantime keep up-to-date with York Railway Station's live departure board, external.

Georgey Spanswick
Presenter, BBC Radio York

People using dating websites should exercise caution and look out for warning signs to avoid becoming victims of a scam, police say.

It comes after a North Yorkshire woman told BBC Radio York her story of being conned out of £300,000 by a man she met online. 

Nancy, not her real name, says she ended up selling her home and taking out loans to send money abroad to a man she believed was in love with her, and it left her in a "desperate state".

I've been talking to Det Insp Jon Hodgeon, from North Yorkshire Police, who has been working with Nancy. 

He says there are warning signs to look out for such as a profile with limited information and being asked to communicate outside the dating site:

YorkMix

This is Monk Bar in York, dazzling like it's never done before. Dressed up like it's off to the disco, the ancient gateway looks stunning lit up against the black night sky, external.

All four of the the city's bars will extend an equally glittering winter welcome to residents and visitors this Christmas and beyond.

Image source, YorkMix

BBC Travel

If you're planning to use the train to travel north from York in the next few hours, it might be a good idea to keep checking the live departure board, external.

A gas leak near the railway in the Durham area is causing delays of up to 40 minutes to trains between York and Newcastle.

Disruption's expected to continue until approximately 13:00, according to National Rail Enquiries, external.

BBC Weather Watchers

There are enough red sky pics in the BBC Weather Watchers folder to delight a whole flock of shepherds (if the proverb about them is true).

Here are just a few of the many.

Thanks to Sue for the reflected rays on the water in Scarborough, 3Fly for the flaming clouds over Strensall (bottom left) and to Nick Rainbow for the trails of pink above the shadowy River Ouse in York: