Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

By the end of today, the huge sinkhole which appeared in Magdalen's Road in Ripon a month ago will finally be filled.

Work to pour a 50-tonne concrete cap over the 2m deep plug which was put in last week began within the last hour.

Alan Milburn, senior engineer with Subsidence Management Services, tells me "four wagon loads" of concrete will be poured into the hole in the next few hours.

The 50ft by 30ft hole which appeared behind a row of houses is in one of the UK's most susceptible areas for sinkholes, according to the British Geological Survey.

It's hoped residents of four properties closest to the sinkhole will be able to move back into their homes early next year.

Mike Kemp
Reporter, BBC Radio York

A voluntary 12-month ban on lighting up in some playgrounds in North Yorkshire has come into force in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough. 

Harrogate Borough Council says: "We've put up signs at three of our play areas - at Valley Gardens in Harrogate, Knaresborough Pool and Ripon Spa Park, asking people not to smoke.

"The aim is to discourage people from smoking at these locations and complying with the request on the signs is voluntary."

In 2014, the council carried out a public consultation over whether to impose a complete ban or simply to discourage smoking in children's play areas. 

Of the responses received, 80% were in favour of some action being taken.

BBC Travel

Slow traffic's currently being reported on the A59 Knaresborough Road eastbound in Harrogate at the Empress Roundabout. 

Delays are also affecting the A661 Wetherby Road at the Empress Roundabout.  

Staff at Harrogate District Hospital are urging people to only attend its A&E in the case of a "genuine" accident or emergency.

They warn the department has been "particularly busy in recent weeks" and people who don't require accident or emergency services should "consider other options first, external", such as calling NHS 111 or visiting a pharmacist.

"Over the past fortnight, the hospital has seen an increase in the number of acutely unwell patients, which means the Emergency Department has been extremely busy," they add.

Doctor Matt Shepherd, from the hospital, says: "Harrogate has experienced a surge in patients coming to the Emergency Department. This is leading to longer waits than we would like."

Joanita Musisi
Reporter, BBC Radio York

It's very Christmassy in Northallerton this morning, in fact it's snowing...sort of.

Twenty shops in the town are taking part in a snowflake-themed, best-dressed window competition as a way of raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

If you've searched, but never seen, a knitted festive fantasy figure called Icicle, you can end the hunt right now by watching this film:

Georgey Spanswick
Presenter, BBC Radio York

After months of uncertainty, it looks like we're getting a little closer to knowing whether York City Knights rugby league club will be able to play matches at Bootham Crescent next year.

Last night, councillors in York agreed to help with the costs of staging rugby matches at the ground. 

Jon Flatman, who took control of the Knights last week, has welcomed the news and tells me it's "100% the plan" to play at Bootham Crescent:

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

More now on an appeal to smokers not to light up in some play areas in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough, where signs have gone up saying "Please don't smoke, I play here".

The voluntary ban's come into force after a two-year campaign by parents.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health is campaigning for no smoking zones in children's play areas across the country.

They carried out a survey which showed 89% of adults would support a smoking ban in children's playgrounds. 

Craig Astbury and Rachel Spencer both take their children to the Valley Gardens play area in Harrogate and say they welcome the trial: 

Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

We'll see outbreaks of rain across Yorkshire, these spreading from the west throughout the morning. 

It'll slowly track away towards the east - with brighter conditions later. 

Watch my full forecast here:

James Deighton
BBC Radio York Sport

Harrogate Town are confident of ending Barrow's unbeaten run when they meet in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Image source, DS Pugh/Geograph

The National League Premier side hasn't lost in 21 games. 

But Town defender Joe Leesley says after their 3-0 win at Salford on Tuesday, external they're hopeful of causing an upset.

"The gaffer's told us to just go out there and get some confidence back and start winning. We are a good team and we need to start believing in that.

"We've been on a bad run and now we've picked up again. I'm sure Saturday will be a good day. We're going to win the game, we know to go and win it."

Mike Kemp
Reporter, BBC Radio York

A third of phone boxes earmarked for closure on the east coast could be saved.

It's argued they're in areas where the mobile phone signal is poor.

Scarborough Borough Council is considering its response to BT's plans to close 63 phone boxes in the Scarborough, Whitby and Filey area. 

The company's found there's a "good case" to keep 22 of them because they're in areas where the mobile phone signal is described as "patchy or poor".

Some also have a community defibrillator next to them, which can only be opened by ringing through for a code.

The plans are due to be discussed later today.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

A voluntary ban on lighting up in some playgrounds in North Yorkshire has come into force in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough.

Image source, Thinkstock

Signs are now in place saying: "Please don't smoke - I play here". 

The ban has been introduced after a two-year campaign by parents and could be rolled out to more than 60 council-run play areas, skate parks and outdoor gyms.

Nathan Turvey
BBC Radio York News

The top stories from the York newsroom this morning include:  

• A voluntary smoking ban comes into force in three playgrounds across North Yorkshire 
• A third of phone boxes earmarked for closure on the East Coast could be saved in areas where the mobile phone signal is poor
• Harrogate District Hospital urges people to think twice before attending its Accident and Emergency department, external

BBC Weather

An overcast day with occasionally heavy rain through the morning.

The rain should ease in the afternoon and it will remain fairly mild with light winds.

BBC Travel

Travel across the county is off to a good start this morning.

It's quite a wet one out on the roads, but things are running smoothly so far.

And the departure board at York Railway Station shows all trains running to time at the moment, external except the 07:08 Newcastle service which is running about three minutes late.

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

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

We're going to start by taking advantage of the arrival of the promised warmer weather, with this BBC Weather Watcher pic sent in by  Peter Williamson.

Peter says: "The rising temperature means it's very calm and peaceful here in Sheriff Hutton." 

Since seeing Pete's pic, I can't get the Beatles' Long and Winding Road out of my head.

Your pictures are always welcome and, if they're accompanied by a suitable tune suggestion, so much the better.

You can send them in via Twitter, external, Facebook, external or email.  

Elly Fiorentini
BBC Local Live, York

That's it from me today, but you can keep across updates from North Yorkshire through the rest of the afternoon and evening right here

Meanwhile, here are five things we've learned today:

1.  About 60 to 80 people are visiting a Scarborough food bank each day

2.  The family of three-year-old Macey Clarke, who has cerebral palsy, need to raise £35,000 to pay for an operation which it's hoped will help her to walk on her own

3.  Baby hedgehogs are struggling to survive because of the mild weather, according to a Wildlife Centre at Barlby

4,  Yorkshire's cricketers have been team-building with various challenges set by the Army at Catterick Garrison

5.  Harrogate Town stormed into the FA Trophy First Round for the first time in six years after an emphatic away 3-0 win at Salford City

Thank goodness the fog has gone.  Today is one of wind, rain and sunshine.

Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher Flying Porker for this dramatic image from Skipton:

Elly Fiorentini
BBC Local Live, York

Plans are already well under way for North Yorkshire's eighth Deer Shed Festival, which is due to be held at Baldersby Park at Topcliffe next July.

Image source, Deer Shed Festival

Kate Tempest, Teenage Fanclub and The Divine Comedy are due to perform on the main stage at Deershed 2017, it's been revealed.

The three-day family event, organised by Oliver Jones and partner Kate Webster, combines art, music and science.

Elly Fiorentini
BBC Local Live, York

A campaign's under way to try and find more volunteers to run libraries across North Yorkshire.

There are 10 community-managed libraries across the county, and North Yorkshire County Council says more volunteers are needed because a further 20 will be run this way next year. 

The changes are due to government cuts which means the council's library service budget will be reduced from £7.8m in 2010 to £4.3m in 2017/18.

Image source, North Yorkshire County Council

The county council says if it doesn't find volunteers to run these libraries they'll have to shut.

Duties for volunteers range from running children’s story time sessions to helping customers and organising books. 

Yorkshire Post

A courageous RAF serviceman who is dying of cancer at the age of just 27 has been recognised for his commitment to the armed forces, external.  

Image source, Yorkshire Post

Jennifer Bartram
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

Eastern parts will see some sunny spells, but more western parts will see some outbreaks of mostly light rain moving in this afternoon. 

It'll continue to be mild with highs of about 13C (55F).