More than 100 teddies are delivered to a hospital to keep sick children company over Christmas.

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: 

• Campaigners from North Yorkshire have learned they've lost a High Court legal challenge against one of the first planning applications to carry out fracking in England
• Three members of a gang who targeted high-value vehicles have been jailed for a total of 28 years between them for the manslaughter of a York delivery driver
• Harrogate Hospital is so busy it is asking people to think carefully before attending the emergency department
• Former York City Knights captain James Haynes has agreed a new deal with the club for 2017
• And reindeers Prancer and Dancer have been given the all-clear to take to the skies above north Yorkshire on Christmas Eve

I'll leave you with this beautiful shot of Bolton Abbey and the River Wharfe sent in by BBC Weather Watcher Michiko Sunshine.

Eagled-eyed fans of BBC series The Trip, will recognise this as the exact spot Steve Coogan fell into the river as he tried to dash across the slippery stepping stones:

Nathan Turvey
BBC Radio York News

Over the past few days on BBC Radio York, we've been hearing from different communities around North Yorkshire about what Christmas means to them.

We've already heard from people from the county's Polish, Chinese, Ugandan, Jewish and Gurkha communities.

And today we hear from Jack, who's from Holland, but who now lives in Crayke:

Jericho Keys

Only five sleeps to go until the big bearded man in the red suit squeezes down North Yorkshire's chimneys.

But of course Santa couldn't do any of his deliveries without his trusted reindeer.

Nicola Harper is the "chief reindeer elf", so I'm told, and she's also owner at Willow House Caravan Park in North Yorkshire where Prancer and Dancer are actually kept.

She looks after them and gets them ready for their huge efforts on Christmas Eve.

Earlier, she allowed me to help make sure they're in tip-top form ready for the big night:

A £39m Headingley stadium redevelopment moves closer after planning applications were dropped.

Anti-fracking campaigners have lost their legal challenge to a decision to allow fracking to take place in North Yorkshire.

Third Energy was granted planning permission to extract shale gas in Ryedale in May.

But Friends of the Earth and local residents challenged North Yorkshire County Council's decision in the High Court.

With the road now clear for fracking at Kirby Misperton, take a look at this guide by the BBC's David Shukman who explains how fracking works: 

The Press

York risks becoming a city for the rich if it does not do more to meet the housing needs of working families and local people, a departing charity boss has warned, external.

Julia Unwin, who steps down as chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation tomorrow after 10 years, said housing was a crucial issue for York.

Image source, The Press

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

A moderate southerly wind will develop, with things brightening up from the south. 

Staying largely dry with some sunny spells this afternoon.

Feeling cold with highs of about 6C (43F):

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

With the news that the High Court has rejected a legal challenge against plans to start fracking in Ryedale, here's what we now know following events earlier today:

• Mrs Justice Lang ruled against the legal challenge by Kirby Misperton residents and Friends of the Earth who said North Yorkshire County Council's decision was "unsound"
• Campaigners against fracking in Ryedale say they're "outraged" at the High Court ruling and will continue to their fight
• North Yorkshire County Council says the ruling confirms the authority only gave the go-ahead to fracking after giving "proper regard" to all the concerns and issue surrounding it
• The company behind the fracking proposal for Kirby Misperton, Third Energy, says it's "confident" it will prove that the decision to give the go-ahead was correct

Campaigners from North Yorkshire have learned they've lost a High Court legal challenge against one of the first planning applications to carry out fracking in England.

Image source, AP

Until this year, drilling for shale gas is only at an exploratory phase in the UK. However, reserves of shale gas have been identified across large swathes of the UK, external, particularly in northern England.

More than 100 licences have been awarded, external by the government to firms in the UK, allowing them to pursue a range of oil and gas exploration activities in certain areas.

But before firms can begin fracking they must also receive planning permission from the relevant local council.

Downing Street has said shale gas planning applications in England are to be fast-tracked to crack down on councils that delay decisions. However, Labour has called for a moratorium on fracking "until we can be sure it is safe".

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

The second big storm of the season has been named Storm Barbara by the Met Office.

The strongest winds from Barbara are expected to be in the north and the west of the UK over the next few days.

Look North weather forecaster Abbie Dewhurst is keeping an eye on its development:

Andrew Barton
BBC Local Live, York

Harrogate Hospital has renewed its appeal for people to think carefully before attending the emergency department.

Image source, Google

In a statement, staff at the hospital say: "We are extremely busy in our Emergency Department right now with both medical emergencies and minor ailments. 

"Please, please help us and consider other health options," they say.

They add that they're seeing a number of people who "could be treated elsewhere".

Alex Hall, BBC Radio York

Campaigners trying to stop fracking at Kirby Misperton have failed in their legal challenge.

A judge at the High Court has upheld North Yorkshire County Council's decision to give planning permission to frack in the area.

I've just spoken to the chairman of North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee, Peter Sowray.

He's told me this ruling "doesn't set a precedent for other applications, which will each be looked at on it's own merits".

Anti-fracking campaigners lose their legal challenge to a decision to allow fracking to take place in North Yorkshire.

The energy company behind plans to start fracking near Kirby Misperton in Ryedale has welcomed a High Court ruling that North Yorkshire County Council acted properly in granting the firm planning permission for test fracking.

Third Energy says 40 conditions accompanied the grant of planning permission "which the company is well on its way to satisfying".

Rasik Valand, Third Energy chief executive, says the permission places "a great obligation" on the firm to prove it can carry out test fracks safely, discreetly and in an environmentally sensitive manner.

"We're confident we'll prove to the local community that their elected representatives were right to grant this permission," says Mr Valand.

"We look forward to the results of the test fracks which will help establish whether gas can be produced from deeper and tighter rock formations at the Kirby Misperton site," he adds.

Environmental organisation Friends of the Earth says it will stand by campaigners who've lost their landmark High Court challenge against fracking near Kirby Misperton.

Image source, PA

Donna Hume, from Friends of the Earth, says: "The High Court has ruled that fracking can go ahead in beautiful Yorkshire, and we must rise to this latest challenge.

"The judge found that North Yorkshire councillors had assessed the impacts of climate change, but we know climate change was barely mentioned at that crucial council meeting where the decision to allow fracking was taken.

"And, more damningly, that councillors didn't have the information about the total carbon emissions produced from the fracking project.

"Residents have said they will continue to do everything they can to peacefully prevent Third Energy from fracking, and we will be standing with them." 

A High Court ruling rejecting a challenge by campaigners against the start of fracking in Ryedale confirms councillors "gave proper regard to all material planning considerations", North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) says.

Image source, BBc

Villagers in Kirby Misperton and Friends of the Earth went to the High Court in a bid to block a decision to allow hydraulic fracking by Third Energy near their homes.

But Mrs Justice Lang has today dismissed their application for a judicial review into the decision by NYCC to give the go-ahead.

In a statement, NYCC says: "Having received this application, we had a responsibility to determine it and to apply national and local policies. 

"We followed a statutory process, and the High Court found we followed it correctly and rejected the issues raised by Friends of the Earth.

"The plan will put in place robust measures to balance the interests of the fracking industry with those of residents, businesses and the environment in areas where planning applications may be made."

Anti-fracking campaigners in Ryedale have lost their landmark case to prevent fracking in North Yorkshire.

Here's a guide to what fracking actually is:

Hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.  

Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.

The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer and can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.

The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture.

Mike Kemp
Reporter, BBC Radio York

More on the news that anti-fracking campaigners in Ryedale have lost their landmark case to prevent fracking in North Yorkshire.

Villagers in Kirby Misperton were supported by environmental group Friends of the Earth in a bid to block a decision to allow fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - near their homes. 

But Mrs Justice Lang has dismissed their application for judicial review into a North Yorkshire County Council decision to allow fracking by Third Energy to go ahead.

I'm at Kirby Misperton village Hall, where I've just spoken to Dr Tim Thornton, a Ryedale district Liberal councillor who's opposed to fracking.

He tells me: "It's important now to protect the local area and residents from any disasters that might occur":

Campaigners from North Yorkshire have lost their High Court legal challenge against one of the first planning applications to carry out fracking in England.

Fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.

Earlier this year, North Yorkshire County Councillors gave the go-ahead for Third Energy to start fracking at Kirby Misperton - a decision challenged by campaigners at the High Court.

Take a look back at the moment the application was originally granted, as seen from both inside and outside the council building:

(Vote footage courtesy of North Yorkshire County Council)