A two-week campaign to highlight the dangers of what are known as "county lines" drugs gangs has begun today in North Yorkshire.
Getty
It's being run by the charity Crimestoppers, which says county lines, where gangs from bigger cities target smaller towns and rural areas and get children to sell drugs for them, is an "emerging trend".
The campaign is starting in Selby, where Martin Wedgewood is a police inspector.
He says: "What we're seeing in North Yorkshire is the effect of gangs from Liverpool and Manchester. In Selby, we tend to be influenced by the likes of Leeds and Bradford."
Review to examine costs and benefits of HS2 rail project
The government is launching a review of the planned high-speed HS2 rail link - with a “go or no-go" decision to be made by the end of the year, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.
HS2
A branch of the rail link is set to run through South Yorkshire and on to Leeds while another stretch of the route is planned to run into North Yorkshire.
The review will consider whether and how the project to connect London and northern England should proceed, looking at costs and benefits.
Mr Shapps refused to rule out scrapping the project entirely and said it was "responsible" to see if it was "going to stack up".
BBC
The first segment of the HS2 development between London and Birmingham is due to open at the end of 2026, with the second phase to Leeds and Manchester scheduled for completion by 2032-33.
When asked about the £7bn already spent on the project, Mr Shapps said: "Just because you've spent a lot of money on something does not mean you should plough more and more money into it."
A final report will be sent to the government in the autumn.
Sleepwalking man cleared of sexually assaulting woman
A man with a history of sleepwalking has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of sexually assaulting his friend's girlfriend in North Yorkshire.
Southwesterly winds will tend to strengthen today, and although there will be some bright or sunny spells, a few light showers or spots of rain are likely.
Tonight, there'll be outbreaks of rain, which should ease during the early hours:
BBC
Check your Yorkshire train journey
BBC News Travel
If you're making a journey on the rails in Yorkshire this Wednesday morning, most services appear to be running to time.
However, the 09:30 Doncaster to Kings Cross service has been cancelled.
For all the latest live updates from the county's main railway stations, click on the links below:
Yorkshire contestants to star in Great British Bake Off
A fashion designer from Halifax and a support worker from Rotherham are among four of the 13 contestants taking part in this year's Great British Bake Off.
The programme returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday 27 August, the third series since it moved across from BBC One.
C4/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon/PA Wire
Online project manager Helena (pictured above), 40, lives in Leeds and spent much of her childhood watching her Spanish grandmother cook and bake.
Sportswear fashion designer, Amelia, 24, is from Halifax and honed her baking skills while at university.
C4/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon/PA Wire
International health adviser David (pictured above), 36, is originally from Yorkshire and as a child, his mum baked all the time, meaning the family never ate a shop-bought loaf at home.
Finally, support worker Dan, 32, is from Rotherham. He says he has fond memories of his mum showing him how to bake a Victoria sponge as a child.
East Yorks wind farm failure highlighted over blackout
A lightning strike followed by "almost simultaneous unexpected power losses" at two energy plants, including one in East Yorkshire, caused country-wide blackouts earlier this month, an interim report has found.
PA Media
The failure at Hornsea off-shore wind farm and Little Barford gas power station in Bedfordshire occurred independently, the report from National Grid Electricity System Operator said.
The power cut was so severe that back-up power wasn't enough to get systems back on.
As a result, the system automatically disconnected customers on the distribution network with about 5% of electricity demand being turned off to protect the other 95%.
Much of York was affected by the power cut and passengers were trapped on trains on the East Coast Mainline in Yorkshire.
Yorkshire's Tuesday weather forecast
Areas of cloud could bring a few showers or spots of rain through the day, with some of the showers perhaps on the thundery side this afternoon.
It will be dry tonight with clear periods at times, but areas of cloud, and perhaps the odd shower, could occasionally drift in from the south-west:
BBC
Check your Yorkshire train journey
BBC News Travel
If you're making a journey on the rails in Yorkshire this Tuesday morning, most services appear to be running to time.
However:
The 08:39 Leeds to Newcastle service has been cancelled
The 09:30 Doncaster to Kings Cross service has been cancelled
For all the latest live updates from the county's main railway stations, click on the links below:
Yorkshire transport spending a third of London's - Report
Yorkshire's transport system is set to get less than a third of the money the government plans to spend on London's, new research shows.
BBC
The figures show that out of the 12 regions making up the UK, Yorkshire is one of the worst funded overall.
The research by IPPR North claims Yorkshire will receive £321 a year on transport for each person. In London the figure is more than treble that, standing at £1,023.
The think tank says the imbalance is holding back the North's economy and devolving power away from Whitehall is the best way forward.
But the Department for Transport says the figures are misleading.
Weapons including suspected petrol bomb recovered
A number of offensive weapons, including a machete, a knife, CS spray, a hammer and a suspected petrol bomb,have been recovered by police following a disturbance in Billingham last night.
Officers were called to Quenby Road at about 22:15 after reports of a dispute involving a group of males.
When police arrived a majority of the group had dispersed, but a 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a
weapon in a public place and remains in custody.
Countryfile 'can't apologise enough' for traffic delays
Organisers of Countryfile Live at Castle Howard say they "can't apologise enough" for traffic problems getting to the event in North Yorkshire yesterday.
BBC
They say a change to the traffic plan appears to be working today and have advised motorists to avoid the A64 where possible.
They introduced the new plan after some motorists complained it was taking them up to five hours to get to the event on Thursday.
Frustrated drivers tweeted about their "horrendous" experiences stuck in long traffic jams on the A64 and the road leading up to the stately home.
Site manager Tim Filmer says: "We had a good number of challenges yesterday and that's an understatement.
"On behalf of everybody at Countryfile, sincere apologies for all the delays that happened. We can't apologise enough."
A few scattered showers are possible overnight, but on the whole it will be largely dry and clear:
BBC
Dispersal zones after youth gang disorder
BBC Tees
Neighbourhood officers are urging parents to keep a closer eye on their children after a rise in anti-social behaviour in Redcar.
It follows reports of groups of up to 40 youths gathering on the Ings Estate.
Residents say stones have been thrown at cars and homes, with verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour towards anyone challenging them.
Dispersal orders have now been put in place, which cover the the area bounded by Redcar Lane and Greenstones Road, including the Embleton Court shopping parade.
A 14-year-old youth has been arrested after refusing to leave the area - it is a criminal offence to return for up to 48 hours after a dispersal notice is issued
Check your Yorkshire train journey
BBC News Travel
If you're making a journey on the rails in Yorkshire this Friday morning, most services appear to be running to time.
For all the latest live updates from the county's main railway stations, click on the links below:
Castle Howard awash with wellies as Countryfile arrives
Thousands of people are expected to descend on a North Yorkshire stately home today as it plays host to Countryfile Live.
BBC
About 15,000 are predicted to visit Castle Howard over the next four days to see presenters of the BBC show, including John Craven, Ellie Harrison and Matt Baker.
The arena at Castle Howard, widely recognised from the TV adaption of the Evelyn Waugh novel Brideshead Revisited, has taken three weeks to build.
BBC
Organisers are advising people to arrive early to avoid traffic delays
They say: "The show opens from 08:30. We have a dedicated traffic management plan for when you leave the A64, so please follow the AA signs."
Watch: Thursday's forecast for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Gillian Brown
Weather presenter, BBC Look North
There will be a few showers around this morning but they will clear away quite quickly and it'll turn dry and bright day for most.
Temperatures could get up to 21C in places:
Check your Yorkshire train journey
BBC News Travel
If you're making a journey on the rails in Yorkshire this Thursday morning, most services appear to be running to time, however:
The 08:55 service from York to Edinburgh is running about 24 minutes late
The 09:01 service from Wakefield Westgate to Leeds is running about 24 minutes late
The 09:15 service from Doncaster to Leeds is running about 15 minutes late
The 09:35 service from Doncaster to Sheffield has been cancelled
For all the latest live updates from the county's main railway stations, click on the links below:
A few scattered showers are possible through the morning, but for most places it should be largely dry with clouds breaking through the morning to allow a good deal of sunshine.
Tonight will start dry and clear, but cloud will build quickly ahead of heavy, showery rain moving in from the west:
A cannabis farm believed to be worth about £120,000 was discovered at a property
in Middlesbrough.
The farm was found after a warrant was executed at the address in Lothian Road.
A
21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of production of class B drugs and remains in custody.
This search was part of Cleveland Police’s Operation Phoenix, a summer
long operation to improve public service, help vulnerable people, tackle
serious violence and prevent crime.
Care for older patients enhanced with ward refurbishment
Anna Snowdon
BBC Local Live
A ward at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital has had a £1m revamp, which will enhance care for older patients
The ward 11 refurbishment was
funded by the trust’s PFI contract.
The improvements, which have taken six months to complete,
provide a bright and modern ward for older patients with a range of needs.
Bay areas have easily accessible oxygen points, the floor is refurbished in grey, not blue, so that patients with dementia do not mistake it for water. There is extra space with more rooms, enabling improved discretion for difficult conversations that need to be had. The most significant change is the increase in bathrooms on the ward and disabled wet rooms"
Improvements will now begin on ward 12 and the programme will see seven other wards being refurbished.
Vulnerable man hurt in 'despicable' attack
An attack on a vulnerable man on a Hartlepool street has been branded "despicable" by police.
The 63-year-old was approached by a man and woman on Duke Street who asked him for a cigarette, between 23:00 and 23:30 on Sunday.
When he said he did not have one he was punched and hit, suffering injuries to his face, back of the head, chest and wrist.
A Cleveland Police spokesman said: “This is a despicable attack on a vulnerable man who was left with some nasty injuries.
"I’d like to appeal for anyone with any information regarding the man and woman who may be involved, and would urge anyone who may have private CCTV around the area of Duke Street to get in touch.”
Google
Watch: Wednesday's forecast for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North
It'll be a cloudy day with very heavy outbreaks of rain, especially in southern Lincolnshire.
Temperatures will get up to about 18C:
Check your Yorkshire train journey
BBC News Travel
If you're making a journey on the rails in Yorkshire this Wednesday morning, there are a large number of delayed and cancelled services due to a points failure between Newcastle and Durham and overrunning engineering works near Mirfield.
For all the latest live updates from the county's main railway stations, click on the links below:
Toilets and cricket are among 'top' Yorkshire experiences
A toilet in East Yorkshire has made it onto a list of the UK's top 500 unmissable experiences and hidden gems.
Peter Williams
Spending a penny at Hull's Victoria Pier toilets scraped in near the bottom of the list at number 483 on the tourism guide published by the Lonely Planet.
Other attractions sporting fewer tiles and less porcelain included the Yorkshire Dales National Park (number 18), Robin Hood's Bay (26) and, in at number 30, York Minster.
Geograph/Peter Church/Pauline E/BBC
Birdwatchers will be pleased that Bempton Cliffs, an internationally important nature reserve at Flamborough Head in East Yorkshire, made it on to the list at number 136.
And Saltaire, a grand social experiment in West Yorkshire, is listed at 224.
Sir Titus Salt, who made his fortune in the textile industry, built Saltaire mill near Bradford and an adjoining village for his workers.
The village has been designated a Unesco World Heritage Site.
RSPB/David Dixon/Geograph
Other Yorkshire wonders in the top 500 UK experiences include the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield and Middleham Castle in Wensleydale.
And also making it onto the eclectic list is cliff-top cricket watching in Sewerby:
J Thomas/Geograph
In all, 40 of Yorkshire's enticing attractions were included on the list of the best British experiences.
Watch: Tuesday's forecast for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North
It'll be mostly dry and bright today but there could be a few isolated showers in places.
Temperatures will get up to 19C:
Check your Yorkshire train journey
BBC News Travel
If you're making a journey on the rails in Yorkshire this Tuesday morning, most services appear to be running to time, however:
The 09:06 service from Sheffield to Adwick has been cancelled
The 09:31 service from Bradford Interchange to Leeds has been cancelled
For all the latest live updates from the county's main railway stations, click on the links below:
Flood alert in area of North Yorkshire hit last week
A flood alert has been issued is an area of North Yorkshire hit by flash floods last week.
BBC
The Environment Agency says the River Swale is rising because of heavy rain in the Yorkshire Dales this morning and warned that there is a risk of "flooding to low lying land and roads".
Eight arrested over Vietnamese teen's disappearance
Eight people have been
arrested as police search for a 15-year-old Vietnamese tourist who has been
missing from York for three days.
North Yorkshire Police
Linh Le, aged 15, who speaks no English, went missing from her tour group in York on Tuesday afternoon.
She was last seen with an Asian man on the city walls above Station Rise at about 16:40 on Tuesday.
Police say they are "increasingly concerned" and the girl "could be anywhere in the country".
She was wearing a white Ariana Grande jacket, shorts and a white rucksack when she was last seen.
Yorkshire's wet and windy Friday weather forecast
There will be some rain at the start of the day, this heavy in places, but it should clear during the morning.
The afternoon will have sunny spells and showers and it will become increasingly windy.
It will become increasingly windy this evening and tonight, with strong south-westerly winds expected by morning.
There will be a chance of showers overnight, some of them heavy and perhaps thundery:
BBC
Yorkshire rainy and windy weather warning issued
Warnings for rain and wind are in force across nearly all of the UK - including Yorkshire - today with unseasonal weather expected to cause some disruption.
Getty Images
Several festivals and events have been cancelled across the country as forecasters warned of strong wind and heavy rain.
A yellow "be aware" weather warning is in place for much of Yorkshire, with lots of rain expected today and windy weather at the weekend.
The Environment Agency says its staff are ready to respond to any problems caused by the heavy rain that's forecast.
Ben Lukey, who's one of the agency's flood duty managers, said flood alerts and flood warnings will be issued if needed.
He's urging people to stay away from any swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water, as just 1ft of flowing water is enough to move a car.
