BBC Local Live: York and North Yorkshire

In the run up to the Tour de Yorkshire we saw some wonderful examples of large knitting on display in public places - a practice know as "yarn-bombing".

You might remember that one example of yarn-bombing, in Thirsk, was one of the most entertaining examples.

It seems the craze for displaying large knitted items is now spreading, with something similar happening in York - this time involving knitted fish! 

It gets weirder, too: the fish are going to hang on a tennis court fence in York's Rowntree Park. I've been finding out more:

At least six cats have been shot in the eye in one area of York, says the shocked owner of one of the injured pets. 

Now police are asking for the public's help to catch the perpetrator before they strike again.

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Cloudy with a little drizzle in places this afternoon, especially over the hills where fog will persist. Brighter spells possible late with a top temperature of about 15C (59F).

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Police are appealing for information after a woman was raped near the University of York's Heslington campus earlier this month.

The attack happened on a path leading to Walmgate Stray at about 02:15 on Friday 13 May.

The victim, in her 20s, is receiving support from specially trained officers, police say.  

The suspect's described as black, of medium build, aged between 20-30, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 10ins tall and wearing a dark coloured hoodie.  

Det Insp Mark Pearson says: "We appreciate time has passed since the attack, but I'd ask people, particularly students at the university, to cast their minds back to the early hours of Friday 13 May and contact us if they have any information that could help our investigation."

Delays continue on and around the A1079 Hull Road in York after a collision involving a lorry and a bus.

No-one was injured, thankfully, but it still looks like it was quite a serious incident:

The top stories from the York newsroom this lunchtime include:

• Detectives say they're investigating after a woman was raped near the University of York
• Police in North Yorkshire say they'll work hard to stop so-called "legal highs" from being sold in the county after a ban came into force today
• For just the second time in almost 700 years, York's Mystery Plays are being performed at the Minster

A woman in her 20s has been raped on a footpath near the University of York.

The attack took place on the path leading to Walmgate Stray behind the Heslington campus at about 02:15 on Friday 13 May. It was reported to the police on Monday.

The suspect's described as black, of medium build, aged between 20-30, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 10ins tall and wearing a dark coloured hoodie.

Police say they're carrying out "extensive" enquiries and are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time or who has any other information to get in touch.

This morning, I took a short bike ride up York's Gillygate and a little way along Lord Mayors Walk to York St Johns University.

It's a very special year for the university this year as it celebrates its 175th anniversary. 

The university began as two teacher training colleges: one for men, founded in York in 1841, and another for women which was founded five years later.  

So I thought it would be nice to have a brief tour of the site which many car drivers in York sit in traffic next to.

I hope you enjoy these photos from inside the University's Heritage Room:

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Much has been made of the stage built inside York Minster for the Mystery Plays which start later today - and it's not surprising.

After all, the Minster's nave has been transformed into a 1,000-seater auditorium, with a 60 tonne Yorkshire-built stage, boasting scaffolding that, end-to-end, is about three times the length of the city walls.

You can see the giant structure being built here. It took a little longer than it takes to watch this speeded up film!

The A1079 Hull Road in York is closed and there's queuing traffic in both directions between the Grimston Bar Interchange and the Common Lane junction because of an accident involving a lorry and a bus. 

There's a diversion in operation via the B1228 Elvington Lane and Common Lane. 

We're being told to expect long delays in the area. 

As a result police are advising drivers to avoid the area and there's heavy congestion on the A166 Stamford Bridge Road to the Church Balk junction and to the Dauby Lane junction.  

A vision of how the centre of Harrogate could develop over the next 10 years has been agreed by councillors, with the adoption of Harrogate Town Centre Strategy and Masterplan.

This means it will now be used to bring forward improvements to the town, attract inward investment and inform decisions on future planning applications in the town centre.  

Harrogate Town CouncilCopyright: Harrogate Town Council

There's a warning this morning from North Yorkshire Police as a ban on so-called "Legal Highs" comes in.

The ban means it'll be illegal to make, sell and supply the drugs, which mimic the effects of substances like cannabis, LSD and cocaine.

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Ch Insp Lindsey Stamp says she hopes new police powers to stop people making and selling the drugs will help tackle the problem in Scarborough.  

Quote Message: We've seen frightening situations in Scarborough where people have had psychotic episodes, become incredibly unwell, unconscious and needing urgent medical attention. When they come round they're unaware of the danger they were in or the violence they offered other people." from Ch Insp Lindsey Stamp North Yorkshire Police

We've seen frightening situations in Scarborough where people have had psychotic episodes, become incredibly unwell, unconscious and needing urgent medical attention. When they come round they're unaware of the danger they were in or the violence they offered other people."

Drivers are being warned to be aware of an accident on the outskirts of York which is likely to cause some delays:

More now on one the biggest events York Minster has ever staged  - the York Mystery Plays which get under way at this landmark building later today.

The Minster's nave has been transformed into a 1,000-seater auditorium, and there's also a 60-tonne Yorkshire-built stage, boasting scaffolding which, end-to-end, is about three times the length of the city walls.

Here are a few behind-the-scenes pics to give you a taste of the Minster's transformation:

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You can listen to an interview with Philip McGinley who plays the central role of Christ right here.

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

• There are concerns that homes near a property on the outskirts of York which was destroyed by a gas explosion in which a man died could also be at risk
• There's been a dramatic rise in the use of private ambulances to deal with emergencies in Yorkshire
• York officially gets a new Lord Mayor in the next hour as Dave Taylor becomes the first Green Party councillor to take on the ceremonial role

The country’s leading road traffic lawyer has jumped on the Harrogate Vote Leave battle bus ticketing row.

Nick Freeman called Harrogate Borough Council's decision to pursue a parking enforcement notice after initially rescinding it as "yoyo" ticketing, and "tantamount to an abuse of process".

Harrogate InformerCopyright: Harrogate Informer

Concerns are being voiced that people living near a house which exploded on the outskirts of York are unaware their properties could also be vulnerable.

A man died in the gas explosion in Haxby earlier this year which was caused by a fractured pipe under the floor. 

Rob Varley/PACopyright: Rob Varley/PA

An official report said it was "very unusual" and if people are worried they should ask a registered gas engineer to carry out checks.  

Maggie, who lives on Springwood, where Paul Wilmott died in the blast on 18 February, has told BBC Radio York that checks on a couple of other homes nearby showed up similar faults.

Quote Message: Our neighbours had a check done by an independent gas expert and they were found to also have the pipe that affected the other property and it was leaking gas. So they had their gas pipes completely blocked off... I know two other people on the street have had the same problem - gas leaks with the same pipe that was laid in concrete." from Maggie Kitson Springwood resident

Our neighbours had a check done by an independent gas expert and they were found to also have the pipe that affected the other property and it was leaking gas. So they had their gas pipes completely blocked off... I know two other people on the street have had the same problem - gas leaks with the same pipe that was laid in concrete."

Things aren't getting better on the A167 Boroughbridge Road in Northallerton after an accident there.

It remains closed and there's now queuing traffic in both directions between the A684 Lees Lane junction and the Station Road junction.

Not everyone gets annoyed by the rain. Look at this crafty snail using it to ease its passage up a stem in Knaresborough.

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Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher Old Man George for the pic. Why not send in your own?