BBC Local Live: York and North Yorkshire

I've been speaking the man who was caught on camera skiing on the floodwater in Cawood during the Christmas floods.

At the time, it turned out David Platt was actually out training, hoping to make it into the Great Britain water skiing squad. And that's exactly what's now happened.

So today I donned my wet suit and went off to meet him.

David's not only told me the story behind being caught on film by the BBC News copter as he was barefoot skiing, but also all about the skills and challenges involved in skiing without skis:

Safer York has issued this appeal over a flytip which has just been discovered in the city which looks like a real eyesore...

Work has begun on a £6m water storage reservoir to protect a North Yorkshire village from floods.

Catterick was badly affected in 2012 when heavy rainfall caused flash flooding, forcing the closure of the nearby A1(M) for 24 hours.

The reservoir, which is being built between Brough Park and the A1, will hold 91 million gallons of flood water, the Environment Agency says.

About 150 properties would be protected from future flooding, the agency says.

The Flying Scotsman has begun its summer tour of the UK and is currently puffing its way to Newcastle.

The iconic steam engine's been at York's National Railway Museum since its £4m refurbishment.

Here are a few facts about this famous loco to memorise and impress your friends with:

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And did you know: 

• Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman emerged from Doncaster Works on 24 February 1923
• It is 70ft (21m) long, weighs about 96 tonnes and had a top speed of 100mph
• During World War Two it was repainted wartime black 
• By 1995 it was part-owned by record producer Pete Waterman
• The engine was bought for the nation in 2004 by the National Railway Museum in York

One lane's currently closed on the A1(M) northbound between J48, A168 (Boroughbridge) and J49, A168 (Dishforth), because of an accident. Drivers are being warned to expect some delays. 

A cooler and cloudier afternoon than yesterday, though still bright with some hazy sunshine in more northern parts.

Rain edging further north through the afternoon, likely to become heavier later with the risk of thunder. 

Highs will be about 19C (66F) and a moderate or fresh northeast wind.

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Do you remember Sally Wainwright? 

She's the woman who wrote and directed the West Yorkshire-based TV show Happy Valley, and now she's behind another drama based in Yorkshire, this time all about the Brontes. 

Filming for the programme, called To Walk Invisible, starts in a couple of weeks time on the Moors near Haworth, where an exact replica of the famous Bronte Parsonage is being built.

I've been lucky enough to be given a sneaky peak behind the scenes:

The latest headlines from our York newsroom include:

• North Yorkshire's newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner says she hopes a new ban on legal highs will help deal with a growing problem with people taking them
• Police are warning train lovers not to get too close to the railway tracks today as the famous Flying Scotsman begins its summer tour of the UK
• Officials in York will make a decision later on spending £150,000 to improve the city's parks and gardens

We mentioned earlier the police appeal for held in finding a man from York who was wanted for recall to prison. It seems the search is now over:

I mentioned yesterday about the huge helium-filled balloons (pictured) which had just arrived at York Minster ahead of the epic Mystery Plays returning there in just over two weeks.

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Performed in York since the middle ages, the Mystery Plays present a biblical history of the world.

But, while their origins in York go back about 700 years, this 2016 production is clearly very much rooted in the present.

Organisers have told us that they're in the process of creating a 1,000-seater theatre at the Minster which involves erecting more than 30 tonnes of steel scaffolding, including 10 lighting columns which are up to 46ft (15m) high, and about 900 sq m of decking. Astonishing stuff!

Thanks to Kellie Reed for sending us this fantastic picture of Knaresborough Castle bathed in sunshine. It must've been taken yesterday as today's weather is sadly just not that sunny...

Kellie ReedCopyright: Kellie Reed

We always love to feature the best pictures you've taken of North Yorkshire. Why not email or tweet your photographs to us?

There's currently queuing traffic on the A171 on Prospect Hill in both directions in Whitby due to roadworks. 

The worst affected area is at the A174 junction.

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Play's well under way at Headingley in the County Championship clash between Yorkshire and Surrey.

Exciting times as Joe Root's just knocked Ravi Rampaul for a single to bring up a brilliant double hundred off 232 balls.

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He only needed 10 more runs this morning, but he's made it look easy. The 25-year-old is now the seventh, yes seventh, batsman to pass 200 this season. Incredible.

Remember you can listen to live commentary from the match right here and keep up-to-date with our live scorecard.

Officials in York are expected to make a decision later on whether to spend £150,000 to improve the city's parks and gardens. 

The idea is to let local residents decide how best to spend the money.

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On BBC Radio York this morning, I'm asking how you think the money should be spent.

You can let me know what you think via Twitter,Facebook or email.

Homeowners in Harrogate are being warned by police to be "on their guard" after cash was stolen from a house in the town last month.

The money was stolen from an elderly man on Rosset Avenue on Wednesday 27 April. Three men visited the man's house and told him they were there to check the roof.

They claimed it would need substantial work and the victim handed over a quantity of cash, but it was later discovered that more money was stolen from the property while the victim was outside inspecting the house.

The victim remembers seeing a white van parked on or near his drive at the time of the incident, which took place some time between 12:30 and 16:00.

Police are asking anyone with information to get in touch.

It's day three of Yorkshire's County Championship clash against Surrey at Headingley. 

Play's due to get under way shortly - and remember you can listen to live commentary from the match right here and keep up-to-date with our live scorecard.

Today sees the start of a summer tour of the UK by the iconic steam engine Flying Scotsman.

The locomotive's been at York's National Railway Museum since its £4m refurbishment, and is now heading out onto the rail network - but there's a warning for people turning out to see it to stay safe after the loco had to be stopped the last time it was on the mainline due to trespassers.

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Phil Hufton, Network Rail managing director, England and Wales, says: "While the turnout to see Flying Scotsman so far has shown the passion and support for steam engines... the images of people stood on the railway taking photographs were deeply concerning.

"I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to go onto the railway without training and permission."

Figures obtained by BBC Radio York reveal a big increase in police callouts to crimes involving so-called "legal highs".

Since 2011, cases involving the substances have increased 200-fold, to more than £1,500.

Legal highs have the same effects as illegal drugs, but are sold as things like plant fertiliser, to get around the law. A ban comes in at the end of this month.

This is the story of one user from Yorkshire, speaking to BBC Look North's Phil Bodmer: