BBC Local Live: York and North Yorkshire

On Wednesday I told you about a collection of objects being shown at North Yorkshire's landmark Rievaulx Abbey for the first time in nearly 500 years.

The objects all help to tell the story of the first Cistercian abbey in the north of England.

The display includes Medieval chess pieces, gold coins and stone carvings, like these filmed by BBC Radio York's Jonathan Cowap:

A quick update on the roads: The earlier accident on the A64 between the A1237 York Outer Ring Road and Colton Lane, Bilbrough has now been cleared.

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The northern Dales seem to be defying the gloomy, cloudy sky, covering most of North Yorkshire today.

BBC Weather Watcher Burtersett Brian sent in this beautiful shot from Hawes, filled with summer promise.

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If you've managed to snap signs of summer send them in via Twitter, Facebook or email.

This afternoon will see some brighter spells, but overall it'll be fairly cloudy with the risk of the odd shower. 

Not as windy for the coast but still chilly. Inland temperatures reaching about 15C (59F).

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Earlier this week we reported there'd been a big increase in the number of people being arrested on suspicion of drug driving in North Yorkshire.

There were 279 arrests last year - that's a 200% increase since new tougher laws came in.

Wednesday was also the launch of North Yorkshire Police's summer 2016 drink or drug drive campaign and the force has just tweeted this update:

Scarborough has finished in the top five of England's most visited destinations.

Figures released by Visit England based on a three year average for trips made by British visitors between 2013 and 2015 show Scarborough coming second overall for holiday trips - only missing out on the top spot to London. 

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The figures looked at trips over a three year period to the Borough of Scarborough, which includes Filey, Scarborough, Whitby and parts of the North York Moors National Park.

Quote Message: We're absolutely delighted with these recent figures, which show that we’re really punching above our weight when it comes to attracting visitors to our wonderful borough." from Janet Deacon Tourism manager, Scarborough Borough Council

We're absolutely delighted with these recent figures, which show that we’re really punching above our weight when it comes to attracting visitors to our wonderful borough."

The top stories in York and North Yorkshire this lunchtime include:

• Yorkshire Water rejects claims from a local businessman that floods which devastated Tadcaster at Christmas could have been avoided
• New figures suggest Scarborough is the most popular English holiday destination for British tourists after London 
• Final preparations are under way for Tadcaster's involvement in the second BBC Music Day

Yorkshire Water has dismissed claims from a local businessmen that floods which devastated Tadcaster at Christmas could have been avoided. 

Brian Percival has produced a report in which he says a combination of factors were behind the devastation - including the release of water from a reservoir upstream.

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Quote Message: It certainly wasn't an act of God. Acts of God are something which cannot be reasonably predicted or planned for and this could've been predicted or planned for." from Brian Percival Tadcaster businessman

It certainly wasn't an act of God. Acts of God are something which cannot be reasonably predicted or planned for and this could've been predicted or planned for."

But Daffyd Williams, from Yorkshire Water, has told BBC Radio York that Mr Percival's claims are "simply untrue".

Quote Message: Mr Percival's used raw data which needs some interpretation. We recognise his enthusiasm, but if he'd worked with us the facts could've been established clearly. We did not draw down over reservoirs. There was a flow over the overflow, but nothing like the volume suggested in this report." from Daffyd Williams Yorkshire Water

Mr Percival's used raw data which needs some interpretation. We recognise his enthusiasm, but if he'd worked with us the facts could've been established clearly. We did not draw down over reservoirs. There was a flow over the overflow, but nothing like the volume suggested in this report."

Heavy traffic's currently being reported on the A165 Filey Road northbound in Scarborough between the B1427 Queen Margaret's Road junction and the A64 Westborough junction. 

In the closing days of the EU referendum campaign, on the evening of Monday 20 June, BBC Radio York will hold a special EU debate in York - and we'd like you to be part of the audience. 

The live debate will be hosted by Len Tingle, BBC Yorkshire's Political Editor, and starts at 19:00. 

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The debate will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio York and filmed for social media.   

You can click here to fill in a form to submit your interest in attending, and if you're successful you'll be notified via email at least 24 hours before the debate. 

The closing date for applying for tickets is Sunday 19 June.

City officials have been accused of “burying their heads in the sand” over the state of retailing in York by a business owner who has shut his independent shop after five years.

Mike Oakenfull and his wife Elen ran Florence Wren next to Bootham Bar since 2011.

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But on Saturday the couple closed the vintage sweetshop for the final time after a buyer failed to come forward to take it on.

We're getting reports of an accident on the A64 between the A1237 York Outer Ring Road and Colton Lane, Bilborough.

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There's also heavy congestion on the A64 Bypass eastbound in Bishopthorpe between the A1036 junction and Fulford Interchange.  

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The latest headlines from our newsroom in York include:

• There's a claim the floods which devastated Tadcaster at Christmas could have been avoided
• North Yorkshire Police officers discover a "significant" amount of Class A drugs in York
• Events take place in North Yorkshire to mark BBC Music Day, with Tadcaster soprano Rebecca Newman due to sing in the town

Today's the second BBC Music Day and this year's theme is "Take It To The Bridge" which involves special performances on 40 iconic bridges around the country.

In Tadcaster, soprano Rebecca Newman, who hit the No 1 spot on the UK Classical Albums Chart with her debut album in 2014, will perform Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

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Why the bridge in Tadcaster? Well, she'll be performing on the temporary footbridge over the River Wharfe constructed after Tadcaster Bridge crumbled during the floods last Christmas.

You can hear Rebecca's performance on BBC Radio York with Adam Tomlinson at 14:30.

More businesses and shops are returning to their old premises after the Christmas floods in Tadcaster. 

The latest is this garage, complete with a new feature: the bottom half of the wall is painted blue to show how high the flood water reached. 

Sharon Haw, whose husband owns the business, has told BBC Radio York what the last five months have been like:

A break in the North Yorkshire gloom has been spotted by two eagle-eyed BBC Weather Watchers.

Jeannette spotted an almost cloud-free Harrogate Stray (pictured left), and Barrieh sent in a vision of summer stretching into the distance above Threshfield. 

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Any more sightings which remind us we are in the warmest month would be most gratefully received. You can send them in via Twitter, Facebook or email.

York is about to lose one venue. It’s been somewhat inevitable for a while, given all the talk of developing (and suggestions of bulldozing) Stonebow House. But, with firm plans now seemingly in place, The Duchess would appear to have just a few weeks of life left.

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A "significant" amount of suspected Class A drugs has been found near a water treatment plant in York.

The drugs were discovered by officers at the site in Osbaldwick yesterday afternoon and are now undergoing tests to confirm what exactly they are.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "This is an area popular with dog walkers, cyclists and runners.

"It's hoped local people may have information regarding any suspicious activity that could assist the police."

The latest sport headlines for North Yorkshire so far this morning include:

• Harrogate Cricket Club hope their young squad - currently fourth in the new Yorkshire Premier League North - will serve them well this season, with batsman Matthew Good telling us they've got a strong team bond
• York City Knights forward Ross Divorty will be in contention again for Sunday's game against League 1 leaders Rochdale. He made his debut in Wednesday's win against Coventry after returning to the Knights for a second spell last week
• York's Simon Dyson is two over par going into his second round at the Nordea Masters in Stockholm. He's seven shots off the overnight leaders