BBC Local Live: Leeds and West Yorkshire

We'll see dry and clear periods this evening and overnight. Patchy low cloud possible later, with some ground frost in places and a minimum temperature of about 2C (36F).

BBCCopyright: BBC

Friday will be dry and bright with spells of sunshine, although skies may turn partly cloudy at times. Feeling colder, with a temperature of about 11C (52F).

Join Lara and Harry for Look North on BBC One at 18.30 as they find out how Yorkshire is celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday.

APCopyright: AP

They'll be looking back at some of her visits to the region, starting all the way back in 1949 when she visited Pudsey in Leeds while still Princess Elizabeth.

And they'll also be reporting live from Kippax where a beacon is due to be lit - one of many across the country - to celebrate the big day.

It's the question on everyone's lips - after this glorious spring sunshine could we be set for an icy blast this weekend?

The M621 is partially blocked westbound at J2, A643 (Elland Road) because of an accident. This is causing some delays at the moment.

BBC Radio Leeds has travel and traffic updates throughout the evening to keep you moving.

There's very slow traffic on the A64, York Road eastbound in Killingbeck between Torre Road Flyover and Halton Dial.

BBC Radio Leeds has travel and traffic updates throughout the evening commute to keep you moving.  

The top stories in Leeds and West Yorkshire so far this evening include:

• A Bradford mother admits killing her two daughters
• Street attacks on two women in Leeds city centre 'could be linked'
• Lloyds Bank to axe jobs, including some in West Yorkshire, according to union officials

Travellers have been given permission to remain on a green belt site between Havercroft and South Hiendley for another five years.

Pontefract and Castleford ExpressCopyright: Pontefract and Castleford Express

Thanks to Matthew Merrick for sending us this atmospheric pic from Fairburn Ings nature reserve near Castleford which he took at sunset yesterday.

Matthew MerrickCopyright: Matthew Merrick

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

ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock

Voters in parts of Yorkshire could be forgiven for leaving behind piles of nervously chewed pencil stubs at their polling stations on 5 May.

Research shows that stress levels peak at the point where the pencil is poised to put a cross in the box against the name of the chosen candidate.

This year's local council and police commissioner elections could see even more confusion with some Yorkshire voters being asked to make up to five choices.

Find out more in my latest blog.

Three Yorkshire swimmers have made the Great Britain team for this summer's Olympics.

ALL SPORT/Getty ImagesCopyright: ALL SPORT/Getty Images

Seventeen-year-old Georgia Coates, from Leeds, set two personal bests on her way to winning bronze in the 200 metres freestyle at last week's national championships.

City of Sheffield's Ellie Faulkner got the silver in that race. She's also selected alongside team mate Max Litchfield who won the 400 metres individual medley.

Happy Valley creator and Huddersfield-born Sally Wainwright has set her cast for her much anticipated one-off BBC drama To Walk Invisible about Haworth's famous Bronte family.

A mother has admitted killing her two young daughters but denies murdering them.

West Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: West Yorkshire Police

Samira Lupidi, 24, appeared at Bradford Crown Court accused of murdering one-year-old Jasmine Weaver and three-year-old Evelyn Lupidi in Bradford in 2015.

She pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility but not guilty to murder.

Ms Lupidi is due to stand trial on 9 May after prosecutors said the pleas were not acceptable.

We're seeing delays of up to two hours on Virgin Trains East Coast between Kings Cross and Leeds, between Kings Cross and Newcastle and between Kings Cross and York due to a person being hit by a train at Stevenage.

A gang of men targeted two lone women in separate attacks in the centre of Leeds in the early hours of last Saturday morning, police believe.

A 22-year-old woman crossing the footbridge between The Calls and Dock Street at about 04:00 was attacked from behind by a group of three or four males who stole her handbag.

Twenty minutes later, an 18-year-old woman was walking along Call Lane towards Briggate when she was pushed into a ginnel by one of three males who demanded her handbag.

WYPCopyright: WYP

Police say they were very frightening experiences for the victims who appear to have been deliberately targeted while having a night out in the city.

Police have released CCTV images of three men seen in the area who they want to identify, and an e-fit image of one of the suspects has also been produced.

WYPCopyright: WYP

WYPCopyright: WYP

Holders Leeds Rhinos will meet Huddersfield Giants in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup.

PACopyright: PA

Wakefield Wildcats will host French side Toulouse, the lowest-ranked team left in the draw, while Championship club Dewsbury welcome 19-time winners Wigan.

Batley Bulldogs will play Catalans Dragons at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium.

The skies above part of Halifax will be bright tonight as a special beacon's lit to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday:

A few days ago we asked you to send us your pictures of The Queen's visits to West Yorkshire, and lots of you sent us photos.

We've put some of the best into this little montage to celebrate Her Majesty's 90th birthday.

Happy birthday ma'am!

Police are appealing for witnesses following a reported disturbance involving a number of men in Deighton, Huddersfield, on Tuesday.

The incident's said to have taken place on Riddings Road between 18:00 and 19:00, with four males reported to have been involved. No-one was present by the time officers arrived.

Det Insp Mark Colman says: "We're keen to speak to anyone else who was in the Riddings Road area around this time who has either seen or heard anything that could be connected to this reported altercation."

The government's plans to introduce new school tests could have far reaching consequences, according to some in the profession.

Halifax CourierCopyright: Halifax Courier