BBC Local Live: Sheffield and South Yorkshire

Tomorrow's looking good for South Yorkshire, weather-wise. The rest of the weekend? Not so much...

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If you're thinking about heading away from South Yorkshire for an Easter break this weekend, did you know that about 11 million cars are expected to take to the roads today as the holiday getaway begins?

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The AA has estimated about half of all drivers will be on the road as holidaymakers mix with school and commuter traffic.

Roadworks across 97% of the motorway and A-roads were due to be finished or lifted by 06:00 today, but 57 sets will stay in place for safety reasons.

Engineering is also expected to affect about 5% of rail routes over the next week.

One lane's currently closed and there's very slow traffic on the M1 southbound between J33, A630 (Catcliffe) and J32, M18 (Thurcroft), because of a broken down car in the roadworks area. Congestion to J34, A631 (Meadowhall).  

Doncaster Rovers Belles kick off their new season back in the top flight of women's football tonight at 19.45.

There's a big crowd expected at the Keepmoat Stadium for their opening match, at home to reigning champions Chelsea.

I've been to see them in training:

Today's top stories from across South Yorkshire include:

• A Doncaster driver who caused the death of two passengers is sentenced to 10 years in jail
• A man is in a "serious but stable" condition after being stabbed in a street in Netherthorpe
• Sheffield's Brightside and Hillsborough by-election date is announced as 5 May

A women's group must raise £90,000 within the next seven days or face closure.

Doncaster Women's Aid, which has been running since 1976, says it will be forced to shut if the money isn't raised as its lottery funding is due to run out.

A spokesperson for the organisation said, "Doncaster Women’s Aid deals with 330 referrals per month which involve approximately 550 children each month.

"That's over 4,000 victim enquiries each year that are supported and protected by this charity."

More on the news that a man whose car burst into flames when he smashed into a garden in Branton, near Doncaster, has been jailed for 10 years for causing the deaths of two men.

South Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: South Yorkshire Police

James Maughan's Megane was overtaking a Volkswagen Passat which was already overtaking a car towing a caravan in a 30mph zone seconds before the fatal crash last August, a court heard.

The Megane then hit a kerb on the wrong side of Doncaster Road, causing it to lose a back wheel and demolish bollards on a central reservation. It ended up on its roof, bursting into flames in the front garden of a house.

Maughan, 21, of Marshland Road, Doncaster, was convicted on Monday at Sheffield Crown Court of causing the deaths of Liam Aldred, 26, and Dean McIntyre, 27, who were also travelling in the Megane.

Do you remember these? South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has posted this evocative picture of one of their old fire engines in action.

Barnsley have re-signed Newcastle United striker Ivan Toney on loan until the end of the season.

Barnsley FCCopyright: Barnsley FC

The 20-year-old spent time on loan at Oakwell earlier in the campaign, scoring once in six league appearances.

He could feature for the League One play-off hopefuls in Friday's home match against Scunthorpe.

Quote Message: We're delighted to have someone of Ivan's calibre back for the remainder of the season. Having worked with him earlier in the season we know what he's all about and the strengths that he can bring to the squad. from Paul Heckingbottom Caretaker Head Coach

We're delighted to have someone of Ivan's calibre back for the remainder of the season. Having worked with him earlier in the season we know what he's all about and the strengths that he can bring to the squad.

A 17-year-old boy had his motorbike stolen after being threatened in a park.

The boy was in Sandall Park in Thorne Road, Doncaster, when he was approached by two men who threatened him and demanded he hand over the key.

The suspects left the area on the bike, a white Kawasaki KE100 registration L79 MNW.

One of the suspects is described as white, about 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, in his late teens and of slim build. He was wearing a black Nike baseball cap and coat and grey tracksuit bottoms

The second suspect is also described as white, about 18-years-old, of slim build with black hair. He was wearing a black Nike hooded top with black tracksuit bottoms.

Rotherham United striker Jerry Yates says he's "delighted" to have signed a new two-year deal with the club.

Rotherham UnitedCopyright: Rotherham United

The 19-year-old is a product of the side's academy, and has been on the bench for the first-team on a number of occasions this season.

On the club's website, Yates says: “I am really looking forward to my future here, and hopefully I can now start to push on and over the course of next season start to force my way into the team."

We heard earlier this week that a statue marking the lives of the "Women of Steel" - women who worked in Sheffield's steel industry during World War One and Two - will be unveiled outside City Hall in June.

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As part of events surrounding that unveiling, Sheffield City Council says it wants to honour each of the surviving Women of Steel, and the families of those no longer with us, with a commemorative medallion. 

If you, or a member of your family, were a Woman of Steel and worked in the factories and steel mills in Sheffield and the surrounding area during the two World Wars, the council wants to hear from you.

Western Bank Bridge in Sheffield is to undergo a six-month strengthening project, the city council has said.

During the work on the bridge, which cuts through the University of Sheffield campus, a series of lane closures will be in place, but councillors say the bridge will never be fully closed.

Terry Fox, cabinet member for environment and transport, says: "We know the works on Western Bank Bridge may cause some disruption, but we'd ask that the public understand why we need to carry out these vital repairs."

The work's due to start on 29 March.

Sheffield Steelers Jason Hewitt and Jeff Legue have been talking to me about their decision to retire.

The decision by South Yorkshire Police chief David Crompton to retire presents the force with "an opportunity to think where we go from here", South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has said.

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Doctor Alan Billings has told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I've known that David wanted to retire since last year but it was all about the timing of that. We did not want the force disturbed last year.

"Now it's the right time because it enables us to find a new Chief Constable by the time he goes. That process will start as soon as the elections for Police and Crime Commissioners are over."

Today's top stories from across South Yorkshire include:

• A man's in a "serious but stable" condition in hospital after a suspected stabbing in Sheffield
• Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough by-election date is announced as 5 May
• Long-serving Sheffield Steelers players Jason Hewitt and Jeff Legue will retire at end of season

This afternoon will be cloudy with patchy rain or drizzle in places.

The top temperature will be about 9C (48F).

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