BBC Local Live: York and North Yorkshire

I've been finding out about the impact of the Vikings in York on the early Christian church today - and I had to go beneath York Minster into the crypt to do it.

For centuries, York's most precious Christian ceremonial items have been stored below ground level at the Minster, but from Monday the Vikings are setting up camp there.

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The Scandanavian invaders are part of an exhibition called Treasures and Beliefs, which tries to imagine what Pagans and Christians living in York 1,000 years ago would have made of the evolving Chritsian faith.

This weekend, the RSPB wants you to sleep outside as part of an event called the Big Wild Sleepout.

They're encouraging us to spend a night under the stars to see what nocturnal wildlife is on our doorstep. 

Kate Struthers, from RSPB Fairburn Ings, told me all about it from a tent on the BBC Radio York roof.

Here's the proof that we really did pitch a tent on the roof, but I can't tell you how we got the pegs in:

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North Yorkshire could be one of the areas affected as the fire service warns it could soon withdraw its cover for fires at sea. 

A report by Humberside Fire Service's Deputy Chief Fire Officer says it may become unsafe due to a lack of access to suitable training.

Humberside Fire Service provides cover for an area of the North Sea stretching from Norfolk to Scotland. Firefighters are transported to stricken vessels by tug or helicopter. 

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The service is one of eight around the coast of the UK which currently attend incidents at sea.

"However," says deputy chief fire officer Chris Blacksell, "recent restrictions on the provision of suitable training to the firefighters that volunteer to undertake that role mean that it is likely that we will have to stop attending incidents 'at sea' by August 2016."  

Often cloudy with some showery rain on and off this afternoon, perhaps even some heavier bursts. 

There will also be some dry spells and even some brightness especially in the north late with a gentle NW breeze and a top temperature of about 20C (68F).  

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The latest headlines from our York newsroom include:

• Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn is due to hold a rally in York later, with about 1,000 people expected to attend
• A treatment that could mark a turning point in the fight against hospital superbugs such as MRSA has been developed by scientists in Yorkshire
• Harrogate has missed out on the chance to host the Great Exhibition of the North

A new BBC TV Show all about Yorkshire which will hit our our TV screens this autumn, is looking for cast members and is holding auditions in York on Sunday.

The working title for the show is Yorkshire Pride, Dancing Town.

Steve EliasCopyright: Steve Elias

I spoke to the presenter of the show, Steve Elias, this morning (pictured above) and he told me the show is about the people and culture of Yorkshire and also involves dancing.

Steve says he's looking for hundreds of people to take part in the show and, if you want to be a part of it, you should turn up at the drop-in auditions at York's De Grey Rooms on Sunday at 12:00.

Quote Message: There's no need to wear lycra. I'm looking for everyone, from people with two left feet, to established dance groups." from Steve Elias Actor and Director

There's no need to wear lycra. I'm looking for everyone, from people with two left feet, to established dance groups."

The grassroots movement Momentum is preparing for a visit to York by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who's due in the city later for a rally as part of the Labour's leadership contest.

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Organisers say they're expecting about 1,000 people to turn out to hear him explain why he should keep his job.

James Harland, from Momentum in York, has told BBC Radio York Jeremy Corbyn can become the next Prime Minister:

Quote Message: We've won every by-election within increased majorities. We've won every mayoral election with increased majorities, and our policies are gaining support." from James Harland Momentum

We've won every by-election within increased majorities. We've won every mayoral election with increased majorities, and our policies are gaining support."

Victory for Yorkshire away to second place Northamptonshire Steelbacks tonight should ensure qualification for the T20 Blast quarter finals.

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The Vikings are currently third in the Northern Group, and one-day captain Alex Lees says he knows what to expect.

"They've got some big-hitters and probably pin their batting around two to three players," he says.

"If we can get a couple of early wickets and put pressure on the middle order then we could be in a good position."

More on the news that Harrogate has missed out on the chance to host the Great Exhibition of the North.

Harrogate, Halifax Scunthorpe, St Helens and Whitehaven lost out to Blackpool, Bradford, Newcastle-Gateshead and Sheffield, who've all been shortlisted to host the event.

The exhibition is described as showcasing the "creative, cultural and design sectors across the whole of the North" and it's hoped it will boost investment and tourism in the region.

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The government is contributing £5m towards the exhibition and a further £15m to a legacy fund to attract further cultural investment in the North.

The shortlist will now be assessed by the Great Exhibition board, before a final selection is made by Ministers, with the chosen venue due to be announced in the autumn.

The world's most famous fictional detective can be seen treading the boards at York's Theatre Royal from today for the next five weeks.

The appearance of Sherlock Holmes is prompted by the legend of a fearsome, diabolical hound of supernatural origins.

Artistic director Damian Cruden is directing a new retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective novel The Hound Of The Baskervilles with pantomime villain David Leonard spending his summer as Sherlock Holmes.

I dropped in for a sneak preview on rehearsals in the in the run-up to tonight's opening night.

If you're hoping to get on the property ladder soon by buying a new house, you'll be interested to know the number of houses being built is on the up in Yorkshire.

More than 2,000 plots have been registered for construction in the last three months - that's 400 more than the same period last year.

GoogleCopyright: Google

Neil Jefferson, from York, is part of the National House Builder's Council and he says the future's looking good for housebuyers

Quote Message: It's been a really good quarter for Yorkshire up 22%. That's supported by lots of new developments in and around the York area and compares to an overall increase of just 1% nationally." from Neil Jefferson National House Builder's Council

It's been a really good quarter for Yorkshire up 22%. That's supported by lots of new developments in and around the York area and compares to an overall increase of just 1% nationally."

The A19 is currently closed in both directions and there's queuing traffic due to an accident, between the M62 at junction 34 (Selby/Doncaster) and the A645 at Weeland Road.

Police are in the area are directing traffic.

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Efforts are under way to make York's gardens more bee friendly, and work's already started in Glen Gardens in Heworth.

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Alice Farr is one of those involved in getting more bees to visit the city. 

She says they're hugely important because "one in three mouthfuls of our food comes from pollinators".

Quote Message: We're trying to give bees new homes in York, in our parks and gardens. We're planting wildflower meadows, putting in 'bee hotels' for nests and planting trees to give bees important food sources early on in the spring." from Alice Farr

We're trying to give bees new homes in York, in our parks and gardens. We're planting wildflower meadows, putting in 'bee hotels' for nests and planting trees to give bees important food sources early on in the spring."

A treatment that could mark a turning point in the fight against superbugs such as MRSA has been developed by scientists in Yorkshire.

Bacteria invading a wound or bed sore attaches itself to the skin via sticky patches on human cells. 

But scientists at the University of Sheffield have found proteins make the patches less sticky, allowing the bugs to be washed away.

The children's classic tale Wind in the Willows is to be performed along the river bank in the Yorkshire Dales.

The River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey provides the setting for 25 open-air performances of the story written by Kenneth Grahame.  

The production, by theatre company Gobbledigook, even uses real boats on the river for Ratty and Mole to mess about in.

Yorkshire and England batsman Joe Root has put his career-best innings down to the "hurt" caused by batting coach Mark Ramprakash questioning his mental approach.

AFP/Getty ImagesCopyright: AFP/Getty Images

Root hit 254 in the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford, then 71 not out as the hosts won by 330 runs.

It followed some soft dismissals which the 25-year-old says had led Ramprakash to question if he was "mentally in the right place to play Test cricket".

"That sort of hurt me. It was a good motivator," said Root.

About 1,000 people are expected to turn out in York later to hear Jeremy Corbyn explain why he should keep his job as leader of the Labour Party. 

The politician is due to address a rally in St Helen's Square this evening.

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James Harland, from the grassroots movement Momentum, has told BBC Radio York that Mr Corbyn has a lot of support in the city.

Quote Message: We're expecting a massive turnout and I think in the space of 24 hours that really shows the appeal Jeremy has to ordinary people who want something different in their politics." from James Harland Momentum

We're expecting a massive turnout and I think in the space of 24 hours that really shows the appeal Jeremy has to ordinary people who want something different in their politics."

We're off to a cloudy start to the day across Yorkshire, with outbreaks of patchy rain as well as a few showers. 

This weather front will slowly sink southwards throughout the day, although it'll remain rather cloudy well into this afternoon. 

Watch my full forecast here: