BBC Local Live: York and North Yorkshire

Horse owners are being warned to take "immediate action" to ensure tack is protected from thieves after a spate of thefts of saddles, girths and bridles in the Harrogate area. 

North Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: North Yorkshire Police

Police say over the last three weeks large amounts of tack has been stolen from Little Ribston, Kirkby Overblow, Tockwith, Askham Richard and North Deighton.

PC David Mackay, of North Yorkshire Police's Rural Taskforce, says: "In light of these incidents, I'm urging owners to take immediate steps to ensure tack is protected from thieves."

Quote Message: Make sure you have a record of any serial numbers, register your property and be vigilant – report any suspicious activity to the police." from PC David Mackay North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce

Make sure you have a record of any serial numbers, register your property and be vigilant – report any suspicious activity to the police."

People living in three North Yorkshire villages are being told they're not at risk after discoloured tap water reached hundreds of homes. 

Tollerton, Linton-on-Ouse and Newton-on Ouse, near Easingwold, have all been affected today. 

Press AssociationCopyright: Press Association

Work on a pipe feeding a local water treatment works was to blame, according to Yorkshire Water.

Discoloured water is unlikely to have health implications, but can be unappealing to drink, the firm adds.

It's expected the water will be back to normal by this evening.

York Art Gallery's been named Family Friendly Museum of the Year.

It came out top against nine others in the UK.

York Art GalleryCopyright: York Art Gallery

Gaby Lees, Assistant Curator of Arts, says while the gallery is pretty hands-on, some things are still out of bounds for kids - but those things are diplomatically signed.

Quote Message: 'Just look' signs are tastefully placed where we don't want things touched, but we've got 'hands on' signs too!" from Gaby Lees Assistant Curator of Arts, York Art Gallery

'Just look' signs are tastefully placed where we don't want things touched, but we've got 'hands on' signs too!"

A whole host of truck nuts are expected to descend on one of Europe's largest auctions of diggers and other massive equipment taking place in North Yorkshire today.

It's being held over the next three days in Kellington near Eggborough. 

Euro Auctions UK LtdCopyright: Euro Auctions UK Ltd

An auction held there in August made over £31m and attracted thousands of bidders from over 60 countries.

One of the organisers, Gavin Sales, says there are 4,000 lots for sale in the auction, and he expects every single item to go.

Quote Message: Everything goes. The most expensive thing we've got is an articulated dumper truck. That'll go for about £200,000." from Gavin Sales Euro Auctions UK

Everything goes. The most expensive thing we've got is an articulated dumper truck. That'll go for about £200,000."

More on the news that York Minster's bell ringers have been told they're not needed until a new head bell ringer is appointed who'll then recruit a new team.

BBCCopyright: BBC

A letter sent to the bell ringers, which has been seen by BBC Radio York, says: "All current bell ringing activity will cease at the Minster" so the recruitment process can begin.

The current volunteers are "welcome to express interest" in joining the new team, the letter adds.

The aim, the letter states, is to bring the Minster's bell ringing team "in line with other teams across the organisation" such as flower-arranging, collections and the police teams.

"The Chapter of York places great value on the contribution of its staff and volunteers", the letter says.

I've been speaking to the detectives leading the search to find missing Yorkshire toddler Ben Needham.

They've been working on two sites on the Greek Island of Kos and have removed more than 800 tonnes of soil so far in their search.

Now I've been given a "strong indication" that the search will continue through the weekend and into a fourth week.

Twenty-one-month-old Ben disappeared while on holiday in Kos back in 1991.

Tickets to hear British astronaut Tim Peake speak in North Yorkshire about his exploits on board the International Space Station (ISS) have sold out today within just an hour.

ESA/NASACopyright: ESA/NASA

As we mentioned yesterday, Major Tim's at the University of York next month to talk about his months in space, living and working on the ISS.

During his time on the space station, he completed 2,976 orbits of Earth and covered a distance of roughly 125,000,000 km.

Prof Brian Fulton, York University's Dean of Faculty for Sciences, says: "We're thrilled to welcome Tim to York. 

"His mission to the ISS has inspired children and adults alike and we're delighted the public will be able to join us to hear first-hand about his experiences."

It seems like this owl - found in the middle of the A64 this morning - might not have been as wise as legend suggests:

A woman who challenged the racist rantings of a man on a York train won applause from her fellow passengers – and praise on social media.

Maxie Wade stood up to the man on the late-night First TransPennine Express service, which got into York after midnight on Sunday.

YorkMixCopyright: YorkMix

In response to reports of pranksters dressing up as "creepy clowns" to intimidate and frighten people in North Yorkshire, a group called Clown Hunters York has been set up to track them.

On Monday night police received at least eight reports of people in clown costumes attempting to shock unsuspecting residents. 

Yesterday, the force warned that anyone dressing up as a clown with the intention of scaring people they may face arrest.

Speaking on BBC Radio York, Matthew told me he set up the social media group to make people aware of sightings of people dressed as clowns.

Ian Thom, a professional clown also known as Ginger Nut, is on the committee of Clowns International - an organisation representing "clowns from all walks of life".

He told me recent prankster clown activities have had a bad impact on the "business, livelihood and reputation of professional clowns".

He told me if the current creepy clown phenomenon continues, someone will get hurt as a result of the "idiots":

Quote Message: They're not clowns, they're people dressing up. Most just wear rubber, scary masks." from Ian Thom Profesional clown

They're not clowns, they're people dressing up. Most just wear rubber, scary masks."

When they bought it, there were holes in the roof and every time it rained water cascaded down the walls.

Now, the pub, together with England’s highest single drop waterfall, Hardraw Force, a visitor centre, campsite and 5.5 hectares of parkland have gone on the market for £1.5m.

Yorkshire PostCopyright: Yorkshire Post

When did Yorkshire's love affair with cycling start I wonder? Perhaps it was the Tour de France two years ago.

Since then, the Tour de Yorkshire has been born and, later today, we'll find out whether Yorkshire's been successful in an ambitious bid to host another of the world's top cycling events - the UCI World Road Race Championships.

I've been to Harrogate - one of the towns which wants to be involved - to meet John Reid, the Director of Prologue Cycling. He's a man with his fingers crossed:

Dougie the parrot is wowing guests of owner Margaret Hullah by talking in a Yorkshire accent. 

The stroppy 11-year-old pet even mutters phrases such as "What's tha come for?" when people pop round to see Margaret. 

Dougie also has a reputation for Yorkshire stubbornness and is just as likely to squawk "What yer doooin'?" and "What's up wi yooou?" 

I've been finding out more:

There's been a big rise in the number of people being referred to hospitals in Yorkshire for allergies.

Figures from NHS Digital show admissions are up by more than a quarter since 2011.

Here in North Yorkshire, there were more than 200 cases alone - that's nearly double the number of cases in the past five years. 

A mixture of broken cloud and sunny spells today with scattered showers, some briefly heavy.

Watch my full forecast here:

An adorable puppy, who is lucky to be alive after being rescued abroad, will be given a new home in North Yorkshire.

Animal lover Vicky Broadhead, of Brayton near Selby, is adopting a six-month-old labrador cross called Lilly from Romania, where she says many dogs are abandoned or even killed.

The PressCopyright: The Press

Yorkshire finds out today if it's to host the World Cycling Championships in 2019 - an announcement is expected from the sport's governing body. 

If the bid is successful, road racing events will take place across the region, including in North Yorkshire.

Delegates from road cycling's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale, have already visited Yorkshire to see potential race routes.

APCopyright: AP

It's hoped the success of the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014 will boost Yorkshire's chances today. 

The Road World Championships is an eight day event for professional cyclists, with male and female riders competing.

The race is watched in over 160 countries and is the culmination of the cycling season with more than 100 riders from 75 nations competing.