Yorkshire: Latest news and coronavirus updates

Hundreds of thousands of tyres were at the site of a major fire in Bradford which has burned for over four days and which has caused the closure of schools and led to major disruption to city rail services, the council has confirmed.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue ServiceCopyright: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Fire crews have been tackling the tyre blaze at a go-kart track on Upper Castle Street since the early hours of Monday morning.

As a result of smoke from the fire, a total of 18 nearby schools have been forced to close their doors and train services to and from Bradford Interchange have been badly disrupted.

A spokesperson from Bradford Council says there were "an estimated 600,000 tyres" on the site.

The authority is continuing to work with the emergency services and other agencies to deal with the effects of the blaze, the spokesperson adds.

"Environment Agency (EA) and council staff have been monitoring air quality and possible pollution of local water sources. The EA has brought in a specialised mobile air monitoring unit.

"Our waste teams are continuing to remove tyres from around the blaze so the underneath fire can be extinguished.

"The use of foam and fire crews’ action of digging out the fire may lead to increased smoke," the council spokesperson says.

A man, aged 59, and a 48-year-old woman were arrested in North Yorkshire on Tuesday in connection with the blaze. Both have been released on bail, West Yorkshire Police said.

A giant image of a child has been created on a hillside at Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.

The image, which is 360ft-long, was made to symbolise the effect Covid-19 is having on children.

It was created by Yorkshire land artists Sand In Your Eye for World Children's Day, which is being marked today.

Earlier this year, they made a giant mural to encourage social distancing and a portrait of Greta Thunberg for International Women's Day.

Do you recognise this man? Police have issued this e-fit image in their hunt for a man who robbed an 80-year-old woman in her own home in Bradford:

West Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: West Yorkshire Police

The suspect walked into the house on Meadway at about 19:30 on 14 October and demanded money.

The victim handed over a small amount of money and the suspect left the house, police say.

However, the man barged into the house again later in the evening and demanded more money. When the victim refused, the man stole her purse before leaving.

Anyone who recognises the man in the image, or who has any information about the theft, is being asked to contact police.

The government is being called on by political leaders in South Yorkshire to "urgently" invest in a new hospital for Doncaster.

GoogleCopyright: Google

Politicians including the mayor of the Sheffield City Region Dan Jarvis, the mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones, and Doncaster MPs Ed Miliband, Rosie Winterton and Nick Fletcher, are calling for more investment in the town.

In a letter to health secretary Matt Hancock, they say that Doncaster Royal Infirmary, which was built in 1930, is in need of maintenance work worth £67m.

Doncaster's A&E department is currently dealing with up to double the number of patients it was originally designed to cope with, they add.

Earlier this year, the government announced funding for 40 hospitals between now and 2030.

Dan Jarvis says: "The case for a new central hospital in Doncaster is unequivocal, and health and political leaders in the region are united behind this plan."

Train services to and from Bradford Interchange are expected to fully restart tomorrow after a large fire in Bradford affected the station for several days.

Network Rail Air OperationsCopyright: Network Rail Air Operations

Fire crews have been tackling a tyre blaze on Upper Castle Street since Monday, with thick smoke blowing across the railway line causing train services to be diverted or cancelled.

Some trains were finally able to run between Bradford and Leeds yesterday as firefighters continued to deal with the blaze.

However, a full service is expected to restart on Saturday, according to Network Rail.

Track and signalling has been tested, it added.

Network RailCopyright: Network Rail

Matt Rice, route director for Network Rail’s North and East route, said: "The safety of our teams and passengers is our priority, and with an incident on this scale, it was crucial we followed guidance from the fire service on when the time was right to access the railway.

"The amount of smoke in the area brought challenges, but our teams have worked tirelessly to make sure lines can safely reopen. We want to thank passengers for their patience while this work was carried out."

The East Riding of Yorkshire needs more support to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the county's leader has said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader councillor Richard Burton said with Hull's infection rate one of the highest in the country, more help is needed from central government to drive down cases and infection rates.

The council has said it's dealing with an "ongoing health emergency" in the city.

Mr Burton said the county "urgently" needs additional support.

He said: "We have asked for additional support from Public Health England and the Joint Biosecurity Centre to support our local directors of public health leading the pandemic analysis and response as well as assistance with logistics and technical advice for the proposed wider lateral flow tests and mass vaccination roll out."

A man's tried to con an elderly homeowner in Bradford out of cash by wearing a t-shirt with the word "Police" handwritten on it.

West Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: West Yorkshire Police

During a series of similar incidents, the suspect called at a home on Garden Terrace and told the elderly homeowner he was fundraising for West Yorkshire Police and asked for a donation.

The victim, a man in his 80s, refused to hand anything over to the suspect who then left the scene, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The suspect is described as male with tanned skin, wearing black trousers, a face mask, and a white t-shirt with "Police" handwritten on the front.

The force is now warning people in Bradford to be vigilant.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "These incidents have been distressing for the people involved.

"If you receive a visit from someone purporting to be a police officer, please request to see their identification card.

"All police officers, even those not in full uniform, should be carrying these."

A trampoline coach from Hull has been revealed as one of this year's BBC Unsung Heroes of Sport.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Julie Williams has spent over 40 years encouraging and training young people in Hull.

She was nominated for the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire award by one of her former pupils Mike Zwahlen.

Mike went to school in Hull but is now an acrobat with the international performance act Cirque de Soleil currently based in Los Angeles.

He said: "She personifies this award. She literally is the unsung hero of so many kids. A huge part of the reason I am where I am now is thanks to you. Thanks for believing in me."

Julie said: "It's just part of my life. I'm quite shocked."

Police searching for a missing man are driving a van with his picture on it around Doncaster today in a bid to jog people's memories.

South Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: South Yorkshire Police

Kyle Binns, 25, was last seen on Tuesday, 10 November on St Anne’s Road in the Belle Vue area of the town.

He was then later caught on CCTV footage walking on Bawtry Road, Bessacarr, at about 08:45.

Kyle was wearing a black jacket, black jeans, a dark cap and white trainers.

A digital screen van is travelling across several locations today as part of South Yorkshire Police's search for him.

If anybody has seen Kyle, or thinks they may have seen someone matching his description whether in person or on CCTV, they're being asked to get in touch with police.

South Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: South Yorkshire Police

A virtual Christmas carol singing course is being run for people living in North Yorkshire after the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to door-to-door carolers.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

People are being encouraged to sign up to belt out Christmas classics as part of lessons led by a singing teacher.

The event, which is being run by North Yorkshire County Council, will see teacher Martyn Creswell take families on weekly sessions ahead of a final performance.

The hour-long sessions will run until the middle of December, with a virtual choir being launched in January.

A total of 18 schools remain closed in Bradford as the result of a huge tyre blaze in the city.

WYFRSCopyright: WYFRS

About 45 firefighters are still at the scene of the blaze which started in the early hours of Monday morning at a go-kart track in East Bowling.

Bradford Council says the schools are closed "due to serious concerns about the poor air quality as a result of the fire at Upper Castle Street.

"Acrid smoke in the local area from this week's fire is causing severe air pollution."

A full list of the closures can be seen here.

The council says most of the roads which have been closed in the area since Monday have today re-opened.

Meanwhile, National Rail Enquiries says most rail lines remain blocked into and out of nearby Bradford Interchange, with train services expected to remain disrupted "until at least the end of the day".

A 59-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were arrested in North Yorkshire on Tuesday on suspicion of arson. They've been released on bail as inquiries continue, police say.