Yorkshire and Lincolnshire: Latest news and coronavirus updates

Proposals to close Leeds' landmark City Square to general traffic and create a new public space are set to go before the public, as plans to revamp the city centre continue.

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If given the go-ahead, the plans would see City Square closed to general traffic, as well as changes to Boar Lane, King Street, Wellington Street, Aire Street, Quebec Street, and the wider road network.

The project, set to start next year, proposes to divert traffic away from the city centre, freeing up more space for public transport, walking and cycling facilities.

Leeds City Council claims it will help make the city centre a more pleasant place to live and spend time in.

A council statement said: “With less traffic this also provides the council with an opportunity to convert the square into a welcoming area for people arriving into the city and create an event space suitable for outdoor seating and hosting events."

Public consultation meetings are due to be held on Thursday 26 August, between 15:00 and 19:00 and on Saturday 11 September from 10:00 to 14:00 in Mill Hill Chapel, City Square.

Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: "Being able to walk out of the railway station and be greeted by a new and improved public square, rather than the current road, is something everyone can enjoy."

The plans, which could cost £9.5m overall, were first released earlier this summer.

Early blueprints for the design include woodland and water features, with the entire area between the Queens Hotel and Mill Hill Chapel closed to general traffic.

Vivid memories of an airship exploding over Hull and plummeting into the Humber estuary almost 100 years ago have been unearthed by a new project.

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Thousands of people in Hull witnessed the R38 airship crash on 24 August 1921, killing 44 crew members.

The project by Historic England has unearthed a wealth of family stories.

It includes the plight of Richard Withington, who parachuted from the doomed airship only to drown in the Humber, according to his family.

Ian Simpson contacted the R38 project team with documents and the family's story relating to the death of Mr Withington, his great uncle.

Mr Simpson's documents include the original telegram informing Mr Withington's parents of his death, details of a memorial service in Howden, near Hull, in 1921 and invitations to the unveiling of the R38 memorial at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London in 1925.

Meanwhile, Edwin Piercy passed on the recollections of John Piercy, who had been playing football when he saw the airship split in two. Like many, he ran to the city's Victoria Pier where he saw two survivors come ashore.

The crash happened as the R38/ZR-2 airship was on a flight before being accepted into service by the US Navy. It was designed late in World War One for long range North Sea patrols and was the world's largest airship when it first flew in June 1921.

It flew for the final time on 24 August and after carrying out low altitude turns over Hull, creases began appearing on its side at 17:37, before it collapsed and blew up.

Of the crew of 49, only five members survived the crash and some of the crash victims were buried in a mass grave at a Hull cemetery.

In total, over 30 family contributions concerning the disaster have been catalogued by the Carnegie Heritage Centre in Hull.

Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons has accepted an improved £7bn takeover bid from US private equity group Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

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Morrisons had previously recommended investors accept a £6.7bn offer from a consortium led by another US-based investment group, Fortress.

Fortress said it was "considering its options", amid signs shareholders think the battle is not over.

Morrisons shares opened up on Friday, a signal investors expect another bid.

The retailer, which has almost 500 shops and more than 110,000 staff, has been at the centre of a takeover battle for weeks.

Fortress has urged Morrisons' shareholders to "take no action" on CD&R's agreed bid, which will require their approval at a meeting in October.

In July Morrisons turned down an offer worth £5.5bn from CD&R, saying it significantly undervalued the business.

But the grocer's board unanimously accepted the new offer, which represents a 60% premium to Morrisons' share price before takeover interest emerged in mid June.

A man has been left needing hospital treatment for "very serious injuries" after being stabbed in Leeds city centre in the early hours of today, police say.

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Officers were called to the junction of Boar Lane and Briggate at about 02:30 and found a 32-year-old man had been stabbed during an "altercation" in Lower Briggate, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The man was taken to hospital for emergency treatment and he remains in a stable condition. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Three men, aged 18, 19 and 24, have since been arrested in connection with the incident and they remain in custody, police say.

Det Insp James Entwistle says: "The victim has received very serious injuries and it’s quite apparent this could have had far more serious consequences for him.

"Although our inquiries remain at an early stage, this appears to have been an unprovoked attack arising from a dispute in the street.

"It’s clear from CCTV that there are several people in the area at the time of incident and we are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed any aspect of it to help us build up a full picture of what occurred."

Visiting has been temporarily suspended at Grimsby hospital as it deals with a growing number of Covid patients, it's been confirmed.

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People will only be allowed into Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital for exceptional reasons for the remainder of Friday and over the weekend, according to Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust says it will review whether to ease the measures on Monday.

Visitors will only be allowed in when a patient is at the end of their life, is suffering from admission-related anxiety or has communication difficulties, learning difficulties or dementia.

Visiting to the family service building for maternity and children will, however, continue as normal.

The trust says the step has been taken to protect hospital staff, patients and members of the public as the number of people with coronavirus in the hospital rises.

As of Friday morning, there were 37 Covid patients, of which six were in ICU.

Appointments and operations will also continue unless patients are contacted by the hospital, the trust says.

No visiting changes have been announced at the trust’s hospitals in Scunthorpe or Goole.

Ellie Monkhouse, chief nurse and director of infection prevention and control, says: "The decision has not been taken lightly, but is essential in helping to maintain the safety of our patients, visitors and staff. We will be reviewing the situation on Monday.

“I understand for our patients and their named visitor this may cause upset. However, this decision has been made with our patients’ best interests at heart."