BBC News York & North Yorkshire

A man claiming to be a plain clothes police officer looking for a sex offender stopped a group of women and offered to escort them home, police say.

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The man asked for names, addresses and social media account details, but left when they asked members of the public for help, police said.

The suspect approached the women on Piccadilly, York, at about 21:40 on Thursday 17 June, according to North Yorkshire Police.

The man is described as white, aged in his mid 20s-30s, 5ft 10ins tall, with short gingery/light brown hair and a short beard.

At the time of the incident he was wearing shorts, a brown t-shirt or polo shirt and flip-flops, officers said.

A spokesperson for the force said: "A genuine police officer will identify themselves by showing you their warrant card.

"This is proof of their identity and authority. If you want to verify their identity, you can ask for their collar number and call 101 to check they are who they claim to be."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has been approached in a similar way is being asked to contact police.

A teenage girl has been treated in hospital in York after being injured in what police described as "an altercation involving a group of young people."

Geograph/Peter ChurchCopyright: Geograph/Peter Church

The incident near to Millennium Bridge happened just before 21:00 on Friday 18 June, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Two other female teenagers have been arrested and released on bail while an investigation takes place, police said.

A spokesperson for the force said: "We want the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

"In particular we need information about any other individuals who may be involved, and want to hear from anyone who has any footage of the incident."

Police are urgently searching for a man who was convicted of murder in 1998 who is wanted for recall to prison.

North Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: North Yorkshire Police

William Kerr (pictured), 59, was found guilty of the murder of Maureen Comfort in Leeds in 1996.

He was released from prison on licence in August 2020, however that licence has since been revoked, police said.

Kerr was known to have connections in Yorkshire, and North Yorkshire Police has urged anyone with information about his location to contact the force.

His licence was revoked due to his behaviour, which included failing to attend appointments with his probation supervisor and failing to live at an approved address, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Kerr has previously absconded on two separate occasions: from a bail hostel in Hull in 2015 and from an open prison in Suffolk in 2017.

Officers said anyone with information about his whereabouts should get in touch with the North Yorkshire force "as a matter of urgency".

Today will be a fine and sunny day for many. Patchy cloud will move in at times, but there will be plenty of sunny spells and it should remain dry and feel a bit warmer.

This evening will see plenty of sunny spells. It will become cloudier overnight, but it should remain dry:

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A new public body in charge of rail services should be based in York, according to council leaders.

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City of York Council boss Keith Aspden (pictured outside York railway station), has written to the government asking for the new Great British Railways headquarters to be based at York Central.

The Department for Transport announced in May the new Great British Railways body will be created to own the rail infrastructure, set fares and timetables, collect fare revenue and run and plan the network.

It will be launched in 2023.

Councillor Aspden and leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Carl Les, have written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP, to push for the headquarters of the organisation to be based at York Central.

Their letter says: "Given York and North Yorkshire’s existing strengths in the sector, it would seem to be the ideal location for Great British Railways."

There are around 5,000 rail jobs based in York already – representing about 10% of the national rail industry.

Train operators based in York include LNER, Northern Railway and Grand Central.

Network Rail employs 1,000 people in York and its training hub is based in the city.

Councillor Aspden said: “York is the heart of the rail industry in the north, with our existing rail links, sector jobs and highly skilled workforce, so makes sense for the headquarters of the government’s flagship rail body to be based in the city."

A group of fire and rescue staff has raised thousands of pounds by cycling between all 32 stations covered by the service in 21 hours.

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Thirteen staff from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS), covered 275 miles between fire stations on Saturday.

The journey took in North Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, the East Riding and North East Lincolnshire.

The group has now raised almost £5,000 for Hull and East Yorkshire Mind.

Firefighter Paul Wainwright, 43, who planned the journey, said: "Stations pulled out all the stops to greet us.

"There were people in breathing apparatus, people up ladders, and flying drones about.

"When there is a group of guys waiting for you at a station at midnight, offering you Haribo, it's a nice feeling because you know that they are with you in spirit."

Mr Wainright said the idea came about following discussions with the HFRS fitness manager.

He said: "Straight away we knew we wanted to do it for mental health.

"We have both had close friends or family members who have needed the help of mental health charities in recent times, so it's close to home."

The group consisted of firefighters, a director, control, support and retired staff.

"It just caught the imagination of our workforce," Mr Wainright said.

A badly injured cyclist was found unconscious on a Scarborough road in the early hours of Sunday morning, police say.

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The man, thought to be in his 30s, was found by a passer-by at about 02:00 on Peasholm Road, not far from the crazy golf course, according to North Yorkshire Police.

He was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment to a "serious head injury," police said.

Anyone who was travelling in the area close to the crazy golf course late Saturday night, or early Sunday morning, is being asked to contact police.

People living in areas experiencing a "sharp" rise in coronavirus cases in Leeds are being offered asymptomatic testing to help stop the virus spreading.

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Hyde Park, Headingley, Little London and Woodhouse have seen an increase in cases, particularly among younger people, Leeds City Council said.

PCR tests are being offered at new pop-up testing centres from Tuesday, including at the University of Leeds.

Testing centres are opening at Cinder Moor in Woodhouse Lane, the Gryphon Centre at the University of Leeds and the Mandela Community Centre in Chapeltown Road.

The rate of infection in the city overall is 161 cases per 100,000 people, according to council data.

However, it said the area including Headingley and Hyde Park had a case rate of 841 per 100,000 people and Little London and Woodhouse's case rate stood at about 337 per 100,000 people.

Councillor Salma Arif said: "We know that with the Euros this is an exciting time to get out and about for everyone who has missed seeing their friends and loved ones.

"But we need people living in Headingley and Hyde Park and Little London and Woodhouse to work with us, get a test and help us identify where these Covid cases are so together we can stop the spread and ensure Leeds can carry on enjoying a safe summer."

Today will be a largely cloudy, cool and dry day with a few sunny spells and the chance of some occasional showers.

This evening will see any showers die out. Overnight, the cloud will gradually clear away to the south, leaving a clear and cool night:

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