Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

The votes have been counted following yesterday's local elections and Doncaster remains under Labour control.

The Conservatives gained four seats taking them to 11, while Labour lost three seats leaving them with 40:

Doncaster is the latest and final South Yorkshire council to announce its first batch of results.

Conservative candidate Gary Stapleton and Labour's Sue Farmer have both been elected:

Sprotbrough has also declared in the last few minutes:

The results for a number of local elections that took place yesterday are due back later.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Counting is under way across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for the local elections, the mayoral elections and the police and crime commissioner elections, with BBC reporters at many counts.

We're expecting declarations at the following council counts today:

• Barnsley
• Doncaster
• Sheffield
• Hull
• Kirklees
• Wakefield
• Lincolnshire
• Lincoln
• North East Lincolnshire

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner result is also expected back this afternoon.

More than 60,000 postal votes requested in Doncaster have all been sent out to voters, according to Doncaster Council.

GoogleCopyright: Google

A small batch of 1,300 delayed ballot papers were finally delivered over the bank holiday weekend, the council say.

Anyone who still has not got a requested postal ballot should contact it on 01302 736000 as soon as possible.

Those with a postal vote should put them in the post by 16:00 on election day, or drop them off at their local polling station or to the council’s Waterdale Civic Office (pictured above) by 22:00 on Thursday - election day.

There's been a rise in unlicensed dog breeders during lockdown, with some puppies dying at home after being bought from unknown sellers on the side of the road, a South Yorkshire Council has warned.

BBCCopyright: BBC

More people buying dogs throughout the coronavirus pandemic has led to higher prices and more unlicensed dog sales, according to Doncaster Council.

The authority said "so many" of the unlicensed breeders also mistreat the animals and in some cases puppies have died after being bought from an unknown seller.

All licensed breeders should display their licence number and council name on adverts, the council added.

They should also provide documentation at the point of sale including health certificates, vet report and records, insurance, microchip documentation and a vaccination card.

Licensed breeders' dogs are inspected by a vet and the council every one to three years.

Doncaster Council says it has a list of legitimate breeders for the area, and The Dogs Trust has a list of things to consider when buying a dog.

Councillor Chris McGuinness said: “It’s easy to get carried away when buying a puppy, but I would urge people to think with their head and not their heart.

“We're doing what we can to stop illegal breeders and the mistreatment of pets, but we need people to help by being vigilant."

Many children in Doncaster are being taken to A&E suffering from from serious mental health problems, according to the town's council.

Science Photo LibraryCopyright: Science Photo Library

Social care bosses at Doncaster Council say a "growing number of children" show signs of mental health issues, with "high numbers" taken to A&E having self-harmed or attempted suicide.

As a result the authority plans to hire six specialist social workers to help children, paid for by £226,000 from the authority’s Covid-19 Pressures Fund.

The fund will be used for temporary additional roles to support vulnerable children and young people, many of whom have social, emotional and mental health needs.

The council says the coronavirus pandemic has "simultaneously increased the strain on families" while also reducing schools' ability to intervene early when problems develop.

Alison Tomes, from the council's children and young people department, says it is a national issue and locally is being reported from schools, mental health services and through high numbers of children at A&E.

Children and young people already in vulnerable situations are more at risk, she adds.

“The number of families open to early help has steadily reduced over the last two years...A number of pressures relating to the delivery of the early help offer have emerged which has necessitated a review of current processes and procedures," she says.

Doncaster Council says the extra Early Help Officers mean educational settings can be better supported.

More information and support for children and young people can be found via the BBC Action Line.