Snow is set to continue to fall across Yorkshire this morning.
Heavy snow, high winds and a maximum temperature of five degrees have been forecast by the Met Office this morning ahead of an anticipated storm.
This morning, Leeds city centre has already seen sunshine, snow, wind and rain, but the Met Office predict that this confused weather will bring us a cold, wintry day.
Snowmen in Potternewton Park in January 2021, during the last snowy season. Image: Uni Leeds Students
Flood alerts still remain in place across Yorkshire, but all alerts in Leeds city centre have now been removed.
The Middle River Aire catchment alert was removed at 10am this morning, with the government website reporting: "river levels have now fallen below levels of concern on the Middle River Aire Catchment. There is no longer a threat of flooding".
East of Leeds, towards York, Selby, Doncaster, Copmanthorpe and surrounding areas all still have flood alerts and warnings as the River Ouse is still recovering from the heavy rainfall brought by Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.
Image: UK Gov
In Leeds, the wind is expected to pick up throughout the day with "occasional blustery wintry showers, but also some bright spells". The expectation from the Met Office is that the showers will remain in the west and cold weather, especially in the wind.
Tonight, the minimum temperature will be zero degrees. The Met Office says: "a band of squally winds and wintry showers will arrive during the evening. Wintry showers becoming more isolated during the night, with winds easing slightly. Clear spells developing. Minimum temperature 0 °C."
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Sophie Smith -
24th February 2022 
