Running round dressed as Santa Claus seems like a lot of fun, but knowing it's for a great cause makes this fun run a 5k to remember.
The Big Leeds Santa Dash is back for another year to raise money for St Gemma's Hospice.
One of Leeds' favourite fun runs will be held on Sunday 12 December at Roundhay Park, but runners will need to sign up in advance to secure their place on the tracks.
Warm up at 10am before grabbing your finest Father Christmas suit for the 5k Santa Dash at 10.20am.
The Santa Dash will take place in Roundhay Park this year, but has been held across the city in previous years. / Image: St Gemma's Hospice
If you manage to get round the track, you'll not only receive a medal, but have the opportunity to chill out with Rudolph and other reindeer after the event.
All tickets for the event will come with a Santa costume, so there's no need to purchase one in advance.
Families can book tickets together, costing £30 for two adults and two children, or can be booked individually.
Tickets for adults to register cost £12 and £6 for children aged 5 - 15.
The Santa Dash is a family-friendly event for all ages to get involved in. / Image: St Gemma's Hospice
Please note that Santa suits are only available for those aged 5+, so if your little one wants to get involved, bring along your own Christmas hat and red clothes so they can join in the fun.
All money raised will go towards funding the important work at St Gemma's Hospice.
The Leeds-based charity is Yorkshire’s largest hospice organisation. They provide support and expert-care to local people that are living with both life-limiting and terminal illnesses.
St Gemma's Hospice describe their care as "always free of charge and provides care to anyone, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation or diagnosis".
For more information on how to register for this year's Santa Dash or to make a donation to St Gemma's Hospice, visit charity's event page on their website.
A house that looks good enough for James Bond is set to be built on Ilkley Moor.
Is that a formation of angular grey rocks sitting atop of the Yorkshire dales? No, it's a house.
The wildly contemporary structure, which has huge irregular-shaped windows and a natural outdoor pool, is based off the famous Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
It will be built just down the road from them too, on green belt land which is the garden of a home off Heber's Ghyll Drive.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
It is the work of Harrogate-based architects Shaw & Jagger, who said the project was passed through the country house clause which allows things to be built on green belt for buildings of "exceptional quality".
The house itself has been named 'Fomorian', after a supernatural race of giants in Irish mythology. The name takes inspiration from the mythical giant Rombald who is said to have roamed on Ilkley Moor.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
Shaw & Jagger wrote: "The design approach was to propose a scheme that is intrinsically linked to the spirit of its place. Fomorian is of its place, part of the Moors, its geology and its spirit.
"We took cues from local folklore, the surrounding rocks; ancient carvings, standing stones and escarpments that are synonymous with the landscape.
"The building depicts a series of monolithic elements embedded in the earth as the wild, dramatic environment looms around, attempting to overcome them. The building is new, yet part of this ancient landscape.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
"Fomorian is to be built over the next couple of years and will provide family accommodation consisting of 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
"It was important to offer the client viable outside space therefore a paved courtyard garden allows external living to be within the heart of the plan. The abstract rock forms allow the design to have exciting internal spaces with large irregular windows designed to maximise views out across the valley."
Leeds railway station reopening delayed AGAIN due to problems with lift
Clementine Hall
The highly anticipated opening of Leeds City Station's new entrance has been further delayed.
The £46.1m Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway has been in the works since 2022, with the original target for completion set for autumn 2025.
That date subsequently slipped to summer 2026, then September, then October, and now...well who knows?
This time, Leeds City Council have confirmed that the problem is to do with the lifts that connect New Station Street and Bishopgate.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
These lifts will allow the ever so turbulent taxi rank to move from the temporary arrangement at the rear of the station to its new home on Bishopgate Street.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said on the recent setback: "Having opened the pavement along Bishopgate Street and sections of New Station Street, unfortunately we have encountered an issue with one of the lifts, which is delaying essential safety testing from being completed.
"We are working to resolve this as soon as possible so we can open the final parts of the scheme imminently."
When it does finally open, there should be plenty to like. The scheme is designed to make the area around the station more pedestrian-friendly, with improved public space, wider walking routes, better cycling facilities, a new cycle hub and step-free access between Bishopgate Street and New Station Street.
The taxi rank will also move to Bishopgate Street, with a new shelter and kerbside boarding.
So, after years of barriers, diversions, temporary arrangements, engineering works and at least one deeply controversial letter (lest we forget 'Welcome to Leeps') the end is apparently in sight.
We'll keep you updated with any updates and opening date of the new station, but we wouldn't hold your breath if the last couple of months are anything to go by.
Sophie Smith -
3rd November 2021 
