The UK's first hosepipe ban of the year has come into place - and it's Yorkshire that's been hit with restrictions.
Yorkshire Water has brought hosepipe restrictions into place over the weekend after the 'driest and warmest spring' in 132 years.
Our region has been declared in drought, with Yorkshire Water working for several months to find and fix leaks and move water via a regionwide grid system.
Residents have been encouraged to reduce their water consumption since spring, but a temporary hosepipe ban has been brought into force anyway.
It means that people in Yorkshire aren't allowed to water their gardens or clean their cars with a hosepipe; fill or maintain paddling pools, hot tuns, cold-water plunge pools or swimming pools; and clean paths or patios with a hosepipe - among others.
Instead, locals are advised to use tap water from a bucket or water can, or use rainwater from a water butt.
Yorkshire Water’s director of water, Dave Kaye, said: "We are implementing the hosepipe restrictions now to help conserve water for the coming months and to protect Yorkshire's environment. As a result, people are being asked to stop using their hosepipes to water their gardens, wash their cars or for any other activities.
"Introducing these restrictions is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we’ve been doing everything we can to avoid having to put them in place.
“Our region experienced an extremely dry spring, which resulted in the region entering drought status in June. Usually, spring is a time when our groundwater sources and reservoirs continue to be topped-up by changeable weather, but this has not been the case in 2025, with our reservoir stocks falling since the last week of January.
“Of course, we have seen a few periods of changeable weather more recently, which helped slightly with the water resources picture. But these have been followed by constant high temperatures and more dry weather, which causes increased water usage. Between April and June, we supplied an additional 4.3 billion litres of water compared with a typical year.
“We’re grateful to our customers, who have been saving water where they can this year already. It is really important that we all continue to do so.”
What's included in the Yorkshire hosepipe ban:
Using a hosepipe to water a garden
Using a hosepipe to clean private vehicles or boats
Watering plants with a hosepipe on a domestic or other non-commercial premises
Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming, paddling pool, hot tub or cold-water plunge pool with a hosepipe
Using a hosepipe for domestic recreational use
Filling or maintaining a domestic pond or ornamental fountain using a hosepipe
Cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises using a hosepipe
Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
For more information on what is included in the restrictions, go to Yorkshire Water’s dedicated hosepipe ban webpage.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Viral Yorkshire shop urges visitors to avoid weekends as huge queues form
Clementine Hall
A viral apothecary shop in Yorkshire has warned visitors about huge queues forming outside its doors, urging people to visit during the week if they want to avoid the crowds.
The Cabinet of Curiosities in Haworth has become a popular destination for those looking to really get into the autumn spirit.
And it seems like there's a lot of people who are looking to do so, as huge queues have been forming along the quaint cobbled streets of Haworth.
So much so, that owner Carolin had to issue a statement via The Cabinet of Curiosities Instagram page.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It reads: "Weekends in Haworth have become particularly busy during Autumn and we are so grateful to all those lovely souls who have patiently queued to visit the shop.
"We are so honoured that you are happy to wait to come in to our magical apothecary shop, and I can’t quite believe it when I look out of the windows and see the queue snaking up the cobbles. Be assured that the queue does move fast and it makes for a far more pleasurable visit if there are fewer people in the shop at once.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"If you would rather avoid the busy times it’s best to visit during the week if you can. Our shop is open 7 days a week 10-5, but to make sure all the shops in Haworth are open then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are probably the best days to visit.
"We are doing our best to keep up with restocking and our fabulous workshop witches are busy blending, filling and packing every day to keep to keep the shelves stocked. We are humbled and forever grateful that you love our little shoppe, and hope you enjoy your potions and your visit to The Cabinet of Curiosities."
Daisy Jackson -
14th July 2025 
