Calendar Tadcaster News

A decorated war hero who was only able to attend the unveiling of a Bomber Command memorial he'd helped raise money for after Calendar highlighted his story has died, aged 92.

Former rear gunner Freddie Johnson, from Tadcaster, was awarded six medals in the Second World War.

As a keen member of the Royal Air Force Association, he'd helped raise cash for a £6million memorial in London but initially he was told he wouldn't be invited to the official unveiling until we picked up the story and there was a national outcry.

• UK
• tadcaster
• Bomber Command

Police searching for Valerie Galley from Tadcaster - who was reported missing from her home - have found a body.

Officers recovered a woman's body from the River Wharfe at Ryther in the early hours of this morning.

Valerie's immediate family have been informed of the discovery.

• UK
• tadcaster
• North Yorkshire

A woman has gone missing from her home near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

49-year-old Valerie Galley was last seen by her son when she left their home in Ulleskelf on 25 March.

Valerie, who left home riding a light blue bike, is thought to be wearing a dark-coloured waterproof jacket and blue jeans.

PC Liz Hartley, of Tadcaster Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “Valerie set off on a bike ride on Monday morning and nobody has seen or heard from her since.

“Her family are obviously very concerned for her and it is important that anyone who sees or has seen Valerie gets in touch with the police as soon as possible.”

• UK
• tadcaster
• North Yorkshire

A number of residents have been flooded overnight in a small village near Tadcaster in North Yorkshire. Several residents have been helped to pump water out of their properties in Saxton. Many fields and roads have also been flooded in the area where an 'Amber Flood Warning' is in place.

• UK
• flood
• North Yorkshire

A 45-year-old man is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after three cars crashed near Tadcaster.

It happened on Sunday on the A162 Sherburn-in-Elmet to Tadcaster road close to its junction with the A64.

An 81 year old man and a 68-year-old woman also have serious injuries.

• UK
• Tadcaster

The bridge at Tadcaster, which has been closed for five days because of the floods, has reopened. The bridge, over the River Wharfe, was closed on Wednesday when water from the swollen river, was seen seeping through masonry.

Divers tried for two days to inspect the foundations of the bridge, but were thwarted by the strong current. However, on Sunday they managed to carry out a safety inspection which has given the bridge the all-clear.

• UK
• Tadcaster
• flood warnings

North Yorkshire County Council has announced it will provide a free shuttle bus following the closure of Tadcaster bridge due to flooding.

The free service will run between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday until further notice.

The shuttles will be two 25 seater buses operated by Harrogate and District's Coastliner service. The route the buses will take will be:

• Tadcaster East (Bus Station > Commercial Street > York Road > A64) to
• Tadcaster West (Leeds Road > Garnet Lane > Woodland Avenue > Stutton Road > Leeds Road > High Street > St Mary's Church)

The buses will then run in the opposite direction.

• UK
• Tadcaster
• shuttle bus

• UK
• Tadcaster
• flood warnings

In Tadcaster the locals are holding their breath as raging floodwaters threaten the bridge over the River Wharf which links the two sides of the town.

Jon Hill reports.

• UK
• Tadcaster
• flood warnings