Stories to make you smile from across Yorkshire

1 day ago

Fiona CallowYorkshire

News image — This week we feature a rescued dog, a fundraising football fan and a prolific knitter

BBC/Family handout Three composite images; on the left, an older woman with long grey hair and a waterproof jacket, in the middle, a young boy with glasses and a football shirt, on the right, an older woman knits a colourful blanket. — This week we feature a rescued dog, a fundraising football fan and a prolific knitter

Every week in Yorkshire we have uplifting and feel-good stories about people, places and animals across our region - and we like to shout about them.

This week we feature the rescue of a runaway terrier, a young football fan raising funds for charity and a prolific knitter making blankets for newborns.

Knitting blankets for babies

Jessica Bayley/BBC A woman with short white hair and glasses wearing a light ink and blue check short sleeved shirt is sat on a large grey armchair. On her lap is a crocheted blanket, beside her are a few balls of wool and she has a small square of the crocheting in her hands. — Each blanket takes Eliz almost three days to crochet

Eliz Sandalls started crocheting blankets for newborn babies in West Yorkshire as a way of thanking the hospital that saved her sight.

Since then she has gone on to donate more than 100 to the Bradford Royal Infirmary maternity unit.

After an eye operation at the hospital was a success, Eliz wanted to find a way to say thank you, and in 2025 hit upon the idea of using her crochet skills to do just that.

"I get so much satisfaction knowing the blankets are going to good homes," she said.

Six-mile bike ride to save lives

Family handout Corby standing in the foreground of a football stadium, close to a blue metal barrier near the pitch. He is wearing dark‑framed glasses, a dark jacket, and a blue top, and is facing the camera with teeth visible. His hair is short and neatly cut, and the face is well lit by daylight.
Behind him, a green football pitch stretches across the image, with a corner flag visible near the touchline. Several players and staff members can be seen in the background wearing training kits. The stadium seating rises behind them, with rows of blue seats and a small number of spectators scattered throughout the stands.
To the right side of the image, another person is walking along the edge of the pitch wearing dark clothing and trainers. — Corby, six, has raised thousands of pounds for a defibrillator charity campaign

Six-year-old Corby has raised thousands of pounds to help support a campaign to put defibrillators in every corner of every football stadium.

The young football fan has a visual impairment and originally planned to cycle six miles to raise £250 for specialist sports goggles to allow him to keep playing his beloved sport.

However, his fundraiser surpassed its goal within three hours, prompting him to donate the excess of more than £3,000 to the Lauren's Legacy campaign.

The campaign aims to fund defibrillators for each corner of every stadium or sporting arena.

Whitby's Goth festival returns

Getty Images A man and a woman dressed up for the Whitby Goth Weekend. The woman is wearing a black jacket, black hat with lace veil and carries a leather handbag. The man has a black top hat and is wearing a black velvet jacket with golden buttons. His face is covered with a skull mask. — The bi-annual event attracts up to 8,000 people to Whitby each year

Last weekend, people paraded through the historic seaside town of Whitby dressed in velvet, lace and leather for its bi-annual celebration of all things goth.

First held in 1994, the Whitby Goth Weekend has become one of the world's biggest events celebrating the subculture.

The event honors the town's links to Bram Stoker's Dracula and attracts a range of elaborately attired Steampunk, Victoriana, and Cybergoth styles.

As expected, the the outfits never fail to impress and make for a striking set of photographs.

Terrier rescued from rabbit hole

Amanda White/BBC Glynis Elgey pictured with Krakka. She has long fair hair and is wearing a blue jacket. She is holding Krakka in her arms and smiling. — Glynis Elgey says she thought for a moment she would never see Krakka again

Four-year-old terrier Krakka was reunited with her owner after getting stuck in a rabbit hole.

She went missing on Thursday 30 April and was located two days later in a warren close to the village of Shiptonthorpe, in East Yorkshire.

Her owner, Glynis Elgey, said: "I was so excited when we found her and she was alive. The first thing she did when we got her out was give me a kiss."

As for learning a lesson, Krakka appeared to be unfazed by her experience, and was soon spotted inside another rabbit hole - not stuck this time, thankfully.

Primary school football stars set for Wembley

Two teenage boys in a light blue kit stand in the middle of a group of younger children in dark blue football kits standing against a wall with a rainbow painted on it. — The Under 11s team at Blakehill Primary School are preparing for a final at Wembley

Rising stars from Bradford City made a surprise visit to Blakehill Primary School, to wish its football team good luck after they reached a cup final at Wembley.

The Under 11s will represent Bradford in the six-a-side Utilita Kids Cup Final on 24 May, when they face Wimbledon.

On Tuesday, they honed their skills ahead of the match alongside players from Bradford City's Academy, which supports youngsters up to the age of 18.

Teacher Mathew Lumb said he was confident the children would bring the trophy home.

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