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Cold fails to freeze spirits for Yorkshire coal race
BRITISH eccentricity was alive and well this Easter as dozens of competitors forgot the cold weather and took part in the World Coal Carrying Championship in Gawthorpe.
Adventurer and TV personality Ben Fogle was a surprise entrant in the annual event near Wakefield, in which men and women try to grab a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
He found it hard going – though he is understood to have enjoyed it so much he is intending to take part again next year.
In the main men's event, competitors carrying one hundredweight of coal (112lb, or 51kg) ran close on a mile to the foot of the maypole on the village green.
In Sheffield, World Superbike Champion James Toseland led more than 200 bikers through the town to deliver Easter eggs to a children's hospital.
The Doncaster-born rider took part in the eighth annual Easter Egg Run on Saturday organised by Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity.
Fundraiser Simon Athey at Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity, said: "The egg run is a wonderful event. Our young patients love to see all the bikers arrive – it's always a spectacular sight, and of course it gives them a great lift when James then takes the time to visit the wards."
Millions of motorists hit the roads yesterday on the return from the Easter holiday break.
The RAC warned families to prepare for congestion as vast numbers of cars clogged the busiest routes after a wintry weekend.
This year's early Easter has meant many children return to school today rather than enjoying a few more days off.
A spokesman for the RAC said: "Around 16 million people will have set off from Maundy Thursday through to Easter Sunday - and now there's a deadline to be met, so many of these millions will be heading home. In the past, return journeys have been much more staggered."
On the East Coast there was finally a let up in the arctic weather, but it came too late for some businesses.
The president of the Bridlington Hotel and Guesthouse Association, Glenn Holmes, said there had not been as many people as usual making last-minute bookings.
He said: "One or two of the hotel members of the association I've spoken to have had a good weekend. It has worked in their favour because people have stayed in and had their evening meals.
"But one or two have been very quiet and put it down to the bad weather."
Cruckley Animal Farm, at Foston-on-the-Wolds near Driffield, was two-thirds down in numbers of visitors on last year's "fantastic" warm Easter, said spokeswoman Sue Johnston.
She said: "Every year is different. We've never had snow lying on the ground, and breaking the ice on the buckets I was thinking, Is this really Easter? If anybody rings I say we are open – but do expect it to be wet and muddy."
Churchgoers set up their own shanty town over the Easter weekend at Wadsley Church, Sheffield, to raise awareness of those who live in slums throughout the world.
Children from churches in Wadsley and Wisewood survived on dhal, rice and water and wrapped themselves up in sleeping bags to spent a freezing night outside.
Community Minister Lizzie Wallace said: "This Easter we are thinking about these people for who every day is a struggle just to survive."
Children enjoyed playing skittles during a weekend event at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire. Traditional outdoor games were played but because of the cold weather the skittles event was held in the Riding school.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
