Four things you should know in Yorkshire today...

Asda are about to shed jobs in their Leeds office - and the impact of flooding has increased the North-South business divide. On a brighter note, there are talks for extra places at a primary school, in an area that could not supply enough last year. In the sporting world, Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino is heading for another clash over fixture scheduling.

Asda are about to shed hundreds of jobs in Leeds

Here are four things that you should know, from across the worlds of news, business and sport, in Yorkshire so far today...

Asda to cut jobs

Hundreds of head office jobs are to be axed at Asda House in Leeds after what many analysts believe was a poor Christmas for the supermarket chain.They have started to talk to our employees about what they describe as “difficult but necessary decisions”. Analysts believe Asda will announce a 3.0 to 3.5 per cent fall in like-for-like sales over Christmas, trailing its main rivals, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.

Small business confidence suffers

Small northern businesses are less optimistic about the economy than their counterparts in the south - with the flooding compounding the fears. That conclusion was drawn from research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). John Allan, the FSB’s national chairman, said: “The recent flooding is likely to further weigh on business confidence in the North where small firms are now beginning to pick up the pieces as the waters recede.”

Controversial school plans expansion

Talbot Primary School, in Roundhay near Leeds, was gripped by controversy over a lack of places last year - but it is in talks with education bosses about taking on a one off bulge class from this September. Last year, a parents group was formed in North Leeds after a group of more than 80 parents said they had missed out on places in all the local schools they had chosen in Roundhay, Moortown and Alwoodley. Leeds City Council confirmed talks were taking place.

Cellino on collision course

Sky Sports are attempting to re-arrange next month’s game between Leeds United and Middlesbrough - and that means another clash is on the cards between the west Yorkshire club’s owner Massimo Cellino and the Football League. Sky are pressing the Football League and West Yorkshire Police to move the Championship match from Saturday, February 13 to Monday, February 15. Leeds are unhappy at the disruption they have faced this season from TV changes.