Pubs to nativities: Yorkshire stories to make you smile

Across Yorkshire, there are people doing amazing things every day of the week - and we want to highlight them.

This week a 'Knitivity' scene brought joy to Hubberholme, while a pub in Burton in Lonsdale reopened just in time for Christmas.

Take a look below and enjoy some positive news stories from across BBC Yorkshire.

A family who had three Christmas inflatables pinched from outside their home say they were left feeling "overwhelmed" when an anonymous donor replaced the stolen decorations.

The trio of festive characters were taken from Jason Fletcher's front garden in Woodthorpe, York, in the early hours of 5 December.

After appealing on social media for their return, three new inflatables mysteriously arrived in the post.

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A family whose house has been adapted so they could bring their brain-injured son home from hospital have said they are overwhelmed by people's generosity.

Several businesses stepped in to transform their property after Katie's son, Joel, 7, suffered a severe brain injury following an epileptic seizure in April.

Katie, from Castleford, set up an online fundraiser to afford to make the necessary changes to get Joel home, but local firms then offered to help out.

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Sandra Kilvington from the Buckden Knit and Natter group told BBC Radio York's Joanita Musisi about their knitted 'Knitivity' scene.

Split across four window displays at Hubberholme church in Upper Wharfedale, it features Mary, Joseph, the Three Kings, a cast of shepherds and a whole host of animals.

Ms Kilvington said it was a "massive team effort" that had been a year in the making.

A replacement caterer has come forward to provide about 250 Christmas meals for a charity that supports older people.

Age UK Hull and East Yorkshire was told last week its caterer could no longer provide the hot lunches for two Christmas events due to "unexpected supply shortages".

After an appeal was launched, Hull-based café Drypool Feast confirmed it would supply the meals at cost price, in addition to cooking and delivering them.

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Residents of a North Yorkshire village who saved their final remaining local pub from closure said they were "highly excited" as it prepared to reopen in time for Christmas.

The Punch Bowl Inn, in Burton in Lonsdale, closed in February 2024 and was put up for sale.

Villagers raised more than £275,000 before also receiving grants to buy the building.

It took "a labour of love" and 1,400 volunteer hours to get the pub ready to open on Friday, according to Ian Clarke, co-chair of the community benefit society which owns the pub.

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