Five things to know about today's news in Leeds

No worries, here’s a review of the key headlines in Leeds today.

1. Leader disheartened at the lack of opportunities on ‘violent’ estate

A community leader on a troubled west Leeds estate said he is “disheartened” at the lack of opportunities for young people in the area. Residents have said they are living in fear of a gang of up to 30 youths and men on the Holdforths estate in New Wortley - one of the city’s most deprived communities. The estate, which is just 20 minutes’ walk from Leeds city centre, is made up of three groups of streets - the Holdforth, the Clydes, and the Bruces. The incidents of anti-social behaviour are centered around the boarded up Wellington Stores at the centre of the estate.

2. 80,000 flock to ‘unforgettable’ city Light Night

Some 80,000 people flocked to the centre of Leeds to marvel at the dazzling displays of the city’s Light Night festival, the council revealed. For two nights over October 6 and 7 the city was transformed into a sea of colour as iconic landmarks were illuminated by more than 50 installations, events and performances. In Victoria Gardens hundreds of families gathered to see the culmination of the city’s first light triathlon, which included a water-themed lantern parade, brightly-lit cyclists and runners with glow sticks. Other highlights included a 100ft digital waterfall beamed onto Queens Hotel on City Square while Merrion Gardens was filled with giant illuminated dandelions.

Read more in today’s Evening Post

3. Cash boost for city’s vital projects

Vital organisations working on projects to support people with mental health issues in Leeds have been handed a massive cash boost. The Leeds Community Foundation (LCF), which partnered with the Yorkshire Evening Post for the #SpeakYourMind campaign launch on Monday, gave out a series of significant grants to mental health projects across the city. The Strategic Health grants came from the Leeds Fund - which was set up in June with backing from the YEP as a way of giving extra help to community groups. This year the fund has made mental health projects a key priority.

4. May refuses to give MPs vote on Brexit

Theresa May has refused to commit to giving MPs a vote on her Brexit strategy despite growing Tory calls for more clarity on the plan before the formal process of leaving the European Union is triggered. During a tumultuous day’s trading, the pound made a cautious bounce back as the Prime Minister allowed Tories to back a Labour call for “proper scrutiny” of the strategy in a bid to head off a potential backbench rebellion. Crucially, Labour’s motion debated by MPs on Wednesday, does not echo cross-party calls for a vote on the Brexit plan before Article 50 of the EU treaties is triggered by the end of March, and is not binding on ministers. The PM was therefore able to allow disgruntled Tories who want a vote, to back the Labour motion without rebelling, by voting for a government amendment which simply adds caveats.

Read more in today’s Evening Post

5. County poised to host road cycling world championship

Yorkshire’s status as the premier destination for global cycling events was confirmed yesterday when the sport’s governing body awarded the 2019 UCI Road World Championships to the county. The successful bid- which eclipsed rival proposals from Colombia, Canada, Italy and Germany - builds on the legacy of the county’s hugely successful staging of the Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France. Welcome to Yorkshire, which brought the Tour de France to the region two years ago, has again been a driving force behind this plan. But on this occasion it is a collegiate bid shared between welcome to Yorkshire, UK Sport, British Cycling and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.