Bathroom fitter man Matt Oddy planned a simple but thorough renovation of his great grandmother’s former home.

What he got was a history lesson of the past century after uncovering piles of old newspapers stuffed into the walls of the cottage.

Some were from the 1970s and were in excellent condition, while others dated back to 1910.

They included stories about the 1974 election in Huddersfield - with results due out at 1am, unlike today’s elections when counting doesn’t take place until the following day.

And there were reports from many decades earlier about Friendly Association groups meeting in Huddersfield.

Copies of papers also gave an interesting look at how prices have changed, with adverts for school uniforms and three-piece suites showing prices bearing little resemblance to today’s costs.

Matt, of Hepworth, said: “My great grandmother had lived in the house in Delph Lane, Netherton, for much of her life before she left a few years ago.

“The house has been standing empty for a while and we decided it was time we did it up with a look to getting it back on the rental market.

“I have been working there for a few days and have been stripping it back to the bare walls.

“Every time we get plaster off a wall, or take off the architraves behind a door, we find old newspapers stuffed in the cavities behind them, presumably as a form of insulation.

“There are lots of copies of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner from the 1970s, with stories about the election taking place.

“But I also found copies of the Huddersfield Chronicle dated 1910, and copies of the Yorkshire Evening Post from 1925.

“The workmen had also used copies of the Daily Express and The Sun from the 1970s to block up the walls.

“It’s been a real history lesson, looking at what was making the news all those years ago”.