Welcome to the Huddersfield Examiner's breaking news service.
Stay with us throughout the day to be the first to know everything that's happening across Huddersfield and the rest of West Yorkshire.
We'll be bringing you updates on crime, health, sport, politics, education and more live from the Examiner team.
And remember to check back before you travel as during peak times we'll provide you with all of the latest traffic updates on the M62 and roads around the region.
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If there's something you've noticed and want us to check out then please feel free to get in touch - you can call us on 01484 437712, email editorial@examiner.co.uk or tweet @Examiner. You can also find us on social media here .
Key Events
Crash between lorry and car closed M62
A collision between a lorry and a car led to the temporary closure of the M62 westbound at Chain Bar at around 4.30pm.
Nobody was injured in the accident, West Yorkshire police said.
But the westbound carriageway was closed for 25 minutes while the vehicles were recovered.
The closure led to a tailback up to the junction with the M1 at Hunslet.
Crash causes M62 hold-ups
Very slow traffic due to earlier accident on M62 westbound at J26 M606 / A58 (Chain Bar).
There was a main carriageway closure until around 4.55pm.
Traffic still backing up to Hunslet near the junction with the M1.
Rush hour round-up
Not looking too bad at the moment.
Slow going on the following roads:
- A644 Wakefield Road off the M62 junction 25 (Brighouse) in both directions.
- A629 Wakefield Road heading through Waterloo
- A629 Huddersfield Road heading south up to Ainley Top roundabout
- A62 Leeds Road heading from Bradley to Cooper Bridge
Beware Aldi voucher scam
Aldi bosses have warned customers about a scam involving fake £65 vouchers.
Fake vouchers have been appearing on Facebook and other social media offering £65 of shopping for free.
But the worthless vouchers are used to steal customers’ personal information, the budget supermarket chain has warned.
Stun gun, a Jaguar and fake cigs worth £40k seized
A fake cigarettes supply operation worth tens of thousands of pounds has been shut down in Kirklees.
Trading Standards officers swooped on various locations in Heckmondwike earlier this month in a joint operation with police and Revenue and Customs officials.
M1 closed over concern for man on bridge
The M1 was closed following concerns about a man on a bridge above the motorway.
Both carriageways were closed between junction 37 (Dodworth) and junction 38 (Bretton) following a call to police at 1.50pm.
The motorways reopened at 3.20pm after the man was safely escorted from the bridge by officers, South Yorkshire police said.
M1 traffic eases
Traffic easing after earlier police incident on M1 Southbound between J38 A637 (Darton / Huddersfield) and J37 A628 (Barnsley / Dodworth).
M1 update
Highways Yorkshire have said the M1 has re-opened after an earlier police incident.
There is traffic back so delays are expected.
M1 incident leads to closure
The main carriageway of the M1 northbound is closed due to a police incident.
Its’ between on J37 A628 (Barnsley / Dodworth). Vehicles are being diverted off via the exit and entry slip roads.
The M1 Southbound at the same junction is at a standstill as traffic is being held.
Fire update
WYFRS has updated the situation with the fire at a coach company near Ferrybridge Power Station.
They say: “Firefighters are currently using large water jets to protect the surrounding area from this fire, due to the fact acetylene cylinders are involved.
“A five pump water relay is in place to provide water.
“All roads surrounding the fire are now closed to the public, including Kirkhaw Lane from the junction with Stranglands Lane. There have been no evacuations and no injuries.”
Fire near Ferrybridge
Firefighters from around West Yorkshire are dealing with a blaze near to Ferrybridge power station.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service say there is a fire at a coach company on Kirkhaw Lane, Ferrybridge, Knottingley.
It was reported at 12.38pm and there are eight fire engines in attendance.
M62 update
Drivers are warned of delays on the M62 after an earlier accident westbound between J20 and J19.
A van and three cars were involved and a rolling road block was put in while recovery work took place.
Traffic is beginning to move again, but there remains one lane closed.
M62 alert
If you need to access the M62 be aware of this:
There’s stationary traffic due to accident - a van and two cars involved and rolling road block on M62 Westbound between J20 A627(M) Rochdale and J19 A6046 (Heywood).
Lane one and two (of three) was blocked due to one of the cars facing the wrong way.
BBC blasted over Brexit
Jason McCartney, MP for the Colne Valley, is named among the 72 MPs who signed a letter complaining about BBC coverage of Brexit.
In a letter to director general Tony Hall, they said “We know many Leave-voting constituents have felt their views have been unfairly represented. This phenomenon is weakening the BBC’s bond with the 52 per cent who voted Leave and all who wish to make a success of the decision made.”
Train cancellation
Northern Rail have cancelled a Leeds to Manchester Victoria, via Halifax, train due to a fault.
Tour de Yorkshire
The teams for the Tour de Yorkshire were announced this morning.
The three-day men’s race and one-day women’s race takes place from April 28 to 30. The 300-mile three-day race takes riders from Bridlington to Sheffield via Scarborough, Tadcaster, Harrogate and Bradford. The 76-mile women’s race on April 29 will run from Tadcaster to Harrogate.
Here’s the men’s teams: BMC Racing Team, Team Sky, Team Katusha-Alpecin, Orica-Scott, Team Sunweb, Dimension Data, Direct Energie, Team Lotto NL Jumbo, Team Cofidis, Delko-Marseille Provence KTM, Team Roompot, Aqua Blue Sport, BIKE Channel Canyon, ONE Pro Cycling, Great Britain Cycling Team, JLT Condor, Madison Genesis, Raleigh GAC
And her’s the women’s teams: DRops Cycling Team, Boels-Dolmans, Team Hitec Products, Team Sunweb, Alé Cipollini Galassia, Canyon-SRAM, Cylance Pro Cycling, Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling, Bepink-Cogeas, FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope, Team Ford EcoBoost, Team Jadan Weldtite, Cervélo Bigla Pro Cycling, Lares-Waowdeals, Fusion RT Fierlan, Team Storey Sport, NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli, Team WNT
Engineers on site
Mystery surrounds an accident which left a telecommunications box damaged.
An unknown vehicle smashed into a wall in Blacker Road, opposite Birkby Infant School, and demolished a green electrical box on the roadside.
Residents say they heard a smash about 4am this morning.
Today Virgin Media engineers were on site to make repairs to the box while the cause is investigated.
Halifax accident
We’re getting reports of accident on Halifax’s ringroad.
It’s reported to be on the A629 Ovenden Road between A58 Burdock Way (Orange Street Roundabout) and Waterhouse Street / Broad Street.
MPs on gig tickets
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney is part of a panel of MPs currently looking at the issue of gig ticket abuse and tickets being sold on for higher prices.
The meeting, in Parliament today, was due to hear from online ticketing site Viagogo, but they failed to turn up.
They have now been rebuked by MPs for failing to turn up to a parliamentary hearing on ticketing abuse. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is taking evidence on the issue, with singer Ed Sheeran’s manager also on the bill.
Here’s what Jason McCartney had to say:
His colleague, MP Nigel Adams, told the committee that the empty seat should be filled with a “tub of lard or a handbag”.
He said: “If not contempt of Parliament they’ve clearly shown lack of respect to parliamentarians and by extension the British public, and I think we all need to be very angry with that.
“If we had a tub of lard or a handbag available, I’m sure we would have put it on the chair today.”
MP tackles mental health services
Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff has been talking in Parliament this morning about mental health services.
She’s been urging Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, to make improvements.
She’s revealed a young constituent needing a bed was found one in Colchester and the patient’s parents faced an 800 mile round trip.
Roof-top drama
Three burglars have been arrested after a two-hour roof stand off with police.
West Yorkshire Police officers in Bradford responded to concern calls from local residents about an ongoing residential burglary in the Girlington area.
They say three male suspects were disturbed inside the address and in an attempt to escape officers climbed onto the roof.
But after a two-hour stand off the three male suspects were arrested and taken to custody.
PC Stoker, Toller Ward Officer, said: “These arrests wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the majority of the local community who helped officers at the scene.
“Please keep calling us if you see anything suspicious in your area and keep your house secure!”
Helicopter hovering
Colne Valley residents may have seen the police helicopter quite a lot in recent weeks.
And now they’ve told us the reason why
A vehicle has smashed into a wall in Blacker Road, opposite the Birkby Infant School, and demolished a green electrical box on the roadside.
Residents say they heard a smash about 4am this morning.
Slow on the M62
Traffic on the M62 is slow traffic due to strong winds.
It’s affecting vehicles on M62 Eastbound between J21 A640 (Milnrow) and J22 A672 (Rishworth Moor).
Lane of M1 closed
One lane of the M1 is closed due to broken down vehicle on M1 Northbound between J39 A636 (Wakefield / Durkar) and J40 A638 (Ossett / Wakefield).
Lane one (of four) is closed and traffic is coping well.
Ale festival
If you’re planning what to do over Easter how about popping to a local Real Ale Festival.
Eighteen real ales and five ciders will be on tap at the Emley Real Ale Festival.
Organised by Emley Brass Band, it will take place at Emley Bandroom, 9 Beaumont Street, Emley, on April 14, 15 and 16.
A pint will be £2.50 and there will also be wine, soft drinks, food and nibbles available. Drinks will be served from 1-11.30pm on Good Friday and Saturday and 1pm until the bar is dry on Easter Sunday.
An illuminating idea
A council is set to save £600,000 on street lighting.
Calderdale says it can save the sum a year, slash its electricity use and cut its carbon footprint by switching to LED street lighting.
Initially, about 450 street lights are being replaced with energy efficient LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology as part of a pilot in Elland, Brighouse and Illingworth, which is due to be complete by the end of March 2017 before a Calderdale-wide rollout over the next three years.
The overall investment is £22m to replace 29,000 lights by 2021. Calderdale is looking at options such as Wi-Fi connections in the columns, higher level connections and battery backup in the event of power cuts.
Cllr Barry Collins, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “Switching to LED street lights will bring huge benefits for the whole borough. They help the environment by using less energy. They more than halve our public lighting energy bill, meaning the scheme will pay for itself and we can use the savings to fund other services like fixing potholes.
“LED lights are more reliable, lasting around four times longer than standard street lights. They are also brighter, helping pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to feel safer at night.”
Food prices rise
Rising fuel and food prices pushed inflation beyond the Bank of England’s 2% target in February, hitting its highest level since September 2013.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation reached 2.3% last month, up from 1.8% in January.
The ONS said the price of iceberg lettuce jumped 67.2% between January and February after falling 0.8% a year earlier.
The supermarket price war had kept a lid on price rises, but food is now becoming more expensive as producers begin to pass down soaring import costs triggered by the pound’s slump since the EU referendum result.
Overall food prices lifted 0.8% between January and February, in contrast to a smaller rise of 0.1% a year earlier, after shock weather conditions in southern Europe ravaged crops and left supermarkets and restaurants grappling with a vegetable shortage.
