Live: Huddersfield breaking news, M62 and travel

Traffic on M62 eases following obstruction

Traffic easing, earlier broken down vehicle on M62 Eastbound between J26 M606 / A58 (Chain Bar) and J27 M621 / A650 / A62 (Gildersome).

Slow traffic on M62

Very slow traffic and one lane closed due to broken down vehicle on M62 Eastbound between J26 M606 / A58 (Chain Bar) and J27 M621 / A650 / A62 (Gildersome).
Lane two (of three) is closed.

One of our top stories today

Vandals have defaced the General Election posters of a Conservative candidate.

Several election posters for Jason McCartney, the MP for the Colne Valley for the past seven years, have been altered with a range of insults and crude pictures.

Driver fined for peeing in emergency motorway lay-by

This desperate driver’s relief was short-lived when he was caught by police spending a penny on the M1, near Wakefield.

As one traffic cop put it: “The Emergency Refuge Area on the M1 J39 is not a place to stop to urinate. Reported and fined.”

Looks like this driver is heading for a ban

This motorist can expect a big fine and a ban for going at 40mph over the speed limit at Scammonden.

Have you lost this cutie?

Fancy working in the freshly revamped Piece Hall?

Hustings get underway

There are two hustings tonight of candidates hoping to become our MPs.

If you live in the Calder Valley Calderdale NUT @CalderdaleNUT is hosting a hustings tonight, Brighouse Civic Hall, 7.30pm with some election candidates.

The previous Conservative MP Craig Whittaker will not be attending.

For voters in the Batley & Spen constituency the candidates will be at the Al-Hikmah Centre, Track Road, Batley, Monday May 22, 7pm.

All six candidates have confirmed their attendance, they are Tracy Brabin (Labour), Alan Freeman (Green), M Kasif Hanif (Indp), John Lawson (Lib Dem), Aleks Lukic (Indp), Dr Ann Myatt (Indp).

Malware warning

This is an interesting post from West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit.

We may look to save money & buy second hand, but there could be malware in second hand electronic equipment.

Delays on airport rail network

If you’re planning to catch a train to Manchester Airport this afternoon you should be aware there are current delays which may have a knock-on effect.

There has been a points failure so some trains are delayed or won’t call at certain stations.

Traffic hot-spot

Huddersfield’s ring road is busy.

The A62 at Castlegate is busy but moving at A640 Trinity Street traffic lights.
We think it’s volume of traffic making it slow for drivers.

Green Party ideas

Here’s an overview of the Green Party manifesto:

Economy: 4 day working week, abolish zero-hour contracts, the Living Wage as a minimum.

Environment: Investment in renewable energy technology, a nationwide warm homes programme, protection of Green Belt and National Parks.

EU: Retain freedom of movement and maintain EU protections and policies on health, animal welfare and workers rights.

NHS: Roll back privatisation, improve access to dentistry.

Education: Academies and Free schools will be brought back into local authority control, abolish SATs and reduce class sizes, scrap university tuition fees.

Young people: Restore the Education Maintenance Grant, scrap age-related work bands, lower the voting age to 16, free local public transport for young people and students.

Housing: A living rent cap, mandatory licensing for landlords, create an affordable housing programme, reinstate housing benefit fro those under 21, end the ‘bedroom tax’.

A safer world: Cancel Trident nuclear weapons system to save £100bn over 30 years.

Democracy: Propoertional representation for all parliamentary elections, votes at 16, reform the House of Lords, give communities the power to recall their MP.

Transport: Railways will be publicly-owned, cancel airport expansions, end airline fuel subsidies, increase initiatives to take diesel cars off the roads.

Do you fancy a four-day working week?

The Green Party would offer a four-day week, universal basic income and cap private rents.

The party has released its manifesto and its co-leader Caroline Lucas said she was “glad” to see policies from its 2015 General Election campaign, including scrapping tuition fees and nationalising the railways, in Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party manifesto.

The Green Party has made 10 pledges in the areas of economy, environment, membership of the EU, the NHS, education, young people, housing, transport, citizens’ democracy and creating a safer world.

A sign of a u-turn?

There was a lot of opposition and debate to Conservative plans for social care funding.

At the launch of their manifesto last week in Halifax they ruled out a cap on total costs in last week’s manifesto, instead saying no-one would see their assets fall below £100,000.

Today Prime Minister Theresa May has said a Conservative government would consult on a possible cap on social care costs.

The announcement comes as the Tories’ opinion poll lead over Labour shrank amid public concern over manifesto proposals which were branded a “dementia tax” by General Election rivals.

Northern delays

Northern now say there will be distruption to its services through Leeds for a little longer:

Some trains to Huddersfield are delayed by a few minutes and others, including some to Bradford Forster Square and Knaresborough have been cancelled.

The clock's ticking...

Have you registered to vote yet?

Decisions made by our MPs matter to all of us - so have your say in who you think may best represent you and your family.

To do that you mustfirst register to vote - here’s how you can do it: http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/you-until-1159pm-register-vote-13070452

Do you recognise these men?

Police investigating a serious assault have released CCTV images of two people they would like to speak to.

The incident happened at around 11.30pm on Saturday evening (May 20) at the Hand and Shuttle Public House on Tong Street, Bradford, when a 39-year-old man was sat outside the pub when he was approached from behind and assaulted. He received serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

Officers would like to speak to the two people pictured in the CCTV in connection with the incident.

Anyone who can identify the people pictured, or who has any information is asked to contact DC Ian Walker at Bradford CID via 101 quoting 13170228761. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Help trace a missing woman

Police are appealing for information to trace a vulnerable elderly woman who has gone missing from Pontefract.

Patricia Broomhead, aged 80, was last seen yesterday at around 9.20pm at her home address in Old Snydale.

She is described as white, 5ft 6ins tall, of medium build, with grey shoulder length hair.

She is believed to be wearing a black Regatta fleece, which is green on the inside (same as pictured). She may also be carrying a red fleece.

Detective Inspector Dan Tillett, of Wakefield CID, said: “As time passes, we are growing increasingly concerned for Patricia’s welfare and we urgently need to trace her.

“We would like to hear from anyone who has seen Patricia or anyone who has any information which may assist in locating her.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting log number 1949 of 21/05.

Northern trains affected

Northern trains from Huddersfield seem to be running, but the problem is on the other side of Leeds.

There are delays to services running to York and Scarborough.

Here are the arrivals into Leeds.

Northern say there will be delays until 12.30pm.

Rail delays

A broken down train at Leeds is causing disruption to Northern services through the station.

Northern say trains may be amended, cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes and it is expected to continue until 12:30.

Another firearms incident

There has been another firearms incident in West Yorkshire.

It took place in north Bradfors at 1.23am this morning.

Detective Chief Inspector Jaz Khan, of Protective Services Crime, said: “Police were called at 1.23am today to Stoneyridge Avenue, Bradford after a report of a house being shot at.

“Armed officers attended and found damage to a window which appeared to be consistent with the discharge of a firearm.

“No injuries were reported.

“Enquiries are at an early stage, but this is being treated as a targeted incident.

“There is not believed to be a wider threat to the community at this time and it is not believed to be linked to a firearms discharge in Parkway in the early hours of Saturday.

“We are conducting a thorough investigation to find those responsible for this incident and anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity is asked to contact the team on 101, quoting 13170230201.

“Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

It's bloomin' lovely!

A piece of Yorkshire is going on show in London this week.

The Welcome to Yorkshire team have developed a garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

It’s designed to showcase Yorkshire’s magnificent coastline.

M62 alert!

One lane of the M62 is closed and there’s slow traffic due to broken down vehicle on M62 Westbound between J29 M1 (Lofthouse) and J28 A650 / A653 (Tingley).

Lane one (of four) is closed.

Attempted murder charge

A West Yorkshire man has been charged with attempted murder.

It comes after police were investigating a shooting incident in Parkway, Bradford.

Jordan Barrett, aged 22, of Chelwood Drive, Allerton was charged with the offence and charged with firearms offences.

He was arrested from an address in Bradford yesterday and has been remanded in custody to appear before the city’s magistrates today.

The two men and a woman who were injured in the incident have since been discharged from hospital.

Did you know this is illegal?

Colne Valley Conservative candidate Jason McCartney has tweeted about his election signs being defaced.

He’s tweeted this:

Did you know it’s illegal to deface signs? You can’t move them either and if caught you could get yourself into trouble.

Halifax Road no-go

There is slow traffic on A629 Halifax Road into town from A643 Brighouse Road (Ainley Top) to Blacker Road (Edgerton Cemetery). Travel time is 12 minutes.

There is currently the usual congestion on A62 Castlegate at A640 Trinity Street traffic lights.

If you’re travelling north out of Halifax be aware of this:

Velvet has been found

There is some good news, Velvet the assistance dog has been found.

Owner Lottie Wilcocks had been appealing for help after her dog went missing in the Elland area.

But the good news in Velvet was found and has been reunited with Lottie:

Help us catch these people!

I hate fly-tipping and littering & I dislike the people who do it more.

If you see someone dumping waste then help the council (and us) find them. If the council knows who is dumping waste they can fine them.

There is no excuse for this - overflowing rubbish bags were dumped less than 200 yards from the town’s recycling centre.

Traffic hold-ups

Traffic is very slow on the M1.

There and two lanes closed due to accident on M1 Northbound at J39 A636 (Wakefield / Durkar).
Lanes one and two (of four) are closed.

The Incident is just past the entry slip road.

The sun has got his hat on!

It’s a lovely day already - there’s a bright blue sky and this week is set to be a sunny one too with a high of 24c.

For the rest of today it’s predicted to be sunny with more clouds arriving by this afternoon and possible showers this evening.

It’ll get better as the week goes on.