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 also 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.

You can also download our app to get news on the go and push notifications for the latest breaking stories here .

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 .

Traffic easing

All lanes are reopened following the earlier incidents so traffic should be returning to normal.

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M62 update

Traffic is back to normal after the accident between J24 and J23 westbound. However traffic is still heavy between J27 and J26 because of an earlier broken down vehicle.

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M62 breakdown also causing problems

Meanwhile at J27...

Queueing traffic due to earlier broken down vehicle on M62 Westbound between J27 M621 / A650 / A62 (Gildersome) and J26 M606 / A58 Whitehall Road / A638 Bradford Road (Chain Bar), congestion on M62 to J29 M1 (Lofthouse) and on M621 to J1 A6110 (Beeston/farnley). All lanes have been re-opened.

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Traffic problems

A breakdown on the M1 and an accident on the M62 are causing problems across the area.

M62: Heavy traffic due to earlier accident on M62 Westbound between J24 A629 (Ainley Top) and J23 A640 / A643 (Huddersfield), congestion on M62 to J25 A644 (Brighouse). All lanes have been re-opened.

M1: Queueing traffic due to earlier broken down vehicle on M1 Southbound between J41 A650 (Carrgate) and J40 A638 (Ossett / Wakefield), congestion on M621 to J6 (Belle Isle Road) and on M1 to J44 A639 / B6481 (Leeds South / Rothwell).

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Police and fire united against attacks on emergency services

West Yorkshire Police (WYP) is standing shoulder to shoulder with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) in a commitment to stopping attacks on firefighters and taking every action possible to catch those responsible of such mindless behaviour.

Today Chief Police Officers have furthered their support in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WYFRS Chief Fire Officers to ensure the two blue light services are working as efficiently as possible together to crackdown on perpetrators.

There have been 9 attacks on firefighters in Kirklees since 2012.

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Santa spotting thanks to space exploration

The NORAD Santa tracker - www.noradsanta.org plus mobile apps
The NORAD Santa tracker - www.noradsanta.org plus mobile apps

Now you don’t have to just look out for rudolf’s nose flying through the skies on Christmas Eve, you can use this clever Santa tracker!

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Weather

According to the Met Office we’ll escape snow tonight but there’s a yellow weather warning issued for ice.

In addition, wintry showers will spread from the west with some accumulations of snow, though mostly restricted to high ground.

Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Owen Humphreys/PA Wire (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
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Traffic

Not what you want to hear as it approaches home time for many! It’s very slow traffic on A644 Eastbound between M62 J25 (Brighouse) and A62 Cooper Bridge Road / A62 Leeds Road (Cooper Bridge Roundabout).

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NATIONAL NEWS

Further heartbreak as police confirm a fourth child has died as a result of Monday’s house fire in Salford.

Little Lia Pearson, three, who was rescued by fire crews from the burning terraced house in Walkden early on Monday morning, has lost her fight for life.

The fire had already killed her sisters Demi, 14, and Lacie, seven, and brother Brandon, eight.

The children’s mother, Michelle, 35, remains in a drug-induced coma in hospital.

The full story from our sister title The Manchester Evening News.

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Top of the chocs!

As Christmas draws in families and workplaces will soon be stocking up on tubs of selection chocolates, followed shortly thereafter by bickering over the best treats contained within.

But which ARE the nation’s favourite selection chocolates? A YouGov poll revealed these are our top choices:

Quality Street: The Purple One

Celebrations: Maltesers

Roses: Hazel in Caramel

Heroes: Twirl

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Latest from Mohammed Anwan terror case

Our reporter Robert has sent us this report from outside Sheffield Crown Court

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Knuckle duster confiscated after school visit

What a, er, lovely present...

Huddersfield officer Pc Sally Baines tweeted this following a visit to local schools today.

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WATCH: Awan's parents outside court

Mohammed Awan is the brother of Mohammed Rizwan Awan, the bomber behind a car bomb attack in Iraq last year.

The parents were too upset to speak outside court earlier.

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Student found guilty of terror charges

A Huddersfield man has been found guilty on three counts of terrorism charges this afternoon.

Dental student Mohammed Awan, 24, of Crosland Moor, has been convicted of preparing a terrorist act in the UK by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court. He faces sentencing on Wednesday next week.

Suspected IS terrorist Mohammed Rizwan Awan
Suspected IS terrorist Mohammed Rizwan Awan
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Search for man who held up sign at Race For Life

Can you help Hannah?

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Slow on the M62 westbound

Slow traffic on the M62 westbound this afternoon.

Traffic is down to 40mph between junctions 27 and 26 heading towards Huddersfield.

M62 Motorway stock pic: Between Junction 26 and 27
M62 Motorway stock pic: Between Junction 26 and 27
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WATCH: Moment man is arrested after leading police on car chase

Video has emerged of the moment a drink driver speeds off from police at more than 60mph - and then gets into a fight with police officers.

See the video for yourself here.

Jamie Coleman arrested after leading police on a car chase then getting into a fight with officers
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Fundraising page set up for bogus burglary victim

A crowdfunder has been set up to raise back the money stolen from an elderly disabled woman.

The 89-year-old had £110 stolen from her home in the burglary at her flat in Dewsbury on Monday, just two days before Christmas.

Now a fundraising page has been set up to raise it back. Any donations would be greatly appreciated...

Check out the page here.

Elderly woman counting loose change, pension, savings, stock
Elderly woman counting loose change
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National news

Here’s a round up of the main headlines this lunchtime...

DEMOCRAT BEATS CONTROVERSIAL TRUMP-BACKED REPUBLICAN IN ALABAMA SENATE UPSET
A Democrat has won Alabama’s special Senate election, beating an embattled Republican opponent and President Donald Trump, who urgently endorsed the candidate despite a litany of sexual misconduct allegations against him. Doug Jones’ was the first Democratic Senate victory in a quarter-century in Alabama, one of the reddest of red states, and proved anew that party loyalty is anything but sure in the age of Mr Trump. Republican Roy Moore’s loss was a major embarrassment for the president and a fresh wound for the nation’s already divided Republican Party.

PETER KAY CANCELS FIRST LIVE TOUR IN EIGHT YEARS
Peter Kay’s first live stand-up tour in eight years has been cancelled due to “unforeseen family circumstances”, the comedian has said. The hotly anticipated UK and Ireland tour was due to begin in Birmingham in April, with dates through to 2019. In a statement posted on his official Twitter account on Wednesday, Kay said: “My sincerest apologies. This decision has not been taken lightly and I’m sure you’ll understand my family must always come first.”

UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASES IN YORKSHIRE AS UK FIGURE FALLS
Unemployment in Yorkshire & the Humber has increased by 5%, with new figures showing 131,000 people on the dole queue. While the jobless total across the UK fell over the period August to October, official figures showed a rise of 4,000 here in our region. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed 2,653,000 people in work across Scotland in the period August to October.

Jobs job centre stock
Unemployment has risen by 5% in Yorkshire despite a national decrease in people out of jobs
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Peter Kay cancels tour due to 'family circumstances"

Peter Kay has announced he is cancelling his entire 2018 Dance For Life tour.

The tour was due to have dates in Leeds and Manchester. Here is his statement:

See the full story here.

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Road accident in Brighouse

There’s been an accident on Halifax Road in Brighouse this morning.

Heavy traffic in both directions with the road partially blocked following the collision at Maryville Avenue. This is affecting traffic between Hipperholme and Brighouse. Police are at the scene.

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Scrooges pull bunting from trees in Golcar

A knit and natter group have been left disappointed after a joyless person pulled bunting they’d made from trees in Golcar.

Friends of Golcar Library posted about the spiritless act online after the knitted decorations were taken down and dumped by someone on Town End claiming they were a “hazard to cars”.

They wrote: “It had been stuffed into a Coop bag with a note & left by the trees next to the car park. This bunting was high enough not to cause any issue with cars. How petty & disgraceful that the bunting was pulled down. Our ladies are proud of Golcar & wanted to the locals to enjoy some handmade bunting this Christmas. I hope you’re happy, whoever you are!!!!”

Scrooge pulls down bunting from trees in Golcar after claiming it was a "hazard" to passing drivers
Scrooge pulls down bunting from trees in Golcar after claiming it was a "hazard" to passing drivers (Image: Friends of Golcar Library)
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Weather causes 'record day' for employee lateness

Monday was the worst day of the year so far for employees being late for work, data has shown.

With temperatures plunging overnight, it’s no surprise people struggled to get to the office on time after battling through de-icing of their cars, reduced public transport and treacherous conditions on the roads.

People management software company BrightHR said there was a 71% increase in the numbers of late employees logged on their system.

Alastair Brown, from the company, said: “Even though the employee’s lateness is probably through no fault of their own, an employer has no obligation to pay an employee if their public transport is not running or for the hours missed if they turn up late. Whilst there is no obligation, it is recommended that employers be more accommodating in these circumstances.

“The cold weather is expected to continue so it’s important that employers are prepared for a winter full of extreme weather.”

Frosty windscreen on a car in winter
Frosty windscreen on a car in winter
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Joy to the world! The binmen are here

I don’t want to get you too excited or anything, but Kirklees have just released their bin collection timetable for the Christmas period.

Find out when yours are here.

Bin collections in Brighouse and Elland to change following problems
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Teen admits causing deaths in horror crash

A teenager has pleaded guilty to causing a crash in Leeds which killed five people.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has appeared at Leeds Crown Court his morning. He pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Ellis and Elliott Thornton-Kimmitt, aged 12 and 14, as well as Darnell Harte, 15, Robbie Meerun, 24, and Anthony Armour, also 24.

The crash happened on Stonegate Road in Meanwood, Leeds, last month after a car crashed into a tree.

Accident scene on Stonegate Road, Meanwood, Leeds.
Accident scene on Stonegate Road, Meanwood, Leeds.
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Heavy traffic in town

Very slow traffic on the Huddersfield ring road by the Trinity Street traffic lights this morning.

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Huddersfield weather

A yellow warning for ice is in place again today.

We’ll be seeing milder temperatures today than we have in recent days, with a few spells of wintery showers throughout the morning and the possibility of some snow again overnight. Temperatures of around three to five degrees.

The ice is expected to form on some surfaces from late afternoon and last overnight into tomorrow morning.

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Today's Examiner

Here is today’s front page, leading on news of major changes to our local roads...

Examiner front page 13/12/17
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Wheelchair-bound pensioner targeted by callous burglar

An elderly woman was burgled after a man let himself into her flat - and even made a cup of TEA.

The 89-year-victim, who is in a wheelchair, was approached by the man at her flat in Shaw Cross, Dewsbury, on Monday at around 2.45pm, police say. The man was pretending to be carrying out official checks in the flats and asked to make her a cup of tea. Whilst distracted in the kitchen, he then took her purse and stole around £110.

When the victim came back into the kitchen she asked for his ID and he said he would go and get it from his car and didn’t come back. Police have described the burglary as a “despicable act”.

Anyone with information should contact police via 101.

Generic stock image of police
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Delays of up to 40 minutes

We’re being advised that travel time on the M62 westbound this morning is currently an added 40 minutes!

As mentioned, all lanes have now been re-opened but congestion is still very heavy. Traffic is also very busy eastbound heading towards Leeds between junctions 26 and 27.

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