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 .
Woman sexually assaulted near park
A 23-year-old woman has been sexually assaulted in Greenhead, Huddersfield.
The incident happened on Friday, 15 December, at 8.10pm when the victim was walking along Park Avenue in the direction of Greenhead College.
She was approached by a man who asked her for directions to Kirklees College some distance away. While she was trying to help he sexually assaulted her. The suspect then walked away.
West Yorkshire Police described him as an Asian man, 6ft, in his late 20s or early 30s, of slim build and who had black hair.
Anyone with any information or who witnessed anything suspicious in the area is asked to contact the police via 101 quoting crime reference 13170586310 or alternatively information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Council tax hike given go-ahead by govt
Councils have been given permission to raise council tax by 6% without asking us for permission, local government finance settlement confirms.
Local authorities can raise tax by 3% to fund council services, plus 3% for social care only.
Previously any potential rise above 5% would have to go to a referendum locally.
For us taxpayers it could mean an extra £104 a year for the average property (national average) .
Longwood man jailed for 2 years
Longwood man Christopher King has been jailed for his role in a drugs gang operating in Manchester.
King, 49, of Bowling Green Court, Longwood, provided the cannabis plants which were grown at a ‘drugs farm’ which flooded the streets of Manchester and north Wales with the class B drug.
Today a judge has jailed him for two years.
Appeal for missing teen
Police are appealing for information to trace a missing 14-year-old girl from Birstall.
Katie Wickham, of Withens Road, was reported missing yesterday (18 December) evening around 9pm when she failed to return home and attend school this morning.
She is described as a white female, 5ft 7”, black hair. She was believed to be wearing school clothes, including Batley Girls School blue blazer, green coat, black jeans and black trainers.
Since yesterday evening, police have been conducting extensive enquiries are appealing to anyone who has any information about Katie’s whereabouts to get in touch.
Police and her family are concerned for her welfare.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police via 101 quoting log number *1882 of 18 December.
M62 alert
There’s a broken down vehicle on the M62 westbound between J23 and J22
There is one of three lanes closed.
Normal traffic conditions are expected between 15:15 and 15:30.
Scene of mill blaze
The Fire Service has just tweeted images of the mill blaze that over 80 firefighters were involved in fighting:
Pothole repairs on M62
Two lanes closed and queueing traffic due to emergency repairs on M62 Eastbound before J19 A6046 (Heywood), congestion on M62 to J18 M60 / M66 (Simister Island).
Lanes two and three (of three) are closed due to urgent pot hole repairs.
Double death investigation in Rastrick
Police were called to Smith Crescent in Rastrick around 6pm on Monday December 19 following a concern for safety.
Officers attended and found the bodies of a woman and man inside.
A scene remains in place as officers continue their enquiries. At this time, the deaths are being treated as unexplained.
Mirfield crash
There may be delays in Mirfield due to a crash on Old Bank Road in both directions partially blocked due to accident near Sunny Bank Road.
Police have just left the scene.
Homeless tragedy
Our reporter Stephanie Finnegan has been at the inquest of a homeless person who died last year.
Silva Parden-Bell who was found dead on Bradford Road last July.
Sentence due soon for Longwood drug gang man
A judge has retires to consider sentences in the case of eight men, one of them from Huddersfield, involved in a drug gang.
Judge Goddard says she will not be ready to sentence until at least noon.
Huddersfield man Christopher King, 49, of Bowling Green Court, Longwood, is due to be sentenced today (Tues) for his part in a drugs gang which was headed by a rogue police officer.
Update on Bradford fire
Fire crews have worked incredibly hard through the night to contain and extinguish a serious mill fire in Bradford.
The fire in Rebecca Street, Bradford, started in the basement of the mill which was being used to store tyres.
The Control Room received a call at 3.38am and in total 15 fire engines attended the scene.
The fire quickly spread through the building into the roof, but firefighters contained the blaze to one section of the building and in doing so saved a number of other commercial properties.
There was no-one inside the mill, which comprises of four storeys, and no-one has been injured.
Area Manager for Fire Safety Chris Kirby was on the scene throughout the early hours. He said: “Fire crews have dealt effectively with the fire overnight and the incident has now been scaled down to three fire engines with firefighters remaining in attendance to ensure any pockets of fire are extinguished.”
“Fire investigation will be on scene today and working alongside our colleagues at West Yorkshire Police to determine the cause.”
Mr Kirby added: “The economic impact of a serious fire on businesses is significant and it is rare that a business re-opens following a serious fire.
“Sadly the section of the mill that has been heavily involved in fire is badly damaged but due to the swift actions of crews we have managed to save a large proportion of the building and reduce the detrimental economic impact this fire could have had.”
Yorkshire men arrested for plotting terror acts
Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East have this morning arrested four men from South Yorkshire and Derbyshire on suspicion of terrorism offences.
The arrests were intelligence led and pre-planned as part of an ongoing investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East.
The men have been taken to a police station in West Yorkshire for questioning.
(A) A 22 year old man was arrested from his home address in Sheffield on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
(B) A 36 year old man was arrested from his home address in Sheffield on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
(C) A 41 year old man was arrested from his home address in Sheffield on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
(D) A 31 year old man was arrested from his home address in Chesterfield on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Three properties in Sheffield and one in Chesterfield are currently being searched in connection with these arrests.
Scene of Fenay Bridge crash
Police are still at the scene of a crash on Penistone Road near its junction with Station Road in Fenay Bridge.
It happened just after 7am this morning and meant the road was partially blocked while emergency services were at the scene.
No-one was seriously injured in the accident.
Longwood man in cannabis court trial
A Huddersfield man is due to be sentenced today for his part in a drugs gang which was headed by a rogue police officer.
Christopher King, 49, of Bowling Green Court, Longwood, provided the cannabis plants which were grown at a ‘drugs farm’ which flooded the streets of Manchester and north Wales with the class B drug.
A serving police officer, Pc Daniel Aimson, who ‘revelled’ in his double life as the head of the gang posed with a Breaking Bad Walter White t-shirt at his secret cannabis farms, a court heard.
He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis. He and seven other men will be sentenced on Tuesday morning.
M62 alert
Queueing traffic and one lane closed due to broken down van on M62 Eastbound between J26 M606 / A58 Whitehall Road / A638 Bradford Road (Chain Bar) and J27 M621 / A650 / A62 (Gildersome).
Lane one of four is closed.
Traffic was temporarily held as the van was in lane three.
This is the traffic at 8.20am:
Travel round-up
Here’s a round-up of what’s happening on the roads:
1) Heavy traffic on M62 Westbound around J30 A642 (Rothwell). In the roadworks area.
2) Slow traffic and partially blocked due to accident on A629 Penistone Road at Station Road.
3) Queueing traffic on A629 Salterhebble Hill and Huddersfield Road at the roadworks near the hospital by A646 Dryclough Lane. Travel time is 18 minutes through the roadworks area.
Three charged by murder hunt detectives
Detectives investigating the murder of Tyron Charles in September have made further arrests.
As a result three people have been charged with further offences.
Kevin Sutcliffe, 60, James Sutcliffe, 28 and Janet Sutcliffe, 61, all of Hill Crest Road, Denholme have been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and possession of extreme pornography.
James Sutcliffe has additionally been charged with voyeurism.
James Sutcliffe has previously been charged with the murder of Tyron Charles and is remanded in custody.
All three will appear at Bradford Magistrates Court on Tuesday December 19.
The body of Mr Charles was discovered on moorland in Oxenhope. On September 19 West Yorkshire Police charged, James Sutcliffe, 28 of Hill Crest View, Denholme, with the murder of Mr Charles.
Large mill fire
Firefighters from Huddersfield, Rastrick, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton were called to assist their colleagues in Bradford with a large fire at a mill.
The blaze at a four-storey mill on Rebecca Street, Bradford involved half of the 50m by 75m building alight.
Crews have used five large jets, two aerial appliances and six firefighters in breathing apparatus.
In total approximately 80 firefighters have been in attendance from stations across the brigade area.
West Yorkshire Fire and rescue Service say: “Attendance is now being reduced down to 8 pumps and 1 aerial and the fire is now under control. There are no reports of any injuries or persons involved.”
Good morning, Huddersfield
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 .
