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Recap
Here’s a final round-up of a newsy Tuesday on the Examiner live blog.
From Huddersfield Town-themed funeral plans to an animal carol service and respective ‘rants’ from Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman and pop diva Madonna, it’s been all good fun.
Have a scroll down and catch up on what you’ve missed. We’re back from 7.30am tomorrow.
Breaking news
One small step. British astronaut Tim Peake has LANDED on the International Space Station.
He has to wait two hours to leave his seat though.
Weather
How long before we see daffodils do you reckon?
Temperatures are set to soar. Or something like that! Read more here.
Spring-like weather is on its way to Huddersfield - once the fog clears.
Warm southerly winds are set to blow away the December murk overnight and into Wednesday, with temperatures set to rise as high as 14°C.
A 10-year-old girl has been ‘banned’ from her school’s Christmas dinner - because her mum was a couple of days late returning the acceptance form.
Has poor Antonia Castillo been hard done by or is Lindley Junior School right to draw the line somewhere?
Antonia’s gran Kim Gonzalez said: “I begged and pleaded with the school but they said the order had already gone in. There’s bound to be someone off ill or surely the food can be made to stretch to one more meal?
“I’m a mum and a grandma used to cooking big meals and you can always make a meal go that bit further. Bah humbug to the school!”
Breaking news
Huddersfield Giants have placed their England star Brett Ferres on the transfer list.
Back-row forward Ferres, 29, was banned from the John Smith Stadium club after allegedly having an affair with the wife of a team-mate.
A club spokesman said: “Huddersfield Giants have concluded the investigation into the conduct away from the field which led to the suspension of Brett Ferres.
“That suspension has been lifted and Mr Ferres disciplined in line with company policy.
“Mr Ferres has also been transfer listed. The club will be making no further comment at this stage.”
News
Madonna has defended herself from critics after she labelled her fans “diva bitches” and told them to “shut the **** up” at her Manchester concert.
The Queen of Pop took to the stage on Monday evening at the Manchester Arena as part of her Rebel Heart tour, but apparent technical hitches led to delays.
She told the crowd: “I just want to thank you all for waiting. My lateness tonight is due - I don’t like to be late, by the way. All right? And all you bitches who keep complaining about it, just shut the **** up.”
The statement, which was caught on video, was met by a mixture of boos and cheers from the audience.
The 57-year-old added: “I’m not back there eating chocolate and filing my nails and getting my extensions done all right?
“Tonight, our video crashed, and we had no video, and our back-up file was - I don’t know - it was compromised, put it like that... So praise the Lord and thank you God but that is why we are late, all right? For no selfish diva bitch reason.
“If you diva bitches want to keep complaining about it, then don’t come to my show.”
Football
Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner has been hammering home the ‘set piece defending’ message in the countdown to tonight’s game against second-bottom Rotherham.
Two training ground free-kick routines did for Town on Saturday against Bristol City and Wagner won’t accept a repeat.
He said: “Firstly, I have to say we defended set pieces very well in our first three games. Looking at the two set pieces we conceded on Saturday, the first one was from a very, very good delivery and very difficult to defend – sometimes you have to say the opponent did well.
“The second one was something I’m not happy with.”
It’s a must-win game for Town tonight against Neil Redfearn’s side.
Travel
A quick update on the M62 disruption from an earlier blockage. All lanes are now open and the broken down vehicle removed on M62 Eastbound between J22 A672 (Rishworth Moor) and J24 A629 (Ainley Top).
That’s all from me a colleague will take over shortly
News
Police are appealing for the public’s help in reporting any sightings of a Huddersfield man who has been reported missing from home.
Jamie Crawford, 26, who lives in the Marsh area of Huddersfield, was reported missing on 10 December following concerns that he had not been seen since 5 November. He is on medication that he collects on a weekly basis but has not collected this for a number of weeks.
Through enquiries, it has been established that he was in Lanarkshire, Scotland, on 27 November, but he has not been seen or heard from since. He is described as black, around 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build, with short black hair.
PC Karen Truelove, of Kirklees Missing Persons Unit, said: “Jamie has been known to sleep rough and concerns are that due to the recent weather conditions he may have come to harm.
“We would urge anyone who has seen him or with information about his whereabouts to please call Kirklees Missing Persons Unit via 101, quoting log number 480 of 10 December.”
News
The council is telling residents they may have to go to the tip themselves over Christmas as there’s fewer bin collections. Is that fair? Let me know via Twitter @grecian9
News
Here’s an unpleasant tale from up in York. The council there has said it is “unable to determine the exact circumstances” of how a grandmother suffered terrible injuries which her family believe were the result of multiple rat bites.
Pamela Hudson, 75, was rushed to hospital from her council sheltered accommodation in York with injuries to her face, body and arms.
Her daughter, Jan Derry, said a rat “gnawed” at her her bedridden mother, inflicting 50 bites wounds at Glen Lodge, which is sheltered accommodation with extra care.
Mrs Hudson died three months after the incident after she was transferred to different accommodation.
News
Are you heading out for “Mad Friday” at the end of the week? If so police are urging you to stay safe on what they expect to be one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Extra officers are being drafted in as part of a special operation aimed at keeping revellers safe in the night-time economy over the weekend that starts with what is colloquially known as ‘mad Friday’.
Police expect calls and incident levels to rise by about 50% over the weekend, with a significant proportion of the increase being alcohol-related calls.
In Leeds, teams of police officers, special constables and police community support officers will be on patrol in the city centre across a wider ‘footprint’ than their normal weekend operations.
They will be working closely with council staff, licensees, door staff, British Transport Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and third sector agencies such as the Street Angels.
News
Kirklees Council is recommending the purchase of winter tyres to stop accidents. Are you prepared to cough up £100s on new rubber to stay safer?
News
Do you struggle to find an NHS dentist? In Dewsbury a “pay what you can” dental clinic has launched for those who can’t afford to go private. Well done to those dentists! I have gum pain as I write this...hopefully my NHS dentist will be able to sort it on Thursday!
Traffic
Traffic is said to be coping well despite the lane closure due to the broken down vehicle on the M62.
But there is slow traffic on the A644 Wakefield Road in Mirfield from Cooper Bridge roundabout to the M62 junction 25 roundabout.
News
You’ll no doubt have lots to throw away over the festive period, with all that Christmas wrapping paper for starters.
Worth checking when your bins will be collected, as collections days could change over the holiday period.
You can check online through Kirklees Council.
Traffic
Delays are likely on the M62 heading east towards Huddersfield.
The hard shoulder and one lane are closed due to a broken down vehicle between junctions 22 and 23 (Huddersfield).
News
These are the three most read news stories on the Examiner site this morning.
1) Dozens of families have had their Christmas Day lunches cancelled after flooding shut a Mirfield pub.
Around 140 people were booked for Christmas Day at the Ship Inn in Steanard Lane. The story is here.
2) A Huddersfield man has been jailed after he conned people into handing over credit cards or money, often by posing as a police officer looking into a fraud on their bank account. You can see more here.
3) The most expensive house sold in Huddersfield in October was bought for £865,000. The story is here.
News
You could be in for some festive cheer if you’re catching a train from Manchester Airport to Huddersfield today.
News
A carol service with a difference was held in Slaithwaite.
And it was very much All Creatures Great And Small for the fun event in a town-centre car park. You can see more here.
Traffic
Still a few problems on the roads in Huddersfield, with slow traffic on the A644 Wakefield Road from the A62 Cooper Bridge Road (Cooper Bridge roundabout) to the M62 junction 25 roundabout.
But things are better now on the A638 High Street in Heckmondwike.
Football
Jonathan Hogg will continue to deputise for Dean Whitehead against Rotherham United and pull the midfield strings for Huddersfield Town.
Head coach David Wagner felt the experienced 27-year-old Hogg did well enough in his first start in 14 matches against Bristol City. You can see more here.
News
Dozens of families have had their Christmas Day lunches cancelled after flooding shut a Mirfield pub.
Around 140 people were booked for Christmas Day at the Ship Inn in Steanard Lane. The full story is here.
Traffic
Wakefield Road in Huddersfield is busy but moving between Shorehead roundabout and New Wharf traffic lights.
The A62 Castlegate / Queensgate in Huddersfield is busy but moving around the A616 Chapel Hill junction.
And there is heavy traffic on the A638 Bradford Road southbound in Cleckheaton at the A643 Parkside junction.
News
Football may not be a matter of life or death – but Huddersfield Town are now helping fans plan for their own final whistle.
A famous quotation from legendary former Town boss Bill Shankly is being used to promote the club’s latest venture – pre-paid funeral plans. You can see more here.
Traffic
The mist is proving stubborn and isn’t clearing very fast.
As a result there are still some problems on the roads.
The M62 westbound is still very busy heading towards Manchester.
There is traffic congestion on the A644 Webster Hill into town in Dewsbury.
And there’s heavy traffic on the A638 Westgate in Heckmondwike.
News
People in the South of England “live parasitically” on the efforts of the North, a Labour MP has claimed.
Veteran Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman raised a few eyebrows with his impassioned appeal in the Commons over the Northern Powerhouse. You can see more here.
Traffic
The mist is still causing problems out there on the roads.
There is slow traffic on the A644 Wakefield Road in Mirfield at Cooper Bridge roundabout.
Traffic is slow on the A58 Wharf Street in both directions in Sowerby Bridge at the A6139 Tuel Lane junction.
And it’s still very busy on the A629 Calderdale Way southbound in Elland before Ainley Top roundabout.
