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We'll be making sure that you are the first to know what's happening across our region.
If there's something you've noticed and want us to check out then feel free to get in touch - call us on 01484 437712 or tweet @examiner
Recap
That’s it for the day on the live blog. Today we’ve brought you news of divers inspecting a flood damaged bridge, a key town centre route closed for months and more updates from Town and the Giants. Why not scroll down and check it out?
Giants
Have you heard the bad news? Top prop Craig Huby has broken his wrist and will miss the first game against St Helens.
Read coach Anderson’s thoughts here
News
Are you aware that High Street is closed? It makes getting to Ramsden Street a little tricky.
HTAFC
Town are being linked to a Boro defender. To find out which one click through this link.
News
An update on the missing Huddersfield man. Police have just confirmed Laurence Patrick Walker from Gledholt has been found safe and well this afternoon in Manchester.
News
A host of classic motorcycles were nicked from a Batley dealer. The burglary happened at Padgett’s Motorcycles in Bradford Road, Batley.
The stolen bikes include:
- A white Yamaha RD 250cc with ‘Kenny Roberts Speeds Block’ in red on the tank, made in 1976.
- A orange and black Yamaha YR5, made in 1971.
- A 1960s blue and white Vespa scooter.
- A purple Ariel Square 4, made in 1954.
- A Yamaha DT100 with white fuel tank, made between 1976 and 1978.
- A BSA Gold Flash, made between 1950 and 1960.
PC Chris Eglen, of Kirklees Burglary Team, said: “These bikes have huge sentimental value to the victim who has collected them over many years.
“We are keen to speak to anyone who has seen any suspicious activity in the vicinity of Padgett’s Motorcycles over the time period that this offence has occurred or anyone who has information relating to the current whereabouts of the stolen bikes.
“Anyone with information is asked to please call the Kirklees Burglary Team via 101 or to pass information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Travel
Bad news if you were waiting for the train from the Colne Valley to Huddersfield.
News
Divers have inspected Brighouse bridge after the floods. Apparently the huge crack in it was there before hand but they’ve checked it none the less. Here’s some video footage from our reporter.
Giants
The news that Leeds Rhinos had bought Brett Ferres was a shock to some...but will we ever know how much the Giants got for the deal?
Travel
Bit of a problem on the motorway on the approach to Huddersfield to watch out for.
HTAFC
There’s all sorts of transfer rumours out there. I’ve just seen Nakhi Wells to Birmingham City.
Here’s our take on it...
News
If you saw a Chinese dragon dancing in King Street a few moments ago it’s because a new restaurant has officially launched.
Weather
Oh good - more rain is coming - said no one! Unfortunately it is...there’s an official Yellow Warning for rain for tomorrow.
Let’s hope the flood hit areas of Calderdale, the Colne Valley and Mirfield aren’t struck again.
News
Bus gates in two parts of Huddersfield town centre will go live on February 1, the council has confirmed.
The camera based system will issue fines to motorists who drive where they are not allowed.
The two zones are High Street leading to Ramsden Street and around Kirkgate, Westgate and St George’s Square.
Make sure you know the way or you’ll be issued a £60 fine!
News
Have you seen this man? He is missing and police urgently need to find him.
Laurence Patrick Walker, who goes by the name Pat, is 75 and was last seen around 8am today at his home address in Gledholt Road.
Pat is described as a white male, 5ft 8inches tall, of slim build, with short white-grey hair worn in a side parting. He is believed to be wearing dark coloured jeans, a thick grey jacket, black shoes and a blue rain hat.
Detective Inspector Mark Truelove of Kirklees District CID said, “I would appeal to anyone who may have seen or heard from Pat to come forward. Mr Walker has some family connections to Wales, and it is possible that he may be travelling there, however he may also still be in the Huddersfield area.
“I would urge anyone who may have seen or heard from Pat, or knows where he is now to speak to the police. Enquiries are continuing.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Kirklees District CID via 101.
A drunk man found wandering in the middle of the road told police his name was Hannibal Lecter.
Stephen McLaughlin, of Victory Avenue, Paddock, claimed he was the fictional serial killer and cannibal when the officers quizzed him about his identity.
They had been trying to help the 27-year-old after discovering him stumbling in the road in the Milnsbridge area late on December 20.
Brighouse Bridge is still safe to use after cracks appeared in it, Calderdale Council has said, but divers will inspect whether there is any damage underwater.
A council spokesperson said: “The Huddersfield Road Bridge into Brighouse has been inspected daily, along with other bridges in the borough, since the unprecedented flooding of Boxing Day.
“We are aware that the visible structural damage in this bridge occurred before this instance of flooding, and all inspections have confirmed the bridge is safe to use.
“Divers will also be inspecting the bridge once river levels are appropriate, as a precautionary measure to ensure that there has been no washout of the river bed near to the bridge. However this site does not have any previous history of being susceptible to river bed washout.”
News
A diver is to inspect Brighouse Bridge this afternoon after claims that the cracks had got worse following the recent floods.
Calderdale Council leader Tim Swift said it had been decided to “double-check” the bridge after reports that more cracks had appeared.
All sports fixtures on pitches owned by Kirklees Council have been cancelled due to waterlogging.
A council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately due to further rain on the already saturated pitches, the council have had to make the decision to call off football and rugby matches on their pitches again this weekend.
“The pitches are saturated following continued incidents of heavy rain over the last week, and with more rain forecast for the coming days they are expected to remain in an unplayable condition.
“Affected leagues have been informed.
“Safety inspections will continue to take place, on ground conditions and there will be extra effort made, to prepare the pitches for future fixtures.”
Want to “adverise here” (sic)?
This misspelt sign on the M62 was snapped by Joe Hodgson.
Apparently the gaff has inadvertently attracted extra interest from genuine customers, so it won’t be there next week.
BYE BYE
Right, that’s all from me, Dave Himelfield will be taking over the reins. Bye for now
Let’s have a look at some of the top national news headlines
Jeremy Corbyn has sacked two senior figures for “disloyalty” and installed a Trident opponent in the key shadow defence brief as he sought to get a grip on his top team.
Shadow Europe spokesman Pat McFadden and culture secretary Michael Dugher got the boot.
Murder squad detectives are searching for the boyfriend of an ex-EastEnders actress after three bodies were found by police looking for the performer and her two children.
Sian Blake, 43, and her two sons aged four and eight, have not been seen at their Erith home since 13 December.
At least 100 GP surgeries are reported to have applied to stop taking on new patients, amid claims many are reaching breaking point.
A hydrogen bomb test which North Korea claimed it has conducted is a “provocation” and a “grave breach” of UN Security Council resolutions, Philip Hammond said.
TRAVEL
Traffic on the M60 has been called to a halt after a tanker crash.
It has shed its load of sodium hydroxide, a common chemical, also known as caustic soda on the clockwise carriageway between Salford and Prestwich at Pendlebury.
As a result long days are expected throughout the day.
Congestion on the M60 as a result is reported to be backed up to junction 12 for the M62 and M602 at Eccles Interchange and on the M61, to junction three at Kearsley Spur.
All motorists are being urged to approach the scene with care.
NEWS
Junior doctors have voted to strike next week in opposition to Jeremy Hunt’s attempt to change their contracts.
Read why she is striking here.
TRAVEL
Very slow traffic on A629 Halifax Road Westbound between East Street and A643 Lindley Moor Road (Ainley Top Roundabout).
You’ve still got time to catch the 8.42 from HUddersfield to Manchester Piccadilly, which is running 8 minutes late
HELLO
Morning everyone, I’ll be with you for the next few hours.
First up, here’s some information on a house fire that happened last night.
If you have a chip pan, this is definitely worth a read!
A family was forced to escape when their chip fan caught fire.
A baby with its mum and two other children were taken to hospital after they fled their home on Laburnum Grove in Golcar at 11.30pm last night when smoke detectors went off.
Three fire crews from Huddersfield and Slaithwaite raced to the scene, where the mother had managed to almost put out the fire.
She and her children were then sent to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to be checked out for smoke inhalation.
The kitchen escaped with some smoke damage.
Paul Gyde, Huddersfield crew commander, said: “We’d like to use this opportunity to ask people to make sure that they have working smoke detectors.
“We’d also like people to use a deep fat fryer instead of a chip pan.”
