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.
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Breaking news: Woman hurt
Breaking news: We’re getting reports that a woman has been knocked down on the zebra crossing on Carr Lane, Slaithwaite.
Bethany Verity who works at the Vanilla Bean restaurant just yards from where the accident happened said: “It happened about 45 minutes ago. There was lots of police activity. She is in a bad way.”
We have contacted West Yorkshire Police for comment.
M62 queues:
One lane closed and queueing traffic due to broken down car on M62 Westbound between J28 A650 / A653 (Tingley) and J27 M621/A650/A62 (Gildersome).
Lane three (of three) is closed.
A629 improvements planned:
Kirklees councillor Cahal Burke is hoping a scheme to implement new traffic islands or ‘pedestrian refuges’ on the A629 Halifax Road at Birchencliffe will take place later this year following concerns from residents.
Clr Burke, (Lindley, Lib Dem), said: “Highways are looking to have the package passed to the construction team by the end of January following consultation, to allow for the audit and consultation to be done first, with a view to arranging a construction date before the end of March.”
John Lewis, Chairman of Kirklees Cycling Campaign said: “It is not always appreciated that the significant difference of speed between the cyclist and the motor vehicle causes particular difficulties at these points.
“The vehicle approaching the refuge with a cyclist in front of them cannot always accurately judge whether there is time and space to safely overtake the cyclist before reaching the refuge.”
Find out queuing time from Edgerton to Ainley Top:
A629 Halifax Road out of town busy but moving from Blacker Road (Edgerton Cemetery) to A643 Brighouse Road (Ainley Top). Travel time is six minutes.
Breaking news:
One of the UK’s most notorious rapists, John Worboys, is to be freed from jail.
Over a six year period the black-cab driver carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women in London between 2002 and 2008.
Worboys from south-east London, gave his victims drug-laced Champagne before attacking them in the back of his cab.
In 2009, he was convicted at Croydon Crown Court of 19 offences and ordered to serve at least eight years in jail.
A629 traffic:
Traffic easing on A629 Salterhebble Hill and Huddersfield Road at the roadworks near the hospital by A646 Dryclough Lane.
M62 queues:
Queueing traffic and traffic heavier than normal on A650 Westbound between M62 J28 / A653 (Tingley) and M62 J27 / M621 / A62 (Gildersome).
Missing man found:
A missing elderly man Raymond Schofield has been found safe and well.
The 80-year-old from Dewsbury was reported missing this morning and was last seen at his home at about 7pm last night.
DS Oliver Coates of Kirklees District CID, had said previously: “We are very concerned for Mr Schofield’s welfare as he is very vulnerable.”
Hot stuff!
End of an era. After 160 years mustard maker Colman’s is to leave its base in Norwich where the condiment has been made.
More than 100 people work at Colman’s, where mustard has been produced since 1858.
It’s unclear where Unilver, which owns the product, is moving its base to.
A629 travel times:
A629 Halifax Road out of town busy but moving from Blacker Road (Edgerton Cemetery) to A643 Brighouse Road (Ainley Top). Travel time is seven minutes.
Missing girl:
Police are appealing for information about a 17-year-old girl, Demi-Leigh Turner who has been reported missing.
She was last seen on the evening of Tuesday, 2 January in the Killinghall Road area of Bradford.
She is described as being of medium build with blonde shoulder length hair and blue eyes.
She is believed to still be in the city and officers are conducting enquiries to locate her.
Anyone who can assist these is asked to contact police in Bradford, quoting log 963 of 3 January.
A629 queues:
Heavy traffic on A629 Salterhebble Hill and Huddersfield Road at the roadworks near Calderdale Royal Hospital by A646 Dryclough Lane. Travel time is four minutes.
Weather alert
A ‘yellow’ warning regarding severe winds across West Yorkshire will be in force until 7pm tonight.
Yellow means that you should plan ahead thinking about possible travel delays, or the disruption of your day-to-day activities.
No trains at Huddersfield and Dewsbury Rail Stations later this month
The latest work to upgrade signalling in Huddersfield and Dewsbury will take place later this month as part of the Great North Rail Project, with passengers advised to check before they travel.
On Saturday, 20 January and Sunday, 21 January, workers from Network Rail will carry out the next stage of the project, which will see old signalling technology ‘recontrolled’ from local lineside signal boxes to the state-of-the-art Rail Operating Centre in York.
Once completed, passengers will see a more reliable and modern railway which will improve journeys across the north.
The work at Huddersfield and Dewsbury is part of a wider upgrade to the signalling in West Yorkshire, with further work to take place on the Calder Valley line later this year.
Due to the nature of the work, no trains are able to run in, out or through Huddersfield and Dewsbury stations.
Bus replacement services will be in operation to keep passengers travelling between Leeds, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Halifax, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Stalybridge and Bradford on the move.
A629 queues
Queueing traffic on A629 Salterhebble Hill and Huddersfield Road at the roadworks near the hospital by A646 Dryclough Lane.
M1 update:
M1 Northbound lane closed on entry slip road due to broken down vehicle at J40 A638 (Ossett/Wakefield). Traffic is coping well.
Lane one (of two) is closed.
M62 update:
Traffic returned to normal, earlier broken down vehicle on M62 Eastbound between J30 A642 (Rothwell) and J31 A655 (Castleford).
Lane one (of three) was closed.
Fascinating local history:
Kirkheaton Family History Group Talks has some fascinating talks lined up for the new year.
Particularly eye-catching are the talks on 22 February The Colne Bridge Tragedy by Richard Heath and The Denby Dale Typhoid Tragedy 1932 on 24 May by John Brook.
All are held at Kirkheaton Community Centre, Fields Rise on the last Thursday of the Month – 7.30pm. £2.50 on the door, including Light Refreshments.
Congratulations!
Well done to Mark Robertson who spent a six-figure sum gutting one of Huddersfield’s best-known pubs, The Plumbers Arms, near Huddersfield Bus Station and who is set to receive a CAMRA award for its promotion of real ale.
Mark, who also owns the Waterloo and the Waggon and Horses at Outlane, said: “I’m delighted to receive it after all our hard work and am looking forward to being presented it with it on Monday at 8pm.”
And he has exciting plans for this year with a wine and gin bar due to open next door to The Plumbers in a former solicitor’s offices including a cellar bar.
Today's top story:
This has been one of our top stories all day.
A first-time flyer stroked a male airline steward’s groin for a ‘lark’ after he got drunk to calm his nerves, a court heard.
Joe Hirst, 22, from Brighouse , was flying to the Canary Islands with his girlfriend to celebrate his birthday - but at 30,000 feet he inexplicably reached out and fondled the man’s inside leg in a ‘’cupping motion’’ as the victim was serving drinks to other passengers, it was alleged.
Read the full story here
National news
Here’s a round up of today’s main headlines...
I KNOW IT’S FRUSTRATING AND I APOLOGISE, SAYS MAY AS STRUGGLING NHS CANCELS OPS
Theresa May has apologised for delays to operations and hospital admissions as the NHS in England struggles to cope with mounting winter pressures. The Prime Minister, on a visit to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, said she recognised it was “difficult” for somebody who has had their operation postponed and hoped procedures could be rescheduled “as soon as possible”. Mrs May said: “I know it’s difficult, I know it’s frustrating, I know it’s disappointing for people, and I apologise.”
DONALD TRUMP REPEATS VOTER FRAUD CLAIMS AS HE DISBANDS COMMISSION PROBING IT
President Donald Trump has claimed US states that refused to cooperate with his voter fraud commission know there were people in those states that voted illegally. “Many mostly Democrat States refused to hand over data from the 2016 Election to the Commission On Voter Fraud,” Mr Trump tweeted early on Thursday. “They fought hard that the Commission not see their records or methods because they know that many people are voting illegally. System is rigged, must go to Voter I.D.”
TWO ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MURDER AFTER 16-YEAR-OLD BOY FOUND STABBED
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a 16-year-old boy found with stab wounds. Police were called to Friars Wharf, Oxford, at 7.55pm on Wednesday but despite the best efforts of paramedics he later died in hospital. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said a 25-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, both from Oxford, were arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody for questioning. The next-of-kin of the victim, who is from the Birmingham area, have been informed, the spokesman said.
Car on its side in Dewsbury
Here’s what causing the hold ups on Leeds Road this afternoon...
Onlooker Carly Mortimer said one person looked to have received minor injuries but that no-one has been seriously hurt.
Accident in Dewsbury
There are queues on Leeds Road, Dewsbury, this afternoon following an accident near to the Jet petrol station.
The road heading towards Dewsbury is partially blocked and the disruption is also affecting local bus services.
Concerns for missing man
Have you seen Raymond Schofield?
The 80-year-old from Dewsbury was reported missing this morning and was alst seen at his home at about 7pm last night. He is described as 5ft 5in to 5ft 7in height, of medium to heavy build and as having white/grey hair. Police say he may be wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and black shoes.
DS Oliver Coates of Kirklees District CID, said: “We are very concerned for Mr Schofield’s welfare as he is very vulnerable and searches are ongoing in the local area.” Anyone with any information about his whereabouts should contact Kirklees District CID on 101 with log number 0403.
Petrol prices soar to three-year high
Fuel costs in the UK are higher now than they have been in three years, a survey has found.
The findings by Confused.com shows that motorists are currently having to pay an average of £68.88 a month to fill up their car, which is the highest it’s been since December 2014.
Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said: “We can’t blame drivers for resenting the fact they are now paying the highest prices for petrol since December 2014. Motorists are fed up of seeing the cost of owning and running a car go up every year, including the cost of car insurance and road tax.”
Man 'assaulted' air steward on flight after getting drunk to calm nerves
A first-time flyer stroked a male airline steward’s groin for a ‘lark’ after he got drunk to calm his nerves, a court has heard.
Joe Hirst, from Brighouse, was flying to the Canary Islands with his girlfriend to celebrate his birthday when he allegedly reached out and fondled the man’s inside leg in a ‘’cupping motion’’.
The incident is alleged to have occurred on January 15 last year after Hirst, a driveway builder and his girlfriend of six months Shannon Potter boarded the 10am flight from Manchester for the trip which had been booked for him as a birthday present. The trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court is ongoing. Read the full story here.
Teen due in court over Graham Bell killing
A teenager from Huddersfield is due in court today charged with the fatal attack of a man outside McDonalds.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due at Leeds Crown Court after pleading not guilty to manslaughter following the attack in the town centre in October.
Married father-of-three Graham Bell, 37, was attacked outside the restaurant on the corner of John William Street and Kirkgate on October 1. Updates on this to follow.
