Local and National News

A 77-year-old man who held senior positions at churches and youth groups across the country has been jailed for eight and a half years, as detectives appeal for any further potential victims to come forward.

Free family-friendly fireworks events are returning to three Manchester parks this November, with reduced-noise displays, lantern parades and main evening shows planned.

A 19-year-old Bradford woman has been jailed for more than three years after committing another burglary only a fortnight after avoiding an immediate prison sentence.

Two local care workers have been recognised for their work supporting adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.

A drug dealer who took extensive measures to conceal his location was tracked down after accidentally connecting to public Wi-Fi and was found by police hiding inside a wardrobe.

A 28-year-old High Wycombe man has been jailed for more than three years after admitting involvement in the supply of Class A drugs.

Calderdale is among the areas chosen for a new government-backed Young Futures Hub, bringing mental health, employment, skills and crime prevention support together for young people.

Detectives investigating allegations of historical child sexual abuse at a former Bradford Council-run children’s home have arrested a man and a woman.

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced after being convicted of a series of sexual and violent offences against a massage therapist in Wolverton.

Archaeologists investigating the grounds of Temple Newsam have uncovered foundations of a mysterious building dating back more than 280 years, alongside finds spanning thousands of years.

A programme of improvements to one of Bradford city centre’s busiest routes is getting under way, with changes designed to reduce congestion and make bus journeys more reliable.

A Bradford man has been jailed for six years and three months after admitting the manslaughter of a 72-year-old man who was fatally injured outside his home in Crofton.

Plans to expand Jamee Masjid in Bletchley have been approved, allowing the mosque to accommodate almost 100 additional worshippers despite concerns over parking in the area.

A planning condition has been amended to allow people to move into a new 35-home development in Siddal before most of the site’s landscaping is completed.

Two men have appeared in court charged with firearms offences following a police operation in Huddersfield and Holmfirth last week.

A police officer has received an 18-month written warning after an investigation found that dragging a handcuffed woman along the floor during an arrest in Bradford amounted to unreasonable use of force.

Two people were treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital after a kitchen fire at a home in Blackburn.

A six-week consultation has opened on plans to extend Cycleway 9 from Syon Park to Hounslow, alongside changes aimed at improving pedestrian and road safety.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a car which had failed to stop for officers was driven the wrong way along the M1 and collided with another vehicle.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore says the situation “cannot continue” after another major blaze at the historic Dalton Mills site.

Fundraising led by Rotary groups in Bradford and West Yorkshire will help provide clean-water filters to communities affected by catastrophic flooding in Nepal.

An uninsured driver has been jailed for three-and-a-half years following the death of seven-year-old Jack Rooke in a collision in Golcar, Huddersfield.

Nexus Multi Academy Trust has been chosen to run a new specialist free school in Ovenden, Halifax, which is expected to open in the 2028/29 school year.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a hit-and-run in Salford left a man in his 50s with life-changing injuries and an 18-year-old man also requiring hospital treatment.

A Guildford man has been jailed for six years after police recovered around a kilo of cocaine, 13 kilograms of cannabis and large amounts of cash following a vehicle stop.

Senior councillors in Leeds are to consider plans for a new community-led programme aimed at improving neighbourhoods and giving residents a greater say over priorities in their local area.

A Bradford woman who reached speeds of up to 143mph in a hired Lamborghini Urus has been found guilty of causing the death of 20-year-old Mohammed Shaan Hussain.

A 26-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested as part of an investigation into an indecent exposure incident near a school earlier this year.

Southwark Council is proposing major changes to its housing allocation rules, including requiring same-sex siblings to share a bedroom until the age of 20 in some cases.

Ealing Council has been ordered to take action after an Ombudsman investigation found a disabled young man was left without therapies specified in his education and care plan for more than a year.

Passengers faced major disruption at Manchester Airport yesterday after a technical issue with the UK’s air traffic control system delayed more than 100 departing flights and led to a number of cancellations.

A 63-year-old man formerly from Halifax has been jailed for six years after being convicted of offences against a child committed more than 20 years ago.

A Huddersfield barrister has been jailed for three years and three months after being convicted of plotting a revenge attack with a criminal client involved in a violent drugs gang feud.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council is introducing a temporary ban on advertising A-boards along part of Uxbridge Road from October, following concerns about pavement obstruction and accessibility.

A record 53 schools across Manchester achieved Green Flag status through the Eco-Schools programme during the 2025/26 academic year, marking the city’s most successful year so far.

A 20-year-old Bradford man has been given an extended sentence of 12 and a half years after admitting a series of offences involving sexual communication with children and indecent images.

Detectives investigating a ram raid at a jewellers on Duckworth Lane in Bradford have arrested a 38-year-old man, while a customer suffered minor injuries during the incident.

A man in his 20s remains in hospital with potentially life-threatening head injuries following an assault in Vauxhall, while a 25-year-old man arrested at the scene has been released on bail.

The £46.1 million transformation of the main entrance to Leeds City Station is entering its final stages, with parts of the new gateway expected to begin opening to the public in October.

Two men have been arrested after a man in his 20s suffered injuries consistent with gunshot wounds in Holbeck, Leeds.

Six serving Greater Manchester Police officers have been dismissed without notice after a misconduct panel found gross misconduct following allegations of racial discrimination against a colleague in Bury.

A historic property overlooking the River Thames in Chiswick is set to display a new blue plaque after Hounslow Council approved the plans.

Four more teenage boys have been arrested after a 13-year-old boy was stabbed during a serious assault in Rochdale.

A Keighley man involved in a drugs line operating across West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Lancashire has been jailed for four and a half years.

A taxi driver has been jailed for six years after falling asleep at the wheel and causing the death of a 59-year-old man on the A23 in Surrey.

Police in Milton Keynes have seized drugs and arrested a wanted woman during high-visibility patrols carried out using new e-bikes.

Stockport Council says culture will play a central role in the town’s regeneration as major transformation projects continue across the borough.

A new exhibition showcasing contemporary South Asian artists is opening at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford.

A new programme aimed at improving men’s mental health and wellbeing has been launched in Blackburn with Darwen.

A former teacher has been charged with a number of alleged child sexual offences dating back to the 1990s in the Wakefield district.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is calling for tougher penalties for fly-tipping after court fines were found to be lower than the council’s own enforcement penalties.

A man who sexually exploited a vulnerable teenage girl in Stockport has been jailed after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

Milton Keynes’ popular free Midsummer Festival will return this summer, bringing live music, entertainment and family activities to Campbell Park.

Leeds City Council has outlined plans for a major year of investment and development, with several large regeneration, transport and housing projects expected to move into delivery.

Detectives investigating the murder of Suhail Choudry in Keighley have made further arrests as enquiries continue into the fatal assault in February.

Calderdale Council is considering new enforcement powers to tackle poor housing standards and improve animal welfare, with proposals due to be discussed by Cabinet next week.

Plans to convert Blackburn’s former St John’s Church into a digital and cyber business hub have taken a major step forward after councillors approved the appointment of a contractor.

Tributes are being paid to one of the country’s oldest hospital radio broadcasters, Patrick Murphy, who has died in Bradford at the age of 95 after more than a decade on air.

Bradford Council’s Executive is being updated on improved financial stability, following a major increase in government funding and progress on long-term recovery plans.

Two Bradford-area nurseries are among 37 Partou settings nationwide to be awarded the prestigious Reputation ‘900 Club’ status, recognising exceptional customer satisfaction and trust.

Three people have been arrested following a stabbing outside Dewsbury bus station which left a 17-year-old boy seriously injured. Police say the incident was targeted and enquiries are continuing.

Public realm improvement works are set to begin on Darley Street in Bradford city centre this week, aiming to better connect key regeneration areas and improve walking and cycling access.

Plans for a new state-of-the-art sports and leisure facility at Squire Lane in Bradford have moved a step closer after the planning application was approved.

Muslim Aid has launched its annual UK Winter Programmes, aiming to support thousands facing homelessness and poverty during the coldest months of the year.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a serious road traffic collision on Canal Road in Bradford during the early hours of Tuesday (30th Dec) morning.

Nearly 3,000 volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association marked 30 years of nationwide New Year clean-ups by clearing litter across more than 75 UK towns and cities.

Police are investigating reports of criminal damage at a takeaway on Saltaire Road in Shipley on New Year’s Day.

Police appeal for information following the death of a man found seriously injured in Burmantofts, Leeds, and the arrest of a 51-year-old on suspicion of murder.

From 27 October, new housing safety rules known as Awaab’s Law come into force — compelling social landlords to fix emergency hazards within 24 hours and protect millions of tenants from dangerous conditions like black mould.

Bradford Council is expanding its successful Housing First programme — inspired by New York and proven in Finland — to offer ten more places, helping more people with complex needs move from homelessness into stable, supported housing.

A major new exhibition, The Last Princesses of Punjab, will open at Kensington Palace on 26 March 2026 to celebrate the 150th birthday of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh — the trailblazing Punjabi royal and suffragette — exploring the lives of the remarkable women who shaped her story.

A celebration of creativity and belonging, The Leap’s SENDIVERSE Festival brought together over 1,700 people across Bradford for a series of inclusive arts and cultural events designed with and for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Police are appealing for information after a man in his 20s was seriously injured in a crash on Crown Point Road, Burnley.

A weapons amnesty in Bradford led to 93 knives and weapons being taken off the streets, contributing to a major drop in youth knife crime.

Leeds has unveiled a £20 billion economic plan aiming to create 100,000 new jobs and boost key sectors including finance, tech, and health.

Bradford Royal Infirmary has renamed the Listening for Life Centre after pioneering ear surgeon Professor Chris Raine MBE, who has restored hearing for hundreds across the North of England.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust nurse Chloe Taylor has been named a finalist for Neonatal Nurse of the Year, recognising her work supporting families through trauma-informed care.

A new town square has opened in Sowerby Bridge, transforming the former market site into a welcoming space for events, markets and community life.

Following strong opposition to proposed parking changes in Ilkley, Bradford Council has put forward a revised plan that keeps a free one-hour option in parts of the town.

West Yorkshire Police and Wakefield Council are intensifying efforts to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour through a joint taskforce and new enforcement measures.

Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has been named a finalist in three categories at the Housing Executive Awards, including Housing Association of the Year.

University of Bradford staff will strike for 10 days from 22 September in protest against planned redundancies, disrupting the start of the new academic year.

Two Bradford Teaching Hospitals teams have been nominated for prestigious HSJ Awards, recognising their innovation in staff wellbeing and patient care.

A Bradford property owner has been ordered to pay over £20,000 after failing to comply with a Planning Enforcement Notice for unauthorised works in a conservation area.

Preparatory work has begun at North Bridge for Halifax’s new £multi-million leisure centre, marking a major step toward delivering modern, inclusive and sustainable facilities for health, wellbeing and community life.

Two community parklets originally installed in Brighouse town centre have been relocated to Rastrick Juniors Football Club and Rastrick Bowling Club, ensuring the spaces continue to benefit local people after being moved to make way for the town’s new market.

West Yorkshire Police have arrested ten men in connection with child sexual abuse offences reported to have occurred in Bradford during the 1990s.

Todmorden Library is fully reopening, with a special event to mark the occasion and celebrate the Victorian history of the building.

Multiple illegal vehicles have been seized in an ongoing operation to reduce dangerous and illegal driving in Dewsbury.

Investigation into two serious incidents in Accrington continues, Lancashire Police want to speak to the three men pictured.

A man has been given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order as part of ongoing work to tackle crime linked to motorbikes and quad bikes in Leeds.

A woman from Bradford has been sentenced after being found guilty of stabbing her ex-partner.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary at a property in Bradford.

People in Calderdale are being asked to share their thoughts about how they feel connected to their local neighbourhood and the wider Calderdale area

Bradford City Hall is to be lit up in red, white, and blue on Thursday 6 June to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The new link road on the A629 south of Halifax is now open, as part of work to improve the flow of traffic and make it easier to walk, cycle or take public transport.

one of the nation’s last surviving HMT Empire Windrush passengers and the city’s only remaining Caribbean Second World War serviceman received the Leeds Award in a ceremony at the Civic Hall.

A specialist team working to reduce violent crime has started a New Year by passing a new milestone after making more than 10,000 arrests.

A unique gift exchanged by two former Lord Mayors of Leeds more than 120 years ago could be about to help the city with unprecedented budget challenges.

Fourteen Calderdale Council employees have been recognised for a combined total of over 350 years of service at an event at Halifax Town Hall on Thursday 26 October.

A group of activists who caused £100,000 worth of damage to a service station on the M25 has been sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (27 October)

Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision in Leeds in which a man later died.

A vehicle involved in multiple incidences of fly tipping across West and North Yorkshire has been seized by Bradford Council.

As part of the county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour (ASB) Lancashire Constabulary and Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden have announced a further eight areas set to benefit from additional resources to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Lancashire.

Leeds City Council’s Licensing Committee is to embark on a review of vehicle condition standards for hackney and private hire vehicles, following updates to national guidance.

Police have named the man who died after a road traffic collision on Leeds Road in Bradford last week.

Visitors to the stunning Van Gogh Alive UK exhibition in Bradford donated more than £4,000 to Mind in Bradford.

The Bradford Clean Air Zone has been live since September 2022 and is operating to improve air quality in the district by deterring the most polluting vehicles from entering the zone.

Lancashire: A paedophile who abused a young girl has today (Monday, February 6th) been jailed after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences.

Police are continuing to appeal for information to help locate a man who went missing in Leeds eight weeks ago.

Bradford Council arranged for 11 of the traders of the new Darley Street Market, to get a tour of the site, to give them an idea of where they will be trading from once the new market is complete.