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BREAKING
Castleford Civic Centre looks set to be sold off by Wakefield Council as it looks to make £35m of budget savings.

Castleford Civic Centre set to be sold off to plug £35m funding gap

25 Kirkgate. Picture by Google

Plans submitted to convert shop near Wakefield Cathedral into takeaway

Oliver was presented his prize by Yvette Cooper as his proud family watched from the audience.

Young Oliver designs winning Christmas card in Yvette Cooper's competition

More than 100 Santas took part in the dash at the weekend.

Wakefield Santa Dash: 16 photos as red army of Santas dash for the finish line

Wakefield MP Simon Lightwood visited the Falafel Street Kitchen van outside the city's Cathedral.

Wakefield MP champions city’s small businesses

Here are 24 shops that are no longer open

24 Wakefield shops we have loved and lost

Councillors of all parties unanimously voted in favour of fully supporting a franchised bus system in West Yorkshire.

Call for better conditions for Wakefield bus drivers

Police would like to speak to Sorinel Oprea about burglaries involving elderly victims in Mirfield and Wakefield.

Search for man wanted in connection with burglaries in Mirfield and Wakefield

Residents have started a campaign to stop an energy storage facility being built on farmland close to Heath village, in Wakefield

Energy firm plans to increase number of battery units at Heath Common site

Southfield Close residents were joined by councillors Darren Byford, Deb Nicholls and Gwen Page who all attended the official switch-on on Friday.

Horbury residents light up Southfield Close for charity

Sport

Paul McShane's Testimonial match will see Castleford Tigers take on Huddersfield Giants next year. Photo by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Castleford Tigers prepare to share "positive news" with new director appointed
​News that a new director is coming on board and is believed to be putting in much needed investment has been greeted with cheer by Castleford Tigers fans.

Omar El Torkey clinched victory for Pontefract 1 against Harrogate.

Yorkshire Premier League challengers Pontefract in second place at midway stage

Josh Hardcastle in action against Sheffield Eagles in 2023. Photo by Dec Hayes

Featherstone Rovers on lookout to add to their 2024 squad

Wakefield Trinity fixtures have been published.

Wakefield Trinity's fixtures for the 2024 Betfred Championship season

Matty Ashurst will be one of the players helping to get Wakefield Trinity off to a better start to 2024 than they finished this year. Photo by Bruce Rollinson

Wakefield Trinity prepare for big start to 2024 Betfred Championship season

Rugby League

Featherstone Rovers will be out to win the Betfred Championship League Leaders' Shield again in 2024. Photo by JLH Photography

Featherstone Rovers set for blockbuster start to home campaign in 2024

Caleb Uele is being tipped to be a big hit at Wakefield Trinity.

Caleb Uele is backed to be a big hit at Wakefield Trinity

John Davies is set to return to Featherstone Rovers' Millennium Stadium with his new Bradford Bulls side. Photo by Rob Hare

Featherstone Rovers tackle Bradford Bulls and Dewsbury Rams in pre-season games

Castleford Tigers fans will be hoping to see more tries like this from Jason Qareqare in the 2024 Super League season. Photo by Bruce Rollinson

New look Castleford Tigers handed tough start to 2024 season

Crime

Wakefield district police headquarters, Havertop Lane, Normanton

Prisoners kept in police station cells in West Yorkshire as jails are full

Leeds Magistrates' Court

Reports from the courts

Flowers at the scene where Luke Thompson was attacked

Flowers placed at scene in Pontefract where Luke Thompson was attacked

The incident took place last night (Thursday).

Driver arrested after vehicle collides with police car in Wakefield city centre

Luke Thompson, who was 25 and from Pontefract, passed away in hospital yesterday.

Tragedy as Pontefract man who was attacked and hit by car dies in hospital

Luke Thompson

Tributes pour in to Luke Thompson who died after being attacked and hit by a car

What's On

As a charity, the gift shops we have at the Visitor Centre and The Weston are hugely important as part of our ongoing fundraising.

Art-inspired Christmas gifts for the whole family at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
It’s always a special time of the year as we head towards Christmas at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park but working in the retail development team, we actually start preparing for the big day months in advance.

Sleeping Beauty debuted at the Theatre Royal in Wakefield on Tuesday (November 28).

Review: Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal, Wakefield

Peddler Market will return for its third event in the district later this month.

Popular food event to return to Wakefield's Tileyard North this month

A grotto for dogs to come and have their picture taken with Santa Paws is returning to Hemsworth.

Hemsworth pet shop announces return of Santa Grotto for dogs this Christmas

The festive favourite performance will return later this month.

Carols by Candlelight to return to Wakefield Cathedral this Christmas

Retro

These buildings, monuments and conservation areas are all on the Heritage at Risk Register 2023.

Here are 14 of Wakefield's buildings on Historic England's At Risk Register 2023
Some of the most historic buildings and landmarks across Wakefield, Pontefract and Castleford are at risk of being lost forever.

Christmas at the Vale will return to The Calder Vale this weekend.

Free vintage event to return to Wakefield for Christmas special this weekend

Do these photos from the 80s bring back any memories?

33 nostalgic photos taking you back to Wakefield in the 1980s

In a field outside the village of Heath, 1.5 miles outside of Wakefield, is Dame Mary Bolles's Water Tower: a Grade II Listed structure dating from the 1600s.

Explore the historic Wakefield water tower - haunted by a dame's ghost

Wakefield horticulturalist James Akers has died

Tribute to horticulturalist James Akers

Homes & Gardens

By using your garden as a resource you can create some simple, yet beautiful decorative displays for the Christmas festivities

Tips on how you can have a green Christmas by using plants from the garden
Your garden gives up some beautiful gifts of its own at this time of year – allowing you to bring the outside into the home with foliage and ‘green’ decorations.

A front view of the property that's for sale at £700,000.

Six-bed home with south-facing garden for sale in top location for families

The semi-detached home has a lovely quiet location, surrounded by open fields.

Appealing home with gardens, open views and just one neighbour hits the market

This incredible property on The Mount is currently available on Rightmove for £650,000.

Inside one of Pontefract's most expensive period homes that was built in 1903

The approach to the properties in the village of Darrington.

Two homes with gardens hit the market as one sale in select village cul-de-sac

Lifestyle

A bowl of delicious vegetable soup

Karen Wright: A pre dinner starter with a delicate flavour

Darwin concluded that there are basically only six basic facial expressions.

Dr's Casebook: How good are we at judging emotional expressions?

The Northside BIG Winter Van Sale includes two free service for any new or used Mercedes-Benz van purchased in December 2023

Ad Feature TWO FREE SERVICES: Northside BIG Winter Van Sale special offer

As well as being sustainable, purchases made in the Age UK Wakefield shop will also help support older people this Christmas.

Bag a bargain and help raise funds for Age UK Wakefield this Christmas

People

Snow is expected in Wakefield on Saturday and Sunday

Snow and freezing temperatures set for Wakefield all weekend
The recent snow and freezing temperatures in Wakefield look set to continue all weekend.

The first phase of the project at The Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract is now finished

Pontefract hospice completes first phase of ambitious garden project

During the years since, trees and vegetation on the edge of the school grounds had grown unchecked and obscured the view of the building.

Photos reveal the inside of abandoned Wakefield school that was ravaged by fire

Danny Malin is attempting to crack the charts.

Rate My Takeaway star Danny Malin attempts Christmas number one

The lease for the district’s Walk in Centre on King Street, Wakefield has been extended for three years.

Wakefield walk in centre on King Street to remain in the heart of the city

Business

Star of The Long Shadow, Katherine Kelly, attended the opening of a new distillery in Wakefield.

Actress Katherine Kelly opens new gin distillery in Wakefield creative space

Lana Willis has launched her new lashes range at Locks & Lashes in Featherstone with the support of her partner Leon Leake and her children Reuben and George.

Meet the Featherstone salon-owner launching her own Yorkshire-themed lash brand

The Hepworth Wakefield’s popular Festive Market has returned.

All the festive fun at The Hepworth Wakefield Festive Market

Residents are being encouraged to nominate a charity they care about.

Nominate a charity to receive a festive financial boost this Christmas

The initial first phase of the partnership sees 2-Work create a combined space to include coworking at Tileyard North.

Tileyard North: Wakefield creative hotspot announces new partnership

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Paramedics call out to supporters to donate through the Big Give.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance announces new Christmas fundraiser

Recommended

These are the best and spookiest costumes for children for Halloween 2023.

Cheap, scary Halloween costumes for kids - Wednesday and Marvel heroes

Best sleeping bags for camping: multi-season and lightweight

Best sleeping bags for camping: multi-season and lightweight

Top cabin bags and suitcases that you can carry on to an airplane

Top cabin bags that you can carry on to an airplane

The best sideboards for maximum storage and style

Stylish, practical sideboards for house storage

UK Trending

Screen grab from Grand Theft Auto VI trailer. Picture: Rockstar Games

Watch first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of 2025 release

Editorial chiefs from across local publishers have sent a strong message to the BBC about its expansion

Analysis BBC must abandon the plan to elbow its way into local journalism

NS&I Premium Bonds December 2023 prize winners: When is the draw date & how to check if you are a winner

Everything you need to know about the NS&I Premium Bonds December draw

Two men are being hunted by police after a man had a £28,000 Rolex watch stolen off of his wrist on a London street. (Credit: Metropolitan Police / SWNS)

Shocking clip shows £28k Rolex stolen from a man's wrist in attack

Part of the light trail at Warwick Castle

The castle that's a perfect start to Christmas

Mars has recalled Revels after rubber pieces were found in some packets Picture: Getty Images

Mars recalls popular sweet because it may contain rubber

Must Read

It’s now officially the time of year when people fret about what gifts to buy loved ones before taking the safe option by buying them a book.

Life on Tapp: You can’t go wrong with a book for Christmas – or can you?

A recent visit to the car booter’s paradise that is our garden shed left me yearning for a stiff drink, such was the scale of the chaos before me.

Life on Tapp: It's a never ending cycle of selling, buying and selling again

There’s a bloke around the corner from me who before Bonfire Night was out of the way, was up his ladder, stringing lights across the front of his house, which perfectly complemented his eight foot inflatable Santa.

There’s nothing wrong with going early when it comes to Christmas planning

I don’t think any amount of unsolicited contact with ill folk would be enough to make most people want to dig face masks out of their sock drawers or from the back of the cupboard where we keep our shopping bags.

Life on Tapp: You would've thought society might have learned its lesson