David Spereall

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority plans to award First Bus a contract to operate services in Huddersfield and parts of Leeds from spring 2027 under the region’s new Weaver Network franchising system. Campaigners from Better Buses for West Yorkshire objected, citing First’s 62nd-place ranking among 72 operators in a Transport Focus survey. First welcomed the decision following a competitive tender, while Transdev has been selected to operate services in Dewsbury. The contracts remain subject to a legal standstill period and cannot be signed before 29 August.

A body was found after a large fire at a building on the corner of Warwick Road and Mount Street in Batley, West Yorkshire. The deceased has not been formally identified, and the cause of the blaze remains unknown. West Yorkshire Police are investigating and have appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage, while Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle sought to reassure local residents.

Leeds Light Night 2026 will take place on 28 and 29 October during the school half-term holiday, featuring more than 40 art and light installations across the city centre. Organisers Leeds City Council moved the event to half-term and to dates after the clocks change to make it easier for families to attend. The festival will also mark 400 years since Leeds received its first Royal Charter from King Charles I, with the full programme due in September.

Three people were detained in Huddersfield after West Yorkshire Police deployed live facial recognition vans in the town for the first time. Arrests included a man suspected of domestic stalking, a suspect wanted on warrant and a shoplifter. Police said camera images were checked against a watchlist and alerts were reviewed by trained officers, while civil-liberty groups criticised the technology. The force said live facial recognition is used as a targeted tool rather than for mass surveillance and reported 60 arrests across West Yorkshire during a recent operation.

A consortium of four Leeds businessmen has bought the Grade II listed Thwaite Mills complex for just under £1m and outlined plans to restore the museum, reopen parts of the site within 12 months, and create a pub and cafe in the manager's house. Longer-term proposals include a wedding venue, outdoor markets, live music, community events and potentially a Parkrun route. The owners say the development will generate income while preserving the site's industrial heritage and keeping it accessible to the public.