Mark Lavery

Former newsagent James Dransfield has opened Twine, an independent cards, gifts and homewares shop on Ropergate in Pontefract. The business, named after the area's historic rope-making trade, has received positive feedback from customers who say the town needs more quality independent retailers. Dransfield previously ran a newsagent in Featherstone for 11 years and developed the new venture with his partner Nicola.

A man in his 70s died after sustaining life-threatening injuries in a head-on collision on Doncaster Road near Nostell, Wakefield, on 29 July. A woman in her 70s who was driving the Ford Galaxy involved was seriously injured, while two adults and five children in the Volkswagen Touran suffered non-life-threatening injuries. West Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses.