BBC News Leeds & West Yorkshire

A West Yorkshire MP has told the House of Commons of her pride at having worked on legendary TV soap Coronation Street before her move into politics.

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Tracey Brabin, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, first appeared in the soap opera in 1989, before returning to play Tricia Armstrong between 1994-97.

Speaking in the Commons ahead of the programme's 60th anniversary next week, she said: "For working class northern actors, working on Coronation Street meant you'd arrived.

"We'd grown up watching it and wanted to be in it. And I got the chance to work with the legends of Corrie: Jack and Vera, Raquel, Bet Lynch, Betty Turpin, watching and learning."

Work has begun on the first phase of a multi-million pound project to build a new adult hospital and a "world class" home for Leeds Children’s Hospital at Leeds General Infirmary.

A digger broke the roof of the Old Nurses’ Home building on the site to mark the start of the five-year project.

Dame Linda Pollard, chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We're thrilled work on our new hospitals has officially begun in what will be a huge investment in healthcare for patients and staff.

"The new development will provide our patients and staff with some of the most modern and forward-thinking environments in which to receive and deliver some of the world’s most advanced care and treatments."

A man has been charged with murder following the death of another man in Bradford earlier this week, police say.

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Officers were called to a house on Airedale Road at about 08:40 on Monday morning following reports of an assault.

Santokh Singh, 59, was found at the property with serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 24-year-old man from Bradford has been charged with Mr Singh's murder and is due before Bradford Magistrates' Court later, according to West Yorkshire Police.

One of Leeds’ top virus experts has described the new Covid-19 vaccine as a "no-brainer", but warned people in the city not to become complacent.

Reuters/Dado Ruvic/File PhotoCopyright: Reuters/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

Today the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for mass vaccination.

It's thought the vaccine could be rolled out to Leeds as early as next week, with the elderly and front-line health workers expected to be the first to benefit.

Dr Stephen Griffin, a viral oncologist at the University of Leeds, said: "It’s not going to happen immediately, but it is fantastic that we can move in less than a year to sequencing a vaccine.

"If we are unable to suppress the virus, then we need a vaccine, but we can’t be complacent," he added.

Dr Griffin said that in order for the vaccine to stop the virus spreading, a large majority of people – around 70% of the population – needed to have had the vaccine.

"I am confident the safety has been done to the right regulations, it’s just been done really quickly," he added.

"So far it has been tested on tens of thousands of people around the world, and there has not been any cause for concern."

A new sculpture by Angel of the North creator Sir Antony Gormley is to be unveiled at a West Yorkshire college.

Antony GormleyCopyright: Antony Gormley

The world-renowned artist has loaned the artwork to Kirklees College, where it will be installed on the rooftop of its new centre in Dewsbury.

The cast iron sculpture, called WORK, will be placed on top of the Pioneer Higher Skills Centre next year.

Turner Prize-winner Sir Antony said: "It is an honour for me to have a work on the skyline of this fine building."

He added: "Having spent a lot of my childhood in Yorkshire, I came to love its open moors and strong communities that coexist within an open landscape."

The Grade II-listed Pioneer House, which opened last month, was restored and refurbished at a cost of £14m.

Sleet and rain showers are expected for much of the day.

Tonight will turn breezy and overcast with further outbreaks of rain, which could turn to snow on higher ground:

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An 89-year-old man has been left seriously hurt after the car he was travelling in hit a lamp post in Wakefield.

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The crash happened at about 16:50 on Tuesday when a blue Hyundai i10 which was travelling towards the M1 northbound slip road at Junction 39 on the Durkar Interchange roundabout left the road.

The man, who was a passenger in the car, suffered injuries which are believed to be potentially life-threatening, police say.

The driver was unhurt in the collision.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has dash camera footage from around the time of the crash, is being asked to contact West Yorkshire Police.

Work on a giant mural of Leeds rugby league star Rob Burrow is set to be completed this week.

Leeds City CouncilCopyright: Leeds City Council

Burrow, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, won eight Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups in 17 years with Leeds Rhinos, making a total of 493 appearances.

The mural is being painted by street artist Akse on the side of Leeds Beckett University’s Students Union, off Woodhouse Lane.

Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said: "Rob's selfless mindset, positivity and determination since being diagnosed with motor neurone disease has resonated with people not just close to home but right across the world.

"He continues to be an outstanding role model to people of all ages.

"This mural in the city centre is therefore a fitting tribute to him as a person and also marks the tremendous career that he enjoyed at the Rhinos."

The mural will feature in this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year event on 20 December.

A man found dead at a property in Bradford on Monday morning sparking the launch of a murder investigation has been named by police.

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Santokh Singh, 59, was found with a "serious head injury" at a property on Airedale Road after officers were called to reports of an assault.

Mr Singh was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 24-year-old man was later arrested in connection with his death and remains in police custody, officers say.

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday which found Mr Singh, who was also known as Charlie, "died from significant head injuries," according to police.

West Yorkshire-based women's fashion chain Bonmarche has fallen into administration, it's been confirmed.

Adam Davy/PA WireCopyright: Adam Davy/PA Wire

The chain, which has its head office in Wakefield and which has 225 stores around the country, was owned by retail tycoon Philip Day.

Administrators said the stores would continue to trade while options for the business were explored.

Damian Webb and Gordon Thomson of RSM Restructuring Advisory have been appointed as joint administrators of the firm, known as BM Retail Limited.

Mr Webb said: "We will shortly be marketing the business for sale and based on the interest to date, we anticipate there will be a number of interested parties."

Train services between Dewsbury and Leeds are currently disrupted due to a "police incident".

National Rail Enquiries says: "Emergency services are dealing with an incident between Dewsbury and Leeds.

"As a result of this, trains may be cancelled, delayed or diverted."

Disruption is expected to continue until at least 13:30.