Sixty-eight schools in the Bradford area have closed or partially closed today as part of a national strike by several unions in protest over pension reforms.Also striking are academies, universities, and colleges as well as workers in courts, libraries and job centres.
Two unions marched through the city this morning. The Public and Commercial Services Union met in Centenary Square and the National Union of Teachers had a rally at Valley Parade.
Outside the Jobcentre this morning, all was quiet, and it seemed like business as usual, whereas Bradford College saw picket action.
In Centenary Square, a rally was held made up of Unison, University and College Union and the Public and Commercial Sector unions.
Conservative MP for Shipley, Philip Davies says he thinks strike action will weaken public support for the unions cause in the long term.
Elderly people in Bradford could have to make cash payments or rely on other people if the plan to phase out cheques by 2018 is put in place. New research by Age UK shows nearly three-quarters of elderly people rely on cheques as a method of payment.
Today is the final day that the cheque guarantee card system operates, meaning that the question of whether cheques are relevant has been once again raised.
UK Payment Council Spokesman, Mark Bowerman said: “In terms of the cheque guarantee card scheme, our research showed that 91% of people aged sixty-five and over have little or no concern about the closure of the cheque guarantee system.
"The guarantee card system has been in place for over forty years but Bowerman said that it had become dated and was especially difficult to use.
“Hardly anyone was using guaranteed cheques anymore and of the small minority that were most of them where getting the rules wrong so the guarantee function was actually invalid when the cheque was actually presented” he said.
Lucy Melenczuk, Financial Policy officer for Age UK, the leading charity for a older people believes that until a suitable alternative is created, getting rid of cheques would be a big mistake,
“People are still using cheques and they need them. It doesn’t really matter about the total number of cheques from the older person’s perspective, if it’s the only way you can pay for something then it is an essential service” she said.
“We hear from people who give out their pin number so they put themselves at risk of financial abuse. We think it’s going to push people into risky behaviour and really restrict they’re access to goods and services.”
A study conducted by Age UK suggest that nearly one in five of those over 65 often use other people to draw cash out for them, while only 43% said that using a cash machine in the street was their preferred method of drawing cash.
Mark Bowerman says they will look at all available options when making a decision on the use of cheques,
“One of the roles of the Payment Council is to protect the vulnerable and that’s why this project is making sure that there are alternatives to the cheque by 2016.
“If we get to 2016 and people are still using cheques, the cheque will stay with us” he said.
Stop smoking experts in Bradford want to send supportive text messages to smokers - to help them kick their habit.
UK researchers sent motivational text messages to three thousand participants who were going through the process of quitting smoking in the 'text to stop' trial.
Three-thousand people wnating to quit were sent texts which said things such as 'carry on you're doing really well' and 'you can do it.'
Of these smokers, 10% had quit six months later. This figure is double the amount of wannabe quitter who were monitored but did not recieve encouraging texts.
Bradford smokers can expect text messages from early next year.
Lorraine Bradbury from NHS Bradford's stop smoking service says: "The study was really successfully. It's not something that we use in Bradford at the moment, although we do use texting to remind people of their appointments.
It's certainly something that we'd like to consider in the future. We're looking into it for early next year. We already have a texting system in place so it shouldn't be too difficult to implement."
Yorkshire cricket captain Andrew Gale is facing a new challenge - other than keeping his side in the T20 competition - by cycling 350km across central America in aid of Marie Curie.
The batsman will ride from Yosemete National Park right up to San Francisco, and the heat plus steep climbs will certainly put him to the test.
"Marie Curie is something I'm passionate about and they've helped my family through cancer in the best way they could," he said.
"I've been looking into doing something over the past few years but with my cricket commitments it hasn't fell right in the diary. So when the opportunity came up I grabbed it with both hands and raise money for a great cause," he added.
The charity ride in October coincides with the T20 champions league and Englands tour in India, but Gale doesn't think this will be a problem.
"Obviously I haven't been involved with the full England set up yet, and its where I want to be," he said.
"My current form is pretty good at the moment and I want to get into the England side. But I can't put my life on hold every winter and wait for the call. If the England call comes then I'll drop out, and someone can fill my place but for the moment I'm not selected for England, so I'll be doing this bike ride," he added.
Yorkshire's recent eight wicket defeat to the Leicestershire Foxes has put a spanner in the works, if they want their quarter finals T20 dream to stay alive.
But Gale believes they still have everything to play for, by getting the result they need against Northampton tomorrow.
"It's important that we change our fortunes round and put it right on Friday night," said the White Rose skipper.
"I'm sure if we can get a win that confidence will give us a kick on and there's no reason why we can't win our last six games. We're not dead and buried yet."
Selection from andrew gale (student) by ladyjade21
Bradford youngsters are amongst one thousand children who have taken part in an Olympic style competition.
The West Yorkshire Youth Games are an annual event, which sees athletes from across the region competing across a range of sports which include athletics, tag rugby, badminton, gymnastics, cricket, netball and cheerleading.
Most of the games took place at Leeds Metropolitan University's Headingly Campus.
Ex-Bradford Bulls and Huddersfield Giants captain, Robbie Paul, presided over the event.
He said: "I think it's fantastic when you can get the best of the area come together and get to compete against one another."
Amada Derbyshire, a teacher at Woodside primary school in Bradford said: "It's been a fantastic opportunity. It's a day out, something completely different to what they'd normally do so it's an experience they can take away with them."
The games are organised by West Yorkshire Sport and sponsored by Leeds Trinity University College, Horsforth.
Nigel Harrison, director of West Yorkshire Sport said: "These games are the sporting highlight for hundreds of young athletes across the five districts and are often the first time many of them will taste the excitement of a major event."
Bradford youngsters are amongst one thousand children who have taken part in an Olympic-style competition.
The West Yorkshire Youth Games are an annual event sponsored by Leeds Trinity University College. Athletes from across the region compete across a range of sports which include athletics, tag rugby, badminton, gymnastics, cricket, netball and cheerleading.
Most of the games took place at Leeds Metropolitan University’s Headingley Campus.
Ex-Bradford Bulls and Huddersfield Giants captain, Robbie Paul, presided over the event.
“I think it’s fantastic when you can get the best of the area come together and get to compete against one another.” he said.
Amanda Derbyshire, a teacher at Woodside primary school in Bradford said:
“It’s been a fantastic opportunity. It’s a day out, something completely different to what they’d normally do so it’s an experience they can take away with them.”
Nigel Harrison, director of West Yorkshire Sport said:
“These games are the sporting highlight for hundreds of young athletes across the five districts and are often the first time many of them will taste the excitement of a major event.”
A Bradford woman is one of five in the country to be shortlisted for a bravery award. One of the UK's top magazines has named Stephanie Papworth one of the country’s ‘Woman of Courage’.
Stephanie was nominated by her sister, for her struggle with breast cancer. She was diagnosed when she was seven weeks pregnant and endured chemotherapy throughout her pregnancy.
Rebecca Papworth told Prima that her sister may have had to abort the pregnancy in order to survive the cancer, or induce labour at only 28 weeks.
Willing to do neither of these, Stephanie struggled through chemotherapy and pregnancy together. She gave birth to son, Gabriel, six weeks early in November last year.
Karen Swayne from magazine, Prima, says Stephanie's personality helped win her the nomination. She describes Stephanie as ‘sassy’ and ‘funny’ and that the cancer never got her down, despite her extra pressures.
Prima will announce winners of the 'Woman of courage Award' this September.
The full feature appears in the August issue of Prima, on Thursday 3rd July.
This car my not look like anything special, but it is. It is one of a new prototype electric car that could be a regular feature on Bradford's streets.
In a bid to cut car exhaust pollution, become greener, and reduce noise pollution, this car is being trialled by the council.
Standing outside in the car park this morning, it attracted a lot of attention, not because it looks any different to any other car, and not from passers by, but from the council workers themselves.
Sally Jones, Pollution Control Officer, believes that these sorts of cars are the future both for the council and the city in general. She is keen to see the amount of noise pollution reduce in Bradford. She also points out that the city is one of the worst places in the country for car pollution, so if the council were to replace some of their petrol cars with electric ones, it would have a positive impact.
The benefits of buying these cars aren't yet known. They are more expensive than regular cars at about £23,000 and they need a constant supply of electricity - it takes about eight hours on mains to charge up. But they are cheaper in the long term to run, and with the price of petrol always on the rise, they could be a good investment.
Clothing and homeware chain TJ Hughes could go into administration, putting 4,000 jobs at risk.
There are 57 of the budget department stores in the UK, including the one in the former Sunwin House building in Bradford (pictured).
At 4pm yesterday, the company's directors filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.
The discount shops have struggled recently due to a slump in consumer spending.
The chain is owned by Endless, a private equity firm based in Leeds.
Their spokesperson said they are looking for potential buyers for TJ Hughes. Endless have assured staff that they will be paid this week and have said it is 'business as usual' for now.
It could be the latest in a series of blows for the high street. Retailers Habitat and Jane Norman have both announced they are going into administration this week, with Thorntons planning to close almost half of its stores over the next three years,.
A group has been set up in Bradford to promote the use of renewable energy.
The Heaton and Frizinghall Energy Group has been created to help residents and organisations apply for funding available for installing solar panels and wind turbines.
It’s hoped the group will raise awareness of the benefits of renewable energy and help people reduce their energy bills.
The group was formed by Heaton Labour councillor Imdad Hussain, who is working with fellow ward councillor Rizwan Malik on the project. They hope to get support from people living in the area, which would enable to earn the group £500,000 funding.
Councillor Hussain says they will use the funding to install solar panels and wind turbines to local churches, mosques, community centres and public buildings. He then hopes to supply local residents with renewable energy sources.
He said: “I don’t think the public have really been made aware of the benefits of renewable energy, it’s the way forward”.
He added: “As a local councillor I felt that maybe that’s something I can set up as a project and if I can get the right funding, then I’m going to help the local people save money on fuel bills.”
A strategy to tackle Bradford's growing child poverty problem has been launched today. The scheme, organised by Bradford Children's Trust, will encourage organisations that provide services to youngsters to work together in eradicating the causes of poverty.
Around 70 members of staff from education, health and voluntary sectors gathered at City Exchange to discuss how to improve sub-standard housing and provide families with debt and careers advice.
The event also incorporated workshops to help organisations look at how to encourage children to eat better food and increase uptake of free school meals.
The scheme comes a fortnight after a documentary highlighted the plight of children living on the city's Canterbury estate. It showed that four out of five children living there are from low-income families.
Bradford labour councillor Ralph Berry said that, despite the economic down-turn, the scheme could make a big difference.
The lead member for children's services said: "We can't completely protect people from the scale of the public spending cuts, but there is a huge amount we can do by looking creatively at all the services we are delivering to make children's lives that bit better."
Wibsey primary school teacher, Maureen Kearns, who is also involved in the project, said it is important that the scheme helps entire families and not just children.
"There may be things that we can do on literacy and numeracy and sharing what we do in school with parents who may themselves have literacy and numeracy issues," she said.
Graduates will be enticed into teaching via a £20,000 bursary it has emerged today.
It is hoped that the bursary will help to improve teaching standards by attracting the top graduates across the country.
According to the Daily Telegraph, it will see students with a first-class degree offered a tax-free bursary to teach in secondary schools.
Education Secretary Michael Gove is hoping to attract specialist teachers with Maths, Physics and Chemistry being targeted.
West Yorkshire Teacher, Anna Harrison believes that the suggestions may work but they plans must be approached cautiously: “A lot of people go into teaching because they genuinely love teaching kids whereas with this massive bursary, it could attract the wrong kind of teacher.”
The plan would see the bursary scaled down dependent on the graduates final degree classification. A graduate with a 2.1 would be eligible for £15, 000 whilst someone with a 2.2 degree would get £11, 000.
Leeds Trinity University College’s associate lecturer in professional development for Education believes that there are other ways to incentivize secondary school teaching, “Writing off university fees for those who have been teaching for five or ten years is a creative way to look at it.
“If you want attract the best people into teaching then you should be looking to extending incentives across the curriculum not just maths and physics.”
Although the plans are at an initial phase and teachers across the country have been sent consultation plans.
Convicted criminals in Bradford are being named and shamed online, as part of a pilot project which has been praised by the Home Office.
In The Dock, which features on the West Yorkshire police force's website, shows photographs and details of the crimes of recently convicted criminals in the region.
Wes Yorkshire Police's Jayne Sykes, Head of Performance Review said:
"'In the Dock' is designed so members of the public can track how local crimes are dealt with and ultimately who is convicted and the sentence they receive. The aim behind the project is to make the criminal justice system more transparent to the public, who may often hear about an initial crime but rarely find out what the end result is.
"The scheme is in its early stages but we are proud to be seen as a forerunner in ensuring the public sees that justice is done."
However, Anjum Tahirkheli from Bradford based organisation Basic Human Rights doesn't think it'll help criminal rehabilitate into society.
A football loving Gran from Bradford has been banned from watching her favourite team play.
Margaret Musgrove, 63, from Eccleshill, Bradford has been stopped from buying Leeds United tickets for a twelve month period.
Margaret described that she became over excited when her team won, she jumped over the fence onto the pitch to congratulate the players. This lead to Margaret being arrested by the Police and taken to a cell. Margaret said that she was just trying to get some good video footage of the players.
Margaret was tearful in interview to Bradford Community Broadcasting that she was “shocked and devastated ” and that she was appealing to Leeds United Officials to rescind the ban. She went on to describe that she had been a fan for forty three years and that she had never before been banned from watching football.
Margaret launched her appeal on the 25th of May and has not yet recieved a response to it. However she has been heartened by the support that she has been getting from the public who have been shocked at the ban. She told Bradford Community Broadcasting that her best friend from Wales had given her a lot of support, even starting a Facegroup group. The Facegroup group is appealing Leeds United officials to let Margaret attend matches again.
THURSDAY certainly turned out to be a happy day for six hundred school children in Bradford as they got to meet a TV legend.
Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler, who is dyslexic, arrived in town to encourage youngsters with learning difficulties to follow their dreams.
The American actor, who is famous for playing leather-clad mechanic Arthur Fonzerelli in the TV sitcom Happy Days, told a packed audience at The Abundant Life Centre how difficult life was for him at school.
For the past three years he has teamed up with First News, the country’s only children’s newspaper, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about children with learning challenges.
Despite his dyslexia, Mr Winkler has gone on to become a bestselling author of children's novels including Hank Zipzer stories, which tell tales about a 10-year-old boy who is the World’s greatest underachiever.
Mr Winkler wowed kids with stories about his Labradoodle dog and how he has gone on to achieve so much, despite suffering from dyslexia.
As his UK tour comes to an end, the producer and director told BCB reporter's Raz Mirza and Lauren Stewart about the frustration he felt growing up because he wanted to do well at school and wanting to be able to read well. He wasn't diagnosed dyslexic until he was 31.
One thing is for sure, his visit may have been brief to Bradford, but its given a whole new generation some Happy Days.
A former Bradford policeman is celebrating his one hundreth birthday this sunday - and has been honoured by the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police.
Left: George shows off his new whistle to Sir Norman Bettison.
Friends, family and old colleagues of former Sergeant George McOnegal surprised him in his Wibsey home yesterday. They thanked him for all his hard work - and shared a celebratory glass of sherry.
George recieved an engraved silver whistle from the National Association of retired Police Officers in West Yorkshire. Dorothy Bell, secretary of NARPO said:
"He always had a very measured way of speaking so there was never any trouble in the charge office. It's alleged that he walked every beat in Bradford and there were one hundred and twenty eight - that was back when policemen used to walk of course. He comes to our renuions still, he's very lively. "
Sir Norman Bettison, Chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, also presented George with a cermonial miniture police helmet to mark the occassion.
Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison said: "During his time in Bradford he covered every beat area, getting to know the people who lived and worked on his patch.
"I am privileged to have been able to present George with a memento to acknowledge his dedication and efforts in keeping the city safe all those years ago. There are not many people who will have seen as many changes as George has witnessed in the City of Bradford."
George was born on 26 June 1911 and joined the merchant navy at the age of sixteen, and served for 5 years. At the age of twenty one he applied to be a police officer and joined the Bradford force in 1932, and served for twenty five years.
George was overwhlemed by the occassion. He said: "It's amazing really. It's very good". George said his job wasn't always easy, but he did enjoy it. "I always used to say you have to take the good with the bad, and vica versa," he said.
George will offically turn one hundred on Sunday and is having a quiet celebratory lunch with his family.
West Yorkshire midwives are being stretched to their limits because of overweight mums-to-be.
A report by the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) states that obese mothers need more care after giving birth, which is causing a shortage of care across the region.
A rising birthrate, coupled with the problems linked with obesity in pregnancy, is putting pressure on overstretched maternity services. It has reduced the amount of time midwives can spend on advising on diet and lifestyle.
Bridget Benelam, senior nutrition consultant at the BNF, says the fall in numbers is concerning.
"The latest figures for birth rates in West Yorkshire are 31,000 a year. In terms of the amount of midwives we would want available to cope with that is 12,000," she said.
"We know that in Yorkshire and Humber overall there's a shortfall of nearly 400 hundred midwives, so we've certainly not got the numbers we would want for midwives in this area."
Nick Clegg has thrown his backing behind proposals to give the public shares in part-nationalised banks Lloyds and RBS.
The idea is based on the principle that individual taxpayers would benefit from any long-term gains made by the bank when they are eventually sold.
Both banks were bailed out using taxpayer money and the announcement has been met warmly by the deputy prime minister.
It is not believed that the proposals could come to fruition anytime soon as they are in the early stages and the banks are currently working at a loss however.
West Yorkshire investment banker David Battersby from Redmeyne Bentley believes the government would have to hold them for a while before they become profitable to the public:
"Once you have got these shares in your own possession, you can make a decision to hold on or you can sell these shares which will provide you with some much need money for this austier period that were are going through" he said.
MPs will vote later today on whether to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. The backbench debate has been called by Conservative MP Mark Pritchard and has cross-party support from from Lib Dem and Labour MPs, including West Yorkshire's Mary Creagh.
Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary has spearheaded a campaign to remove non-domestic creatures from circuses. It has received backing from celebrities like Ricky Gervais and Brian Blessed. She believes that animals such as zebras and camels are not meant to perform.
"To have them sitting in a damp field in a corner of Britain or jumping through hoops for people's entertainment is not acceptable in the twenty-first century," she said.
Circus Mondao, one of the last travelling circuses in Britain to use wild animals, is opposed to the move. Ringmistress Petra Jackson insisted their animals are not exploited or subjected to cruelty.
"Our animals are kept in the correct manner, trained in the correct manner and transported in the correct manner.
"We get inspected on a regular basis by local animal officers and government vets and they have never found anything wrong with what we do," she said.
Government ministers said they would rather strengthen the existing Animal Welfare Act than implement a total ban.
If the motion is passed a ban will not become law but put extra pressure on the government to act. MPs will debate the motion this afternoon and the vote will be held tonight.
Single mums are feeling the government’s cuts the most, according to a report out today.
The report by the Fawcett Society says that as a result of benefit and tax changes, the average single mum will lose the equivalent of more than a month’s income by 2015.
An single parent with one child will receive government supports, in the form of Child Tax Credits, of around £3000. With cuts to benefits, this could be reduced.
These findings come as single parents in Bradford are also facing the prospect of losing a vital support service.
For Bradford single mums, the situation looks bleaker, as the Gingerbread Housing Project, which helps support around a hundred families, could be closed due to council cutbacks.
The Project currently helps parents by providing housing and support groups. They also distribute fresh food from supermarkets on a weekly basis.
Corinne Campbell, manager of Gingerbread, is extremely worried, and explained that these families simply don’t have enough money to survive; even before benefits cuts are made. She agrees with today’s report, but extends the struggling single-parents to include single dads too.
With government cuts increasing, and Gingerbread's future uncertain, Bradford’s lone parents will be harder hit than most.
Three men have been arrested in Bradford on suspicion of murder. The arrests are in connection with the murder of two men whose bodies were found on New Lane in Tong on Tuesday 10th May 2011.
The three local men, aged 37, 24 and 29 were arrested earlier today and remain in custody.
Two women aged 63 and 27 have previously been charged with offences of Murder and Assisting an Offender. Both have appeared before the courts.
Detective Superintendent Dick Nuttall, who is leading the investigation, has said,
"As part of our investigations, we want to speak to 31 year old Mohammed Zubair. Our enquiries suggest Zubair left the country on Wednesday 11 May.
"I would like to appeal to anyone with information on his whereabouts or recent movements to contact the Incident Room as a matter of urgency on (01924) 334693."
Drivers are cutting down on car journeys in a bid to save money, due to ever increasing fuel costs.
The RAC has released a report showing that almost half of drivers are cutting back on journeys for financial reasons. It says that those living in rural areas are finding it particularly difficult as their car is more likely to be a lifeline.
The report also asked motorists which driving activities they were most likely to give up in an attempt to save cash. Of those asked, 31% said they would give up using their car to maintain their social life if fuel costs continued to rise.
Other motoring organisations, including the AA have had similar responses from the drivers they have spoken to.
Prime minister David Cameron has confirmed today that the controversial high speed rail project, HS2, will be coming to Yorkshire.
It is designed to link London to Birmingham, by building new railway tracks that will support train that are capable of running at 400 KPH. However, the estimated cost of this first leg is in the region of £32bn. After Birmingham, the route will divide into a Y with one arm going to Manchester, and the other going to Leeds. eventually, it's planned to go up towards Scotland.
Supporters argue that the country needs new rail infrastructure to bring us into the 21st century, and the line will take the pressure off the existing East and West Coast main lines between Yorkshire and London.
Opponents say the actual amount of time saved in travel between the cities doesn't warrant the cost of the project.
Claire Harris has more. HS2BLOG by BCB NewsImage courtesy of Department of Transport
Best foot forward: Campaigners march for 'justice'. Photo - BCB
Refugees in Bradford are marching for equality and fairness in a sponsored walk today.
The 'Walk For Justice' has been set-up by charity Beacon. The ten-mile trek from Centenary Square in Bradford to the Home Office in Leeds follows the trip that many asylum seekers have to walk on a regular basis, when searching for help and support from the government.
People often have to travel the full distance on foot, as they usually have little or no money for transport. Beacon’s charity co-ordinator, Laura O’Connor, says that the walk is made more difficult by the weather. She also claims last year’s cold winter made it an especially bad time for refugees making the journey.
BCB’s Claire Blackmore spoke to some of those in the group. Neriman Akabri is originally from Iraq, but has been living in Bradford for nearly a decade. He is walking today to support asylum seekers in the city. He says he ‘can never forget’ the struggle he had to gain his British Citizenship, as he completed the journey regularly for nine years.
The walk began at ten this morning, with fifteen people following in an attempt to raise money for the charity which helps the struggling refugees.
Glass half full: Pensioners urged to cut down on drinking. Photo - BCB
Pensioners need to drink less, according to a report published today by The Royal College of Psychiatrists into the drinking habits of older adults.
The report highlights that people over the age of 65 are more likely to experience ill affects over a long period of time. In addition to this pensioners are likely to drink quicker. It recommends that people over the current pension age drink only a half pint of beer or a small glass of wine each day.
The Royal College’s report also notes that older bodies are not able to process alcohol effectively, and that drinkers may also be taking different types of medication which the alcohol can react badly with.
It states that current advice on drinking levels (14 units for women and 21 for men) is based on advice for younger adults. The report describes older adults as 'invisible addicts' in society, with those who experience problems often going through significant life changes such as retirement or bereavement, which can lead to feelings of loneliness or depression and drinking more.
Alcohol misuse can lead to problems such as increased risk of stroke, memory loss, hypertension, memory loss, confusion, withdrawal fits, confusion and depression, or hallucinations. The signs and symptoms necessary for a diagnosis are the same as for a group of younger adults. However there are significant differences in the death rate of untreated alcohol symptoms which is higher by 10 to 15 percent in older adults.
Keighley's annual festival will go ahead this year, despite concerns about funding due to council budget cuts.
Organiser Malcolm Hanson told BCB News that they've secured a fantastic line up this year, despite their financial constraints.
He was particularly pleased to announce that the popular 'One Amazing Night' performance, usually held at Victoria Hall on opening night will go ahead.
The show, which features Keighley pupils performing for parents, was to be dropped this year because the festival could not afford to put it on.
The band plays on: One Amazing Night in Keighley
However Keighley schools have stepped into the breach and offered to organise it themselves because their students enjoy it so much. The festival will also feature the country's youngest DJ, Crazy Daisy,a school girl from Keighley, and a Keighley's Got Talent show.
The week long festival kicks off on July 8th. Some events require tickets, for more information contact Malcolm Hanson on 01756798730.
Malcolm told BCB that he was overwhelmed by people's commitment to the festival, and is surprised they have achieved so much on such a small budget. Keighley festival online clip by BCB News
Rory McIllroy is celebrating today after winning the US Open, scooping a reported prize of one million pounds.
Former player Steve Bottomley will have an idea of how Rory's feeling. The ebullient Yorkshireman was the dark horse of the 1995 championship at St Andrews when, for an hour or so, he held the Sunday clubhouse lead. He was eventually nudged out of contention by eventual winner John Daly and Costantino Rocca, who lost a play-off, but the share of third place and £65,667 cheque was the biggest pay-day of Bottomley's career.
The Bradford born ex pro believes Rory has come a long way from when he first started.
“He’s got the whole package, he handles himself well, he interviews well,” said Bottomley.
“He’s a man now. When he came on tour he looked like a little boy but he now just does everything to the best of his ability.”
A farm in Bradford has bred a litter of pigs with a difference.
Born only two weeks ago at St Leonard’s farm, Esholt, six miniature oinkers were brought in to the world by piggy parents, Bonny and Clyde.
Now a tiny seven inches long, these porkers weigh in at under a pound and share their hay with baby goats and chicks.
Farmer James Wainhouse said: “This is her first litter of six piglets and because they are micro pigs, they are a lot smaller than the normal domestic pigs and we have them on show here for people to stroke and hold.”
The litter is proving to be a hit with visitors of all ages, some even hoping to take them home as pets. However, farmer James will be vetting any future owners.
He said: “When we do sell them, we will make sure that anyone that does want to buy them knows a little bit about the animal, knows where to put them, how to look after them and has a licence.”
The pigs, which don’t yet have names, are expected to grow no longer than two feet long and around 18 inches high.
BCB's Claire Blackmore has been getting muddy with the animals.
Andrew Gale and Adil Rashid have led Yorkshire to a thrilling victory over their Roses rivals Lancashire in the Friends Life twenty20 clash at Headingley.
Skipper Gale hit 60 runs to help Yorkshire post a 178-4 total with Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow hitting 45 and 32 respectively. Lancashire went in to bat but had no response to the Yorkshire spinners with Rashid the pick of the bunch.
He took the wicket of Thomas Smith with a spectacular catch from his own delievery and then took out Karl Brown who on 35 runs had been threatening to post a big score for the Lightning. Backed up by Azeem Rafiq who took 2-29, Rashid then took out Gareth Cross and Luke Proctor in the space of three balls as Yorkshire appeared to be home and dry.
However a late flourish from Jordan Clarke threatened to spoil the mood of the 13000 strong home support at Headingley. Clarke hit two sixes and three fours on his way 38 runs from only 18 balls but he was run out as he tried to get the strike from Gary Keedy in the first ball of the final over.
BCB's Raz Mirza spoke to Adil Rashid, who ended the game with excellent figures of 4-26.
Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies has spent the weekend defending controversial remarks on getting people with mental health issues into work.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he said that these people should offer to work for less if it was going to improve their chances of getting a job.
His comments have angered politicians on both sides of the house, caused outrage with mental health charities, and a storm of responses on social networking sites.
Speaking to BCB, Mr Davies told us that his comments have been misunderstood, and that he doesn't understand how anyone could have been offended by them.
Making the perfect cup of tea wouldn't usually take a team of scientists and two hundred and eighty five tries, but now researchers think they have discovered what makes the perfect brew.
The debate used to be whether to use bags or leaf, pot or cup, but these days we are more likely to talk about how much milk we put in, the length of time the teabag should stay in before removal, or if it should be a cup or mug.
An unusual work created by a Bradford artist has gone on show outside the city's Cartwright Hall. The sculpture, made from 28,000 nails hammered by hand into a steel panel, is entitled 'Hung Out to Dry'.
The brain behind the art work, 45-year old Marcus Levine, told BCBNews that the sculpture had taken eight 14-hour days and one 13-hour day to complete in his studio.
He said: "By the end of it my hand was numb and my fingers were black-and-blue with bruises. … it was a mammoth undertaking".
Asked how the ideas came about, Mr Levine said:“I think it was just a natural progression, a natural flow in my work really. I started with small cabinet nails and that idea was something that brewed up really since when I was a student.
“And when I finally got around to doing it in 2004, I had a plan that was completely abstract, but I realised the challenge to do figurative nude was something I wanted to have a go at the last minute.
“I sort of swapped and created this figurative nude and that sort of tight me up for a year.And finally I got back to doing the abstract”, he said.
Commenting on the title of the work, “Hung Out to Dry”, Marcus Levine said: “It`s just a slow progression of ideas.
"It's not something that's been done before, so there was a lot of head scratching," he said.
He expressed appreciation of the huge response from the public”.
Commissioned by Bradford Council, the sculpture stands 16.4ft (5m) high and features a shaped stainless steel panel hung between two giant steel "nails".
Mr Levine, who was born and educated in Leeds but now lives in Bingley, said the grand opening is on Sunday between 1.00pm and 3.00pm at the Cartwright Hall Gallery.
Petrol prices may be rocketing around the country but it turns out that West Yorkshire has the cheapest fuel on the forecourt.
The average UK motorist pays 136.2 pence per litre, but here in Yorkshire drivers pay up to four pence less according to a survey.
The reason for the difference is that supermarkets sell petrol, at a cheaper than average rate, forcing other petrol outlets to lower their prices to compete. West Yorkshire is home to two supermarket giants - Morrisons and Asda - meaning that the price war is especially fierce.
However AA public affairs manager Andrew Howard wants the government to create a regulator of oil:
"We're very keen to see the European Commission and the British Government look at what is running the petrol price (up)." he said.
Today is the last day that Tetley can be called a Yorkshire beer, when fifty-six employees lose their jobs and the factory closes.
Two hundred years or brewing history ends as Carlsberg, who own the beer, close the site saying they need more space.
Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland has tabled and Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling for people to boycott Carlsberg products. He has also secured the future of the World War One memorial at the site.
CAMRA's Bradford Branch secretary John Bell says taken out of West Yorkshire, the beer just won't be the same.
Bradford Bulls boss Mick Potter is adamant his squad are good enough to cope without the injured Heath L'Strange.
The 26-year-old, who agreed a new deal at Odsal just last week, has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Australian suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the game against St Helens last weekend.
But Potter is optimistic that he has plenty of cover in the role of hooker.
He told BCB News: "We've got a squad that can counter the injury. We've got Matt Diskin, who's a rock solid hooker, and he can play a lot of minutes for us. And he'll be all the more important to us to cover that role.
"We've also got a couple of other players such as young Adam O'Brien who can cover that position."
Potter claimed the dramatic 15-15 draw was definitely a point lost although he was keen to pick out some positive aspects of the performance in wet conditions at Odsal.
The Bulls coach praised his side's defence and called the performance 'all about improvement'.
Bradford now take on Hull in the Engage Super League on Sunday afternoon.
Potter is aware that two points at home could take his side up two places in the table and above their Northern rivals.
The Bulls have had a somewhat mixed season 17 games into the season, recording six wins but losing nine.
He added: "This particular team are as desperate as we are to get two points. It matters so much at this stage of the season from where we both sit in the table."
Three churches in Bradford have been chosen to receive grants of money in order to make vital repairs.
The Heritage Lottery Fund, which is administered by the English Heritage, has given £1.2m of lottery funding to support urgent repairs to ten of Yorkshire's grade II listed churches.
The grants go to St Paul's in Buttershaw, St James's in Thornton and St Chad's in Toller Lane.
The money will be used to make extensive and much needed repairs. In St Paul's case, the cash will be used to renew the porch and vestry roof, and to repair the windows, spire and chimmney.
Trevor Mitchell, English Heritage Planning Director for Yorkshire and the Humber said: "Thanks to the generosity of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and ultimately Lottery players, the future of these local landmarks will now be safe-guarded."
Fiona Spiers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for Yorkshire and Humber said: "Historic places of worship are an irreplacable part of the Yorkshire's heritage and sit at the very heart of our local communities. Both the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage are delighted that in these difficult times, these vital repairs can still be done, ensuring these wonderful places are secured for future generations."
A West Yorkshire inventor has come up with a new way of catching rodents by swapping poison for chocolate.
One of the nation's favourite snacks is being used to lure rats and mice in to the R-EJECT device which is designed for multi-killing and containing the animals.
The brains of the trap, Paul Thorne, has had many failed attempts at the idea, but after working on the creation for 5 years the final product is finished.
Mr Thorne says the invention is an “alternative and unique way” to deal with the ever increasing rodent population.
Whether it’s Cadbury’s or Nestle, Thorne believes that chocolate is the best bait for this process.
“The rat walks along, smells the chocolate, goes in to have some, just touches the bait box, doesn’t get to the bait and wallop, dead. Instant death.
“It drops through a floor plate and then the next one comes along and does the same movement, but it knocks the first rat to the back of the box,” he said.
R-EJECT boasts a fully recyclable frame and uses no chemicals in the killing of the furry critters.
Rodent riddled houses can buy both rat and mice traps which differ in size.
R-EJECT rat trap can be used indoor and outdoor and hold up to 6 rats. The mouse trap is a smaller version which can be stored easily and holds up to 8 mice.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance are warning the public to not mistake their charity with that of a company with a similar name, Air Ambulance Service.
It appears that Air Ambulance Service are leaving donation bags on doorsteps for the collection of a brick a brac and textiles, and people are donating to them thinking it is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Abby McClimont from the charity wants the public to be made aware of this:
“As we understand it we don’t think they’re a registered charity, but a registered company. We know very little about the company, but the main point to us is to advise people to not get confused with the two services. If people do want to donate they can do it by using our big yellow bring banks that are located in several place across the Bradford area, including supermarkets.”
The government is taking steps to protect our money from any future banking crisis.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, is to announce later today a shake up of how the British banking industry works.
Banks will have to 'ring fence' their high risk investment activities away from their ordinary banking services. This means that people's current accounts should not be at risk from any losses made by bank's casino style investments on the rise of stocks and shares.
In addition, banks will also be required to stockpile reserve funds so that they would be able to bail themselves out in future.
However West Yorkshire investment manager David Battersby, from Red Mayne Bentley Stockbrokers is concerned that the government has not thought the proposals through. He told BCB news that it could have some worrying knock on effects on customers.
The Chancellor is also expected to announce the privitisation of Northern Rock. The bank was publicly bailed out by the government and its sale means that the government will be getting its money back.
David Battersby told BCB why this was so significant.
BRADFORD teachers are set to stage a walk-out after two unions overwhelmingly backed strike action over government changes to pensions.
Thousands of members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers endorsed the programme of industrial action in a ballot this afternoon.The unions are concerned that the measures would leave teachers working longer, paying more and receiving less when they retire.
The date of the strike is still to be confirmed, but it could be as early as June 30.
Ian Murch, Bradford's National Executive member of the NUT, said he believed the result of the vote was inevitable.
"It doesn't surprise me because I have been to a lot of schools to talk to people over the last few weeks and there is a very high level of anger.
"We want the government to withdraw its proposals. It's only four years since we agreed to a new teachers' pension scheme that recognised the fact that teachers are like other workers and living longer," he said.
The new pension plans are being implemented throughout the public sector in a bid to save the Treasury millions of pounds.The government insists that any changes will be both fair and affordable.
Bradford residents could soon see the 'hole in the heart' of the city centre turned into an elegent new shopping complex.
Site developers Westgate have announced plans to show off their latest revised and reduced designs in a public consultation next month. An exhibition will be staged at the Midland Hotel on July 1st and 2nd.
Shoppers in Bradford haven't had much choice in the last few years, and many have taken their money to city centres in Leeds and Sheffield as well as out-of-town developments including White Rose and Meadowhall. Supporters hope the new Broadway development may just tempt them back.
Escalating hopes: Westfield development could happen at last
Publicists told BCB News that Debenhams remain committed to opening a store as the cornerstone of the development.
Bradford Chamber of Trade secretary Val Sommerscales is hopeful that - this time - the long-promised building project will actually happen.
Defiant: Bradford's Debbie Purdy wants a change in the law
After a controversial TV documentary shown last night, pro-choice and pro-life groups are once again warring about the right to choose to die.
Pro-life supporters believe assisted suicide should not be allowed, but campaigners including Bradford's Debbie Purdy think that the public mood is changing. They point out that doctors can keep people alive for longer, and the law should keep up.
Debbie has Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative disease that will eventually mean she may not be able to communicate.
She told BCB that the law should be changed, and that she wants the right to make the necessary preparations to end her own life
Parents in Bradford are improving their cooking skills today with a little help from Jamie Oliver’s food experts.
The medical research programme, ‘Born in Bradford’ has joined up with Oliver's ‘Ministry of Food’, to set up cookery sessions in the city.
Today’s meeting sees ten mums and dads at Bierley Children’s Centre learn how to feed the family some healthy and tasty nosh.
On the menu today was lentil and spinach soup, some fresh leaf salad, and an egg-citing display of omelettes.
The ‘Ministry of Food’ was set up by Jamie Oliver to inspire people to get into the kitchen and cook good wholesome meals for the family. The main aim is to get people eating well on a budget; something everyone needs to learn these days!
‘Born in Bradford’ has come together with Jamie’s innovation to bring some of that healthy eating to the city, and kick-start it for parents with newborns, and small children.
Mums and Dads in Bradford told our reporters that the scheme was a great idea, and something everyone needs to learn about.
The programme costs just £4. Sessions five comes to Tyersal Children’s Centre on the 20th June, between 1 and half past 2. The last session, at Holmewood Children’s Centre is being held at the same time.
The pupils of a BradfordPrimary School are supporting their community by spreading an anti drugs message on their streets. For the past eight months the children from NewbyPrimary School have worked in partnership with West Yorkshire Police on various projects. These include delivering posters to shops, handing out leaflets and taking information home for their families
Inspector Darren Minton of West Yorkshire Police said today that “the school is an important ally in the drive against drugs and sending that message via the children to their homes, is quite a poignant method.
”The project in West Bowling has encouraged people to telephone the police, when they have seen people on the streets dealing drugs or have become aware of families who take drugs in the community who may need help.Bradford Council Crimestoppers, My BD5, Bradford Trident, BradfordSchools and local faith groups are all involved in supporting the police programme.
Headteacher, Mr Michael Latham said “this week is a very important one in the life of the school as we start to feed back information into the local community who have been so supportive in the anti drugs initiatives.”
The leaflets that the children are handing out are announcing the saving of money by the seizure of drugs across the community. The leaflets are also to thank the people who have anonymously phoned Crimestoppers to report the dealing of drugs within the community and have enabled the police to intervene.
Sixty-eight schools in the Bradford area have closed or partially closed today as part of a national strike by several unions in protest over pension reforms. Also striking are academies, universities, and colleges as well as workers in courts, libraries and job centres. 
