A1 crash delays after man hit by lorry

Have you seen this? It's apparently the biggest disco ball in the world!

According the the website, it's two and a half times the size of a double decker bus.

It's all part of the Yorkshire Festival and organisers hope that 25,000 people will dance to the same song

Just spotted this from the Daily Record

I've been telling you about the further disruption because of the A1 crash, we're starting to get a picture of the routes in Leeds that are feeling it the most. 

In the last half an hour, West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that a man has died after being hit by a lorry on the A1(M) this morning.

Officers had shut the road at around 10:30 as they carried out their investigations.

At this stage West Yorkshire Police cannot confirm how the crash happened or who that man was.

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The A1(m) is now reopen at J44, but there are still plenty of problems on the roads around the incident.

Highways England are warning that there are still long delays on approach to J44 which will take time to clear. 

The queues on the A1 are slowly begining to move, at it's height there were 11 miles of nose-to-tail traffic on the A1 southbound before J44.

It's unclear how it's going to affect your commute home tonight. I've spoken to West Yorkshire Metro who say it's going to be tricky to tell if our public transport system will be affected or not.

These were the routes that were disrupted by the crash.

Leeds Travel InfoCopyright: Leeds Travel Info

Many people are still trying to pick their way through the delays.

Quote Message: Although they've opened it, all diversions are static for at least 8 miles, A1 has an 8 mile queue of standing traffic. Also many oversized vehicles in the queue to get past. Avoid completely. from Tori Marshall Via Facebook

Although they've opened it, all diversions are static for at least 8 miles, A1 has an 8 mile queue of standing traffic. Also many oversized vehicles in the queue to get past. Avoid completely.

The family of teenage Rugby League player, Ronan Costello, have just released a statement regarding donations. 

Ronan, 17, died yesterday after being injured in a match against Salford on Saturday. 

The RFL have confirmed there will be a minute's applause before all games this weekend to celebrate Costello's life.  

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Quote Message: The family have requested that any monies donated in support of Ronan's family be given to the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund which supplies defibrillators to all rugby league clubs. There will be a collection at Ronan's funeral for the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Headway charities. The date and venue of the funeral is still to be confirmed.

The family have requested that any monies donated in support of Ronan's family be given to the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund which supplies defibrillators to all rugby league clubs. There will be a collection at Ronan's funeral for the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Headway charities. The date and venue of the funeral is still to be confirmed.

For most of the day, an accident that happened at 10:00 at J44 of the A1(M) has been causing extensive travel problems.

We know that a man was hit by a lorry, this closed the southbound carriageway. As we write this, the road is still closed.

This has caused problems on other roads too, including the A64 heading into Leeds.

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We've no reported problems for people heading north on the A1, but the southbound carriageway has had queues of more than 11 miles. 

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We've also had problems on Leeds' outer ring road.  

Highways England have issued alternative route advice:

Quote Message: Traffic is advised to exit the A1M at J44 and follow the hollow square diversion symbol. Take the A64 westbound towards Whinmoor. Then take the A6120 eastbound and then join the A63. Continue on the A63 eastbound and re-join the A1M at J42." from Highways England

Traffic is advised to exit the A1M at J44 and follow the hollow square diversion symbol. Take the A64 westbound towards Whinmoor. Then take the A6120 eastbound and then join the A63. Continue on the A63 eastbound and re-join the A1M at J42."

And as we go into the evening rush hour, things don't seem to be getting any better, but both Highways England and West Yorkshire Police say that J44 southbound should be open again soon.

Stuart McCall has agreed a deal in principle to begin a second spell as Bradford City manager. Here he is when he was manager in 1998. Nice jacket Stuart!  

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The 52-year-old left Rangers last year after they missed out on promotion from the Scottish Championship.

His appointment, which could be confirmed this weekend, would result in him giving up his role as number three to Gordon Strachan with Scotland.

We've been covering the delays that have been caused across West Yorkshire, following an incident on the A1(M) this morning.

It's caused problems further afield too..

Quote Message: The road closure, plus the ensuing diversions onto roads that were unable to cope meant it took almost three hours to do a journey that would ordinarily take one. Thoughts to the family of the gentleman hit ... from Linda Partington Facebook

The road closure, plus the ensuing diversions onto roads that were unable to cope meant it took almost three hours to do a journey that would ordinarily take one. Thoughts to the family of the gentleman hit ...

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Quote Message: Just avoid the whole area; east leeds is gridlocked from Nick Bell Facebook

Just avoid the whole area; east leeds is gridlocked

I've just been speaking to West Yorkshire Police.

They've told me that they expect the A1 southbound at J44 to re-open soon. 

I'll keep you posted when we get any word.

The southbound carriageway is eerily quiet, as you can see below.

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If you're heading that way, below is the Highways Agency advice on diversions:

Quote Message: Traffic is advised to exit the A1M at J44 and follow the hollow square diversion symbol. Take the A64 westbound towards Whinmoor. Then take the A6120 eastbound and then join the A63. Continue on the A63 eastbound and re-join the A1M at J42. " from Highways Agency

Traffic is advised to exit the A1M at J44 and follow the hollow square diversion symbol. Take the A64 westbound towards Whinmoor. Then take the A6120 eastbound and then join the A63. Continue on the A63 eastbound and re-join the A1M at J42. "

Veterinary charity the PDSA has just released a list of strange objects they've removed from pets' stomachs. 

Bradford is worst place in the country for pets gulping down items they shouldn't.

The list includes a a rare case of an aerial that had to be removed from a cat as well as rubber balls, socks and whole corn on the cobs.

And those widespread problems are getting worse in Leeds. 

The accident on the A1(M) around J44 is having a widespread effect on surrounding routes, including the Leeds outer ring road.

The A64 on either side of the A1 is affected too. 

The A58 in Boston Spa is seeing delays as well. Let's hope we see the situation improve before the rush hour.

If you're stuck somewhere, why not send me an email.

Two top retailers are preparing to make their Leeds debut as they join the Victoria Gate scheme.

Yorkshire Evening PostCopyright: Yorkshire Evening Post

Just had a look along the traffic cameras on the A1(M) around Junction 44 and by our calculations, if you're joining the back of the tailbacks, you've got 11 miles to the head of the queue.

Safe to say, avoid the area all together if you can, and the A64 too which is also solid.

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The situation on the A1(M) remains the same this lunchtime, it's closed at J44 southbound after a man was in collision with a lorry.

We don't know the condition of the man at this point. 

Police are saying the road will remain closed for some time.

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Just had a look along the traffic cameras on the A1(M) and by our calculations, if you're joining the back of the tailbacks, you've got 11 miles to the head of the queue.

Safe to say, avoid the area all together if you can, and the A64 too which is also solid.

Highways EnglandCopyright: Highways England

The incident happened at just after 10:00 and there have been knock on problems around Leeds and especially on the A64.

Public transport has been effected too, as far as we now, though, there has been no accident on the A64.

Police are appealing for information after a cyclist was knocked off his bike and threatened in an incident in Wakefield.  

It's been pretty miserable morning weather wise, so how much more will we get?

I've just had a look at the Met Office's rain radar and it looks as though it'll clear by about 15:00. I took a snap from their page to prove it!

You can have a play yourself here.

Met OfficeCopyright: Met Office