A business is under investigation by trading standards officers after a woman was hospitalised when the firm used a chocolate hazelnut dessert topping instead of chocolate.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards said the business in Bradford had served the topping on a dessert despite the customer informing staff they had a nut allergy.

Another investigation by the organisation looked into a separate firm in the city which had served an undercover officer gluten-free food that was later found to contain high levels of gluten.

Councillors will discuss the findings as part of an annual update on the work of West Yorkshire Joint Services, which runs trading standards.

The update report included details of two investigations into businesses, which are not named, that are alleged to have breached guidelines relating to food allergens, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It said nationally there had been a "number of fatal incidents" involving food allergens.

The report added that trading standards received a "high number of allergen complaints" throughout the year in West Yorkshire and the issues remained a "high priority".

"A Bradford food business was recently the subject of a complaint from an individual with a nut allergy who was hospitalised after ordering a dessert dish.

"Despite making the business aware of her allergy the complainant was served a 'Nutella' style topping instead of Belgian chocolate."

It said undercover officers then visited the premises and replicated the customer's experience

"The food product was submitted to the public analyst, where the presence of hazelnuts was confirmed."

The report said investigations into the business were ongoing.

'Undercover visit'

Detailing the second ongoing investigation, the report said it was responding to a complaint about the accuracy of another business' menu detailing allergens.

It said an officer visited and offered advice on complying with legislation around allergens.

"A subsequent visit was carried out covertly by another officer who ordered food posing as a customer with a gluten allergy," the report said.

"The officer made it clear at the time of purchase of the allergy.

"After the food was provided the officer announced themselves to the food business and procured samples of the food to be sent to the public analyst.

"Upon analysis one of the meals was found to contain high levels of gluten.

"An investigation is ongoing for alleged breaches of the food allergen laws."

A new through station in the West Yorkshire city is part of the major investment into railways in the north

The Chancellor was in Leeds yesterday to confirm Northern Powerhouse Rail is going ahead

THE business case for a new Bradford through rail station will be submitted to Government this Summer.

On Wednesday afternoon Chancellor Rachel Reeves was in West Yorkshire to give more details about proposals that will see £45 billion invested in the long planned Northern Powerhouse Rail line.

The project will see a new station built in Bradford, and rail improvements between the city and Leeds will be in the first phase of the work.

Eventually the line will link Northern cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, York and Sheffield.

Bradford Council’s Leader Susan Hinchcliffe says the announcement comes after a decade of pressing successive governments for investment in Bradford’s rail systems, and was delighted that Bradford is now a key point in the Government’s plans for future rail improvement.

At a press briefing at the Neville Hill Traincare Depot in Leeds, Mrs Reeves said the Government was releasing over £1b to begin plans for the rail improvements – money which will be used for planning and the purchase of land needed to make Northern Powerhouse Rail a reality.

The total spend of the project will be capped at £45b – with further funding released in future spending reviews.

The Chancellor said the project would be carried out in phases to avoid the problems that faced HS2.

The first phase would include improved links between Bradford and Leeds, York and Leeds and Sheffield and Leeds.

NPR will also develop better rail links between Bradford and Huddersfield, as well as the development of the long mooted new Bradford rail station – which will be based in a new “Southern Gateway” to the city centre.

The Chancellor said while NPR will be a long term project, residents in the north should start seeing benefits in the “early 2030s.”

The works will be a mix of new lines and new stations and improvements to existing lines and infrastructure, building on the TransPennine upgrade works currently underway.

Mrs Reeves said: “By the early 2030s we want people to feel the benefits of this investment. We don’t want people to have to wait for the whole line to be built.”

When asked if the announcement was a “watered down” version of what had been promised in the past, she said: “The big difference is that we’ve now put a price on it – £45b.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “This is the result of a decade of work by ourselves, businesses, West Yorkshire Combined Authority to get us to this point.

“That map shows the clear link of Leeds, Bradford and Manchester. That is exactly what we need, and there is real money behind this.

“It is great to hear that Bradford is at the front of the queue.

“It will take time, about 10 to 15 years. People wanting better news now – this won’t do it for them, but we’re in this position because previous Governments have failed to invest.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Cllr Hinchcliffe is she was concerned that any change in Government could scupper the plans, she said: “If people want growth in the North of England and for us to contribute to the UK economy they need to realise that investment in infrastructure is crucial.

“The Southern Gateway will bring a £1.1b boost to Bradford’s economy, 23,000 jobs and thousands of homes.

“Any Government wanting growth needs to understand the economic facts and invest.”

Asked what the next stage was, she said: “We’ll be submitting the business case in the Summer.

“That will include funding for the station and better linking Bradford and Huddersfield.

“Government has told Network Rail that this is now a priority.”

Referring to how the plans seem to have finally turned a corner, Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “The difference we’re now seeing is it is not just me knocking on Government’s door asking for Bradford to get new rail links. Now Government is coming to Bradford to say ‘how do we help you deliver it?’”

At the press briefing, which was attending by press from across the UK, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said there had been “many false dawns” leading to this moment.

She said: “Lots of promises from the Conservative Government came to nothing. And I’m convinced any Government led by Nigel Farage would give us nothing, as they have said they want to scrap Northern Powerhouse Rail.

“We’re grateful the Government is backing this 100 per cent.”

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A cobbled street in West Yorkshire home to the “cosiest place to eat” has been named among the prettiest in Britain.

Main Street in the charming village of Haworth was highlighted by The Telegraph alongside the likes of Steep Hill in Lincoln.

The publisher explained: “From the cobbled, quaint and quirky to the elegant, sweeping and grand, from the history-drenched to the Instagram-primped, the UK has many good-looking thoroughfares.

“Having considered alleys, avenues, crescents, cut-throughs, side roads, back streets and boulevards across the country, we’ve come up with 20 of the prettiest.”

To curate the list, The Telegraph said it focused on streets “with something or many things of public interest” such as a wonky pub, a haunted hotel, a “cracking” café or independent boutique shops.

Take a look at all of Britain’s prettiest streets online in this article.

Why is Haworth’s Main Street among the UK’s prettiest?

The publisher shared that “it’s impossible to disassociate this Pennines-tucked village from its most famous family, the Brontës”.

However, back when the sisters lived here during the mid-19th century, Haworth “wasn’t nearly so charming” as it is now, according to reports.

From cafés to pubs and all the hidden gems in between, this historical street in Haworth has a lot to offer.

The Telegraph commented: “Cleaned up now, its cobbled Main Street is a delightful rise of millstone grit cottages, where you’ll find many a Brontë-themed business – Wuthering Arts gallery, the Writer’s Bloc café – and the 16th-century Black Bull Inn, where Branwell was a regular; the Brontë Parsonage (now a museum) is on neighbouring Church Street.”

Just some of the other standout businesses that reside on Main Street include:

Also along the pretty street, you can find Haworth Old Post Office which was recently revealed as the “cosiest place to eat”.

The café has a remarkable link with history in the village, as it still has the original post office counter where the iconic Brontë sisters would send their novel manuscripts to their publishers back in the day.

In an Instagram video, The Yorkshireman, who is a popular local travel and food expert, shared: "Expect tonnes of cosy dishes on the menu, reflecting the season – from warming camembert to comforting burgers, alongside an array of small plates and mains, all designed to satisfy those food cravings with hearty flavours and local ingredients.

"Flavour was truly at the heart of everything, from the garlic sourdough and chutney with the camembert, to the inventive burger taking on different themes.

“Everything is just a little bit special, from seasonal hot chocolates and cocktails to the iced drinks and autumnal coffees, which of course change all the time, so there’s something new to try each visit.

5 Perfect Spots for a Cosy Winter Staycation in the UK

“It’s a beautiful lease of life for the old post office and a must-visit next time you’re in Haworth.”

Elsewhere, Haworth was also named as one of the UK’s best places to visit this winter by Time Out as it has “something undeniably wintery about it – its proximity to the Moors which inspired Wuthering Heights, perhaps.”

Travel writer Liv Kelly wrote: “Leeds was an amazing place to be a student, don’t get me wrong, but when we needed a cheeky hit of wholesome and a Sunday away from the city, my friends and I would pile into someone’s hatchback (for just an hour’s drive) and head to Haworth for the afternoon.

“It’s beautiful there, and with the handful of pubs adorned year-round with little lights, shops selling hand-decorated chocolates and a whole space full of antique clocks, it was a much needed breath of fresh Yorkshire air away from the student metropolis.”

Do you think Haworth has one of Britain’s prettiest streets? Let us know in the comments below.

Engineers working on the Transpennine Route Upgrade have made significant strides over the festive period at various worksites across West Yorkshire, delivering key improvements that will pave the way for faster, greener journeys.

In Mirfield, a reconfigured station reopened on December 27 following intensive work over the previous days.

The station now boasts a new track configuration, a new footbridge, better platforms, improved lighting, and modern information screens.

The work is another step towards creating a four-track railway through the area, separating the two fast lines from the two slow lines.

Meanwhile, Christmas Day saw major work taking place in Deighton, where the Whitacre Street road bridge was demolished. Heavy machinery was on site to knock down the structure, which is too low for the overhead wires needed for electrification to pass beneath.

A replacement roadbridge will be built as part of the major revamp of Deighton Station.

Cranes were also on site over Christmas at the A62 Leeds Road worksite, between Deighton and Bradley, Huddersfield, as work to construct a replacement bridge continues.

Work is also progressing on improvements to Batley railway station.

The steel structure for a new footbridge has been installled, while the edging for the ongoing platform extension work is now in place.

The footbridge, which will include lifts, runs between the two platforms and entrance, making the station accessible for everyone while allowing for the underpass to be closed.

The platforms are being extended by 150 meters, allowing longer trains with more seats at the station.

Further east, major work is now underway at Church Fenton. A 32-day closure is allowing teams to install and test 70 new signals, remodel and install over 3km of track and realign platforms 3 and 4 at Church Fenton station.

A level crossing on Rose Lane, Chruch Fenton, has been closed in recent weeks, while the nearby footbridge has been demolished.

In order to maintain access across the railway for residents of Rose Lane and the two local farms, a new access road and highway bridge has been built. This large structure opened recently.

Engineers are also continuing work to install overhead line equipment to power electric trains. More than 25 per cent of the route is now electrified, namely the sections between York and Church Fenton, and from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge.

At Huddersfield station, cranes have been on site to lift scaffolding into place to allow work to restore the historic Euston-style roof to be completed safely. Sections of the roof to the east and west of the station have already been restored, but the central section is still in need of attention. Much work has already taken place at Huddersfield Station.

The TRU project is a multi-billion-pound investment to transform journeys between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York—reducing carbon emissions and improving reliability for decades to come.

James Richardson, Managing Director for the Transpennine Route Upgrade said: "This year has produced so many achievements and what we're doing across the programme will not just improve journey times and reliability, but better connect towns and cities across the North.

TRU is a key enabler to unlock potential in our communities and support regional economic growth, and we are looking forwards to another successful year in 2026."

THE Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, has officially opened Bradford College’s new skills development space for the creative leaders of tomorrow.

The Producing Academy is an exciting new facility designed to nurture the wave of creative talent needed across West Yorkshire, helping to position the region as a national powerhouse for the creative industries.

Covering Music Production & Broadcast Media, Digital Storytelling, Fashion & Photography, and Sports & Games Development, The Producing Academy will offer exceptional training that shapes and nurtures local creative talent to meet regional and national skills gaps.

Sarah Towan, Bradford College Vice Principal - Recruitment & Communication, explained: “The Producing Academy at Bradford College is designed for the film-makers behind the lens, the sound engineers shaping future music, the journalists and content creators changing society, and the innovators in fashion, photography, gaming, and digital arts.

“Bringing all these disciplines together under one roof, the Academy launches as Bradford’s creative energy remains in the national spotlight following the success of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

“Through cutting-edge courses in producing, content creating, digital storytelling, entrepreneurship and influencer culture, we’re building the next generation of CreateTechs backed by some of the biggest brands in the content industry.

“We’re not just teaching skills - we’re opening doors. Our students will gain real-world experience, industry mentorship, and progress to organisations that are leading a multi-billion-pound industry.”

West Yorkshire has the fastest growing creative sector in England outside London, which is currently worth around £2.2 billion to the regional economy. There are nearly 7,000 creative businesses, employing over 100,000 people.

An ambitious plan to supercharge West Yorkshire’s creative industries was recently unveiled, which aims to grow the region’s creative economy to £4.1 billion by 2035, and create 50,000 new jobs.

The special launch event held in the David Hockney Building, home of the new Academy, invited representatives from across culture, sport and entertainment in the region to see the students in action.

Tracey Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “There’s so much talent and ambition in West Yorkshire, and Bradford’s year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture is inspiring the next generation.

“I’m thrilled that this new academy will help more creatives to unleash their potential in a stronger, brighter region that works for all.”

* BRADFORD College students enjoyed a hands-on learning experience as Regal Foods Mary Earle led a specialist cheesecake masterclass in the College’s newly upgraded training kitchens.

The session marked another significant milestone in a partnership that continues to grow, bringing industry expertise directly into the classroom.

The event follows a substantial investment from Regal Foods, who have funded upgrades to the College’s catering facilities to help bridge the gap between education and real-world industry environments. These enhancements include new commercial induction hobs, professional baking utensils and high-performance appliances, ensuring students train with the same equipment used in modern professional kitchens.

Regal Foods’ investment and ongoing involvement are helping create a vibrant, industry-informed learning environment, ensuring students are inspired, supported, and prepared for success.

* BRADFORD College was proud to host the final Collaborative Social Value meeting of 2025, bringing together an outstanding group of supply chain partners to celebrate a year of shared achievements and community impact.

One of the standout moments was witnessing the incredible mountain of children’s toys donated to the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF). This generous contribution, made possible through the collective efforts of Considerate Constructors Scheme, Jo Rieny, Ace Partitions & Ceilings Ltd, Precision Facades, G&H, and GRK Civils, demonstrated the powerful social value that can be created when the construction industry comes together with a shared purpose.

Staff and students were delighted to welcome attendees, with a special mention to Construction student Joseph, who impressed guests by leading a hands-on introduction to bricklaying. Judging by the enthusiasm (and the brickwork produced), a few visitors may need to return for extra tuition before switching careers!

* BRADFORD College has been crowned a winner at this year’s UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards, delivered by EAUC in association with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Now in their 21st year, the awards recognise sustainability innovation and leadership in post-16 education across the UK and Ireland.

This year’s awards saw 112 finalists from 76 institutions shortlisted, with 23 winners and 24 highly commended awards announced at a glittering ceremony at the Library of Birmingham.

Bradford College won the ‘Benefitting Society (Small Organisation)’ category for its work with The Welcome Café. This college space that offers refugees and people seeking asylum the opportunity to gain practical training in catering and hospitality.

As a winner in an international category, Bradford College will automatically progress to the International Green Gown Awards as a finalist, which will take place in 2026.