The family of 12-year-old boy who was sadly killed in a hit-and-run while trying to cross the M62 motorway over the weekend have paid tribute to him.
The boy has been named as Callum Rycroft from Leeds.
Paying tribute to her son, Callum’s mother described him as “a beautiful happy soul” who was “unique, great fun, and larger than life”.
She explained that he always brought “light, laughter, and noise into any room”, which led him to having a “massive impact on everyone who met him” – adding that “the house is so quiet without him here”.
“We are devastated at what has happened,” she continued in her tribute.
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“We are very grateful for the support and kind comments we have received… [but we] request that people respect our wish for privacy at this difficult time”.
A 12-year-old boy who died following a collision on the M62 has been named as Callum Rycroft.
Officers have tonight charged Matthew Rycroft, 36, with causing/allowing the death of a child and failing to provide a specimen.
— West Yorkshire Police (@WestYorksPolice) August 7, 2023
The family tributes paid to Callum come as officers are continuing enquiries into the collision in which a Toyota C-HR car struck the 12-year-old on the eastbound carriageway of the M62, between junctions 25 and 26 near Cleckheaton, at around 9:50pm this past Saturday (5 August).
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As previously disclosed by West Yorkshire Police, it’s believed Callum had been walking on the motorway with a man after an earlier collision involving an Audi Q5 on the slip road to Hartshead Moor services.
No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in that collision.
A 47-year-old male from Bolton – who was the driver of the Toyota – was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving earlier yesterday, but he has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
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Were you on the M62 between junctions 25 and 26 last night?
A 12-year-old boy has died after being struck by a vehicle. The driver didn't stop at the scene and we need to identify them.
— West Yorkshire Police (@WestYorksPolice) August 6, 2023
Meanwhile, 36-year-old Matthew Rycroft, of Nowell View in Leeds, will also appear before Leeds Magistrates Court after previously being arrested, and then subsequently charged, with causing/allowing the death of a child in an incident.
He was also charged with failing to provide a specimen.
Police are continuing to appeal, and asking anyone who was driving along the M62 between Hartshead Moor and the M606 on Saturday night between 9:30pm and 9:50pm, to check any dashcam footage they may have of this incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team by using 101 Live Chat or by calling 101, quoting log 1786 of 5 August.
Featured Image – West Yorkshire Police
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Body of woman found in River Mersey last year finally identified after ‘extensive’ investigation
Emily Sergeant
The body of woman who was found in the River Mersey last year has finally been identified.
Following what has been described as an ‘extensive investigation’ by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team to determine the identity of the body, which was sadly discovered in the river adjacent to Chorlton Water Park on 21 March 2024, the family of the victim has now been informed and supported by specialist officers.
The victim has been formally named as 38-year-old Laura Stanley, who was originally from Derbyshire but was living in Stockport.
After the body was discovered, and ‘exhaustive and determined’ investigation by GMP officers began to identify here, including detailed checks of both national and international databases.
The Major Incident Team (MIT) also closely worked in collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile, which eventually culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.
Following several media appeals, a relative of Laura contacted officers and then a DNA match was confirmed through a familial link.
“Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure,” Laura’s family said in a heartbreaking tribute to her.
“She was generous, thoughtful, caring and always keen to volunteer within the community. Laura was a proud and loving mum and she will be greatly missed by her girls and all of her friends and family who loved her dearly.”
The River Mersey, across from Chorlton Water Park, where Laura’s body was discovered / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
While Laura has now been identified, police say further investigations will take place to understand her last movements, the events that led to her death, and her discovery in the river.
Additionally, as is standard practice, GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate is also reviewing a previous missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body, which will determine prior contact relating to Laura, and whether the appropriate measures were enacted.
#UPDATE | A woman who was discovered in the River Mersey last year has been identified following an extensive investigation by officers in GMP’s Major Incident Team.
Thank you to those of you who have shared our appeals over the last year.
Anyone who knew Laura and thinks they may be able to assist with the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024.
Alternatively, you can contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
It is currently believed that Laura was last seen around January 2024.
Featured Image – GMP
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More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline
Emily Sergeant
More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.
This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.
In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.
But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.
While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.
A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.
Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.
But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.
“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”
Emily Sergeant -
8th August 2023 
