At least seven cars skidded and crashed on ice on Highfield Road on Monday after temperatures again dropped below zero. Several of the motorists were involved in a pile-up.

The road – which is home to a number of vital services, including a school, a doctors' surgery, a dentist and a chemist – was not part of Wakefield Council's gritting route.

PCSOs from the South Kirkby neighbourhood police team (NPT) were forced to direct traffic and pedestrians away from the area.

And officers also lent a hand to grit the road before council officials arrived.

For the full story see this week's Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express.

Also in this week's paper:

- A bypass for South Elmsall has been given the swerve in favour of plans which could see a 40 per cent increase in town centre traffic.

- Youngsters in South Kirkby have put together a funding bid to develop a youth centre.

- Members of the public were thrown out of a Hemsworth Town Council meeting this week after question time chaos.

- The Co-op petrol station and adjoining Co-op supermarket are in the process of being sold to a mystery buyer.

- A South Kirkby arsonist has been jailed for setting his home alight, while he was still inside.

- Find out how you can Give to the Prince of Wales Hospice by volunteering your time.

- It's your last chance to try to win a new look courtesy of a South Elmsall beauty salon.

In sport:

- Frickley Athletic boss Billy Heath is calling on the club's fans to act as a help and not a hindrance and help the Blues to UniBond Premier League survival.

- Kinsley Raiders eased their relegation fears with a thrilling 30-28 victory over Hunslet Warriors A.

All this and more in your Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express.

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