A dog once dubbed as 'Britain's most unwanted' has finally found a home after waiting 1,700 days at Dogs Trust Leeds.
Meet Jake, a lurcher that first arrived at Dogs Trust Leeds when he was just one year old back in 2015.
He was found a home, but sadly due to the owner's circumstances changing he was returned in 2019.
After spending four years at the charity, Jake has now finally found his forever home as a couple from Keighley has welcomed him into their family.
Image: Dogs Trust Leeds
Jake had been passed around many homes before arriving at the Dogs Trust centre in Leeds, and staff have said they are 'delighted' to see him finally find a home.
The charity said he lacked confidence around other dogs, but the team at Leeds Dogs Trust created a special training programme to help Jake socialise and build trust with others.
Veronica and Keith Johnson, Jake's new parents, said they felt an instant connection with him after watching a video of him on a walk with one of his carers.
Veronica said: “I knew the moment that I saw the video of Jake on his holidays that I wanted him to come and live with us. He’d had a tough start to life and lacked in confidence, but it was clear from our first meeting that he was an affectionate and friendly dog who just needed someone to give him a chance.
Image: Dogs Trust Leeds
“The introduction process was quite long, but it was important we moved at a pace Jake was happy with, and the staff at Dogs Trust Leeds supported us through it all. We love having Jake in our home. It feels like he’s been with us forever, and we couldn’t imagine life without him!”.
Kevin Johnson, one of the team at Dogs Trust Leeds added: "Four years is too long for any dog to be with us, and we were desperate to find him his forever home. Jake literally bounced out of the car, straight into his new home and on to the sofa.
"I'm not ashamed to say there was quite the lump in my throat. Seeing him happily and confidently standing at his new home front door with his family as we left was so emotional."
The countdown is really on now to one of the biggest sporting events of the year - the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will land in Leeds in just a few weeks’ time.
The upcoming cricket tournament has already shattered all previous ticket sales records, ahead of what promises to be the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged.
With just two weeks to go to the opening match between England and Sri Lanka, ticket sales have already surpassed 155,000.
And anticipation is growing for the sporting event of the summer, a 24-day spectacle played across seven iconic venues in England and Wales.
Headingley will play its part in this record-breaking tournament this summer, hosting several major games.
The action kicks off here in Leeds on Wednesday 17 June, with a double-header featuring Australia v Bangladesh and India v Netherlands.
Headingley will also host one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures - England v Scotland on Saturday 20 June.
So if you’re planning to go down for all the action, or just want to know what’s in store, here’s the essential info you need for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Leeds dates for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
The T20 trophy on a tour of Leeds
Headingley will welcome eight teams across five fixtures in June, including England, Scotland, Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and India, plus tournament newcomers Netherlands.
Wednesday 17 June - Australia v Bangladesh, Headingley - 10.30am
Wednesday 17 June - India v Netherlands, Headingley - 2.30pm
Thursday 18 June - West Indies v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
Saturday 20 June - England v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
Tuesday 23 June - Australia v Pakistan, Headingley - 6.30pm
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
This year’s ticket sales have surpassed the total fan attendance of 136,549 recorded across the entirety of the 2020 edition in Australia, highlighting the extraordinary momentum behind women’s cricket and the growing global demand for the women’s game.
Adult tickets start from just £15 in Headingley, you can grab tickets for games HERE.
What else is on?
Spirit Week has been driving up the excitement even further, with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy currently on a tour around the UK - including a great day out here in Leeds.
And when it’s England v Scotland here in Headingley, there’ll be all sorts of activations and activities across town to get everyone in the spirit of the World Cup.
The ICC and UNICEF will also be delivering Cricket 4 Good clinics in local communities, with cricketing stars giving young cricketers tips and skills training.
What the ICC have said
Headingley will host a number of T20 Women's World Cup fixtures
ICC General Manager - Events and Corporate Communications, Gaurav Saxena said: “The 2026 edition becoming the highest-selling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ever is another milestone for the women’s game.
“It not only highlights the incredible momentum behind women’s cricket but also reflects the strong cultural pull of an ICC pinnacle event, appeal for which is not limited to only the sports fans.
“This edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be our biggest tournament till date and is expected to smash attendance and viewership records in the UK and around the world. This milestone is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved and has been almost a year in the making.
“The response from fans is a testament to the bold, creative and well-executed marketing efforts of both the ICC and the ECB in the run-up to the tournament, more of which are to follow over the next four weeks.
“We look forward to welcoming fans from across the globe to England and Wales for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Tournament Director, Beth Barrett-Wild said: “Surpassing 155,000 ticket sales is an incredible milestone and a powerful signal of the momentum behind the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. To have exceeded the previous record set in Australia, before a ball has been bowled, shows just how much excitement there is for this tournament and for women’s cricket globally.
“We’ve always believed this tournament has the potential to be the biggest women’s cricket event in history, and the response from fans has been extraordinary. It reflects the growing profile of the women’s game, the strength of the teams and players on show, and the appetite for world-class sporting events across England and Wales as we build towards an unforgettable summer in 2026.”
The family-run neighbourhood Leeds restaurant that’s about more than just pizza – it’s about community
Declan Kelly
It doesn’t take long to see why this place has become such a firm favourite with the Farsley crowd.
We finally took a trip to Grumpy's Bar and Wood Fired Pizza and safe to say, you were absolutely right about this one.
Tucked away inside Sunny Bank Mills, Grumpy’s has built a huge reputation for its incredible wood-fired pizzas, laid-back atmosphere, that more or less has a proper community feel at the forefront.
Created by sisters Alex and Cassie, the family-run restaurant was even named after their dad, 'Grumpy' himself, and that personal touch runs through everything they do.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From supporting local community events to creating a genuinely welcoming space where you can rock up in trainers or stay for hours without realising, it feels like much more than just somewhere to grab food. It feels like part of the neighbourhood’s personality.
And then there’s the pizza.
Everything is made fresh in-house, and watching the team stretch out the dough before piling on all the toppings adds a bit of theatre to the whole experience.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The wood-fired pizzas are definitely the stars of the show, coming out with that perfect crispy base, soft airy crust, and smoky finish that makes you immediately think, “yeah, that’s the good stuff.”
They also offer a gluten-free base, so there’s something on the menu for everyone to dig into.
But the small plates deserve their flowers too. Dishes like their burrata are a proper crowd-pleaser, served with fresh seasonal tomatoes and bread perfect for scooping up every last bit of creamy goodness.
Add in dough balls and arancini, and suddenly the table starts looking less like a couple of starters and more like a full-on sharing feast.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One thing we loved? The personality behind the menu. A lot of the pizzas are named after famously grumpy TV and film characters, which gives the whole place a bit of humour and fits the vibe perfectly.
And while we came for the pizza, one surprise standout was the banana split dessert. Fun, nostalgic, slightly over-the-top in the best way, and exactly the kind of thing you don’t think you’ll order… until it shows up and suddenly everyone’s fighting for the last spoonful.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What makes Grumpy’s special, though, is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard - it’s casual, friendly, and welcoming.
Add in the sunny terrace, a few drinks, and a table full of pizzas shared between mates, and it’s easy to see why people end up staying way longer than planned.
There’s no rush here, just good food, good company, and a place that quietly gets everything right without making a fuss about it.
We finally get why Grumpy's Bar + Wood Fired Pizza is such a Farsley favourite… and trust us, we’ll definitely be back.
Clementine Hall -
25th March 2024 
