A fundraiser has been launched to help the family of Leeds brewery owner Jesus Moreno cover the costs of his funeral.
The co-founder of Piglove Brewery disappeared last summer but his body was only found this month following an eight-month search.
A Go Fund Me page has now been set up to help his loved ones cover the cost of his funeral, which will take place in May at Cottingley Crematorium.
Afterwards, family and friends will raise a beer at 'one of his happy places, Piglove by the River.'
So far, the fundraiser has beaten its target of £4,000 with its total sitting at £4,160 at the time of writing.
A statement from Jesus's family and friends reads: "To all of you that have supported our continued search for Jesus Moreno, thank you.
"We are sorry to tell you that after over eight months of heartache our beloved ‘Chucho’ has been found.
"His funeral service will be held at Cottingley Crematorium, Leeds on Monday 22nd May @ 12:15pm.
"We invite all of you, who are able, to attend and to please join us in raising a beer to his memory afterward at one of his happy places Piglove by the River.
"We are all devastated to hear of his passing and were not prepared for the high costs of a funeral service.
"We have been inundated with well wishes and during this difficult time are reaching out to you to help.
Jesus Moreno, 41, was the co-founder of craft brewery Pig Love and a much-loved member of Leeds’ local hospitality scene.
According to West Yorkshire Police, he was last seen boarding a Harrogate-bound bus from Leeds bust station in the early hours of the morning before getting off on the A61 Harrogate Road in the vicinity of Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick at 6.39am.
He was last seen on CCTV near to Harewood Bridge at 6.14am that morning, but family and friends maintain they don’t know why he would have gone to Harrogate – insisting that he was in “good spirits all weekend and up early, and ready for work on Monday.”
The staff at Piglove said at the time: “Nobody knows why Jesus chose to travel to Harrogate. His daughter and all his family are extremely worried for his well-being.No one has seen or heard from Jesus since."
Featured image - West Yorkshire Police
Leeds
Architects secure planning permission for jaw-dropping ‘boulder house’ on Ilkley Moor
A house that looks good enough for James Bond is set to be built on Ilkley Moor.
Is that a formation of angular grey rocks sitting atop of the Yorkshire dales? No, it's a house.
The wildly contemporary structure, which has huge irregular-shaped windows and a natural outdoor pool, is based off the famous Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
It will be built just down the road from them too, on green belt land which is the garden of a home off Heber's Ghyll Drive.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
It is the work of Harrogate-based architects Shaw & Jagger, who said the project was passed through the country house clause which allows things to be built on green belt for buildings of "exceptional quality".
The house itself has been named 'Fomorian', after a supernatural race of giants in Irish mythology. The name takes inspiration from the mythical giant Rombald who is said to have roamed on Ilkley Moor.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
Shaw & Jagger wrote: "The design approach was to propose a scheme that is intrinsically linked to the spirit of its place. Fomorian is of its place, part of the Moors, its geology and its spirit.
"We took cues from local folklore, the surrounding rocks; ancient carvings, standing stones and escarpments that are synonymous with the landscape.
"The building depicts a series of monolithic elements embedded in the earth as the wild, dramatic environment looms around, attempting to overcome them. The building is new, yet part of this ancient landscape.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
"Fomorian is to be built over the next couple of years and will provide family accommodation consisting of 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
"It was important to offer the client viable outside space therefore a paved courtyard garden allows external living to be within the heart of the plan. The abstract rock forms allow the design to have exciting internal spaces with large irregular windows designed to maximise views out across the valley."
Leeds railway station reopening delayed AGAIN due to problems with lift
Clementine Hall
The highly anticipated opening of Leeds City Station's new entrance has been further delayed.
The £46.1m Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway has been in the works since 2022, with the original target for completion set for autumn 2025.
That date subsequently slipped to summer 2026, then September, then October, and now...well who knows?
This time, Leeds City Council have confirmed that the problem is to do with the lifts that connect New Station Street and Bishopgate.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
These lifts will allow the ever so turbulent taxi rank to move from the temporary arrangement at the rear of the station to its new home on Bishopgate Street.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said on the recent setback: "Having opened the pavement along Bishopgate Street and sections of New Station Street, unfortunately we have encountered an issue with one of the lifts, which is delaying essential safety testing from being completed.
"We are working to resolve this as soon as possible so we can open the final parts of the scheme imminently."
When it does finally open, there should be plenty to like. The scheme is designed to make the area around the station more pedestrian-friendly, with improved public space, wider walking routes, better cycling facilities, a new cycle hub and step-free access between Bishopgate Street and New Station Street.
The taxi rank will also move to Bishopgate Street, with a new shelter and kerbside boarding.
So, after years of barriers, diversions, temporary arrangements, engineering works and at least one deeply controversial letter (lest we forget 'Welcome to Leeps') the end is apparently in sight.
We'll keep you updated with any updates and opening date of the new station, but we wouldn't hold your breath if the last couple of months are anything to go by.
Georgina Pellant -
24th April 2023 
