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 Harehills in 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”.
“We are devastated at what has happened,” she continued in her tribute.
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 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”.
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).
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 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
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.
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
Leeds
Leeds Festival 2026 – drinks prices for beer, cider, wine, spirits and more
Leeds Festival 2026 is officially underway and we've rounded up drinks prices at the bars on the festival site.
While many of us will be sipping on warm cans of cider and boxes of wine at the camp sites, you can't take any of your own alcohol into the arena (where all the stages are) itself.
So you'll need to budget for drinks over the course of the weekend if you want to watch the headliners with a pint in hand.
And with headline performances from the likes of Fontaines D.C., Raye, Florence and the Machine and Dave, there's masses of amazing live music on the horizon at Leeds Festival 2026.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
We're already on site at Leeds Festival ready to bring you all the action and updates from this massive weekend - staring with, importantly, drinks prices.
So, let's get into it...
This year you're looking at paying around £7 of beer and £7.50 £7.50 for a pint of cider.
Different for this year, is you'll get 10% off if paying with a Paypal debit card which you can get for free - which we think is pretty class and well worth your time.
You can take your own empty water bottles in to refill at water stations around the festival site.
You're also allowed to bring in sealed water/soft drinks which are 500ml or less.
And if you're taking your own booze into the campsites, remember that there's no glass allowed, so you'll need to decant anything into plastic bottles.
Here are all your drinks prices for Leeds Festival 2026
Beer and cider
Budweiser - £7 (£6.30 with Paypal discount)
Corona Extra - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Crisp Apple - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime - £7.70 (£6.93 with Paypal discount)
Rose - 175ml £10 / btl £35 (£9/£31.5 with Paypal discount)
Italian sparkling - 200ml £10 (£9 with Paypal discount)
No and Low
Budweiser Zero - £5.80 (£5.22 with Paypal discount)
Water - £2.50 (£2.25 with Paypal discount)
And that should just about do you in terms of booze - as always, please drink responsibly and look after each other.
For all the other important information, you can consult our complete 2026 Leeds Festival guide down below.
Featured image - The Hoot Leeds
Leeds
Leeds Festival warning issued as police announce speed cameras and traffic restrictions
Clementine Hall
Leeds Fest is almost here, but festival-goers heading to Bramham Park by car have been warned to take extra care on the roads.
Driving to Leeds Festival has never been particularly easy, but West Yorkshire Police have issued a warning to those driving by car in an attempt to make it somewhat easier.
Ahead of Leeds Festival 2026, temporary traffic management measures will be in place from Wednesday 26 August until Monday 31 August.
The measures are designed to improve road safety, reduce congestion, and help ensure the safe movement of the tens of thousands of people expected to attend the event.
Speed camera enforcement vans will be operating throughout the festival period alongside clearways surrounding the festival site.
Police have warned that drivers caught breaking the temporary restrictions could face prosecution, so it's definitely worth keeping an eye out for the signage as you approach the festival.
Superintendent Dan Wood said: “Leeds Festival is one of the largest events in West Yorkshire and attracts a significant increase in traffic to the local road network.
"The temporary speed restrictions and clearways are being introduced to help keep everyone safe, including festival-goers, local residents and road users.
"We would ask all motorists to pay close attention to the temporary signage in place and allow extra time for their journeys. Speed enforcement will be carried out during the event, and we encourage drivers to comply with all restrictions for their own safety and that of others."
Festival attendees are also being urged to follow the event signage rather than relying solely on their sat nav. Dedicated routes will direct different categories of visitors to the correct locations, including:
Camping entrances
Day / Non-camping ticket parking areas
Drop-off and pick-up points
Staff and authorised vehicle access routes
Motorists who follow sat nav directions alone may be directed to unsuitable routes, causing unnecessary delays for themselves and other road users.
Emily Sergeant -
8th August 2023 
