The top 10 most-read Bradford stories in the last month

Although the Queen's death undeniably dominated the headlines in September 2022, this list will focus on the top 10 most-read Bradford-centric stories.

Khalil (left) and Rehman (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

10. Sawn-off double barrel shotgun blasted through front door of Bradford house containing three young children

Two men received lengthy prison sentences after a gun was fired at a house in Little Horton.

Shakeal Rehman, 34, of Haworth Road in Heaton, was jailed for life with a minimum term of eight years behind bars.

Bradford Crown Court heard that he fired the gun twice through the door of the house in Dorset Close just after midnight on January 12.

Fiesal Khalil, 43, of Whetley Lane in Manningham, was jailed for 14 years after asking Rehman to carry out the shooting.

Stephen Kershaw and police at a house in Shetcliffe Lane (Image: Newsquest/West Yorkshire Police)

9. Body found and two arrested in search for missing Bradford man

Stephen Kershaw's body was found at an address in East Bierley on September 16.

A man and woman have since been charged with his murder.

Bradford Magistrates' Court (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

8. Police charge 23 men with child sexual offences in Bradford

In September, 23 men charged with non-recent child sexual offences appeared in Bradford Magistrates' Court.

All charges relate to incidents on one female victim which are alleged to have occurred in the city between 2007 and 2011.

The Broadway shopping centre (Image: Newsquest)

7. Major new store to open in The Broadway - with more announcements coming soon 

There was a lot of buzz when the city centre shopping centre announced the arrival of international sports retailer Lids.

Located in the Petergate Mall, the 1,200sq ft store, which opened later in the month, became the brand’s 20th store in the UK.

Some of the fly-tipping dumped in Haworth (Image: Google)

6. Fly-tipper claimed he had 'no alternative' other than to dump waste in Haworth 

Two men who conspired to fly-tip were ordered to pay hundreds of pounds in fines and costs.

On April 19 large piles of waste, including cardboard boxes and plastic wrapping, were discovered on Brow Top Road and Penistone Hill Country Park.

When crews from Bradford Council came to remove the waste, they found numerous boxes had the address of a Manningham company, My Perfect Gift.

Mohammed Sabeel Jamil, of Morningside, admitted to two counts of fly-tipping, telling the court he was the man who dumped the waste at the two beauty spots.

Mohammed Iftakar, of Ollerdale Close in Allerton, admitted failing to ensure a person who he had paid to dispose of their waste – Jamil – was a legitimate waste disposal worker.

He also admitted the same charges on behalf of the company – based on Manningham Lane.

Landlord of The Wickham Arms Hotel Stephen Hey has seen his bills go up by 500 per cent per year (Image: Google)

5. Long-time landlord would have to charge £16 a pint to pay £50k bills

With the cost of living crisis in full flow, a landlord of over 30 years was fearful he may be driven out of business with his bills already going up from £10,000 to almost £50,000 a year.

Stephen Hey, 74, has been running The Wickham Arms Hotel in Cleckheaton for 32 years.

In recent months, the landlord has seen a dramatic increase in his electricity charges and now fears for his livelihood.

The Station Masters in Bingley, pictured, is closing its doors amid the cost of living crisis (Image: Google)

4. Fish and chip restaurant forced to close amid quadrupling bills and rising costs

A business that did close due to the crisis this past month was Bingley's The Station Masters.

Faced with the reality of rising electricity costs, business owners Matt and Jo Hogg announced its closure “with sadness and regret”.

The restaurant’s annual electricity bill was set to more than quadruple from £8,500 to £36,000.

Some of the employees at Chicken Cottage in Shipley celebrating their win (Image: Google)

3. Popular Bradford district takeaway thrilled to be named best in Yorkshire

In more positive business news, Chicken Cottage, on Bradford Road in Shipley, was named the best eatery in the region.

The takeaway came through a field of stiff competition to earn the England Business Awards at a ceremony at Leeds' Marriott Hotel.

Lids, which sells US sports goods, opened up a new store at The Broadway in Bradford last month (Image: Google)

2. Major name opens new store at Bradford shopping centre

The opening of Lids was even bigger news to our readers.

With that in mind, we thought it would be good to take a tour around the new store.

Kirkgate Shopping Centre (Image: Newsquest)

1. Kirkgate Shopping Centre to be demolished as part of major city centre changes

Without a doubt, the biggest story to hit the city in September was the announcement Kirkgate would be pulled down in the coming years.

Bradford Council bought the almost 50-year-old shopping centre for £15.5m with a view to demolishing it as part of its long-standing plans to create a “city village”.

As part of the shake-up, retail giant Primark will relocate from Kirkgate into the former Debenhams unit in the Broadway Shopping Centre, with other retailers offering support to move into the city centre’s many other vacant units.