BBC Radio Leeds

The top stories from across Leeds and West Yorkshire so far today include:

• A new report says the cost of last year's devastating floods across parts of Yorkshire has now reached £500m
• It's claimed the number of Syrian refugees in Yorkshire will more than double by the end of 2018
• Network Rail are again warning people to be extra careful at level crossings after a cyclist came within inches of being hit by a train near Pudsey

Larry Budd
Political reporter, BBC Radio Leeds

The cost of last year's devastating floods across parts of Yorkshire has now reached £500m, a new report suggests. 

Image source, PA

The report looks at how Leeds City Region, including Calderdale, Bradford, Kirklees and Wakefield as well as areas of North and South Yorkshire, coped with the Boxing Day floods.

It looks at the damage to homes and businesses, as well as repairs to roads and flood defences, and concludes that 4,000 homes and 2,000 businesses were affected by flooding.

The cost of repairing bridges, roads and electricity substations comes to £100m, the report says.

Nick Wilmshurst
BBC Local Live, Leeds

I often like to share Leeds Museums' Object of the Week, and this week's is very poignant. 

More a set of objects, it's a collection of a Leeds soldiers' letters home from the World War One, external.

Image source, Leeds City Council

They're on display at Leeds City Museum and were written by Pte Leonard Wragby, who sent them back to Leeds from France in 1917.

They give a heartbreaking insight into life in the trenches and his desire to come home to his wife Annie and their daughter Margaret.

Sadly, Pte Wragby died just two days later at the battle of Arras on 12 December 1917.

After her husband's death, Annie never married again.

The letters were found in the back of a wardrobe in 2004.

Image source, Leeds City Council

Yorkshire Evening Post

A driver who killed a cyclist while driving “like an idiot” was told he had shown no remorse for his victim’s death as was jailed for six years, external.  

Image source, Yorkshire Evening Post

Personally, I go with the mantra that everything tastes better deep fried, but have you ever considered sticking some sprouts in there?

A West Yorkshire chip shop says its battered sprouts have been so successful this year - they're now using them to raise money for charity.   

Terry's in Huddersfield says its deep fried pigs in blankets and stuffing are also quite popular. Yum!

Northern Powergrid says it wants to reassure its customers in Yorkshire that it's prepared should the forecast gales affect its network, external.

Image source, PA

It follows Met Office warnings for Storm Barbara, which is anticipated to hit our county from Friday morning onwards.

Current forecasts indicate potential gusts of up to 70mph, with a further storm system of strong winds also forecast for Christmas day. 

Northern Powergrid says it's "already taking action to ensure we have extra engineers ready to restore power and repair any damage".

Hundreds of MPs have applied for enhanced security measures for their homes and constituency offices since the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox. 

Image source, Brendan Cox

The BBC can reveal that the increase in demand could treble last year's security bill.

In January, an "enhanced security" package was announced for politicians after an increased number of threats. 

After Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death by Thomas Mair on 16 June more than 200 MPs applied for the "enhanced" package.

Two years ago the bill for this work was £70,000, last year that figure doubled, and the BBC understands it could now top £500,000.    

Footage of a cyclist in Leeds who came within inches of being hit by a train has been released as a railway safety warning.

The incident, which took place at Ducketts crossing near Pudsey, saw a cyclist ignoring warning lights and narrowly avoiding a passing train. 

Over the past year-and-a-half, 18 similar incidents have been recorded at the same crossing:

Super League side Huddersfield Giants sign Illawarra Cutters prop Shannon Wakeman on a two-year contract.

A yellow "be aware" warning's been issued by the Met Office, external, with very strong winds forecast for Yorkshire and the north of England on Friday and Saturday.

Image source, AP

Gusts of 60 to 70mph are expected as Storm Barbara hits the UK.

The Met Office has warned of the potential for some structural damage, though that's more likely in the north west, as well as disruption to power supplies and travel.

Barbara is only the second name designated this season, which began on 1 October, and follows Storm Angus, which brought high winds and rain to parts of Britain in November.

We all know that drinking and driving is not a good thing to be doing, but here's the proof:

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

This driver managed to crash into a bus stop on Stoney Rock Lane in Leeds. Luckily no-one including the driver was injured.

But the person behind the wheel was arrested for drink-driving.

A breast cancer awareness poster in Leeds Railway Station which has accumulated messages from scores of women will stay in place indefinitely.

Image source, Claire Gillespie

The poster was put up five years ago and features Michelle Qualtrough, a cancer survivor from Surrey. 

But Network Rail says the poster will stay where it is after so many messages were added.

Michelle, who has family in Leeds, says it's an amazing thing to have happened after a campaign which finished in 2011.

Fire chiefs have released CCTV footage of the moment a man suffered minor injuries when an e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket.

The eight-second clip, just released by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, was captured on camera in the Leeds Trinity branch of Boots in September.

Fire Investigator Jamie Lister says the footage highlights the dangers of storing batteries alongside metal objects, external:

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

You'll have heard about Storm Barbara who's on her way over the next few days, but what does today hold in store?

Watch my full forecast below:

BBC Travel

More on that multi-vehicle accident on the M1 southbound:

There's one lane closed and plenty of queues around J42 for M62 (Lofthouse).

Highways England is talking about delays of 10 minutes, but it expects the problem to be cleared in the next half-hour.

Image source, Highways England/Crown Copyright

Nick Wilmshurst
BBC Local Live, Leeds

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of news, sport, weather and travel for West Yorkshire. I'll be here keeping you up-to-date with the latest until 18:00.

Look at all of this sunshine on the weather chart:

Don't get used to it, though. As they say, the storm's-a-comin'. When I say "they", I'm assuming someone said that in a film once.  

More on those storms in a short time.

On the roads, the M1 southbound is looking grim. There's been a multi-vehicle accident at J42.

Image source, Highways England/Crown Copyright

Footage of a cyclist coming within inches of being hit by a train is released as a railway safety warning.

Fire chiefs release CCTV footage of the moment an e-cigarette battery explodes in a man's pocket.

Nick Wilmshurst
BBC Local Live, Leeds

Well that's all from me for today, I'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel for West Yorkshire. 

Updates on breaking news and travel will continue throughout the night. But before I go, let's look back at some of our stories from today:

1. Hundreds turn out for funeral of Sikh man who tried to "build bridges" in the community
2. Fresh appeal over baby boy who died after being left on a vicarage doorstep
3. Sisters collect teddy bears for sick children in hospital
4. There are certain things you should call 999 for. This is not one of them
5. I can see my house from here! (Not really, but if the picture was better resolution then just maybe)

See you tomorow.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus

Bradford's Khidmat Centre in Spencer Road is inviting older people over for Christmas Dinner on December 25 rather than spend it alone, external.

Image source, Telegraph and Argus