'˜Essential services' will remain open over the Christmas period

Services including home care, children’s social work, residential care and the council’s contact centre will continue to be provided between Christmas and New Year. But services including most of the district’s sports and leisure facilities, libraries and museums will shut for the festive period.

Council chief executive Joanne Roney, said: “We have decided to close non-essential services over the festive period again this year.

“We have found that some facilities are used very little over this time, so by closing them we are able to make savings on overheads, such as heating and lighting. It is important that we keep essential services running and these will be open for those who need them.

“We will protect vulnerable people, work to keep roads open in winter weather and collect household waste.

“As in previous years, we will have staff on standby in the event of any emergencies or severe weather.”

The council said letters and calendars had been distributed to homes across the district with collection dates for household waste. Waste and recycling centres will be open each day except Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Day.

For more details of specific opening times, visit the council website at www.wakefield.gov.uk/xmastimes

To contact the council through the holiday period, call 0345 8 506 506 or ring Social Care Direct on 0345 8 503 503.