A 49-year-old man has died after falling down a grate near the centre of Heckmondwike early today.

Police got a call at 12.15am to King Street reporting a man was in difficulty.

Emergency services, including a technical support unit from Cleckheaton fire station, attended the scene but the man, who has not been named, was found to be dead when they arrived.

The incident was described by police as a non-suspicious sudden death and a file is now being prepared for the Coroner and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem examination.

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said the police had not informed its officers of the death but if it was found the grate in King Street was missing then it would be investigated.