A WOMAN found in a canal yesterday has been named locally as Lucy Spafford, with heartfelt tributes left at the side of the towpath.

West Yorkshire Police said yesterday that the body of a woman, in her 30s, had been recovered from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, near Bingley, on Wednesday morning.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

This was after the force was called at 7.49am to reports of "a concern for safety" on Wagon Lane.

A police cordon was in place on Dowley Gap Lane and Primrose Lane, as well as on the canal towpath near The Fisherman's Inn, for most of the morning.

Read more about that here...

Woodstack Festival, an annual private mini-festival which Lucy had been part of, posted on its Facebook page at 7.08am this morning.

The post said: "It is with immense sorrow, that we announce that our very own Woodstack roadie, Lucy Grace Spafford, has passed away.

"At 10am onwards from today (26.11.2020) people will be able to place flowers or light a candle in remembrance, at an area beside her boat at Dowley Gap."

At the side of the towpath, there have been heartfelt tributes, bouquets of flowers and candles left.

The tributes were centralised around a mini glass house, which had Lucy's name on the top of it and contained various candles and incense sticks. 

Some of the sticks had been lit in front of the glass house and their fragance was emanating into the air.

There was also a wreath spelling out Lucy's name, hanging from the wall, with some people planting flowers at the scene in her memory.

One of the tributes said: "To our Lucy, RIP our beautiful friend.

"We couldn't have wanted for a better mate, kind, thoughtful, friendly, loving.

"It breaks our hearts to say goodbye, but we will never forget you.

"We all have memories of our nights out, crazy nights in that we will all cherish forever.

"Love you to the moon and back, Charlie, Matt, Stefan, Del, Georgia, Bob, Ben, Dan, Charlotte, Kelly, Darren, Bird, Mikey, Ben Bird, Sarah, Barney, Sophie, Bacon, Monica, Beth, Sally, Leanna, Hannah, and 100s more people whose lives you have made better.

"RIP our love xxx."

Another said: "Lucy, thank you for so many happy memories.

"We will miss you so much.

"Love Jonni and Becky."

One bouquet of flowers had a note attached which read: "Lucy, you were such a big part of my formative years and I cannot thank you enough for that.

"There will always be a place in my heart for you.

"Lots of love, Joe."