| Hartshead Moor Services | |
|---|---|
| County | West Yorkshire |
| Road | M62 Motorway |
| Coordinates | |
| Operator | Welcome Break |
| Previous operator(s) | Ross[1] |
| Date opened | 1973[2] |
| Website | Welcome Break |
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Hartshead Moor services (West Yorkshire)
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Hartshead Moor services is a motorway service station on the M62 in West Yorkshire. It is the highest service station in the United Kingdom.[3]
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On 4 February 1974 a bomb was detonated on a coach ferrying British Army and Royal Air Force personnel from and to the bases at Catterick and Darlington during a period of industrial strike action on the trains. The incident occurred shortly after midnight while most of those aboard were sleeping.[4] Twelve people were killed, with over fifty being injured.
A memorial plaque was installed in memory of those who were killed, situated in the entrance hall of the westbound section of the service area, which was used as a first aid station for those wounded in the blast.[5] A memorial service was held at the service area in February 2004.[6] In 2009 a new memorial was created outside the service area at the wishes of the relatives of those killed.[7]
In December 2005 the RSPCA, working with the BBC filmed the sale of an African puff adder at the service area, exploiting a legal loophole to sell on the snake.[8] It was discovered in April 2006 that the service area's toilets were frequently being used for homosexual activity.[9]
Alpine Cleaning Services, who successfully pitched for investment on the television show, Dragons' Den, opened one of their first truck washing facilities at the service area in August 2006.[10]
The service station is one of fourteen for which large murals were commissioned from artist David Fisher in the 1990s, designed to reflect the local area and history.[11]
The services are located between junctions 25 and 26 of the M62.
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