during the industrial revolution, pudsey was one of the most polluted areas of the uk due to its position in a slight valley between the two industrial cities of leeds and bradford. as a result, whichever way the wind blew pudsey became covered in thick soot. the temperature inversion created by the valley led to the soot becoming trapped leading to dense smogs. this is believed to have led to jokes that pigeons in pudsey park flew backwards in order to keep the soot out of their eyes.