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Featured

• The immersive tour of Rochdale, revealing hidden secrets

  Culture, music, religion and the history of the town centre Wetherspoons. Only Rochdale could weave tales of these things together into a compelling intertwing web.

• EXCLUSIVE: Labour lays out their strategy for By-election, as Candidate supports Free Breakfast Clubs

  Audio

  In an exclusive to Roch Valley Radio, we talk to the Labour Candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, Angeliki Stogia and the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Philipson about the by-election, Breakfast Clubs being rolled out across the constituency and Labour's Chances in the By-election.

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Local News

• Teen with weapon charged after pram-walking mum seriously hurt in e-bike smash

  A 19-year-old man has appeared in court charged with several offences following a serious road traffic incident in Middleton.

• Mill Gate hails record fundraising success as shoppers raise nearly £90,000 for local causes

  A Bury shopping centre has celebrated its most successful year of fundraising to date, raising more than £89,000 for local charities in 2025.

• Heywood student wins RAF cadet award for leadership and STEM dedication

  A Year 11 student at Newhouse Academy in Heywood has received a top regional award from the RAF Air Cadets in recognition of her exceptional commitment, leadership, and passion for science and aviation.

• Children’s Gardening Club aims to sow lifelong love of nature across Greater Manchester

• Bin workers injured in suspected road rage attack on Middleton street

  Three Rochdale Council bin workers were injured during a violent confrontation while on their collection round in East Middleton, with at least one requiring hospital treatment.

• Bury and Bolton theatre school earns national recognition for work with young people

  A theatre school based in Greater Manchester has been named a Trinity Champion Centre just two years after opening, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to performing arts education and community inclusion.

• New retirement living village plan tabled

  A new retirement village could soon be built in Rochdale. The development would see 49 apartments and 18 bungalows erected in the Bamford area of the borough.

• The two villages that are about see life change forever

  Looking out over the rolling fields surrounding her home, Christine Crolla points in disgust where a new town is expected to be built. The landscape between the villages of Bowlee and Simister is a bizarre mix of urban and rural life.

• Family pay tribute to ‘most humble, kind man’ killed in aircraft crash

  The family of a man who died in a light aircraft crash in Littleborough have paid tribute to him as investigations into the incident continue.

• Ramsbottom pool to close for urgent repairs from 23 February

  The swimming pool at Ramsbottom Pool and Fitness Centre will shut for up to four weeks later this month to allow essential repairs to window lintels, the council has announced.

• Half term family fun at Rochdale Town Hall promises packed week of free activities

  Families across Rochdale are being invited to enjoy a lively schedule of free and low-cost events at Rochdale Town Hall during the upcoming February half term.

• United Utilities is offering over 100 apprenticeships across the North West in its largest recruitment drive to date.

  More than 100 apprenticeship places are now open for applications at United Utilities, spanning a wide range of roles from operations and engineering to digital and environmental work.

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Local Sports

• Rochdale Hornets suffer record defeat as Wigan Warriors run in 15-try rout

  A spirited Rochdale Hornets side were comprehensively beaten 83-0 by World Club Champions Wigan Warriors in the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup, in front of the club’s biggest home crowd in over two decades.

• Dale edge past Carlisle to make it six wins in a row

  Rochdale AFC held onto top spot in the Enterprise National League with a narrow 1-0 home win over Carlisle United on Saturday afternoon.

• Rochdale voices add momentum to growing call for fairer National League promotion

  Calls from Rochdale and across Parliament to reform promotion from the National League have gathered pace after the English Football League chair said the current system is indefensible.

• Rochdale power back to first place after dominant display against Boreham Wood

  Rochdale went back top of the National League after an emphatic 4-1 win over Boreham Wood at the Crown Oil Arena.

• Rochdale RUFC pull clear of relegation rivals with commanding win over Manchester RFC

  Rochdale RUFC boosted their survival hopes with a 35–19 victory at home to Manchester RFC in a high-stakes North West League One clash on Saturday 31 January.

• Hornets fight back to beat Workington and stay unbeaten

  Late tries from Boyd and Nixon seal hard-earned win for Rochdale Hornets in home opener

• Ramsbottom United surrender two-goal cushion in dramatic 4–4 draw against Isle of Man

  Ramsbottom United hit back after two early Isle of Man strikes only to let a two goal lead slip late on.

• Bury edge past Chasetown to stay unbeaten in the league

  A first half strike by Leo Graham was all Bury needed to triumph away at Chasetown. The 1-0 victory sees the Shakers back to winning ways and maintains their unbeaten league record so far this year.

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Lifestyle

• Children’s Gardening Club aims to sow lifelong love of nature across Greater Manchester

• Bury and Bolton theatre school earns national recognition for work with young people

  A theatre school based in Greater Manchester has been named a Trinity Champion Centre just two years after opening, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to performing arts education and community inclusion.

• Ramsbottom pool to close for urgent repairs from 23 February

  The swimming pool at Ramsbottom Pool and Fitness Centre will shut for up to four weeks later this month to allow essential repairs to window lintels, the council has announced.

• Half term family fun at Rochdale Town Hall promises packed week of free activities

  Families across Rochdale are being invited to enjoy a lively schedule of free and low-cost events at Rochdale Town Hall during the upcoming February half term.

• Saturday roundup as we Sing Hosanna first and then SKA later at Ramsbottom’s Come Together Festival

  Ramsbottom stayed lively into Saturday night, 7 February, as the volunteer run Ramsbottom Come Together Festival continued a full day of activity into the night.

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Greater Manchester

• Children’s Gardening Club aims to sow lifelong love of nature across Greater Manchester

• Sadiq Khan campaigns in Gorton and Denton as Labour pushes unity message

  London mayor Sadiq Khan has joined Labour activists in Gorton and Denton as campaigning continues ahead of the local by-election, describing the contest as a choice between hope and fear.

• Family pay tribute to ‘most humble, kind man’ killed in aircraft crash

  The family of a man who died in a light aircraft crash in Littleborough have paid tribute to him as investigations into the incident continue.

• Police called as men ‘shoot the heads off’ Canada geese close to public footpath

  Police were called to land close to a reservoir after reports that geese were being shot close to a public footpath.

• United Utilities is offering over 100 apprenticeships across the North West in its largest recruitment drive to date.

  More than 100 apprenticeship places are now open for applications at United Utilities, spanning a wide range of roles from operations and engineering to digital and environmental work.

• Therme Manchester launches youth art competition to transform construction site into outdoor gallery

  A new art competition aimed at young people across Greater Manchester has been launched by Therme Manchester, with winning entries set to be displayed on a large-scale public gallery surrounding its TraffordCity site.

• Jeff Goldblum to play Manchester on first ever UK tour with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra

  Jeff Goldblum will bring his signature jazz stylings to Manchester for the first time this June as part of his debut UK tour with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.

• Printing error blamed for missing imprint on Reform UK by election leaflets

  A printing company has accepted full responsibility for the removal of a legally required imprint from election leaflets distributed on behalf of Reform UK during the Gorton and Denton by election, saying the mistake occurred during its own production process.

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Local Entertainment

• Review: Single White Female, Manchester Opera House

  Single White Female is one of those films loads of people remember from the 90s, the kind of thriller you’d stick on with friends and end up shouting at the screen by the end.

• Review: Barnum wows Manchester with circus flair and stage magic

  Lee Mead shines as the master of spectacle in a fast-paced musical filled with daring tricks and old-fashioned showmanship.

• Bury and Bolton theatre school earns national recognition for work with young people

  A theatre school based in Greater Manchester has been named a Trinity Champion Centre just two years after opening, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to performing arts education and community inclusion.

• Saturday roundup as we Sing Hosanna first and then SKA later at Ramsbottom’s Come Together Festival

  Ramsbottom stayed lively into Saturday night, 7 February, as the volunteer run Ramsbottom Come Together Festival continued a full day of activity into the night.

• Ramsbottom Come Together Festival in full swing this weekend

  This weekend is the Ramsbottom Come Together Festival, a free community arts festival spanning across 12 venues.

• Jeff Goldblum to play Manchester on first ever UK tour with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra

  Jeff Goldblum will bring his signature jazz stylings to Manchester for the first time this June as part of his debut UK tour with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.

• The immersive tour of Rochdale, revealing hidden secrets

  Culture, music, religion and the history of the town centre Wetherspoons. Only Rochdale could weave tales of these things together into a compelling intertwing web.

• Library hits the right note with ukulele loan launch in Middleton

  Dozens gather for musical morning as library scheme puts instruments in the hands of residents.

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Elections

• Sadiq Khan campaigns in Gorton and Denton as Labour pushes unity message

  London mayor Sadiq Khan has joined Labour activists in Gorton and Denton as campaigning continues ahead of the local by-election, describing the contest as a choice between hope and fear.

• Printing error blamed for missing imprint on Reform UK by election leaflets

  A printing company has accepted full responsibility for the removal of a legally required imprint from election leaflets distributed on behalf of Reform UK during the Gorton and Denton by election, saying the mistake occurred during its own production process.

• EXCLUSIVE: Labour lays out their strategy for By-election, as Candidate supports Free Breakfast Clubs

  Audio

  In an exclusive to Roch Valley Radio, we talk to the Labour Candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, Angeliki Stogia and the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Philipson about the by-election, Breakfast Clubs being rolled out across the constituency and Labour's Chances in the By-election.

• Workers Party of Britain will not stand a candidate in Gorton and Denton

  The Workers Party of Britain will not stand a candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton By-Election, after George Galloway said he would be on the ballot if Andy Burnham stood.

• Rejoin EU Party confirms candidate for Gorton and Denton by election

  The Rejoin EU Party has announced it will contest the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by election with executive committee member Joseph O’Meachair selected as its candidate.

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UK

• Butcher who cut her girlfriend in half and buried her in their Derby garden jailed for life

  A butcher who murdered her girlfriend, cut her in half and buried her body under concrete in their garden has been jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years.

• Cold weather health alert issued - as Met Office warns of incoming snow and ice

  A four-day health alert for cold weather has been issued for central and northern England.

• Motorist gets ban in court and then tries to drive himself home

  A motorist who tried to drive home immediately after leaving court with a driving ban has been handed a suspended jail sentence, police have said.

• 'Britain's loneliest sheep', Fiona, gives birth for first time

  "Britain's loneliest sheep" has given birth for the first time.

• Tottenham boss Thomas Frank sacked

  Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been sacked after just eight months in charge.

• The English city where volunteers go door-to-door asking people to stop buying Israeli products

  "People might genuinely ask us if we're antisemitic or racist," says Seymour as he briefs a crowd preparing to go door-to-door asking people to boycott Israeli goods.

• Sky to bring Disney+, Netflix, Hayu and HBO Max together under one subscription

  Sky has announced "world first" plans to bring together several streaming platforms as part a single TV subscription.

• Two boys stabbed at Kingsbury High School not in life-threatening condition, say police

  Police say two boys, aged 12 and 13, stabbed at a London school are in a stable condition.

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Entertainment

• Sky to bring Disney+, Netflix, Hayu and HBO Max together under one subscription

  Sky has announced "world first" plans to bring together several streaming platforms as part a single TV subscription.

• Prince William's first tour of Saudi Arabia ends with nature reserve visit

  The Prince of Wales has visited a nature reserve on the final day of his first tour of Saudi Arabia to learn about a programme reintroducing endangered species.

• Chappell Roan leaves talent agency led by Casey Wasserman after emails shown in Epstein files

  US singer Chappell Roan has announced she is leaving her talent agency, after emails between its founder and Ghislaine Maxwell were featured in the Epstein files.

• Prince William asked to raise case of detained Manchester man during visit to Saudi Arabia

  The Prince of Wales has been asked to raise the case of a Manchester man detained in Saudi Arabia during his first official trip to the country.

• British Museum to keep pendant linked to Henry VIII after raising £3.5m

  A gold pendant linked to Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, has been acquired by the British Museum following a successful fundraising campaign.

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Sport

• Roberto De Zerbi, Oliver Glasner or back to Mauricio Pochettino? Where will Spurs turn after Thomas Frank's sacking?

  Tottenham are looking for a sixth permanent manager in seven years after sacking Thomas Frank - who will they turn to next?

• Thomas Frank sacked by Spurs after eight months in charge: What went wrong for the former Brentford boss?

  Thomas Frank's Tottenham spell is over after just eight months.

• F1 Bahrain testing: Lando Norris tops timesheet on first day but Max Verstappen's Red Bull impresses rivals

  Lando Norris topped the timesheet for McLaren, but it was the performance of Max Verstappen's Red Bull that impressed the paddock on the first day of Formula 1's pre-season test in Bahrain.

• T20 World Cup: Steve Smith could replace Australia captain Mitchell Marsh after 'testicular bleeding' injury

  Steve Smith has been called up to Australia's T20 World Cup squad after current captain Mitchell Marsh was ruled out of their opening match with "testicular bleeding."

• Arne Slot: Liverpool boss says there's no guarantee he stays after this season if they miss out on Champions League football

  Arne Slot said there are "no guarantees" he will stay on as Liverpool boss if the club fail to qualify for next season's Champions League - but pointed to the club standing by Jurgen Klopp in similar circumstances as a good omen for him.

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Strange

• 'Britain's loneliest sheep', Fiona, gives birth for first time

  "Britain's loneliest sheep" has given birth for the first time.

• Fire-juggling unicyclist caught performing on crossing

  Police have caught a man juggling fire while riding a unicycle on a pedestrian crossing.

• Crotch enhancements: The latest controversy at the Winter Olympics

  Crotch enhancements. Banned helmets. Qualifying manipulation claims. And Russian hacking.

• Boxer loses hairpiece in the ring and blames mother's shampoo

  American boxer Jarrell Miller won his heavyweight bout in New York by a hair's breadth on Saturday - but lost his wig when the toupee started to came away.

• Climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

  American climber Alex Honnold ascended one of the world's tallest buildings on Sunday without a rope or protective equipment. 

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Videos

• Instagram and YouTube 'engineer addiction' in young people, landmark trial hears

  Instagram and YouTube have been accused of "engineer[ing] addiction in children's brains", in the opening statements of a landmark social media trial taking place in LA.

• 'Britain's loneliest sheep', Fiona, gives birth for first time

  "Britain's loneliest sheep" has given birth for the first time.

• Starmer's ex-comms chief should lose peerage over links to paedophile, says Labour chair

  Sir Keir Starmer's ex-communications chief should be stripped of his peerage over his ties to a paedophile councillor, Labour's chairwoman has said.

• Two boys stabbed at Kingsbury High School not in life-threatening condition, say police

  Police say two boys, aged 12 and 13, stabbed at a London school are in a stable condition.

• What we know about the Canada school shooting

  At least nine victims have been killed after a school shooting in a British Columbia town in Canada.

• Fire-juggling unicyclist caught performing on crossing

  Police have caught a man juggling fire while riding a unicycle on a pedestrian crossing.

• Claude Opus 4.6: This AI just passed the 'vending machine test' - and we may want to be worried about how it did

  When leading AI company Anthropic launched its latest AI model, Claude Opus 4.6, at the end of last week, it broke many measures of intelligence and effectiveness - including one crucial benchmark: the vending machine test.

• Olympian Sturla Holm Laegreid admits to cheating on girlfriend after medal win

  Norwegian Olympian Sturla Holm Laegreid confessed in a live television interview to cheating on his girlfriend, moments after winning a bronze medal.

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Politics

• Starmer's ex-comms chief should lose peerage over links to paedophile, says Labour chair

  Sir Keir Starmer's ex-communications chief should be stripped of his peerage over his ties to a paedophile councillor, Labour's chairwoman has said.

• Starmer insists he'll lead Labour into next election as he attempts to move on from leadership crisis

  Sir Keir Starmer has said he will lead Labour into the next general election, as he attempts to move on from his biggest leadership crisis yet.

• Court battle over definition of 'woman' has cost Scottish government more than £766,000

  The Scottish government has spent more than £766,000 of taxpayers' money in its long-running legal battle over the definition of a woman.

• The £6bn black hole that could change children's lives

  With a prime minister under extreme fire and unable to command a majority in the Commons on matters of personal authority, is politics too self-absorbed to fix a problem as broken as the system for special educational needs provision?

• Streeting shares his Mandelson texts with Sky News

  Wes Streeting says he has "nothing to hide" over his relationship with Lord Mandelson and has shared his private texts with the disgraced Labour peer to back up his case.

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Technology

• Beavers released at two sites in Somerset to help 'restore nature'

  Half a dozen beavers have been legally released at two sites in Somerset in a bid to restore a river and wetland. 

• Instagram and YouTube 'engineer addiction' in young people, landmark trial hears

  Instagram and YouTube have been accused of "engineer[ing] addiction in children's brains", in the opening statements of a landmark social media trial taking place in LA.

• Instagram, TikTok and Facebook posts by users promoting weight-loss jabs banned as 'ads' for the first time

  Social media users have been warned they risk breaking the law by promoting weight-loss jabs, after posts by members of the public endorsing the injections were banned by the advertising regulator for the first time.

• Claude Opus 4.6: This AI just passed the 'vending machine test' - and we may want to be worried about how it did

  When leading AI company Anthropic launched its latest AI model, Claude Opus 4.6, at the end of last week, it broke many measures of intelligence and effectiveness - including one crucial benchmark: the vending machine test.

• Parents admit they have no idea what their children look at on their smartphones

  Half of parents say their children have never spoken to them about harmful online content, polling suggests - with around a quarter unaware of what they are seeing on their smartphones.

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World

• People expect shootings in the US, but not Canada

  There was something about the way the premier of British Columbia, David Eby, struggled to his words in front of the cameras that said a lot about how Canadians view the school shooting in a small town called Tumbler Ridge.

• Irishman fears for life after Trump ICE crackdown turns American dream into nightmare

  Seamus Culleton exists in two places - his wife's memory and a detention centre in Texas.

• Prince William's first tour of Saudi Arabia ends with nature reserve visit

  The Prince of Wales has visited a nature reserve on the final day of his first tour of Saudi Arabia to learn about a programme reintroducing endangered species.

• Olympian Sturla Holm Laegreid admits to cheating on girlfriend after medal win

  Norwegian Olympian Sturla Holm Laegreid confessed in a live television interview to cheating on his girlfriend, moments after winning a bronze medal.

• Plane ends up in ocean after emergency landing and all 55 people on board survive

  All 55 people on board a passenger plane were safely evacuated after the aircraft overran the runway and ended up in shallow waters during an emergency landing in Somalia.

• NATO starts mission to strengthen presence in Arctic after Trump's Greenland threats

  NATO has started a mission to strengthen its presence in the Arctic following Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland.

• What we know about the Canada school shooting

  At least nine victims have been killed after a school shooting in a British Columbia town in Canada.

• Hong Kong leader celebrates Jimmy Lai's sentence - as plan to enhance security law published

  The leader of Hong Kong has celebrated the 20-year jail sentence given to British pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, saying the media tycoon had "poisoned" the city.

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Business

• Epstein scandal: How the paedophile financier made his millions

  Jeffrey Epstein had power and influence because he had money.

• Instagram, TikTok and Facebook posts by users promoting weight-loss jabs banned as 'ads' for the first time

  Social media users have been warned they risk breaking the law by promoting weight-loss jabs, after posts by members of the public endorsing the injections were banned by the advertising regulator for the first time.

• Chemicals group Synthomer eyes share sale to shore up finances

  Synthomer, the London-listed chemicals group, is exploring plans to raise tens of millions of pounds from a sale of new shares as it tries to fortify its balance sheet.

• Bond giant Pimco backs £3bn deal with Six Nations Rugby investor

  Pimco, the giant asset management group, is backing a £3bn deal orchestrated by the sports investment vehicle which owns stakes in the women's professional tennis tour and Premiership Rugby.

• Mortgage platform Tembo puts stamp on £16m fundraising

  A digital savings and mortgage platform which counts Starling Bank's biggest shareholder among its backers has secured more than £15m in funding to help more aspiring homeowners get onto the property ladder.

• BP annual profits slide 16% on weaker oil prices

  BP has reported a 16% drop in annual profits following the slump in wholesale oil prices towards the end of 2025.

• The pension contribution trick most Britons don't know about | Money newsletter

  More than 145,000 people have now signed up to our free Money newsletter, which brings the kind of content you enjoy in the award-winning Money blog directly to your inbox every Friday.

• Instagram and YouTube 'engineer addiction' in young people, landmark trial hears

  Instagram and YouTube have been accused of "engineer[ing] addiction in children's brains", in the opening statements of a landmark social media trial taking place in LA.

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Rochdale Council Leaders Column

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Rochdale Council Mayors Column

• Mayor praises Rochdale firms and community spirit in New Year column

  This is my first column of 2026, so I would like to start by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

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