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• Julie Waller named Woman of Rochdale 2026 for voluntary work supporting families

  A volunteer who has helped more than 2,000 families with school uniforms has been named Woman of Rochdale 2026 at a fundraising event for Springhill Hospice.

• Victoria Wood exhibition opens at Bury Art Museum

  A major exhibition celebrating the life and work of Victoria Wood has opened at Bury Art Museum. The display marks ten years since the death of the comedian, writer and actor.

• Roch Valley Radio joins Rochdale response officers on frontline police shift

  Roch Valley Radio joined response officers in Rochdale for an early shift, revealing the fast paced and unpredictable nature of frontline policing.

• Bury Lecturer urges Oldham MPs to attend debate on sick pay for women with endometriosis

  A lecturer is urging Oldham MPs to attend a parliamentary debate on statutory sick pay for women with endometriosis.

• Winners at Rochdale Culture Awards ceremony

  Artists, organisations and community groups have been recognised at the Rochdale Culture Awards held at Rochdale Town Hall. Seven winners were selected from 19 finalists during the borough’s Greater Manchester Town of Culture programme.

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Local News

• Julie Waller named Woman of Rochdale 2026 for voluntary work supporting families

  A volunteer who has helped more than 2,000 families with school uniforms has been named Woman of Rochdale 2026 at a fundraising event for Springhill Hospice.

• Rochdale launches Get ready with Teddy campaign to support children starting school

  Families in Rochdale are being encouraged to help children prepare for school through a new campaign focused on early development and confidence. The initiative targets children due to start reception this September.

• Common Walls mural festival in Rochdale wins national placemaking award

  A mural festival held in Rochdale has won a national award recognising creative placemaking. The project was praised for its community impact and lasting legacy.

• Oldham man jailed for nine years for sexual assault of teenage girl

  An Oldham man has been jailed for nine years after sexually assaulting a 17 year old girl who believed she had got into a taxi.

• Fundraiser launched to support funeral of Middleton mum Shona after cancer death

  A fundraising appeal has been launched to help cover funeral costs for a Middleton mother of four who has died aged 40 after a long illness.

• Woman blocks contruction workers from getting onto Littleborough building site

  A woman from Littleborough got so annoyed by construction workers that she used her car to block their path onto the building site.

• Rochdale marks Earth Day with community event at Riverside

  Families and shoppers took part in sustainability themed activities at Rochdale Riverside to mark Earth Day, with a focus on reducing single use plastics.

• Historic and modern steam locomotives draw crowds at East Lancashire Railway gala

  A newly built steam locomotive ran alongside engines dating back to the 19th century during a three day rail event in Greater Manchester.

• Young footballer marks 10th birthday with 10 mile charity dribble

  A TEN-year-old footballer celebrated her birthday by dribbling a football 10 miles over Easter to raise money for a new equipment for her team.

• Heywood businesses invited to join new council two way radio scheme

  Businesses in Heywood are being invited to sign up to a proposed two way radio network aimed at improving safety and communication across the town.

• Victoria Wood exhibition opens at Bury Art Museum

  A major exhibition celebrating the life and work of Victoria Wood has opened at Bury Art Museum. The display marks ten years since the death of the comedian, writer and actor.

• Bury North MP to host panel on social media use among under 16s

  A panel discussion on children’s use of social media is set to take place in Bury North as national debate grows around potential new restrictions. The event will be held on Thursday 30 April from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

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Local Sports

• Young footballer marks 10th birthday with 10 mile charity dribble

  A TEN-year-old footballer celebrated her birthday by dribbling a football 10 miles over Easter to raise money for a new equipment for her team.

• Rochdale Hornets fight back to beat Sheffield Eagles and reach cup quarter finals

  Rochdale Hornets came from behind to secure a 32 18 win over Sheffield Eagles and book a place in the 1895 Cup quarter finals. The home side overturned an early deficit with a dominant second half performance.

• Middleton set to feature in Tour de France Femmes route through Greater Manchester

  Elite cyclists will pass through Middleton when the Tour de France Femmes arrives in Greater Manchester in 2027. The route has now been confirmed, placing the town on the opening stage of the race.

• Rochdale AFC appoints Laura Thomas as new chief executive

  Rochdale AFC has appointed Laura Thomas as its new chief executive officer, marking a leadership change at the club.

• Late comeback keeps Rochdale in title race after win over Wealdstone

  Rochdale came from behind to beat Wealdstone 2 to 1 and remain two points behind York City at the top of the National League. Late goals from Ian Henderson and Luke Hannant secured the turnaround at the Crown Oil Arena.

• Harvey Gilmour and Kyron Gordon lead Rochdale AFC end of season award winners

  Rochdale AFC presented their end of season awards after Saturday’s 2 to 1 win over Wealdstone at the Crown Oil Arena. Harvey Gilmour, Kyron Gordon, Casey Pettit and Sophie Coates were among the main winners.

• Shakers two points clear at the top after narrow win over Nantwich Town

  Tom Carr picked the perfect time to score his first Bury goal as the Shakers emerged victorious over Nantwich Town 1-0 at Gigg Lane.

• Rochdale AFC Colour Dash brings crowds together for community event

  Hundreds of people took part in the Rochdale AFC Colour Dash, with families and supporters coming together for a day of colour, activity and community spirit. The event took place near the Crown Oil Arena ahead of the club’s fixture against Wealdstone.

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Lifestyle

• Julie Waller named Woman of Rochdale 2026 for voluntary work supporting families

  A volunteer who has helped more than 2,000 families with school uniforms has been named Woman of Rochdale 2026 at a fundraising event for Springhill Hospice.

• Local chef lands role at Gordon Ramsay restaurant after training in Rochdale

  A chef from Greater Manchester has secured a senior role at one of Gordon Ramsay’s London restaurants after training at Hopwood Hall College.

• Bury Pride's Rainbow Train returns in style

  The Rainbow Train made a welcome return on Sunday 19th April, bringing together over 170 passengers for a fantastic evening of celebration, community spirit and entertainment.

• Skylight Circus Arts secures £125990 to upgrade Rochdale base and expand community access

  A Rochdale based circus organisation has been awarded £125990 to improve its facilities and widen access to creative activities across the borough and Greater Manchester.

• Rochdale AFC Colour Dash brings crowds together for community event

  Hundreds of people took part in the Rochdale AFC Colour Dash, with families and supporters coming together for a day of colour, activity and community spirit. The event took place near the Crown Oil Arena ahead of the club’s fixture against Wealdstone.

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Greater Manchester

• Oldham man jailed for nine years for sexual assault of teenage girl

  An Oldham man has been jailed for nine years after sexually assaulting a 17 year old girl who believed she had got into a taxi.

• Roch Valley Radio joins Rochdale response officers on frontline police shift

  Roch Valley Radio joined response officers in Rochdale for an early shift, revealing the fast paced and unpredictable nature of frontline policing.

• City centre brought to standstill as major police operation surrounds Britain First far-right protest

  Hundreds of police officers were deployed across Manchester city centre as rival protest groups gathered on Saturday. Three arrests were made during the operation.

• Rochdale development agency delivers £14.30 return for every £1 invested

  An independent report has found Rochdale Development Agency generates £14.30 for every £1 spent, significantly exceeding national value for money benchmarks.

• Dad of two completes 100km run to support local hospices

  A Greater Manchester father has raised nearly £5,000 after running 100 kilometres in a single day to support hospice care across the region.

• Fire service rolls out body worn cameras after Arena Inquiry recommendations

  Firefighters across Greater Manchester are now being equipped with body worn cameras following recommendations from the Manchester Arena Inquiry. The rollout aims to improve decision making, safety and transparency during incidents.

• Kilfest returns to Bolton with three day festival supporting anti hate charity

  The alternative community have been rocking out in Bolton this weekend, all in aid of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

• Garden centre event brings together women in horticulture across Greater Manchester

  More than 40 people attended a community event at a garden centre in Failsworth celebrating women working in and entering the horticulture sector.

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Local Entertainment

• Victoria Wood exhibition opens at Bury Art Museum

  A major exhibition celebrating the life and work of Victoria Wood has opened at Bury Art Museum. The display marks ten years since the death of the comedian, writer and actor.

• Skylight Circus Arts secures £125990 to upgrade Rochdale base and expand community access

  A Rochdale based circus organisation has been awarded £125990 to improve its facilities and widen access to creative activities across the borough and Greater Manchester.

• The Allergies and Alex Spencer added to Rochdale Feel Good Festival line up

  Two more acts have been confirmed for Rochdale Feel Good Festival, with The Allergies and Alex Spencer set to perform on Saturday 8 August. They join previously announced headliners Gabrielle, Ash and Starsailor.

• Oldham Coliseum refurbishment delayed as more asbestos discovered during works

  Construction workers are still finding ‘pockets of asbestos’ at Oldham Coliseum as renovation work continues.

• Kilfest returns to Bolton with three day festival supporting anti hate charity

  The alternative community have been rocking out in Bolton this weekend, all in aid of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

• Community run theatre will get makeover

  A theatre in Rochdale will get a revamp to mark its centenary. The Curtain Theatre will get a new design for the building’s façade, inspired by its signature red colour.

• Snooker club must tighten rules after assault

  Bosses at a Bury snooker club were hauled before councillors after a customer was knocked unconscious after hours.

• Cancer choir calls for new members as rehearsals resume in Bolton

  A Bolton choir for people affected by cancer is inviting new singers to join as it begins rehearsals for the new year.

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Elections

• All candidates for Bury local election 2026

  In less than a month, Bury locals will be called to polling stations to vote in new council representatives for their local areas. Exactly 17 of the 51 seats in the borough’s wards are up for grabs in the poll on May 7. 

• All the candidates standing in the local elections in Rochdale

  Rochdalians will head to the polls on Thursday, May 7 with a total 120 candidates vying for a position on the council.

• Tottington by-election Results

  Voters across Tottington, Walshaw and Affetside went to the polls today, Thursday 2nd April, to elect a new representative to Bury Council following the resignation of former councillor Luis McBriar.

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UK

• Man jailed for religiously aggravated rape of Sikh woman

  A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of nearly 14 years after the religiously aggravated rape of a Sikh woman.

• Assisted dying bill fails to become law as it runs out of time, as supporters vow to continue fight

  Assisted dying will not become a law in England and Wales after the bill ran out of time for debate.

• The assisted dying bill has failed - this is how it could still become law

  The assisted dying bill has officially run out of road.

• Dan Walker tribunal: Ex-Channel 5 presenter withdraws allegations

  Presenter Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije has withdrawn claims against her former Channel 5 News co-host Dan Walker after reaching a "mutual agreement" with the broadcaster and ITN.

• What if your flight is cancelled due to jet fuel shortages?

  Europe is facing a crisis over low jet fuel stocks due to the war in Iran, raising serious doubts over summer holiday plans.

• Pentagon's Falklands email touches a nerve in Britain - and makes Charles's US visit even more challenging

  Mention the Falklands War and dig up the issue of America's support over them and something deep inside the British psyche goes off like a landmine. 

• Polanski says US president should be 'kicked out' of his Scottish golf courses - as Trump International responds

  Green Party leader Zack Polanski has been branded "an imbecile" after calling for US President Donald Trump to be stripped of his Scottish golf courses over his actions internationally.

• Government urged to close 'loophole' allowing mini fracking

  Plans for a "mini fracking" site in Burniston near Scarborough have been rejected by North Yorkshire Council following local outcry.

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Entertainment

• Dan Walker tribunal: Ex-Channel 5 presenter withdraws allegations

  Presenter Claudia–Liza Vanderpuije has withdrawn claims against her former Channel 5 News co-host Dan Walker after reaching a "mutual agreement" with the broadcaster and ITN.

• Shareholders 'overwhelmingly' approve Paramount takeover of Warner Bros

  The multibillion-pound Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery has come even closer to becoming a reality after shareholders voted to accept the offer.

• 'Significant amount' of child abuse images recovered from iCloud account of US singer D4vd, say prosecutors

  US prosecutors said a "significant amount" of child sex abuse images have been recovered during an investigation into the singer D4vd, who has denied murdering a 14-year-old girl.

• BBC axes Football Focus after 52 years - and reveals what will replace it

  The BBC's iconic Football Focus show has been axed after 52 years.

• Sara Cox to replace Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2 breakfast show

  Sara Cox will replace Scott Mills as the new host of the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, the corporation has announced.

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Sport

• West Brom handed immediate two-point deduction in Championship for breaching EFL financial rules

  West Brom have been handed an immediate two-point deduction for a breach of EFL financial rules, which means they are no longer safe from relegation.

• Bruno Fernandes: Benjamin Sesko backs the Manchester United captain to win Premier League Player of the Season award

  Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has backed Bruno Fernandes to win the Premier League Player of the Year award while also lauding his captain's influence.

• Gianluca Prestianni: Benfica winger handed six-match ban for discriminatory conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior

  Gianluca Prestianni has been given a six-match ban by UEFA for discriminatory conduct towards Vinicius Junior.

• Premier League Darts: Luke Littler beats Jonny Clayton and silences Liverpool crowd to close gap at top of table

  Luke Littler silenced the Liverpool crowd and closed the gap at the top of the Premier League table with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Jonny Clayton on Night 12.

• Tottenham: Roberto De Zerbi not putting pressure on Spurs squad but says Wolves clash is a must-win

  Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has refused to apply additional pressure to his squad as the threat of relegation looms but stressed the importance of a win at Wolves on Saturday.

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Strange

• The robot that can outplay elite table tennis players

  A robot has become so good at playing table tennis that at times it defeated elite human players, in what has been hailed as "a longstanding milestone for AI".

• Monkeys eating soil to settle upset stomachs from junk food, says research

  Monkeys in Gibraltar have learned to eat soil to settle their stomachs from all the junk food they consume, research suggests.

• Trio sentenced over 'bear costume' insurance fraud scam in California

  Three people have been jailed for insurance fraud after claiming their cars were damaged by a bear - only for the assailant to be somebody dressed in a bear costume. 

• Woman given 14 shots of tequila on Carnival cruise awarded £220,000 in damages

  A cruise passenger who was overserved alcohol and suffered a possible traumatic brain injury after falling down some stairs has been awarded £220,000 in damages.

• Jonathan, the giant tortoise, the world's oldest living land animal 'is alive' after getting caught up in alleged crypto scam

  A giant Seychelles tortoise, believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal, is alive and well after claims he had died turned out to be part of an alleged crypto scam.

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Videos

• Tesla surprises Wall Street and says demand for vehicles has returned

  Tesla defied expectations, profiting more and spending less than expected in closely watched results as the company shifts focus from electric vehicles to artificial intelligence (AI).

• Man jailed for religiously aggravated rape of Sikh woman

  A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of nearly 14 years after the religiously aggravated rape of a Sikh woman.

• Microsoft and Meta to cut thousands of jobs

  Microsoft and Meta, the company behind Instagram and WhatsApp, are planning to make significant cuts to their respective workforces as spending on artificial intelligence (AI) finds a new high gear.

• Shareholders 'overwhelmingly' approve Paramount takeover of Warner Bros

  The multibillion-pound Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery has come even closer to becoming a reality after shareholders voted to accept the offer.

• Green ambitions, leaving NATO and apologising over breast hypnosis claim - Polanski's success brings more scrutiny

  Zack Polanski is on walkabout in Manchester with Hannah Spencer, the Green's newest MP.

• West Bank mourners hold aloft baby daughters at funeral procession of father shot dead during Israeli settler attack

  The grieving family of a man reportedly shot dead by Israeli settlers held his twin daughters aloft at his funeral procession on Thursday.

• The robot that can outplay elite table tennis players

  A robot has become so good at playing table tennis that at times it defeated elite human players, in what has been hailed as "a longstanding milestone for AI".

• Why is Cuba a US target again? | Sky News Explains

  It's no secret that Donald Trump's focus is turning to Cuba.

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Politics

• Assisted dying bill fails to become law as it runs out of time, as supporters vow to continue fight

  Assisted dying will not become a law in England and Wales after the bill ran out of time for debate.

• The assisted dying bill has failed - this is how it could still become law

  The assisted dying bill has officially run out of road.

• Green ambitions, leaving NATO and apologising over breast hypnosis claim - Polanski's success brings more scrutiny

  Zack Polanski is on walkabout in Manchester with Hannah Spencer, the Green's newest MP.

• Starmer 'put a nuclear bomb' under Mandelson row by sacking Olly Robbins

  Sir Keir Starmer's decision to sack Olly Robbins put a "nuclear bomb" under the Mandelson scandal, Harriet Harman has said.

• Will we ever know everything about Peter Mandelson?

  ? Tap here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app ?

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Technology

• Government urged to close 'loophole' allowing mini fracking

  Plans for a "mini fracking" site in Burniston near Scarborough have been rejected by North Yorkshire Council following local outcry.

• Microsoft and Meta to cut thousands of jobs

  Microsoft and Meta, the company behind Instagram and WhatsApp, are planning to make significant cuts to their respective workforces as spending on artificial intelligence (AI) finds a new high gear.

• Giant octopus, likened to mythical creature capable of dragging down ships, once roamed the seas

  A giant octopus, likened to a mythical creature said to be capable of dragging ships to their doom, roamed the seas during the age of the dinosaurs, according to researchers.

• Trump threatens 'big tariff' if UK does not drop digital services tax on US tech firms

  Donald Trump has threatened to impose "a big tariff" on the UK if it does not drop its digital services tax on US social media companies.

• Medical data of half a million Britons listed for sale on Chinese website, government says

  The medical data of half a million volunteers to Biobank, the UK's health information database, has been offered for sale online, the government has said.

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World

• Putin's approval rating falls to lowest since Ukraine invasion, as Kremlin says he may attend G20 after Trump invite

  President Vladimir Putin's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, state polling figures show.

• Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu successfully treated for prostate cancer

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he's been successfully treated for prostate cancer.

• Why is Cuba a US target again? | Sky News Explains

  It's no secret that Donald Trump's focus is turning to Cuba.

• Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni handed six-game ban for homophobic conduct towards Vinicius Junior

  Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni has been banned for six matches by UEFA for homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match.

• Pentagon's Falklands email touches a nerve in Britain - and makes Charles's US visit even more challenging

  Mention the Falklands War and dig up the issue of America's support over them and something deep inside the British psyche goes off like a landmine. 

• World Cup final tickets go on sale for £1.7m each

  Tickets for this summer's football World Cup final have gone on sale for more than $2m each.

• Poisoning suspected after 18 wolves found dead in Italian national park

  An investigation has been launched after the deaths of at least 18 wolves and several other wild ‌animals found in recent days in an Italian national park.

• West Bank mourners hold aloft baby daughters at funeral procession of father shot dead during Israeli settler attack

  The grieving family of a man reportedly shot dead by Israeli settlers held his twin daughters aloft at his funeral procession on Thursday.

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Business

• What if your flight is cancelled due to jet fuel shortages?

  Europe is facing a crisis over low jet fuel stocks due to the war in Iran, raising serious doubts over summer holiday plans.

• Microsoft and Meta to cut thousands of jobs

  Microsoft and Meta, the company behind Instagram and WhatsApp, are planning to make significant cuts to their respective workforces as spending on artificial intelligence (AI) finds a new high gear.

• Mark Kleinman blog |Barclays reverses away from legal challenge to FCA's £9bn car finance redress scheme

• Shareholders 'overwhelmingly' approve Paramount takeover of Warner Bros

  The multibillion-pound Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery has come even closer to becoming a reality after shareholders voted to accept the offer.

• Trump threatens 'big tariff' if UK does not drop digital services tax on US tech firms

  Donald Trump has threatened to impose "a big tariff" on the UK if it does not drop its digital services tax on US social media companies.

• World Cup final tickets go on sale for £1.7m each

  Tickets for this summer's football World Cup final have gone on sale for more than $2m each.

• WH Smith issues profit warning as jet fuel crisis looms

  WH Smith has issued a profit warning and suspended shareholder payouts as the travel-focused retailer grapples growing travel disruption caused by the Middle East crisis.

• Samsung workers demand greater slice of profits from AI boom

  Thousands of Samsung Electronics' workers have staged a rally to demand a greater slice of profits from the boom in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

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Rochdale Council Leaders Column

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Rochdale Council Mayors Column

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