News

Featured

• Social prescribing helping Bury patients rebuild their lives

  Patients across Bury say social prescribing has played a vital role in improving their mental and physical health, as NHS leaders encourage more people to seek support through talking therapies and community based help.

• EXCLUSIVE first look inside the transformed Heywood Civic

  Roch Valley Radio has been given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Heywood Civic ahead of the official launch, offering the first look at a landmark redevelopment that will see the venue reopen as a fully accessible cultural and community hub.

• More than 100 volunteers power Roch Valley Radio as World Radio Day 2026 is marked

  World Radio Day is today, 13 February 2026, and is a moment to celebrate the impact of broadcasting across the globe, it is also a chance to recognise the people behind the microphone who keep local radio alive every single week.

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Local News

• Councillors raise concern over Riverside Housing sale of social homes in Middleton

  Senior councillors have voiced concern after properties owned by Riverside Housing in Langley were placed on the open market. They claim the disposals took place without prior engagement with Rochdale Borough Council.

• Heywood community raises £1799.65 as Donna Dolan shaves hair for Macmillan

  A fundraising event in Heywood has raised £1799.65 for Macmillan Cancer Support after Donna Dolan bravely shaved her hair ahead of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

• Road closure in Ramsbottom

  Drivers in Ramsbottom have been warned to expect delays as a busy main road is due to shut overnight on Tuesday, March 3. A road closure on Bolton Road West (A676) is taking place so United Utilities can carry out urgent works.

• Rochdale families urged to shape national consultation on keeping children safe online

  Parents, carers and young people in Rochdale are being encouraged to take part in a new national consultation on children’s online safety. The Government exercise will gather views on how to better protect young people across social media, gaming platforms and emerging technologies.

• Civil war erupts as Labour activists in Gorton and Denton say party is ‘not willing to change’

  Civil war has erupted within Labour as activists in Gorton and Denton accused the party of ‘not being willing to change’ during its by-election campaign. It comes as Labour suffered a bruising defeat in the race which saw it lose the seat to the Green Party despite having a 13,000-vote majority in the 2024 general election.

• Silver Street offices approved as temporary housing

  A building in the middle of Bury’s bar strip will soon become emergency housing for families facing homelessness. Vacant floors above The Monkey House bar on Silver Street will be refurbished into temporary accommodation, after a planning application was approved by Bury council.

• All the major projects Rochdale can expect from capital funding

  Hundreds of new homes; a manufacturing centre; and regeneration projects around five railway stations in Rochdale have been touted in a cash rollout worth almost £200m.

• Emergency services respond after people report illness at Bury premises

  Emergency services were called to a premises on Silver Street in Bury shortly before 2.30am this morning after several people became unwell.

• Together for Bury selects Greg Keeley as Tottington by election candidate

  Together for Bury has confirmed that former councillor Greg Keeley will stand for the party in the forthcoming Tottington by election.

• Hannah Spencer elected new MP for Gorton and Denton

  Hannah Spencer has been elected the new Green MP for the constituency of Gorton and Denton. Spencer succeeds former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who resigned on health grounds earlier this year.

• Observers report high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton by election

  Accredited election observers have reported what they describe as unusually high levels of family voting during the Gorton and Denton Westminster Parliamentary by election.

• By-election called in Tottington

  An April by-election will take place in Bury after the shock departure of a Tottington councillor, the local authority has confirmed.

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Local Sports

• Whitehaven score four first half tries to beat Rochdale Hornets 20 0

  Rochdale Hornets were beaten 20 0 by Whitehaven in Cumbria after four first half tries secured the home side’s first win of the Betfred Championship season.

• Shakers maintain perfect run with emphatic win in top-of-the-table clash

  In a Friday night top of the table clash Bury emerged victorious over Lower Breck. A storming second half saw the Shakers score three goal casting off their demons and beating the Merseyside club for the first time in Liverpool.

• Rochdale Hornets beaten by Hunslet as Faraimo scores five at Crown Oil Arena

  Rochdale Hornets suffered their first league defeat of the 2026 Betfred Championship season as Hunslet ran in eight tries in a 42 to 6 win at the Crown Oil Arena.

• Rochdale extend unbeaten run with comfortable win over Woking

  Rochdale remain top of the Enterprise National League after a 3 to 0 home victory against Woking on Saturday, extending their unbeaten start to 2026.

• Bury cruise past Sporting Khalsa as Stepans and Touray record fifth straight win

  First half goals from Rustam Stepans and Mo Touray were enough to complete a comfortable victory for Bury over Sporting Khalsa at Gigg Lane.

• Managing director Andy Duff to step down at end of 2025 to 2026 season

  Rochdale AFC has confirmed that managing director Andy Duff will leave his role at the end of the current 2025 to 2026 campaign.

• Hornets fight back to maintain unbeaten start with win over Keighley

  Rochdale Hornets came from behind to secure a 24 to 10 victory over Keighley Cougars and preserve their 100 per cent start to the new Betfred Championship season.

• Bury Council approves £4.5 million investment in leisure centres

  Bury Council has approved £4.5 million of investment to improve its leisure centres in Ramsbottom and Bury town centre.

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Lifestyle

• Local performers to take centre stage at BBS on Tour 2.0 in Bury

  An evening of live music and performance will bring together visually impaired performers, volunteers and students in Bury this month. BBS on Tour 2.0 takes place at The Met on Market Street on 12 March at 7.30pm.

• REVIEW: Sequins, sass and survival as Priscilla struts into Manchester

  The 30th anniversary tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert has arrived at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, bringing disco anthems, striking costumes and a story rooted in love and resilience to the city until 28 February 2026.

• Whitefield women’s-only gym helping community cohesion

  It’s an experience that will be familiar to many women. You’re at the gym, minding your own business, maybe belatedly trying to put some of those new year’s resolutions into action.

• Beloved community and cafe to be broken up by Prestwich demolition

  It’s the end of the morning rush at You & Me cafe in Prestwich’s condemned Longfield Centre.

• Rochdale Culture Awards finalists revealed ahead of Town Hall ceremony

  Nineteen individuals, creatives and organisations have been shortlisted for this year’s Rochdale Culture Awards, with winners set to be announced at Rochdale Town Hall on Friday 27 March.

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Greater Manchester

• Bernard Manning’s World Famous Embassy Club set to be demolished for health centre

  The World Famous Embassy Club in Harpurhey is set to close down this month and be demolished, Manchester council says.

• Civil war erupts as Labour activists in Gorton and Denton say party is ‘not willing to change’

  Civil war has erupted within Labour as activists in Gorton and Denton accused the party of ‘not being willing to change’ during its by-election campaign. It comes as Labour suffered a bruising defeat in the race which saw it lose the seat to the Green Party despite having a 13,000-vote majority in the 2024 general election.

• Greater Manchester Police prepare for Brit Awards debut in Manchester

  Greater Manchester Police have confirmed a comprehensive policing operation is in place as the Brit Awards take place in Manchester for the first time. The ceremony will be held tonight at the Co Op Live arena.

• Hannah Spencer elected new MP for Gorton and Denton

  Hannah Spencer has been elected the new Green MP for the constituency of Gorton and Denton. Spencer succeeds former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who resigned on health grounds earlier this year.

• Lucy Powell appears to concede defeat in Gorton and Denton by-election

  Labour’s Deputy leader Lucy Powell has appeared to concede defeat in the Gorton and Denton by-election. 

• 🟥 LIVE: Updates from the Gorton and Denton by election count

  Voters in Gorton and Denton will decide their next Member of Parliament tonight, with the result expected in the early hours of Friday morning.

• Dancing to She’s Electric and waving banners from a bus, Labour make one final push to stop the unthinkable

  As ‘She’s Electric’ blared from an open top bus, Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell started dancing to gee her up activists one final time. It’s the Labour Party’s last day of campaigning ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election, and the mood has been surprisingly jolly.

• REVIEW: Sequins, sass and survival as Priscilla struts into Manchester

  The 30th anniversary tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert has arrived at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, bringing disco anthems, striking costumes and a story rooted in love and resilience to the city until 28 February 2026.

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Local Entertainment

• Local performers to take centre stage at BBS on Tour 2.0 in Bury

  An evening of live music and performance will bring together visually impaired performers, volunteers and students in Bury this month. BBS on Tour 2.0 takes place at The Met on Market Street on 12 March at 7.30pm.

• REVIEW: Sequins, sass and survival as Priscilla struts into Manchester

  The 30th anniversary tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert has arrived at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, bringing disco anthems, striking costumes and a story rooted in love and resilience to the city until 28 February 2026.

• Review: Operation Mincemeat turns wartime deception into a five star musical

  Just as the real Operation Mincemeat was a plan that shouldn’t have worked, the idea of turning it into a musical feels equally improbable.

• Rochdale Culture Awards finalists revealed ahead of Town Hall ceremony

  Nineteen individuals, creatives and organisations have been shortlisted for this year’s Rochdale Culture Awards, with winners set to be announced at Rochdale Town Hall on Friday 27 March.

• Heywood 1940s Day is at risk without urgent call for volunteers

  Organisers of Heywood 1940s Day have warned the popular event may not go ahead this year unless more volunteers come forward within the next five days.

• EXCLUSIVE first look inside the transformed Heywood Civic

  Roch Valley Radio has been given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Heywood Civic ahead of the official launch, offering the first look at a landmark redevelopment that will see the venue reopen as a fully accessible cultural and community hub.

• Crowdfunder launched to create mural honouring Stone Roses and Primal Scream legend Mani

  A community crowdfunder has been launched to create a large scale mural in Failsworth honouring Gary Mani Mounfield, the former bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, while raising money for Maggie’s Centre in Manchester.

• More than 100 volunteers power Roch Valley Radio as World Radio Day 2026 is marked

  World Radio Day is today, 13 February 2026, and is a moment to celebrate the impact of broadcasting across the globe, it is also a chance to recognise the people behind the microphone who keep local radio alive every single week.

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Elections

• Civil war erupts as Labour activists in Gorton and Denton say party is ‘not willing to change’

  Civil war has erupted within Labour as activists in Gorton and Denton accused the party of ‘not being willing to change’ during its by-election campaign. It comes as Labour suffered a bruising defeat in the race which saw it lose the seat to the Green Party despite having a 13,000-vote majority in the 2024 general election.

• Together for Bury selects Greg Keeley as Tottington by election candidate

  Together for Bury has confirmed that former councillor Greg Keeley will stand for the party in the forthcoming Tottington by election.

• Hannah Spencer elected new MP for Gorton and Denton

  Hannah Spencer has been elected the new Green MP for the constituency of Gorton and Denton. Spencer succeeds former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who resigned on health grounds earlier this year.

• Lucy Powell appears to concede defeat in Gorton and Denton by-election

  Labour’s Deputy leader Lucy Powell has appeared to concede defeat in the Gorton and Denton by-election. 

• Observers report high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton by election

  Accredited election observers have reported what they describe as unusually high levels of family voting during the Gorton and Denton Westminster Parliamentary by election.

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UK

• Starmer 'stands by' decision not to join in strikes on Iran with US and Israel

  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer "stands by" his decision not to join in with the strikes on Iran carried out by the United States and Israel.

• 'A nightmare from hell': Brits stranded in Doha and Dubai tell of missile strikes and evacuations

  British tourists in Doha and Dubai have spoken to Sky News of their experience of being stranded during the conflict in Iran.

• Britain has limited means to fight back after years of underinvestment

  The expansion of Donald Trump's war against Iran to a British base in Cyprus is a nightmare for the UK, which lacks adequate air defences and only has a limited capacity to fight back.

• Nearly 500 jobs to be lost in BrewDog's takeover by American firm Tilray

  Nearly 500 jobs are expected to be lost when craft beer giant BrewDog is taken over by an American cannabis firm.

• Man guilty of stabbing Saudi Arabian language student to death

  A man has been found guilty of murdering a Saudi Arabian student in an unprovoked attack in Cambridge.

• Will the cost of petrol in my car go up because of Middle East conflict?

  Fresh conflict in the Middle East threatens to make the cost of petrol more expensive for motorists in the UK, experts have warned.

• Met commissioner says investigations into Epstein files show 'no one is above the law'

  Police investigations into the Epstein files send the "right message" that "no one is above the law", the Metropolitan Police commissioner has told Sky News.

• Man arrested after Edinburgh tower block stand-off following knife incident that left two in hospital

  A man has been arrested after a knife incident in Edinburgh which left two people requiring hospital treatment.

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Entertainment

• The Actor Awards fashion: All the best looks from the red carpet

  Celebrating a brand-new name, The Actor Awards - formerly the SAGs - welcomed a host of stars to the red carpet in LA on Sunday night.

• Actor Awards: Sinners shakes up Oscars race as Jessie Buckley remains undefeated

  Sinners triumphed at this year's Actor Awards, with the vampire horror winning best ensemble and best actor for Michael B Jordan.

• Brits 2026: Olivia Dean dominates awards, winning album of the year

  Olivia Dean has dominated this year's Brit Awards, winning album of the year, artist of the year, best pop act and song of the year.

• Brit Awards 2026: The surprise performers, tributes, and bits you might not have seen

  Manchester legends, suprise appearances from Bjork and Dua Lipa, and a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne complete with a message from Dolly Parton - this was the Brit Awards 2026.

• Brit Awards 2026: The full list of winners

  Brit School graduate Olivia Dean was the queen of this year's Brit Awards, taking four gongs including album of the year.

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Sport

• Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Newcastle's Nick Pope suffering poor form but James Garner stars for Everton

• Liverpool have transformed their set-piece record by copying key trend sweeping the Premier League

  "Our setup is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things have gone back to normal," Arne Slot rationalised after victory over West Ham at the weekend, where Liverpool scored three times from corner situations in the first half of a 5-2 win.

• Important goals and big saves: Jordan Pickford, Hugo Ekitike and Bruno Fernandes among those to deliver key Premier League moments

  This weekend the Premier League gave us heroics by the bucketload. Sky Sports picks out the peak performers who produced the standout moments.

• Six Nations trophy damaged by fire in vehicle incident and will be replaced for 2027 edition of tournament

  The Six Nations championship trophy has sustained fire damage and will be replaced for 2027.

• Middle East crisis: Will Iran play at World Cup co-hosted by USA? How conflict affects sport

  With the conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces intensifying, Sky Sports looks at how the Middle East crisis is affecting sport...

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Strange

• Police officer sacked and banned from profession for using WFH trick

  A police sergeant has been sacked for using a picture frame to weigh down her laptop keys and give the false impression she was working from home.

• The energy habits that cause the most family arguments

  On a day when energy bills are making headlines, we thought we'd share new research on the energy habits that lead to the most household arguments.

• Obama says aliens 'are real' - but he hasn't seen any

  Barack Obama has said aliens are "real" in an interview, before later taking to social media to clarify his comments.

• '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.

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Videos

• Starmer 'stands by' decision not to join in strikes on Iran with US and Israel

  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer "stands by" his decision not to join in with the strikes on Iran carried out by the United States and Israel.

• Will the cost of petrol in my car go up because of Middle East conflict?

  Fresh conflict in the Middle East threatens to make the cost of petrol more expensive for motorists in the UK, experts have warned.

• Britain has limited means to fight back after years of underinvestment

  The expansion of Donald Trump's war against Iran to a British base in Cyprus is a nightmare for the UK, which lacks adequate air defences and only has a limited capacity to fight back.

• Ship tracking reveals tankers and millions of barrels of oil stuck in the Gulf

  Sky's Data and Forensics team has been monitoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - a strategically vital waterway for Iran and other oil producers in the Middle East. 

• UK terror threat 'absolutely' under review after Iran strikes, defence secretary says

  The UK's terror threat level is "absolutely" under review following US and Israel strikes on Iran, the defence secretary told Sky News.

• Iran has three ambitions, and it needs to do them all at once

  Some wars start slowly while others spring to life at speed. This one is racing, transforming nations, politics and loyalties at a spectacular rate.

• Trump's furious response to Anthropic is as much about power as it is about AI safety

  In the most clear and consequential policy move on AI safety yet, the Trump administration has announced it will blacklist a leading AI lab over its refusal to allow unfettered access to its technology for military purposes.

• Starmer denies U-turn claims after giving go-ahead for US to use UK military for strikes on Iran

  Critics will accuse him of yet another U-turn, but Sir Keir Starmer insists circumstances have changed and British lives are now at risk from attacks by Iran.

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Politics

• Starmer 'stands by' decision not to join in strikes on Iran with US and Israel

  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer "stands by" his decision not to join in with the strikes on Iran carried out by the United States and Israel.

• Starmer denies U-turn claims after giving go-ahead for US to use UK military for strikes on Iran

  Critics will accuse him of yet another U-turn, but Sir Keir Starmer insists circumstances have changed and British lives are now at risk from attacks by Iran.

• UK terror threat 'absolutely' under review after Iran strikes, defence secretary says

  The UK's terror threat level is "absolutely" under review following US and Israel strikes on Iran, the defence secretary told Sky News.

• Defence secretary reveals details of UK's Middle East operations - including taking down Iran drones

  Defence Secretary John Healey has revealed details of the UK's operations in the Middle East - including taking down Iranian drones - after the US and Israel targeted Iran.

• Minister resigns after row over 'reprehensible material' gathered on journalists

  Josh Simons has resigned as a Cabinet Office minister amid a controversy over a thinktank he used to run, which was accused to paying a PR firm to investigate journalists.

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Technology

• Do you want to ban kids from social media? The government is asking

  The government wants to know if you want to ban young people from social media.

• Trump's furious response to Anthropic is as much about power as it is about AI safety

  In the most clear and consequential policy move on AI safety yet, the Trump administration has announced it will blacklist a leading AI lab over its refusal to allow unfettered access to its technology for military purposes.

• AI willing to 'go nuclear' in wargames, study finds - amid 'stand-off' between Pentagon and leading AI lab

  As the deadline looms for a leading AI lab to hand over its tech to the US military, a study has appeared suggesting AI models are more than willing to go nuclear in wargames.

• Collagen supplements 'may boost skin health' but they're not an 'anti-wrinkle quick fix', study suggests

  Collagen supplements should not be seen as a "quick fix" for wrinkles, experts have said, but they do have "legitimate" benefits.

• Vegetarian diet can slash risk of five cancers by up to 30%, study finds

  A vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of five types of cancer by as much as 30%, a study has found.

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World

• This war has massive implications for the world economy

  There is nowhere else on the planet with quite as concentrated a supply of quite so much energy as the Arabian Gulf.

• Iran has three ambitions, and it needs to do them all at once

  Some wars start slowly while others spring to life at speed. This one is racing, transforming nations, politics and loyalties at a spectacular rate.

• 'A nightmare from hell': Brits stranded in Doha and Dubai tell of missile strikes and evacuations

  British tourists in Doha and Dubai have spoken to Sky News of their experience of being stranded during the conflict in Iran.

• Iran war: Mapping how the conflict has unfolded - and the military assets at play

  The US has warned of more strikes on Iran after launching an operation which killed its supreme leader.

• Iran's people left without a voice as communications cut off

  Already there are parts of Iran's densely populated capital city Tehran that look like a pummelled war zone.

• Oil and gas costs surge but some stocks defy war-focused sell-off

  Oil and gas prices have seen dramatic lifts as financial markets give their first reaction to the war in the Middle East.

• RAF base hit, with more drones intercepted

  The RAF base Akrotiri in Cyprus has been hit by a one-way attack drone, amid a fresh conflict in the Middle East that started on Saturday.

• No one in Lebanon wants a new war but the truth is the previous one against Hezbollah never stopped

  As far as the people of Lebanon are concerned, this is a war that nobody wants - even members of the Iran-backed militia, Hezbollah.

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Business

• Oil and gas costs surge but some stocks defy war-focused sell-off

  Oil and gas prices have seen dramatic lifts as financial markets give their first reaction to the war in the Middle East.

• Nearly 500 jobs to be lost in BrewDog's takeover by American firm Tilray

  Nearly 500 jobs are expected to be lost when craft beer giant BrewDog is taken over by an American cannabis firm.

• This war has massive implications for the world economy

  There is nowhere else on the planet with quite as concentrated a supply of quite so much energy as the Arabian Gulf.

• Will the cost of petrol in my car go up because of Middle East conflict?

  Fresh conflict in the Middle East threatens to make the cost of petrol more expensive for motorists in the UK, experts have warned.

• Mark Kleinman blog | The Traitors-maker closes in on merger with producer of Squid Game: The Challenge

• Oil prices spike as key shipping route disrupted by Iran attacks

  Global oil prices have risen sharply after Iran's response to US and Israeli airstrikes disrupted shipping, raising the prospect of a new energy-led surge in inflation.

• Ship tracking reveals tankers and millions of barrels of oil stuck in the Gulf

  Sky's Data and Forensics team has been monitoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - a strategically vital waterway for Iran and other oil producers in the Middle East. 

• Thinking of paying off student loan early? You should know about expert's £60,000 rule | Money newsletter

  More than 165,000 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.

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Rochdale Council Leaders Column

• Council leader’s column: Why Middleton’s regeneration and this year’s budget matter for our borough

  When I became leader of the council in 2021, I set out my vision for the borough, key priorities and the services local residents want and expect the council to deliver.

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Rochdale Council Mayors Column

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