News
Local News
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New town centre apartment block approved
A new apartment block in the heart of Heywood will be built.
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Rochdale Scout honoured for saving grandad during countryside walk
A young girl from Rochdale has been honoured by the UK’s Chief Scout for her bravery after saving her injured grandad during a countryside walk.
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All Rochdale GP surgeries now have patient groups in place
Every GP practice in Rochdale now has an active Patient Participation Group, thanks to support from Healthwatch Rochdale.
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School uniform shop now open at The Rock Shopping Centre
A SCHOOL uniform shop has officially opened its doors at The Rock Shopping Centre in Bury.
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Government delivering for patients in Rochdale through GP surgery refurbs to enable more appointments in the area
Patients in Rochdale will benefit from over 8 million new GP appointments this year, being delivered through Labour’s Plan for Change
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Trams resume in Rochdale after emergency incident blocks Metrolink line
Services between Rochdale town centre and Rochdale railway station have restarted with delays, after emergency crews blocked the tracks earlier this morning
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Could your charity be The Rock’s next partner of the year?
Bury shopping centre, The Rock is inviting nominations for its next charity partner, offering local causes the chance to benefit from fundraising and public support.
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Bury North MP hangs baby grows on Peel statue to protest 'Europe’s worst' paternity leave
Bury North MP, James Frith, has joined a nationwide campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight what he calls a 'crisis in fatherhood' driven by poor paternity rights in the UK.
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The town where you can’t get a phone signal
People living in Middleton have struggled for years with a problem that would baffle many modern day residents.
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Metrolink hiring full-time tram drivers with training starting June 2025
Metrolink (KAM), operator of the UK’s largest light rail network, is recruiting new tram drivers for its upcoming training programmes, with the next cohort beginning on Monday 2 June 2025.
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Rochdale kicks off year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture
Rochdale has officially launched its year as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025–26 with a preview event packed with local talent, voices and plans for the months ahead.
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Rochdale neighbours win big in People's Postcode Lottery draw
Several residents on a street in Rochdale were celebrating last week after each scooped a £1,000 prize in the People's Postcode Lottery.
Greater Manchester
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Metrolink hiring full-time tram drivers with training starting June 2025
Metrolink (KAM), operator of the UK’s largest light rail network, is recruiting new tram drivers for its upcoming training programmes, with the next cohort beginning on Monday 2 June 2025.
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NHS blood stocks at risk as spring Bank Holidays cause donor shortage in Manchester
NHS Blood and Transplant has launched an urgent appeal for blood and platelet donors across Greater Manchester, warning that four Bank Holidays in six weeks have put pressure on supplies.
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Major M60 safety works to last until August 2025
Essential safety improvements on the M60 motorway between junctions 16 and 18 are set to last until August 2025, National Highways has announced.
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Red, White and Blue light up Rochdale and Bury to mark 80 years since VE Day
Landmarks across Rochdale and Bury have been lit in red, white and blue to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
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Essential engineering work to repair Victorian-era tunnel to start this weekend
Essential engineering work to ensure a Victorian-era tunnel remains safe will result in a reduced tram service on the Bury line this weekend.
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Five ex-GMP officers arrested in historic child abuse probe linked to Manchester's VICE squad
Five retired Greater Manchester Police officers, aged between 73 and 81, have been arrested as part of a serious investigation into the sexual exploitation of a girl in the 1960s.
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They partied across the city region as streets were closed for VE Day celebrations
Streets were closed as patriotic residents across Greater Manchester joined in the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, donning union flag outfits and hats.
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Warrants of further detention obtained in terrorism investigation
Four Iranian nationals, including a man arrested in Rochdale, can now be held in custody and questioned until Saturday (10th May) as part of a counter terrorism investigation, following the granting of warrants of further detention.
Local Entertainment
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Rochdale kicks off year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture
Rochdale has officially launched its year as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025–26 with a preview event packed with local talent, voices and plans for the months ahead.
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Track Dogs to perform at The Met in Bury for first time
Madrid-based band Track Dogs will perform at The Met in Bury on Wednesday 7 May 2025, as part of their current UK tour.
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The battle that rocked the nation heading to Manchester as part of a UK tour in March 2026
Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep co-present The Battle, a new comedy based (mostly) on real events.
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Former nightclub in middle of town could be turned into housing
A vacant nightclub building in the heart of Rochdale has stood since the 1700s, but soon it could be transformed into housing.
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‘Prestige’ restaurant set to open in converted ‘engine shed’ next to heritage railway
A historic engine shed building close to a heritage train line has been granted licence to operate as a railway themed restaurant. A council hearing heard an application sell alcohol at a new venture at the former railway goods shed on Rowlands Road, Summerseat, next to the Bury to Rawtenstall East Lancashire railway.
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Littleborough Brass Band triumphs again at Holme Valley contest
Littleborough Brass Band has successfully defended its title at the 2025 Holme Valley Brass Band Contest, held in Holmfirth on Sunday 27 April.
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Bricktastic returns to Rochdale Central Library with a day of Lego fun
Lego enthusiasts of all ages are in for a treat as Bricktastic returns to Rochdale this Saturday, 26 April 2025.
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Middleton MayFest promises a day of family fun this May Day
Middleton’s annual MayFest is set to return on Monday 5 May 2025, promising a packed afternoon of entertainment, music, crafts and traditional festivities for all ages.
Local Sports
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Rochdale to say final goodbye to club legend Joe Thompson
The funeral of former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson will take place on Monday, May 12, at 11am at St Mark’s Church, Worsley (M28 2WH).
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Official opening and naming ceremony of Radcliffe 3G and sports pavilion
A newly built sports facility at Redbank Playing Fields has been officially named The Paul Hilton Pavilion, in honour of Paul’s outstanding contribution to sport, Radcliffe Football Club, and the wider Radcliffe community.
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Rochdale AFC owners host town hall celebration looking ahead to borough’s future
Over 200 people from across the Rochdale borough gathered at Rochdale Town Hall on Tuesday evening for a community event hosted by the Ogden family.
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Ramsbottom United Season Review 24-25 - Frustraiting End to a Great Season
After three poor seasons, hopes were high back in July that manager Steve Wilkes had assembled a squad good enough to take the club back onto an upward trajectory.
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Rochdale boss Jimmy McNulty to take charge of 100th league match
Jimmy McNulty will reach a significant managerial milestone on Monday when he takes charge of Rochdale AFC for the 100th consecutive league match, as Dale travel to Braintree Town.
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Ten players leave Bury FC after historic promotion winning season
Bury FC have confirmed that ten players have departed the club following the end of the 2024/25 season, including long-serving midfielder Nicky Adams, who has announced his retirement from football.
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Manchester Remembers charity football match cancelled as organisers announce closure of foundation
The upcoming Manchester Remembers charity football match, due to take place at Gigg Lane on 14 June 2025, has been cancelled. Organisers have also announced the permanent closure of the Manchester Remembers Foundation.
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Free sports and leadership training courses for Rochdale residents this summer
Two free courses offering sports leadership and community training will take place in Rochdale this summer, aimed at those aged 16 and over who want to boost their CVs and gain practical experience in the community sector.
UK
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Nigel Farage says he would allow essential migration but numbers would be capped
Nigel Farage has told Sky News he would allow some essential migration in areas with skill shortages but that numbers would be capped.
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Woman says she was 'junkie, shoplifter' - here's what turned her life around
The combination of full prisons and tight public finances has forced the government to urgently rethink its approach.
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Driver who used car as weapon to murder e-bike rider in Birmingham is jailed
A man who used his car as a weapon to chase and kill an e-bike rider has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years.
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Galactic Carnival Edinburgh closes after waltzer car crashes off track with children inside
A carnival has closed down after a waltzer car broke off its track and crashed, with three children inside.
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Manslaughter charges over woman killed by falling bricks as she walked on pavement
A building company and four men have been charged in connection with the death of a woman killed by falling bricks in 2018.
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Leeds crossbow attack suspect died from 'self-inflicted gunshot', inquest hears
A man suspected of attacking two women with a crossbow in Leeds died as a result of a "self-inflicted gunshot wound" to the head, an inquest has heard.
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Restrictive immigration approach by Labour government builds on Conservative rollbacks
The government is planning a range of measures designed to restrict immigration to the UK, which will likely further reduce net migration - but without further details the impact is unclear.
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Power outage hits London Underground - as lines suspended
A power outage has hit the London Underground, causing major travel disruption in the capital.
Entertainment
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Why is actor Gerard Depardieu on trial – and what does it mean for #MeToo in France?
One of France's most successful actors has been accused of sexually assaulting two women on the set of one of his films.
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BAFTA TV Awards 2025: Nine stand-out moments from TV's starriest night
The biggest night in British TV, this year's BAFTA TV Awards saw the golden masks handed out to a wide spread of shows - with the BBC's Mr Loverman the only show to take home two awards.
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BAFTA TV Awards 2025: Post Office drama and Mr Loverman among big winners
Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and Mr Loverman were among the big winners at this year's BAFTA TV awards - with Danny Dyer and Ruth Jones picking up comedy prizes.
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BAFTA TV Awards red carpet: Celebs arrive in style ahead of ceremony
Stars of the small screen hit the red carpet in the sunshine ahead of the BAFTA TV Awards.
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BAFTA TV Awards 2025: The full list of winners
The winners for the BAFTA TV Awards have now been announced.
Sport
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Mikel Arteta rejects sympathy over Champions League exit as Arsenal end 2024/25 without a trophy
"I don't want anybody talking about it."
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Mariona Caldentey magic, Sonia Bompastor's triumph at Chelsea, plus Man Utd and Man City excitement - WSL end of season awards
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Virat Kohli: India batter announces retirement from Test cricket days after captain Rohit Sharma
India batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on a sparkling career in the longest format just days after captain Rohit Sharma did the same.
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Carlo Ancelotti: Brazil appoint Real Madrid boss as new head coach from May 26
Carlo Ancelotti will become the Brazil head coach from May 26 after finishing the season with Real Madrid.
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Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager furiously describes first 20 minutes at Anfield as unacceptable and 'nowhere near the standards'
Mikel Arteta described his Arsenal team as "unacceptable" and "nowhere near" the standards of the club in the first 20 minutes of their 2-2 draw at Liverpool.
Strange
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Mum in court accused of killing three people with poisonous mushrooms - what you need to know
An Australian woman accused of murdering her estranged husband's parents and an aunt by serving them a beef wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms is on trial.
Videos
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Bill Gates speeds up plans to give away his fortune
Bill Gates is speeding up his plans to give away nearly all of his money.
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Nigel Farage says he would allow essential migration but numbers would be capped
Nigel Farage has told Sky News he would allow some essential migration in areas with skill shortages but that numbers would be capped.
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Starmer says net migration will fall with 'controlled, selective and fair' system
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to bring down net migration by the end of this parliament with a system that is "controlled, selective and fair".
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UK-US trade deal 'isn't worth the paper it's written on', Nobel Prize-winning economist tells Sky News
A Nobel Prize-winning economist has told Sky News the recently announced UK-US trade deal "isn't worth the paper it's written on".
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BAFTA TV Awards 2025: Post Office drama and Mr Loverman among big winners
Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and Mr Loverman were among the big winners at this year's BAFTA TV awards - with Danny Dyer and Ruth Jones picking up comedy prizes.
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Woman says she was 'junkie, shoplifter' - here's what turned her life around
The combination of full prisons and tight public finances has forced the government to urgently rethink its approach.
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Trump set for truly consequential week for his presidency and his ability to effect change
It has been an extraordinary few hours which may well set the tone for a hugely consequential week ahead.
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Inside the UK's broken prison system where tinkering around the edges will no longer work
"As far as I'm concerned, there's only three ways to spend the taxpayers' hard-earned when it comes to prisons. More walls, more bars and more guards."
Politics
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Nigel Farage says he would allow essential migration but numbers would be capped
Nigel Farage has told Sky News he would allow some essential migration in areas with skill shortages but that numbers would be capped.
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Starmer says net migration will fall with 'controlled, selective and fair' system
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to bring down net migration by the end of this parliament with a system that is "controlled, selective and fair".
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What are Sir Keir Starmer's new immigration rules?
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to bring down migration numbers by tightening up the rules on those allowed to come to the UK.
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Restrictive immigration approach by Labour government builds on Conservative rollbacks
The government is planning a range of measures designed to restrict immigration to the UK, which will likely further reduce net migration - but without further details the impact is unclear.
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'Crushing blow' for care homes as they face ban on overseas recruitment
Care workers will no longer be recruited from abroad under plans to "significantly" bring down net migration, the home secretary has said.
Technology
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Weight loss jabs could almost halve risk of obesity-related cancers beyond slimming down, study suggests
Weight loss injections could help prevent cancer beyond helping people slim down, new research suggests.
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The communities fighting green energy infrastructure in Devon and Wales
It's not often there are security guards on the door and hundreds queuing to get into a local council planning meeting - but such is the strength of feeling here in North Devon, that was exactly the case this week.
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First moon rocks on Earth in half a century arrive in UK
The first samples of moon dust brought back to Earth for more than 50 years are in the UK - being studied by scientists in Milton Keynes.
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Bill Gates speeds up plans to give away his fortune
Bill Gates is speeding up his plans to give away nearly all of his money.
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A ban on chlorinated chicken has protected farmers, but it's protected UK consumers too
Why has there been such a flap about chlorinated chicken?
World
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Trump set for truly consequential week for his presidency and his ability to effect change
It has been an extraordinary few hours which may well set the tone for a hugely consequential week ahead.
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Why Trump blinked in US-China trade war
Of all the fronts in Donald Trump's trade war, none was as dramatic and economically threatening as the sky-high tariffs he imposed on China.
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Pope Leo calls for end to polarising 'war of words' in address to media
Pope Leo has called for an end to a polarising "war of words" as he hosted an audience with international media for the first time.
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Kurdish militant group PKK announces it is disbanding - after four decades of armed conflict
A Kurdish militant group has announced it is to disband and disarm as part of a peace initiative with Turkey after four decades of armed conflict.
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Trump faces criticism over Kashmir post - as India-Pakistan ceasefire holds
Donald Trump said he will be working with India and Pakistan to see if a solution can be reached over Kashmir.
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Why is actor Gerard Depardieu on trial – and what does it mean for #MeToo in France?
One of France's most successful actors has been accused of sexually assaulting two women on the set of one of his films.
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Donegal: Tributes paid to two teenagers who died after getting into difficulty off the coast
Tributes have been paid to two teenage boys who died after getting into difficulty off the coast of Donegal.
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Zelenskyy's offer to meet Putin raises the stakes in this already high-stakes game of diplomacy
Diplomacy over Ukraine has become even more of a game of high-stakes poker.
Business
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Trump hails 'total reset' with China as trade tariffs slashed
The US and China have agreed to slash trade tariffs on each other, a move Donald Trump has said was part of a "total reset" in relations.
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Why Trump blinked in US-China trade war
Of all the fronts in Donald Trump's trade war, none was as dramatic and economically threatening as the sky-high tariffs he imposed on China.
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12-hour days, £350k salaries: Life as a divorce lawyer
If you've ever spent your Monday morning commute daydreaming about starting afresh with your career, this feature is for you. Each Monday, our Money blog speaks to someone from a different profession to discover what it's really like. This week we chat to Yael Selig, partner at Osbornes Law and head of the family offices...
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Everything you need to know about pension drawdown and annuities
Annuities and drawdown are the two main ways of using your pension pot to fund your retirement. But how are they different? What option is best for you? And what risks do you need to be aware of?
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FTSE-100 group Experian kicks off hunt for next chairman
Experian, the FTSE-100 credit referencing giant, is kicking off a hunt for a successor to its long-serving chairman.
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Great British Menu judge on a 'ridiculously good' own-brand product, complaining in restaurants and wine list tip
Every week the Money blog interviews top chefs from around the UK, hearing about their cheap food hacks, views on the industry and more - and they don't come much more celebrated than Lorna McNee, executive chef at Michelin-starred Cail Bruich in Glasgow.
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All you need to know about half-term strikes at Gatwick Airport
Baggage handlers and plane refuelers at Gatwick Airport are due to go on strike starting this Friday.
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Virgin Media O2 and Daisy unite to form £3bn business telecoms group
Virgin Media O2 and Daisy Group are to unveil a merger of their business communications and IT operations in a bid to create a £3bn telecoms powerhouse.