Local News

A woman in her 50s has died following a collision on the M62 near Rochdale after police believe the car she was driving was travelling in the wrong direction.

Firefighters remain at the scene of a moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir after large plumes of smoke were seen rising above Saddleworth on Saturday evening.

Another protest against plans for a house in multiple occupation next to a primary school in Heywood has been moved from the town’s Memorial Gardens to the Civic Centre following concerns raised by local residents, Rochdale Council and the Heywood Veterans’ Association.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Ukrainian Centre in Rochdale for the third annual Dumpling Day, a free community event celebrating the borough’s diverse cultures ahead of Refugee Week. The event was organised by Touchstones, part of Your Trust, and brought together people of all ages through food, music and creative activities.

Rochdale Mayfield has secured more than £10,000 in funding to invest in its facilities and expand its community activities. The money has been awarded through Rochdale Borough Council’s Township Fund and The Football Foundation.

Rochdale rugby player Ian Murgatroyd has been selected to represent England in Masters Rugby League. He is due to play against Scotland in Edinburgh this October after earning international recognition for his long standing commitment to the sport.

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has urged continued action on climate change after raising the issue with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband during questions in the House of Commons. He said communities including Rochdale are already experiencing the effects of more frequent extreme weather.

Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary has been named The Rock Shopping Centre’s charity partner for the second consecutive year after receiving the most support in a public vote.

The Green Party has launched its manifesto for Greater Manchester, setting out plans including 20,000 genuinely affordable homes, free bus travel for under 22 year olds and investment in town centres if its mayoral candidate Geraldine Coggins is elected.

A new temporary fire station is planned for Heywood while the existing site is rebuilt.

With temperatures remaining high across much of the UK, health and safety experts are urging people to use electric fans safely to reduce the risk of overheating and electrical faults.

Students at Wardle Academy were temporarily evacuated after a handheld fan overheated on the school site.

A trial scheme aimed at improving road safety around the Hopwood Triangle in Heywood has received a mixed response from residents, with some welcoming the changes while others say traffic has become more congested.

Hopwood Hall College will name two new buildings after former governors Robert Clegg OBE and Clive Reid in recognition of their decades of voluntary service to the college.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing has reached a major milestone in its College Bank relocation programme after the 100th customer accepted an offer of a new home.

A new school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school could be built on the site of an empty Rochdale warehouse.

The government plans to change immigration law to allow the deportation of the released ringleader of a Rochdale child sexual exploitation gang after existing legislation prevented his removal from the UK.

Two time BRIT Award winner Gabrielle will headline Rochdale Feel Good Festival when it returns on Saturday 8 August 2026, joined by Ash, Starsailor and a line up of established and emerging acts.

Organisers of a protest against plans for a house in multiple occupation next to Woodlands Primary School say the demonstration will go ahead at Heywood Memorial Gardens despite Rochdale Council asking them to relocate the event.

A man has been jailed for 26 years after being convicted of 31 offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five children over a period spanning more than two decades.

Four primary schools in Bury North will begin offering free breakfast clubs from September under the government’s expansion of its Best Start programme.

A poll carried out at Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre found that six in ten people who took part described themselves as big spenders rather than savers.

Fourteen employees from Barratt Homes have raised £21820 for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity after completing the National Three Peaks Challenge in less than 24 hours.

Greater Manchester Police has warned football supporters not to get behind the wheel if they could still be over the drink drive limit following England's match.

The Prestwich Community Picnic is taking place today, bringing residents together for an afternoon in the park.

Edgar Wood Academy is celebrating a major milestone after its first ever Year 11 students completed their GCSEs just weeks after the school received a highly positive Ofsted report.

Three more Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued by Bury Council as part of its ongoing crackdown on fly tipping and littering.

A Bolton man has been found guilty of raping two 14 year old girls after a trial at Bolton Crown Court.

A Shaw volunteer has been recognised as First Choice Homes Oldham’s Hidden Hero for June after being praised for her commitment to the Friends of Dunwood Park.

Joseph Holt has reduced the price of children’s meals to £1 across its pubs, including those in Bury, as part of a summer initiative to help families during the school holidays.

An award winning production of Trainspotting is returning to the Geoffrey Sword Studio from 12 July to 18 July after record breaking demand saw some performances sell out.

The Kirkholt Pantry has marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration at The Strand, recognising a decade of providing affordable food and support to residents across the Kirkholt community.

A foster family from Heywood have shared how their love of football has helped build strong relationships and a sense of belonging for the young people they care for.

People across Rochdale borough can now raise money for the Mayor's Charity Appeal through their everyday online shopping without paying anything extra.

A planning application has been submitted to convert a Subway restaurant in Middleton town centre into a nail bar.

Plans to convert the vacant Grade II listed Reed Hotel in Rochdale town centre into 10 apartments have been approved by Rochdale Council.

From the streets of Hulme, Greater Manchester’s housing problems are glaringly obvious. Standing here, the glass skyscrapers towering above the region come into view. Many of these buildings went up thanks to loans from taxpayers.

It’s a hot summer’s day at Seven Sisters, but Tony Warner looks over a lifeless stretch of concrete that connects the iconic Rochdale tower blocks.

A woman who murdered her 84 year old husband by stabbing him with a vegetable knife at their home in Prestwich has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years.

Labour's candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, has announced plans to expand the Bee Network, freeze bus fares and introduce more free public transport as part of her election campaign.

The trust responsible for Rochdale Pioneers Museum has warned the birthplace of the modern co operative movement could close within two years unless a long term funding solution is found.

Whitworth Community High School Year 9 student Abby Parnell was competing in only her second ever Horse of the Year Show, HOYS, qualifying heat on Sunday June 28 in Formby.

The daughter of one of the killers of Suzanne Capper, Kelly Higgins, has started a petition to 'Automatically remove parental responsibility for parents convicted of abuse'

Shabir Ahmed was convicted of 30 child sexual offences and was jailed for 19 years in Liverpool Crown Court in 2012, but just 14 years into his sentence, he is set to be released from prison today.

A site manager at a Rochdale development has been recognised with a top national award for the quality of the homes he is building.

Elsie Blundell MP, in response to the release of Shabir Ahmed on Thursday, has released the following statement.

Rochdale Borough Council has been awarded a grant from the Chewing Gum Task Force, administered by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, to help clean up gum and reduce gum littering.

Ramsyn Alnour Eissa, 35, has been charged with two counts of section 18 assault, two counts of possession of a bladed article, and one count of affray.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have confirmed who will be standing for each respective party at the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.

New roofing, triple-glazed windows, new doors, loft insulation top-ups, and ventilation upgrades are all taking place in 202 houses and 100 flats in the area.

A 15-year-old boy has received a youth referral order and a driving ban, after earlier pleading guilty to causing the death of a 14-year-old passenger on his e-scooter when it collided with a car.

Rochdale businesses are being given direct, one-to-one access to global market entry experts as part of new initiative designed to help them tap into billions of pounds worth of untapped export opportunities.

Roch Valley Radio has officially opened this year's nominations for our Community Heroes Awards, celebrating the everyday people, groups and organisations going above and beyond to make Rochdale and Bury a better place to live.

Middleton Shopping Centre is under new management after a sale was confirmed on Friday.

A 92-year-old pensioner in a care facility has been given just four weeks to find a new place to live after a shock closure announcement.

Reform UK has announced Sian Astley as its candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election next month.

As of the latest OFSTED and CQC visit, Bury's SEND services have improved on their 2025 improvements.

More than 25 years after it first aired on BBC One, Victoria Wood's much loved sitcom dinnerladies is returning in a brand new stage adaptation. The production will visit Manchester Opera House in January and February 2027 as part of a nationwide tour, with Les Dennis confirmed in the role of Stan.

Shabir Ahmed, one of the men convicted over the Rochdale child sexual exploitation scandal, is expected to be released from prison in July 2026 under strict licence conditions, according to correspondence sent to a victim through the Victim Contact Scheme.

Greater Manchester Police have announced that the body of a teenage boy has been recovered from water in Clifton Country Park Swinton after reports of a 15-year-old boy getting in to difficulty in the water on Saturday 27 June 2026 at 4.51pm.

Mill Gate Shopping Centre has been recognised on an international stage after being named a winner of the Commonwealth Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2026.

Some of the countries biggest employers came together at the Bury North fair on Friday 26 June to help young people take their next step into work, training, and apprenticeships.

The Enterprise Centre is said to create new opportunities and boost business growth in the heart of Radcliffe, with plans underway to provide small businesses with extra support to allow them to thrive

Teachers at St Cuthbert's RC High School have ended their strike action after an agreement was reached between the St Teresa of Calcutta Trust, and the NASUWT and NEU teaching unions.

Managing director of M6 Theatre Company, Laura Rodwell, has been chosen to chair the board of a £20m initiative as part of Rochdale Borough Council's plans to boost regeneration in the local area

A woman in her 60s has died after her body was recovered from water at Island Lodge in Tottington on Sunday evening. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances.

A Heywood man is among 13 men due to stand trial in September following a Greater Manchester Police investigation into allegations of drug facilitated sexual abuse against one woman.

Former England footballer Stuart Pearce has joined Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to encourage more people across Greater Manchester to volunteer as puppy trainers for the charity's life changing assistance dogs.

Urgent and emergency care and medical services at Fairfield General Hospital have been rated as requires improvement by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection carried out in January.

A 21 year old man from Rochdale has been jailed for three years and six months after assaulting two Greater Manchester Police officers at Manchester Airport in July 2024.

Labour's candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig, has launched her campaign with a pledge to provide free Bee Network bus travel for every young person aged 11 to 18 if elected.

A free exhibition showcasing the lived experiences of more than 100 women, including participants from Rochdale, will open in Tameside next month.

Rochdale Borough Council has published its annual report for 2025/26, highlighting progress on major regeneration projects, environmental improvements and key health and community outcomes.

It has been a few weeks since I had the great honour of becoming Mayor of Rochdale. It is a huge privilege to serve the community, along with my wife, Mayoress of Rochdale Iram Faisal.

A section of Grimshaw Lane in Middleton has been closed after a sinkhole appeared in the carriageway and further excavation work raised safety concerns.

The Labour Party have confirmed that Bev Craig will run as their candidate in the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.

Volunteers have joined forces to brighten Rochdale town centre through a new partnership between Rochdale in Bloom and Rochdale Riverside.

Rochdale Masters has marked a major milestone after completing its first international tour with a visit to Perpignan in southern France.

A Rochdale man who fraudulently claimed more than £22,000 in Covid business support grants has received a suspended prison sentence and been ordered to repay the money.

A community food hub in Radcliffe is celebrating its first anniversary after helping local residents access affordable food while reducing waste.

Bury Council has unveiled a new 10 year strategy aimed at helping older residents live independently for longer through the development of extra care housing across the borough.

More than 220 young musicians took to the stage at Middleton Arena as part of Rochdale Music Service’s annual Summer Sizzler event.

It was an odd twist of fate that Andy Burnham said his goodbyes to staff at his former office in Manchester this morning at the same time as Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation live to the nation.

Restore Britain has selected campaigner and NHS worker Marlon West as its candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has backed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to become the next Labour leader and Prime Minister following Keir Starmer's resignation.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has confirmed he will put himself forward as part of the process to choose Labour's next leader following Keir Starmer's decision to step down.

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.

A deputy team manager from a Rochdale-based care organisation has been commended for saving the life of a police officer who was seriously injured while on duty.

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

Traffic halted and delays expected following collision between junctions 16 and 17

Traffic was stopped this evening on the M66 southbound between the A56 and Junction 1.

Live updates during the evening as we embed with GMFRS for a behind-the-scenes look at frontline fire service work during one of the busiest times of the year.

Thousands of music lovers descended on Bury during Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August 2025, for Glaston-Bury, the annual one day music festival in aid of Bury Hospice and other local causes. Since it began in 2008, the event has raised over £300,000 and has become one of the town’s biggest highlights of the year.

Thousands packed into Heywood for the town's annual 1940s Day on Saturday 21 June, transforming the area into a tribute to wartime Britain.

Day One at Parklife 2025 is done, and what a day it was. Over 50,000 people packed into Heaton Park for a massive Saturday, with sets from FLO, Rudimental and a huge headline performance by 50 Cent.

Tens of thousands of music fans are pouring into Parklife, as the day one of the festival gets underway.

The sister of murdered soldier Lee Rigby is preparing to run two major fundraising events this autumn, twelve years after his death at the hands of extremists.

The following statement is attributable to Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry:

Bury Business Improvement District have begun hosting the Knife Angel in partnership with Bury Council and GMP and several organisations and partners.

An old empty mill is to be transformed into much-needed housing for people with mental health issues.

The National Poppy Appeal has been launched in Bury today (Thursday 26 October) as we remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods during past and current conflicts.

On Tuesday 19 September 2023, Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a burglary on Brandlesholme Road, Bury.

Asian Community Radio Station in Moorgate, Bury Sparks Controversy with Anti-LGBT Education Signs

The charitable organisation known as the LGBTQI+ Forum in Bury, has issued a statement.

On Tuesday 29 August 2023 at around 11:55pm, officers were called to reports of a man who had been attacked with a knife on Haworth Walk in Radcliffe, Bury.

Housing association Onward Homes and construction firm John Southworth will be working in partnership on a new development of 30 affordable homes in Whitefield, Bury.