Local News

Labour have today announced that Angeliki Stogia will be their candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and coercive control following a Live Facial Recognition deployment in Manchester city centre.

The Green Party have announced Hannah Spencer as their candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Nigel Farage, the Leader of Reform UK, has visited Gorton and Denton following the announcement of Matt Goodwin of their candidate for the upcoming by-election. 

Rochdale’s town centre has been transformed into a night-time audio-visual journey, inviting residents and visitors to see the borough through the eyes and voices of its people.

Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has been formally knighted at St James’ Palace following recognition in the King’s Birthday Honours list for his long-standing dedication to British policing.

A Bury fast food branch has reopened after a makeover promising to deliver ‘better customer service’.

Rochdale’s Feel Good Festival will return on Saturday 8 August, with early bird tickets for the main stage set to go on sale at 10am on Friday 6 February.

More than 2,700 children across Rochdale received Christmas presents last month thanks to the borough’s biggest-ever toy appeal.

A new initiative aimed at tackling homelessness and boosting wellbeing has been launched by Rochdale AFC Community Trust.

An inclusive sporting event aimed at raising funds and awareness for the visually impaired community is set to take place in Bury next month.

A masterplan to effectively build a new town on farmland just next to a key M60 motorway junction is set to be approved next week. A total of 1,550 new homes are earmarked for a large chunk of land between Simister and Bowlee.

A man has been found dead in the water at Healey Dell Nature Reserve in Rochdale, police have confirmed.

Emergency services are responding to an incident at Healey Dell Nature Reserve in Rochdale this afternoon, with police, firefighters and paramedics currently at the scene.

A 20-year-old man who posted a hateful antisemitic message online hours after a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue has been sentenced.

A new home could be built in the garden of one of Rochdale’s oldest surviving farmhouses if planning permission is approved.

A woman from Radcliffe has been handed a community sentence after police discovered a hidden cannabis farm worth up to £13,000 in her home and found cocaine in her bedroom.

Bury Council’s adult learning service has been told it needs to improve in two key areas following a recent inspection by Ofsted under its newly introduced reporting framework.

Families in Middleton are in for a treat this half term when a dazzling new circus show rolls into town for one day only.

A £3.5 million investment fund has been approved by Rochdale councillors to support neighbourhood initiatives across the borough.

Survivors of rape and serious sexual assault across Rochdale and the wider North West can now challenge decisions to drop their cases before they are finalised, under a newly expanded pilot backed by Rochdale MP Paul Waugh.

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.

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

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

A Heywood man has accused Greater Manchester Police of continuing to cover up misconduct by its officers, five years after he was assaulted and threatened in his home.

Residents may see the quality of local policing drop amid financial difficulties, bosses have warned.

Reform UK has reported the Labour Party to Greater Manchester Police, claiming a social media video breached election law by presenting its candidate in a misleading way.

Andy Burnham’s name is on Greater Manchester’s lips more so than usual.

A 59-year-old man from Middleton has been convicted of manslaughter after driving into a teenager who was sitting on a stolen e-bike.

Lucy Powell, Labour’s deputy leader, formerly launched the party’s campaign outside a community hub in Gorton this afternoon.

Eamonn O’Brien, the leader of Bury Council, has been confirmed as one of the final two Labour candidates seeking selection for the Gorton and Denton by-election.

A new album and live concert are set to honour Rochdale’s iconic place in British music history, with the borough’s past and present artists uniting to revive classic tracks recorded on Kenion Street.

People across Rochdale have taken time to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust and other genocides, as the borough joins national commemorations for Holocaust Memorial Day.

A former student of Newhouse Academy in Heywood has become a national martial arts champion just two years after struggling with challenges in and out of school.

The Rock bids farewell to director Arnold Wilcox-Wood as leadership changes hands

A Rochdale man has been sentenced for a sexual offence committed against a child in the 1980s, following a report made more than 40 years after the incident took place.

Seven individuals have been issued fines for environmental offences in Bury, as the council continues its clampdown on illegal waste disposal.

A much-loved Rochdale venue will reopen next month following a multi-million pound redevelopment, transforming it into a fully accessible cultural and community hub.

The co leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Zack Polanski, visited Gorton and Denton to lead a rally backing the party’s campaign in the upcoming by-election.

Three people described as among the very best of Bury have been granted the borough’s highest civic honour in recognition of decades of service to local communities.

Victims of rape and serious sexual assault in Bury North are set to gain stronger safeguards when prosecutors decide to drop cases, following the expansion of a national review scheme supported by local MP James Frith.

A light hearted Commons moment by Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has racked up tens of thousands of views online after he used a well known local phrase while pressing ministers to support struggling pubs.

A new report from Bury Council has set out how the types of shops, services and businesses in neighbourhoods can have a direct impact on people’s health, particularly in areas facing higher levels of deprivation.

Reform UK’s candidate for the upcoming Gorton & Denton by-election has criticised the growth of houses of multiple occupancy, rising crime and the decline of town centres.

Bury’s newest party will be putting forward several candidates in the upcoming local election after a political rift tore the Conservative group apart. Together for Bury will be represented by three councillor hopefuls in Pilkington Park, Bury West and Tottington.

Five Greater Manchester councillors have been long-listed to be Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

Reform UK has confirmed that political commentator and academic Matt Goodwin will stand for the party in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by election.

A shop operating on Oldham Road in Rochdale has been shut down for three months following a court order prompted by illicit tobacco sales, marking the fifth closure in the area within seven months.

The leader of Bury Council, Eamonn O’Brien, has applied to be selected as the Labour candidate for the Gorton and Denton parliamentary constituency, it's understood.

Labour’s decision to prevent Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election could have serious national consequences, according to a leading political academic.

The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police has thrown his weight behind government plans to create a US-style national crime-fighting agency, calling the overhaul of policing structures “bold” and “decades overdue”.

Andy Burnham will appear before four committees in the days after he tried to become the Gorton and Denton MP.

A man has been charged following an arson attack at a property in Bury earlier this month, police have confirmed.

Andy Burnham has issued a message to Labour MPs after his bid to become the Gorton and Denton MP this morning.

Andy Burnham says his "full focus" is on his job as Mayor of Greater Manchester, after being blocked in his bid to become an MP.

A man in his 20s has been arrested following a police pursuit that ended in a dramatic four-vehicle collision on Whitlees Road in Rochdale.

A Rochdale mosque has been advised to rethink its redevelopment proposals to better reflect the heritage of the building and surrounding area.

A social housing provider has secured £55m to invest in Rochdale regeneration projects. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has been on a funding freeze from the government ever since it was hit with a regulatory notice in December 2022.

A major infrastructure project in Prestwich is nearing completion. The brand new travel hub, a £14m scheme to create 300 parking spaces and a cycle storage site, celebrated its ‘topping off’ ceremony – meaning the basic structure of the building is now complete.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said he is disappointed by Labour’s decision to block him from standing in the Gorton and Denton by election and has questioned how the party is being run.

Bumper to bumper traffic, queues with huge delays and endless frustration. These are the usual issues associated with Littleborough.

The Labour Party's ruling national executive committee (NEC) has blocked Andy Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Andy Burnham’s stint as Greater Manchester mayor could be drawing to a close after he announced his intention to return to Parliament.

Andy Burnham’s resignation as Greater Manchester mayor to stand in the Gorton and Denton Parliamentary by-election would create a huge reshuffle in the city’s politics.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has announced he is seeking to return to Westminster, confirming he has asked Labour’s ruling body for permission to stand in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following a fire at a residential property in Bury in the early hours of last Sunday (18 January 2026).

From prisons and primary schools to libraries and moorland, Sammy’s work has put poetry at the heart of Rochdale’s cultural year.

A trial over alleged historic sexual abuse in Rochdale has collapsed after jurors discussed watching a television programme about grooming gangs, in direct breach of court instructions.

The next stage of plans for 1,000 more homes to Heywood has taken a step forward. A planning application for 186 houses to the plot of land off Hareshill Road North has been tabled with Rochdale council.

A building in Rochdale town centre could be transformed into shared accommodation for workers under new proposals submitted to the council.

Rochdale’s RSPCA branch is calling on local residents to support its ongoing efforts to protect, rescue and rehome animals across the borough.

February 8, 2025: A Saturday night that changed Tameside politics forever, and one that could still reshape the future of Greater Manchester for years.

Andrew Gwynne has stepped down as Gorton and Denton’s MP, nearly a year after he was named in the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp scandal.

A council motion committing Bury to giving every child the best possible start in life was passed with near-unanimous support at a Full Council meeting yesterday, with only one councillor voting against.

Andy Burnham says he was completely ‘in the dark’ about Andrew Gwynne’s plans amid reports a deal has been reached that may see the MP’s Gorton and Denton seat up for grabs.

Andrew Gwynne is reportedly set to resign as the MP for Gorton and Denton nearly a year after the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp scandal broke.

A powerful new photography exhibition commemorating the 25th anniversary of NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo has opened at Number One Riverside in Rochdale town centre.

A care facility in Heywood is trialling new technology that could transform how support is delivered to vulnerable people across Rochdale.

A long-running dispute over the future of Hopwood Hall in Middleton is heading to trial, as American actor and writer Hopwood DePree launches legal proceedings against Rochdale Council.

A striking new mural celebrating mental health awareness has been unveiled outside Healey Deli in Whitworth, sparking praise from local residents and campaigners alike.

A 1920s Rochdale theatre could get a makeover as part of a huge regeneration project.

A disused patch of land at Birch Hill Hospital is set to be transformed into a therapeutic green space for patients, staff, and the wider Wardle community, thanks to a £32,600 grant from the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund.

Council tax in Rochdale is expected to go up by 4.99 per cent in April. The local authority is due to vote on the budget at the end of next month, an annual requirement for every council.

A CHRISTMAS present of singing lessons helped Alice Kowal win the Guide section of the Girlguiding North West England talent competition.

A special bus carrying the name of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, one of the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, was unveiled outside Tottington High School this morning, Monday 19 January.

Public consultation to follow after approval of policy to curb fast food outlets near schools and on high streets

Emergency services comb building as derelict White Lion pub catches fire again

Villagers fear trucks could be rattling through their roads if plans to transform a derelict pub go ahead.

A dispersal order is now in place across Greater Manchester as police prepare for a series of illegal car cruise events this weekend, following a deadly collision in Bolton last week.

A festival organised in memory of one of its founding members has raised over £33,000 for charity, marking a powerful end to the Ferringo Fest story – at least for now.

A Heywood takeaway previously rated zero stars for food hygiene has now been awarded a ‘good’ four-star rating following a reinspection by Rochdale Council’s food safety team.

A crunch meeting to decide the fate of a 199-home development will take place next week. The 12 hectare site between Smithy Bridge and Littleborough has long been earmarked for housing.

A disability rugby group at Rochdale Mayfield RLFC is going from strength to strength since its launch in 2024, with new players encouraged to join its inclusive monthly sessions.

We’re proud to announce that Roch Valley Radio has been awarded £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

A discount warehouse operating without planning permission in Rochdale town centre is expected to be approved by councillors this week, despite receiving 13 public objections.

They are the source of frustration for many motorists across Greater Manchester and it’s the job of our councils to fix them.

Vintage Worx Community Development Trust is a community-led grass-root organisation based in Falinge Park Rochdale.

Tributes are flooding in following the sudden death of ‘deeply respected and passionate’ community hero Dale Harris. The 31-year-old, well-known in the community for supporting youngsters into football and championing local sports, passed away at Royal Oldham Hospital on Monday, January 12

Impressive CGIs have given a first glimpse at the scale of a new business centre in Bury that could bring 250 jobs and £8m to the local economy.

What was once a popular gastropub fronted by celebrity chef Andrew Nutter will be converted into a nursery. The Bird at Birtle was relaunched under the Nutter banner back in 2016 after a £1m makeover.

Commuters faced severe disruption this morning as flooding forced the closure of a key section of the M60, bringing widespread gridlock across Heywood and Middleton.

A building in Bury’s hospitality district could soon be turned into emergency housing for families facing homelessness.

A beautiful Grade-II listed building in Oldham is offering one lucky couple the chance to win a free wedding ceremony. Chadderton Town Hall, a recently renovated baroque-style town hall, will host a free draw for those attending their wedding fair on Sunday, January 25.

The organisers behind some of Littleborough’s best-loved community events have issued a stark warning: without new volunteers, this year’s programme could face serious cuts.

A group of volunteers from waste and recycling firm SUEZ have planted more than 200 new trees in Rochdale, surpassing their annual pledge and bringing their total contribution across Greater Manchester to over 1,700.

A dedicated Rochdale teenager has officially qualified as a karate instructor after completing an intensive coaching programme, earning the title of Sensei.

Rochdale Borough Council has received official recognition from UNICEF.

A series of free poetry performances is set to bring bold voices and fresh perspectives to Rochdale as part of its Greater Manchester Town of Culture year.

A lorry driver who killed two Ryanair pilots and seriously injured a taxi driver in a crash on the M62 has been jailed for 10 years.

A Wigan man who falsely claimed compensation for a cycling injury has been ordered to pay Rochdale Borough Council more than £18,000 after a judge ruled he was “fundamentally dishonest”.

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.