Local News

The family of Ricky Hatton have paid tribute to him following his death over the weekend, describing the Manchester boxing legend as “so much more than a world champion”.

Pop star Jade Thirlwall drew huge crowds in Bury on Saturday, 13 September, when she stopped by Wax and Beans record shop to sign copies of her debut solo album.

Ramsbottom once again played host to the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships, with crowds filling Bridge Street to watch competitors from across the UK and as far afield as Japan, Peru, Canada and Australia.

The heart of Rochdale has been transformed into a vast open-air gallery this week as local and international artists came together for the Common Walls International Mural Festival.

The idea to bring thousands of new homes, highly skilled jobs and the tram service to Middleton has created a buzz in the town.

A refreshed safety guide has been launched across Greater Manchester to help residents, students and visitors enjoy nights out with confidence.

Mill Gate Shopping Centre is inviting residents to help create a striking wall of remembrance this November, made entirely from handmade poppies in support of the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal.

Work has officially begun on Therme Manchester, the £450 million wellness resort at TraffordCity set to become the UK’s largest of its kind when it opens in 2028.

A new banqueting hall and wedding venue could soon be coming to Middleton.

A Rochdale wedding coordinator has been crowned the best in the region at the 15th annual North West Wedding Awards.

A councillor who leads a hyper-local party has been arrested on suspicion of fraud.

Taxis working in Bury should be licensed in Bury, town hall bosses have told a government inquiry.

A teenage stockcar racer from Whitworth has defied the odds to claim her first race win, just weeks after a devastating crash left her hospitalised and her car written off.

Greater Manchester Police has reclaimed £17 million from criminals and reinvested over £1.5 million into local projects that protect and support residents

Greater Manchester faces torrential conditions with flood warnings and possible gales as weekend storm threat looms

More than 360 disruptions and 281 safeguarding interventions recorded since April as police target child exploitation hotspots

A new school catering to young people with special educational needs has officially launched in Heywood, offering dedicated support for pupils aged 11 to 19 with autism spectrum conditions and communication challenges.

Greater Manchester Police have made three further arrests in connection with non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale, as part of a growing investigation into abuse between 2008 and 2010.

The plan to build a new secondary school in Littleborough should ‘go back to the drawing board’, councillors say.

Licensing officers have given details of the seizure of hundreds of items and the multiple issues issues they encountered during the recent Oasis shows at Heaton Park.

A social housing provider owned by Bury council is to be wound up.

Plans to create a one way system around the cramped roads of Ramsbottom town centre have been abandoned after an overwhelmingly negative response from residents.

Tradespeople across Rochdale and the UK will see stronger legal protections after MP Paul Waugh secured tougher sentencing rules for tool theft through a new law aimed at cracking down on the crime’s devastating impact.

Middleton has long been considered a signal deadspot for mobile phones, now a 30m high telecommunications mast is hoping to solve that problem.

A major upgrade is on the cards for Rochdale railway station, with new plans aiming to modernise the historic site and strengthen links to the town centre and surrounding developments.

Eight new shared ownership homes are now on the market at Mossylea Close in Middleton, part of the £7.1 million Green View development delivered by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO).

A 52-year-old man has been arrested following a series of violent handbag thefts that left women across Manchester, Salford and Bury shaken but physically unharmed.

A brand new illuminated trail is coming to Heaton Park this festive season, offering a mile-long walk through glowing light displays, local food and festive cheer from 20 November to 31 December 2025.

Despite heavy rain throughout the day, hundreds turned out to support local causes at the annual Heywood Charities Fete today, Sunday, 7 September.

A woman in her 90s was pronounced dead outside a popular wedding venue in Whitworth, prompting a police response and the cancellation of a local event.

Bury was alive with energy this morning as thousands of runners, volunteers and supporters gathered for the return of the Bury BID 10K alongside Mini and Junior events.

Drivers urged to plan ahead as Sunday road closures set to impact key routes in Bury and Tottington

A letter co-signed by Shabana Mahmood MP in 2020, which urged the government to halt a controversial deportation flight to Jamaica, has resurfaced online after her appointment as home secretary.

It was once an industrial behemoth that employed thousands of Rochdalians – but many knew little of the danger lurking right under their noses.

The town of Littleborough is in ‘dire need’ of a new secondary school, but progress has been slow since the government halted proceedings in 2022.

A 52-year-old man from north Manchester has been arrested after ten women were attacked in a spate of handbag robberies across Manchester, Salford and Bury.

A new housing development will be built on the former grounds of a primary school in Rochdale.

I am already a third of the way through my Mayoral year and I am enjoying every minute. To reiterate a key message from my last column, it is such a humbling experience to visit so many inspiring organisations, businesses and volunteers who make up the fabric of our borough.

A major international street art festival is underway in Rochdale, turning ten buildings into bold new landmarks as artists from across the globe create murals celebrating the town’s culture and history.

A sheep shelter that has been at the centre of controversy in Rochdale will finally be built after three years of turmoil.

Bus passengers across Greater Manchester are being warned to expect significant disruption later this month as more than 2,000 workers from the Bee Network prepare to walk out over pay.

The family of a young man fatally stabbed in Bury have paid a moving tribute to him, describing him as “the heartbeat and soul” of their lives.

Parents and carers at Tottington High School have been told that David Yates’ absence will continue as the new school year begins.

A new open-air art gallery has been unveiled in front of Rochdale’s historic town hall, offering residents and visitors a place to pause, reflect, and enjoy local creativity.

Andy Burnham will tell government ministers taxi drivers should be BANNED from working out-of-area to fix a ‘broken system’ today.

One of Rochdale’s most iconic buildings is set to swap chandeliers for disco balls as it welcomes families to a high energy rave this autumn.

Children and young people across Rochdale are celebrating record achievements in their GCSE and A Level results, with strong gains in top grades and language learning.

A Rochdale resident has been fined after CCTV footage showed a hired vehicle being used to dump waste, including a sofa, on Corporation Road.

A ‘phantom cr*pper’ has repeatedly struck at a country park beloved of families.

A man has been convicted of manslaughter and a woman found guilty of perverting the course of justice following the death of 38-year-old Alberto Ursu at a New Year party in Rochdale.

A spat between a Hollywood actor and Rochdale council over control of historic Hopwood Hall could go to the High Court.

A planning decision to demolish a mosque and replace it with a larger building has been delayed as councillors want to visit the site.

Darnhill & Heywood Amateur Boxing Club has wrapped up its summer camp with a celebratory awards night, but now faces a race to raise £300,000 to complete its long-awaited new community facility.

A bereaved mum who has just under a week to collect items from her daughter’s grave before they’re removed has spoken of her heartache.

Bury North MP James Frith is calling for urgent changes to Manchester Airport’s new online parking system, after local residents complained of being unfairly fined during short pick-up or drop-off stops.

A Prestwich performer who balances her council job with a passion for the stage has been honoured with a top acting award – and is now in line for a second.

A homeowner’s application to cut back branches from a mature oak tree in Rochdale has been rejected after council officers ruled the landmark tree must be protected.

Motorists face major disruption as incidents bring Greater Manchester’s busiest roads to a standstill

The Rock Shopping Centre is launching its first-ever Christmas Lights Switch-On Parade this November, with Roch Valley Radio broadcasting live from the event.

Volunteers brave the cold at football stadium to raise over £5,600 for vulnerable people in the borough

Andy Burnham announced seven major changes to the Bee Network this afternoon, promising more frequent services, new night buses, and cheaper travel for tens of thousands.

A new and improved Mosque could soon be built in the heart of Rochdale as part of a ‘legacy project’ for the community.

Families in Littleborough have voiced anger and distress after being told treasured items left on graves at St Barnabas Church must be removed by Sunday 7 September.

Plans have been submitted for a huge new housing estate, aemployment area and park and ride on green belt land next to the M66.

Work is progressing on a massive £46m flood defence scheme that could protect hundreds of homes and businesses in Rochdale.

A 91m-high meteorological mast will be built on moorland north of Manchester later this month as part of a controversial wind farm scheme.

A national hearing dog charity is launching a new training base in Rochdale and is calling on local dog lovers to help raise life-changing puppies

Never let the truth get in the way of selective understanding.

Scout Moor wind farm has dominated the skyline north of Manchester for two decades, now there is a plan to build 17 bigger, more powerful wind turbines on the cards.

A man jailed for taking part in the horrific killing of a homeless man has died while serving his sentence at Rochdale’s Buckley Hall prison.

It has been one of the hottest summers on record – possibly the hottest ever.

A protest took place in Heywood today, Saturday 30 August, billed by organisers as peaceful, and on the surface, it was. Concerned residents gathered, marched a few laps around the town centre’s one-way system, and listened to a series of impassioned speeches.

Dozens marched through Heywood town centre this afternoon, Saturday, 30 August, in a controversial protest against local HMOs and immigration policy, with demonstrators expressing anger over child safety, policing, and housing.

A controversial sheep shelter plan in Rochdale is set to go back before the planning committee.

Bury's central shopping centre sees major growth with new brands, bigger shops and first-ever electric car showroom.

Community spirit and charity fundraising take centre stage at this year’s Bury Running Festival.

A new affordable housing development will be built on the site of a derelict flag pole manufacturer in Middleton.

A popular Heywood hotel with a long history of weddings, events, and local hospitality has closed its doors for good following the sale of its building.

Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation after an 18-year-old was taken to hospital with stab wounds following a serious incident on Long Street

Some of the world’s most celebrated mural artists are coming to Rochdale this September for a brand new international arts festival that promises to bring colour, culture and creativity to the borough.

A Greater Manchester choir dedicated to people affected by cancer is offering prospective members a unique opportunity to join them for a one-night-only taster session next month.

A Rochdale family is urging the public to support World Mitochondrial Disease Week this September, as they shine a light on a devastating condition affecting their teenage son.

Akinwale Arobieke, the North West man who became an urban legend after being banned from touching people’s muscles, has died at the age of 64.

It’s an early August Friday night and the sun is out. Altrincham should be noisy with drinkers celebrating the start of the weekend.

A rare glimpse of a submerged World War Two relic has resurfaced at Warland Reservoir above Rochdale, sparking fresh curiosity and historical intrigue among local residents and walkers.

A rising music star from Bury will make his biggest international debut yet as he joins pop sensation Benson Boone on the first leg of his “American Heart World Tour” across the United States.

A teacher at a Heywood school, and former leader of Rochdale Council, has been accused of stoking racial tension and marching alongside far-right activists, sparking outrage among parents who say they no longer feel their children are safe in his care.

A wave of England flags on lamp posts and painted roundabouts has prompted confusion over what’s legal, and what isn’t

Drivers across Greater Manchester can expect delays on one of the busiest sections of the M60 in the coming weeks.

Heywood could see work to build its new tram service start as soon as 2028.

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.