Local News

Bury Council says it made a 'late decision' to attend controversial MIPIM property conference after Greater Manchester Combined Authority urged all 10 councils to take part, following backlash from the Daily Mails article.

A man and woman were threatened by four masked men, one armed with a knife, during an aggravated burglary on Todmorden Road in Littleborough.

A huge festive donation box has arrived in Bury, as The Rock joins forces with local churches and The Salvation Army to collect toys for children in need.

A man who smuggled drugs into the UK through parcels disguised with fake American return addresses has been jailed for eight years following a major investigation by Greater Manchester Police.

A convicted Rochdale grooming gang member has finally left the UK, not through deportation, but by disappearing on his own, doing what the Home Office failed to achieve for over a decade.

A long-abandoned Middleton site is set for transformation as First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) announces plans to build 24 new energy-efficient homes, following a major £6.79 million investment.

A man who drove into several people, killing a woman in Rochdale, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and six attempted murders

A key route into Bury town centre has reopened after a five-month closure for critical bridge works

Plans for a block of 40 flats at a town centre site have been submitted.

Developers have applied to turn a former religious home in Middleton into a block of ten apartments, bringing an end to its sacred past.

Hopwood Hall College will get a massive campus overhaul now plans for a new teaching block have been approved.

A local children’s charity has been awarded £10,000 thanks to a unique metal recycling scheme supported by Rochdale Council.

Families in Bury invited to enjoy a free festive experience with Santa, chocolate treats and a land train this Christmas

An emotional visit from Barcelona reveals how Rochdale’s Hotel Wellington became a wartime refuge for one Spanish worker, and sparked a family’s lifelong connection to the town

A single mother in Rochdale says her family has been forced to live in dangerous housing conditions for weeks, including collapsed ceilings, black mould, and structural issues, all while her children, who have serious health needs, are left "breathing in toxic fumes".

A GP practice in Bury is calling on the government to extend menopause support across all age groups, after helping hundreds of women describe their symptoms as “brutal”, “life-changing”, and even “marriage-destroying”.

An elderly resident living in a Birch Road bungalow was left shaken after a burglar dressed as a clown tricked their way into her home before stealing her purse.

A murder investigation is under way after the death of 36-year-old Luke Harden in the early hours of Saturday morning in Bacup. His family say they are “devastated” and described him as a loving son, brother, and friend.

Tearing down trees next to ‘Rochdale’s Chernobyl’ sparked fear back in 2004. Over two decades later, the same fear remains.

A convicted child sex offender from the notorious Rochdale grooming gang has absconded from the UK, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.

Rochdale Borough Council has reminded thousands of residents they must re-apply for postal voting by January 2026 or risk being removed from the postal register due to new national rules.

A man has been taken to hospital after being stabbed outside a busy pub in Rochdale town centre in the early hours of this morning.

The last bank in Middleton will soon close its doors, leaving locals feeling ‘disgusted’.

Services between Crumpsall and Bury have resumed after urgent repairs were carried out on a historic Metrolink tunnel to ensure safety for decades to come.

A specialist GMP unit is dismantling criminal networks exploiting migrants through fake documents, sham marriages, and modern slavery

A man who was rescued from the River Irwell in Salford has died in hospital, prompting an investigation by Greater Manchester Police into how he came to be in the water.

Middleton's community effort and green pride land a double victory at the RHS competition

Two arrested as police appeal for witnesses following fatal incident in Bacup.

Tesco has raised the cost of its reusable carrier bags, sparking frustration among some shoppers while the supermarket says the move supports sustainability goals.

Young people across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale can now book same-day appointments with the #Thrive mental health team as part of a new NHS support model.

The borough will pause to remember on Sunday 9 November, with services and parades taking place in every township to honour servicemen and women past and present

Seven charges including multiple rapes brought against three men following major CSE investigation in Rochdale

Bury North MP James Frith took to the court with under-10s at Elton Basketball Club during a recent visit, praising the club’s grassroots spirit and its impact on local youth.

Officers promise robust action against antisocial behaviour as part of 'Darker Nights' campaign

Town hall ceremony celebrates organisations and individuals making Rochdale a fairer, more welcoming borough

The family of Melvin Cravitz say messages, vigils and small acts of kindness have brought strength in the wake of a devastating synagogue attack

Usdaw registers formal dispute as local MPs condemn tactics affecting Rochdale workers

Rochdale true crime fans are being invited to test their own inner darkness as a nationwide live show exploring staged murders arrives in town next month.

Greater Manchester Police say they are cracking down on malicious 999 calls after several arrests and convictions, including a man jailed for eight months and a woman accused of making over 140 abusive calls in just three months.

A political row has broken out over the Rochdale Diversity Awards after a councillor from the Workers Party of Britain accused organisers and speakers of politicising the event, prompting rebuttals from local Labour representatives.

A year-long transformation of local streets in Fishpool and Pimhole is set to begin on Monday 3 November 2025, bringing major upgrades to walking, cycling and wheeling routes as part of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network vision.

Services, wreath layings and parades to mark Armistice and Remembrance Sunday in Bury and surrounding areas.

A Kingsway man says free local support helped him finally quit smoking after major surgery, and now he wants others to follow his lead.

A Bury town centre shop’s licence is to be reviewed after a 14-year-old girl’s parents alleged she was found ‘inebriated’ after buying a litre bottle of vodka there.

Families across Rochdale are invited to take a journey to Oz this half-term, as the Holy Trinity Youth Theatre Workshop prepares to stage its own version of The Wizard of Oz in Littleborough.

Roch Valley Radio has secured formal recognition as a regulated news publisher, joining the ranks of bona fide UK media outlets under the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).

Council to invest £569,000 after admitting they are not equipped to meet ‘Awaab’s Law’ response times for damp and mould inspections

A stallholder was left to sell their wares ‘completely on their own’, after no-shows and last minute drop outs left a town’s makers market near-abandoned.

A 13-year-old schoolboy from Heywood has stunned the international inline hockey scene after returning from Spain with a gold medal and an unbeaten record in goal.

Family-run business which has served a town for 150 years plan changes to ‘thrive for generations’

Vacant land next to a primary school in Heywood will be converted into a new affordable housing development.

A powerful national protest will see rows of children’s shoes laid outside council buildings in 92 towns and cities this week, representing the thousands of children failed by the SEND system.

Union warns Metrolink passengers could face major disruption during festive season if driver fatigue row is not resolved

A team of determined Rochdale fundraisers have smashed their first major challenge, raising thousands for local good causes on a gruelling 52-mile walk from Rochdale to Blackpool.

What started as a technical housing solution is now a flashpoint in the national debate about asylum seekers, housing policy and community cohesion.

A petrol station and associated Morrisons shop are seeking permission to open 24-hours a day.

A group of Rochdale schoolchildren got their hands dirty for a good cause, thanks to TV gardener Frances Tophill, who joined forces with a Manchester garden centre to support a homelessness charity.

Singing competition winner 12-year-old Logan Law is hoping to turn his passion into a career after achieving an incredible 98 per cent in his latest exam.

Multiple cast members speak out as theatre group fails to respond to serious safeguarding allegations before show’s next performance.

A pair of cousins have been found guilty of sexually abusing five girls over a three-year period, in offences described as ‘appalling’ and ‘calculated’ by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Two vacant office buildings in Littleborough could be converted into houses of multiple occupation under new plans submitted to Rochdale Council.

Landmark rules come into force in memory of Rochdale toddler Awaab Ishak who died from mould exposure

Roch Valley Radio was given exclusive access to the extensive renovation of Touchstones Rochdale, where scaffolding and sawdust are giving way to a bold new vision for the borough’s cultural future.

A serious incident on the A627(M) has brought traffic to a standstill, with emergency services on the scene and delays expected into the evening. More updates to follow.

Families across England will benefit from a major new government scheme delivering free breakfast clubs in schools, as part of efforts to tackle child hunger and ease cost of living pressures.

Residents across Bury are being encouraged to show their support for this year’s Poppy Appeal, launched by the borough’s mayor as the country prepares to mark Remembrance Day.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 77-year-old woman was left with potentially life-changing injuries in a serious crash on Birch Street, Bury.

Mosques and Muslim centres will receive extra protection funding following a spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes across the UK

A 59-year-old man has died following a multi-vehicle crash on the M60 near Salford, as his family pay heartfelt tribute and police continue their appeal for witnesses.

A Whitworth schoolgirl has become the youngest cadet in her squadron to earn Blue Wings after taking to the skies during a visit to RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

A notorious Rochdale estate was well-known for all the wrong reasons – the death of a toddler, poor housing conditions and crime. But life is finally getting better on Freehold.

A woman is receiving hospital treatment after being seriously injured in a collision with a car near Bury town centre.

Over 300 cannabis plants have been taken off the streets of Rochdale after neighbourhood officers raided two illegal growing operations in partnership with the local council.

A former teacher at Tottington High School has been permanently banned from the classroom after a professional misconduct panel found he engaged in sexual activity with a pupil.

Greater Manchester Police’s control room teams are being recognised for their vital role in emergency response as part of International Control Room Week.

Specialist investigation team arrests more suspects and secures major convictions as survivors of non-recent exploitation continue to come forward

Billy Jackson has called Rochdale’s Seven Sisters home for 40 years. But shock decision means 2025 will be his final year in the iconic tower blocks.

Free augmented reality trail, festive lights switch-on and family events launch Christmas celebrations in Bury

Plans to knock down and rebuild a mosque in Prestwich have been approved despite a 1,630 person petition opposing it.

Andy Burnham was ‘taken aback’ by a decision to clear Rochdale’s iconic ‘Seven Sisters’ tower blocks, forcing hundreds from their homes.

Council enforcement officers discovered a nine-bed HMO had been created without permission after a complaint from neighbours, councillors have heard.

Rochdale’s rich musical heritage was centre stage at a packed launch event marking the beginning of a new borough-wide celebration called ‘Rochdale Music Stories’, featuring big names like Peter Hook, Clint Boon and Andy McCluskey.

A naked man caused disruption on a busy Bury road on Wednesday morning, swatting at cars and attempting to open vehicle doors before being detained and taken to hospital.

Residents of the iconic tower blocks that have dominated the skyline of Rochdale since the 1960s have been told they will be evicted due to safety concerns.

Rochdale’s Culture Co-op has been awarded £1 million to put local people at the heart of cultural decision-making, as part of a £42 million national programme run by Arts Council England.

Middleton Library plays host to spellbinding session with Rochdale’s poet laureate Sammy Weaver

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh says national grooming inquiry must win survivors’ trust and 'follow the evidence wherever it leads’

Rochdale’s Pizza Hut restaurant is among dozens of UK branches set to permanently shut, after the company that operated the brand in the UK fell into administration.

A long-established childminder in Rochdale has been graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for the fifth inspection in a row, a rare achievement spanning over two decades.

As the days become colder and the nights grow darker, many families will be looking forward to bonfire night season to brighten their autumn.

Primary school children in Bury North are being offered the chance to have their artwork seen across Westminster as local MP James Frith launches his first-ever Christmas card competition.

A new Greggs could soon be built at a petrol station in Littleborough.

Adoption campaign challenges outdated myths as number of prospective parents falls amid cost-of-living crisis

Officers make four arrests and seize drugs, cash, and eight weapons in day-long operation tackling violent and drug-related crime

A five-court padel club is to be built to cater for ‘rapidly growing demand’ to play the sport.

Three bonfire night events will be delivered in Rochdale next month – all completely free of charge.

It is just a matter of months until Middleton’s last bank closes.

His Majesty commends first responders after Heaton Park synagogue attack

Muhammad Ali, a professional boxer from Rochdale who was the first diabetic athlete in the UK to receive a licence to fight, has been formally recognised by the World Boxing Council for his trailblazing achievements.

The Conservative group on Bury council has elected a new leader after the previous boss defected to Reform.

Several roads in Bury are to be fully closed for periods starting next week as resurfacing work begins.

Industrial action to affect bus and tram services across Greater Manchester from this week.

A private firm is being sought to operate the new multi-million pound travel hub in Prestwich.

Jobs are set to be cut at Bury council’s education department as schools convert to academies at a rapid rate.

Right now, tens of thousands of people are waiting to be told a house is available for them, so talk of a ‘housing crisis’ is not just political propaganda.

One of the founders of a neighbourhood patrol group which has been ‘standing guard’ outside schools in a Greater Manchester town is a violent convicted racist, the Local Democracy Reporting Service have revealed.

A Rochdale woman who survived a near-fatal brain aneurysm is now inspiring others through her remarkable recovery and volunteer work.

Go Outdoors Retail Limited, Pilsworth, Bury, BL9, failed to pay £240,105.62 to 2,058 workers. 

Rochdale Town Hall has been named Heritage Project of the Year at the prestigious RICS UK Awards Grand Final, beating high-profile contenders including the Elizabeth Tower in Westminster and the V&A Museum.

Rochdale MP celebrates Perez brothers’ international jiu-jitsu victories

The countdown to Christmas starts in fiery fashion this November, as Rochdale’s Ignite Fire Festival returns with dazzling displays, a new torchlight procession, ice rink and festive market.

Manchester Pride Ltd is preparing to enter administration after revealing heavy losses and failing to pay performers from this year’s event, raising serious questions about the future of the city’s flagship LGBTQ+ festival.

Residents of a high-rise block in College Bank were forced to evacuate and spend two nights in emergency accommodation after a burst pipe triggered a power failure, plunging flats into darkness.

A school in Heywood has opened a new nursery with £130,000 of government funding, as part of a wider Labour drive to expand childcare and help parents return to work.

Local charities, residents and public figures gather at Riverside One to celebrate emotional wellbeing and mental health support.

Thousands are living in avoidable sight loss across the UK due to a critical shortage of cornea donors, but a grieving Greater Manchester nurse hopes her sister’s story will inspire others to register

A council is set to force the sale of some long term empty properties to bring more homes back into use.

A new community garden in Ramsbottom marks the first official site in Bury’s Right to Grow programme, led by local residents determined to turn disused land into a shared food-growing hub.

Rochdale and Bury residents have been formally recognised with Deputy Lieutenant roles in Greater Manchester, as part of a 12-person appointment announced in The London Gazette.

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.