Local News from Wednesday, January 28th, 2026

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.