BREAKING: Bury South MP Christian Wakeford has defected to Labour

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• Green light for new gym at former Queensway car dealership

  Plans to turn a former car dealership in Rochdale into a modern fitness studio have been approved by Rochdale Borough Council.

• Eleven students secure Oxford and Cambridge offers

  Eleven students at a Rochdale Sixth Form have secured offers to study at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge following one of the most competitive admissions processes in higher education.

• Bury’s young voters elect new Youth MP after strong turnout

  Thousands of young people across Bury have taken part in a borough wide vote to choose their new Member of Youth Parliament, with turnout exceeding 35 per cent of those eligible.

• EXCLUSIVE: Silenced mother’s own FOI reveals nearly £11 million paid out for maternity harm at hospital where she says she was assaulted during childbirth

  FOI reveals shocking payouts for Maternity harm at North Manchester General Hospital.

• Running from Rochdale to London in memory of hospice care that supported a family’s darkest days

  Two Rochdale runners are preparing to cover 246 miles in six days in memory of a father whose final night was spent at Springhill Hospice.

• Locked out in the cold as Rochdale Train Station staff didn't turn up to unlock the gates

  Passengers arrived at Rochdale railway station early this morning to find the doors locked and no trains running due to staff shortages.

• Greenmount jumble sale buyer appeals to return unexpected sex toy found in donated bag

  A YouTuber who bought a bag at a Greenmount jumble sale has appealed for its original owner to come forward after discovering an unexpected adult item left inside.

• New private diagnostic centre opens at Rochdale AFC ground

  A new private healthcare clinic has opened within the grounds of Rochdale AFC, bringing imaging and GP services to patients across the borough.

• Romance takes centre stage at The Rock in Bury

  More than 100 couples, friends and family members took part in a Valentine themed gameshow at The Rock in Bury over the weekend.

• Food drive to support FRGS Hub pantry set for Saturday at Bury FC

  A community hub serving Fishpool, Goshen, Redvales and Springs is urging residents to donate essential items at a food drive taking place this Saturday at Bury FC.

• United Utilities to host online recruitment event as wastewater hiring drive continues

  United Utilities is inviting jobseekers from across the North West to join an online careers event as it begins the next phase of a major recruitment programme.

• MP visits Heywood engineering academy during National Apprenticeship Week

  The MP for Heywood and Middleton North visited a leading Heywood manufacturer to see first hand how apprentices are being trained within a live engineering environment during National Apprenticeship Week.