Free Santa’s grotto returns to The Rock with festive magic and charity cheer

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• Rochdale businesses recognised at annual awards ceremony

  Hundreds gathered at Rochdale Town Hall to celebrate local success stories at the 12th annual Rochdale Business Awards.

• Tetrosyl strike deepens as union accuses employer of illegal tactics and Christmas ‘cruelty’

  Workers at a Rochdale manufacturing site will walk out again in January after union leaders accused management of unfair dismissal, unlawful strike-breaking, and refusing to negotiate.

• Peine Square transformed in £1m Heywood regeneration project

  A major upgrade to Peine Square in Heywood town centre has been completed, delivering new performance spaces, greenery and public seating as part of a £1 million investment.

• Music and creativity team win national award for bringing joy to supported lives

  Two members of staff from a Rochdale-based social care provider have received national recognition for their work enriching the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism.

• United Utilities begins £4.5 million project to protect Castleton waterways

  A £4.5 million scheme to improve water quality in Castleton has begun, with United Utilities aiming to reduce pollution in Trub Brook and the River Irk.

• Rochdale to be transformed by immersive nighttime storytelling experience

  Rochdale will host a major public art installation this winter, as the town’s streets become the stage for a free, after-dark audio-visual experience led by local voices.

• UK economy faces tipping point as small firms warn of rising insolvency risk

  The UK economy is at a ‘delicate crossroads’ as 2025 draws to a close, according to Steven Mason, a senior insolvency practitioner at Inquesta.

• Prison watchdog flags safety concerns and strained resources at HMP Buckley Hall

  A report has raised fresh concerns about safety, staffing and deteriorating facilities at HMP Buckley Hall, a category C men’s prison near Rochdale.

• Grinch Christmas card withdrawn from Sainsbury’s following transphobia complaints

  A festive card featuring the Grinch has been pulled from Sainsbury’s stores after concerns it mocked transgender identities.

• The relief road that could save a town from traffic nightmare

  It has been rumoured for over two decades, but deafening calls for a relief road just won’t quieten down for a town at traffic breaking point.

• Child Protection Investigation Unit praised for relentless work safeguarding children in Rochdale

  A specialist police team based in Rochdale has been recognised for its unwavering efforts to protect children from serious harm, with more than 300 arrests made in the past year.

• Before the red suit this the surprising history of Father Christmas

  When people picture Father Christmas, most see a jolly, bearded man in a red suit trimmed with white fur. But that iconic outfit has a more complex origin than many realise, and for centuries, he wore green.