'Heywood is leading the way' as minister hails £20m regeneration plan as town becomes national model

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• The two villages that are about see life change forever

  Looking out over the rolling fields surrounding her home, Christine Crolla points in disgust where a new town is expected to be built. The landscape between the villages of Bowlee and Simister is a bizarre mix of urban and rural life.

• Family pay tribute to ‘most humble, kind man’ killed in aircraft crash

  The family of a man who died in a light aircraft crash in Littleborough have paid tribute to him as investigations into the incident continue.

• Ramsbottom pool to close for urgent repairs from 23 February

  The swimming pool at Ramsbottom Pool and Fitness Centre will shut for up to four weeks later this month to allow essential repairs to window lintels, the council has announced.

• Half term family fun at Rochdale Town Hall promises packed week of free activities

  Families across Rochdale are being invited to enjoy a lively schedule of free and low-cost events at Rochdale Town Hall during the upcoming February half term.

• United Utilities is offering over 100 apprenticeships across the North West in its largest recruitment drive to date.

  More than 100 apprenticeship places are now open for applications at United Utilities, spanning a wide range of roles from operations and engineering to digital and environmental work.

• ‘Have you farted?’ No, that’s just Heywood – the smell’s back

  Residents in parts of Heywood are once again reporting foul odours drifting from the Pilsworth landfill site, just months after the site was officially approved to expand operations.

• Saturday roundup as we Sing Hosanna first and then SKA later at Ramsbottom’s Come Together Festival

  Ramsbottom stayed lively into Saturday night, 7 February, as the volunteer run Ramsbottom Come Together Festival continued a full day of activity into the night.

• Ramsbottom Come Together Festival in full swing this weekend

  This weekend is the Ramsbottom Come Together Festival, a free community arts festival spanning across 12 venues.

• Bury Hospice awarded £46,000 as part of £25 million national hospice funding boost

  Bury Hospice is set to receive £46,591 as part of a nationwide £25 million uplift to support vital end-of-life care across the UK.

• Therme Manchester launches youth art competition to transform construction site into outdoor gallery

  A new art competition aimed at young people across Greater Manchester has been launched by Therme Manchester, with winning entries set to be displayed on a large-scale public gallery surrounding its TraffordCity site.

• Older entrepreneurs invited to launch their own businesses at Bury Library event

  Residents over 50 with ambitions to start their own business are being offered free expert support through a dedicated event at Bury Library next month.

• Tobacco dog Dora helps uncover £25,000 in illegal goods across Bury

  Dora the tobacco dog helped uncover illegal cigarettes, vapes, counterfeit toys and hand-rolling tobacco worth £25,000 during a joint operation between council officers and Greater Manchester Police.