Manchester Evening News

Kerb crawling clampdown pays off

GET-tough measures to outlaw kerb crawling are to be announced by the government today - as the M.E.N. can reveal that a crackdown in Manchester's red light district is already proving a success.

Fatal crash driver was banned

THE man behind the wheel of a car involved in a high-speed crash which killed himself and two others was banned from driving.

Christmas market opens

THE festive season has officially begun in the city centre with the opening of the tenth Christmas market.

Court told of teacher's affair

A TEACHER'S affair with a schoolgirl was exposed by a trail of messages on social networking websites, a court heard.

Stewart opens drama centre

STAR Trek legend Patrick Stewart beamed down on Oldham - almost 50 years after the town 'turned its back' on him.

Push to protect 999 crews

A CAMPAIGN aimed at stamping out attacks on paramedics is being launched. A paramedic was attacked every other day last year across the north west - 244 assaults and hundreds of incidents of verbal abuse.

BNP call in police

THE far-right British National Party says it has asked police to investigate after its entire membership list was published on the internet.

Petrol cheapest in the north west

THE average price of petrol has fallen by record amounts over the past month, the AA said - and the north west has the cheapest fuel.

Stores in c-charge battle

TWO of Manchester's biggest city centre stores are going head-to-head over plans for a congestion charge.

Arresting plans for prison area

STRANGEWAYS prison could soon be at the heart of a thriving business and cultural community under ambitious redevelopment plans. An area stretching from the edge of Cheetham Hill down to Trinity Way could have new life breathed into it.

Tot's death was tragic accident

A GIRL of two was crushed to death by a neighbour's car as her mother watched in horror.

New fleet of gritters hit the roads

A NEW £7m fleet of gritters is getting ready to roll - while highways chiefs are urging drivers to take extra care this winter.

Council's prayers for road victims

A COUNCIL meeting wqas beginning today with prayers for victims of road accidents after an increase in the number of deaths and serious injuries on the streets of Salford.

Another victory for newts

THE great crested newt has struck again - helping to sink plans for a giant new 'care village'.

On a highway patrol

"WELCOME to rush hour on the M60, one of busiest stretches of motorway in Britain," says the man next to me in the back of a high-visibility Land Rover Discovery as we merge into a stream of slow-moving cars.

Unbuilt bypass costs £16m

PLANS for a controversial bypass have already cost a staggering £16m - before any building work has even begun.

Stabbed boys will haunt me forever

ONE of the last people to see murdered brothers Romario and Delayno Mullings alive has spoken of his anguish.

Crackdown on feet on seats

COUNCIL bosses have launched a crackdown on anti-social behaviour on buses - targeting people who put their feet on seats.

Major backing for C-charge

INDUSTRY giants representing more than half a million people in Greater Manchester have come out in favour of the congestion charge.

Woolas warns on appeals

PUBLIC confidence in the immigration system is being undermined by the "vexatious" use of appeals and legal challenges to asylum rulings, a Government minister has warned.

Tributes to crash victim

TRIBUTES have been paid to a young mum who died in a horrific high-speed car crash.

Parents' fight to save son

THE parents of a schoolboy battled desperately in vain to save him after he was found collapsed on his bedroom floor with a ligature around his neck.

Cop logs on for missing link

A POLICEWOMAN is using a social networking website to help find missing people.

Five City fans hunted

FIVE Manchester City fans are wanted by police following clashes at the end of a game.

B of Bang set for scrap

THE troubled B of the Bang sculpture is set to be pulled down – after the team that built it agreed to refund nearly £2m of taxpayers’ cash.

£825,000 for attacked care worker

A FORMER health worker has won £825,000 damages from a health trust after being seriously injured in attacks by patients.

11,300 council staff in redundancy shock

ALL 11,300 of Salford council's workforce have been invited to apply for voluntary redundancy as the city struggles with a £15m budget deficit.

No probe into death smash

AN independent investigation will not be held into the police pursuit of a car that crashed at high speed, killing three people.

Man drowned rescuing stepdaughter

A DISTRAUGHT mother told an inquest how her partner died a hero after saving his stepdaughter from drowning.

Warning over tan injections

DOCTORS are warning people not to use an 'injectable tan' being sold illegally on the internet.

Man cleared of Kamilah gun charge

A MAN has been cleared of owning the gun that killed schoolgirl Kamilah Peniston.

Drummer boy's hard to beat

TALENTED Grant Kershaw has been named best young drummer in the country.

Charities' pram bonanza

A MOUNTAIN of dumped prams at Manchester Airport is proving a bonanza for charities.

Woman hurt in car crash

A WOMAN was taken to hospital after her car overturned on a busy road.

Man held over knife death

POLICE were continuing to question a 27-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sir Alex misses new signing

SIR Alex Ferguson lost out to a Blue when he tried to make his latest signing. The United manager bid £14,000 for a `new' LS Lowry painting.

Dear all, I've ripped you off

THE accountant at the centre of a multi-million-pound fraud probe has written an extraordinary confession to clients.

Scrooge row over pink ice rink

A PINK ice rink plan by Salford council has been blocked . . . for 48 hours.

More young 'needed as magistrates'

EMPLOYERS are being urged to encourage staff to volunteer as magistrates to increase diversity in the courts.

Wanted: New lives for 200 children

NEARLY 200 children need a loving home in Greater Manchester and caring would-be parents are being urged to consider adopting them.

C-charge debate teams lined up

PRESENT and past leaders of Manchester council - Sir Richard Leese and Graham Stringer MP - will go head-to-head in the M.E.N's congestion charge debate.

Driver faces hit-run charge

A MOTORIST has been charged after a Ford Focus was involved in a hit-and-run head-on smash with a police car.

Man wounded in pub shooting

A MAN was shot as he stood on the dance floor of a packed Manchester pub.

Four hurt in crashes

FOUR people were taken to hospital after two separate road accidents in Stockport.

Manuel 'may join Corrie'

FAWLTY Towers star Andrew Sachs could be heading for Coronation Street.

Airport watch on soccer thugs

POLICE are on high alert at Manchester Airport in a bid to stop football hooligans flying out to Berlin for England's match against Germany.

X Factor Diana blasts critics

TEARFUL X Factor favourite Diana Vickers has hit back at her critics after battling illness to stay in the contest.

Market is streets ahead

MANCHESTER'S famous Christmas markets open tomorrow - bigger and better than before.

Homophobic abuse 'rife in schools'

A SHOCK survey has found eighty five per cent of teachers hear homophobic abuse in schools every week.

GMP's grim toll of crashes

TWENTY-SEVEN people have died in accidents involving Greater Manchester Police vehicles over the last six years - one of the worst records in the country.

Family's tribute to crash victim

THE parents of one of the victims have spoken of their shock.

Witnesses' shock at carnage

WITNESSES spoke of hearing sirens and then a `sickening bang'.

TV star tells of bullying 'hell'

A POPULAR children's TV presenter has revealed the torment he suffered in school as he campaigns to raise awareness of the devastating effect of bullying.

£1,000 payout for botched burial

A WOMAN has been paid more than £1,000 compensation by funeral directors who botched her father's burial.

`Best firm' fined over asbestos

A FIRM which won national praise for looking after its staff has been fined £6,000 for exposing them to asbestos.

Tribute to Sir Cyril

A PORTRAIT of former Rochdale MP Sir Cyril Smith has been unveiled in London.

Three killed fleeing police

THREE people were killed and another left fighting for her life after their car crashed during a police pursuit in Oldham early today. Their Vauxhall Vectra smashed into a garden wall on Middleton Road in Chadderton at about 3.30 am.

Shamed star to meet death-crash family

A FOOTBALLER who made an apparent `handcuffs' gesture to a jailed friend is to meet the parents of the children his drunken pal killed in a car crash.

Please save our tiny 'Mr Brave'

THIS brave little boy has just weeks to live - unless he has a lifesaving organ transplant. Ethan Collins' parents described how their tiny "Mr Brave" has fought an astonishing 11-month fight for survival.

Man killed in triple stabbing

A MURDER investigation has been launched after a man died and two others were left injured in a stabbing.

X Factor Laura's revenge

OUSTED X Factor star Laura White is already wreaking revenge on the judges who booted her off the ITV show - by getting an internet chart number one without them.

One-chicken C-charge protest

A CHICKEN plucked up the courage to cross the road to urge drivers to vote against Greater Manchester's transport referendum.

Care chief hits back

A TODDLER found stabbed to death in his home was not abandoned by social workers, the head of children's services in Manchester has said.

Gun cops in house raid

ARMED officers hunting for a gunman who shot at a pub have raided a house in Moston.

C-charge steam trains?

STEAM trains could be used for commuter services if the congestion charge is introduced. The East Lancashire Railway could be pressed into service.

Shoppers flee Tesco raid

ARMED robbers stormed a busy Tesco supermarket, forcing terrified shoppers to cower and run away.

George says thanks

BRITAIN'S Got Talent winner George Sampson had a very special thank you for all his hometown supporters this week.

'Greatest sporting city'

MANCHESTER has been crowned `best sports city' in the world. The city has scooped the accolade after hosting six international events this year - including three world championships.

Lucie takes a lead role

SCHOOLGIRL Lucie Thomas is only 13, but she has artwork on show at a city gallery and published in a book.

Thieves target soccer star's home

THIEVES smashed into a Premier League footballer's Salford home but fled empty handed after being confronted by his wife.

Road crash campaign

DRIVERS and passengers caught not wearing seatbelts have admitted being `lazy', `forgetful' and `stupid'.

Hit-and-run driver hunted

A DRIVER who sped off after leaving a boy critically injured is being hunted by police.