21 exciting new things to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2021

straight to your inbox every day for free Luke Shaw put his recent form down to the competition for places at Manchester United after the summer addition of Brazil international Alex Telles. United shelled out £15.4million to sign Telles from Porto in the summer but his arrival has led to Shaw raising his game once again and the 25-year-old is arguably in the best form of his Old Trafford career.

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester is now tracking the ‘worst case scenario’ for the pandemic’s third wave, it is understood, as patient numbers far exceed those in the April peak.Hospitals in Salford and Wigan are under particular pressure, with more than one health insider reporting the system as a whole to now be averaging 92pc occupancy outside of critical care.In Wigan, where it is understood almost two thirds of coronavirus cases are now the new strain, it is understood the hospital

direct to your inboxThis is the first look inside Greater Manchester's mass coronavirus vaccination centre ahead of its opening on Monday.The site, at the Manchester Tennis and Football Centre at the Etihad Campus, has undergone a remarkable transformation as this exclusive footage provided by the NHS shows.It's one of seven vaccination centres being launched in England next week.Initially it will be open to people over 80 and healthcare staff by appointment only.Manchester's director of public

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester Police responded to 1,500 reports of ‘stupid and selfish’ people breaking Covid-19 laws over the New Year period.More than 1,000 callouts involved officers breaking up house parties held inside residential homes, properties rented for the night and short-term lets.‘Hundreds’ of fines have been handed out to those attending illegal gatherings in the past week, including people who went to a rave on an industrial estate.Rising infection rates are also

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police officer who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl has been jailed.Farooq Ahmed, 37, walked into a police station with a confession note before Christmas.

announced a new national lockdown to curb the virus on Monday night, Greater Manchester's infection rate was just over 300 cases per 100,000 people - way below the national average of over 537.

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direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns

Christmas over-indulgence or need to stretch your legs and get out into nature, these local walks are sure to blow off the cobwebs.

direct to your inboxIt has been a year like no other.However Great Mancunians have still made headlines across the world, for all sorts of reasons.Here we look at those who have put the region on the map in 2020, a year we will never forget.2020 has undoubtedly belonged to Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.However it is his incredible work off the pitch which has made the headlines, even more than his impressive goal-scoring feats on it.The Withington-born and Wythenshawe raised

direct to your inboxIt's going to be a very, very different New Year's Eve across Greater Manchester.This has been a year like no other in living memory... 2020 can't end soon enough for many.But with the region's pubs, clubs and bars shut - and a stay at home order now in effect after Greater Manchester entered Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions - there will be no big parties.As the clocks strike midnight, the celebrations will be muted.Manchester city centre will be all but deserted.

direct to your inboxPeople living in Greater Manchester woke up to a blanket of snow again this morning. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice in the region, which came to an end at 2pm.

direct to your inbox"It's absolutely gut-wrenching."Hair salon owner Jane Nixon describes how she felt as Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester would be moving into Tier 4.And it's a feeling thousands of business owners across the region will be familiar with.A change in restrictions, businesses finally being allowed to open then being forced to shut again just a few weeks later.

direct to your inboxUp to 25pc of all new coronavirus cases across Greater Manchester can be attributed to the new strain seen spreading rapidly through southern England.Experts predict there could be even higher number of new cases down to the new variant currently due to a data lag.Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham announced the figures at a press conference this morning.He said that partly as a result of this new strain, he and Greater Manchester’s leaders are in agreement with the

direct to your inboxThese are some of the brilliant people who have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours list.The list features many people who have been going above and beyond in their professional lives or voluntarily to support their communities through the pandemic, as well as many Greater Manchester medics.They include a GP Dr Amir Hannan, who took on the challenge of joining Harold Shipman's old practice 20 years ago, and set about restoring patients' trust. Since then, he has

direct to your inboxThe New Year Honours list for 2020 has been revealed, celebrating Brits who have made significant contributions to society.While the full list this year is dominated by those working in the healthcare profession, on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic, there are plenty of nods for cultural and sporting achievements too.Famous faces in the worlds of television, film and sport have all been recognised in the prestigious list.Sheila Hancock will be made a Dame, while

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester's doctors and nurses feature heavily on the New Year Honours List. This year's list also includes many people who have gone above and beyond in their careers, or through voluntary work in the community, to help others throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

direct to your inboxDoctors and paramedics say they are bracing themselves for a new tide of Covid patients to hit Greater Manchester's hospitals within weeks. Speaking as plans for the region's move to Tier 4 were announced and the return to school for secondary pupils was delayed, Dr Carole Gavin, a consultant in Greater Manchester, said concerns were growing as hospitals in the south battle to find beds as infection rates - largely found to be caused by the new mutant strain - rise.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police chief has urged people to stay at home in Tier 4 tomorrow night instead of celebrating New Year's Eve as they normally would. Under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, people are required by law to remain at home unless they need to leave their home for essential reasons.