Around 2,000 homes and businesses in Manchester told to evacuate due to flooding fears

direct to your inboxMore than ten thousand people in Moss Side and neighbouring communities are to be offered immediate Covid-19 tests after a new variant of the virus was identified in the area.From tomorrow Manchester council will be inviting all over-16s living, working or studying within a specific footprint - including most of Moss Side and small parts of Whalley Range, Hulme and Fallowfield - for tests, after four cases of a new strain were identified in two unrelated households.Dedicated

Have we missed anywhere? Let us know in the comments below. Starting off right near Manchester Victoria station, and one of our favourite examples of old meeting new.The ultra-modern Urbis building - home to the National Football Museum and shaped like a glass dorsal fin - sits alongside the historic Chetham's Library and centuries-old Manchester Cathedral.You can stand on the grass and take in all three, as well as the Corn Exchange building, in one spin.As you leave Cathedral Gardens and head

Pro Pest Manchester, says the issue is down to restaurants and pubs closing due to the lockdown, which has meant the pests have to look elsewhere for food.

direct to your inboxThe leader of Manchester Council has warned vaccination queue jumpers will face action - as it's revealed more than 440,000 people in the region have received the jab so far.Among those to have received their first round of vaccinations, 50,631 are care home residents and staff.People aged over 80 account for 115,555 doses, while 102,686 healthcare workers have been inoculated.Meanwhile, 54,481 social care workers, which includes domiciliary workers and special school staff,

direct to your inboxPassengers were today pictured leaving Manchester Airport dressed in masks and full suits - as concerns mount over delays to the UK's hotel quarantine policy.The travellers pictured arriving into the city with suitcases were among around 1,000 understood to be arriving at the hub each day - with about the same number thought to be flying out. People should only be flying for 'valid reasons', which excludes holidays.

direct to your inboxManchester city centre had a record-breaking year for home building in 2020 - despite the pandemic.The number of units completed - nearly 5,000 - was the highest on record for a single year, according to Deloitte Real Estate's annual crane survey.The remarkable figures, a huge increase on 2019 which was itself one of the busiest years for home building on record, demonstrate the extent to which the construction sector has continued working during several coronavirus

direct to your inboxMore than 5,000 people have now died in Greater Manchester's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus.The tragic milestone was passed on Sunday as another 27 deaths were recorded.It means the region's hospital death toll is now 5,006.The 5,000th death in Greater Manchester was recorded 329 days after the first - when a man in his 60s died at North Manchester General Hospital on March 8, 2020.

direct to your inboxMore than 300,000 people have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine so far in Greater Manchester.As of Tuesday (January 26), 309,469 first doses of the vaccine had been administered and 96pc of care homes have now been offered the vaccine.Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has praised the progress of the rollout, saying the region is in a good position to reach the mid-February deadline.There are around 560,000 people in the four highest priority groups

direct to your inboxA fire engine had to reverse its way back down a street after newly-installed street filters in south Manchester blocked access towards an ongoing incident. Earlier this month, a series of street filters were installed across Levenshulme as part of a six-month trial by Manchester Council to ease road traffic and improve air quality in the area.

straight to your inbox every day for freeThe games are still coming thick and fast and Manchester United are back in action on Wednesday as Sheffield United visit Old Trafford.United go into the game full of confidence after beating Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday and having not lost in the Premier League in 13 matches.The players were back in training at the start of the week ahead of the Blades' visit.

straight to your inbox every day for freeLuke Shaw arrived at Carrington late and Jose Mourinho demanded an explanation. Shaw explained his mother had overslept and had forgotten to wake him up.Mourinho was dumbstruck.

direct to your inboxThe Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is to open emergency Covid beds for adults in a sign of the unprecedented pressure facing Greater Manchester’s hospitals.Sir Richard Leese, the region’s health chief, said the situation in the system was now ‘critical’ as NHS bosses have scrambled to discharge as many people as possible ahead of a sustained peak over the coming three weeks.Crisis meetings have been held to determine the ability to scale up beds, as Salford Royal and

direct to your inboxThe NHS has sadly confirmed the deaths of 29 more patients in hospitals in Greater Manchester who had tested positive for Covid-19.The region's hospital death toll now stands at 4,757.NHS bosses said on Friday a further 993 people who tested positive for the virus have died in hospitals across England.It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 65,104.In the north west, a further 94 hospital deaths were reported, the NHS said on Friday.A

direct to your inboxPolice investigating a shocking gun battle between three cars racing through a suburb have carried out a series of armed swoops across north Manchester.Officers, supported by armed cops, smashed their way into six address on Wednesday night as they executed a number of warrants.One man, 38, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody being questioned by detectives.

direct to your inboxHundreds of people were being evacuated from their homes overnight as Storm Christoph caused widespread flooding across the UK.Some 2,000 properties in the East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden areas of Manchester were due to be evacuated on Wednesday night because of rising water levels, the city council said.Elsewhere people were also asked to leave their homes in parts of Ruthin and Bangor on Dee in North Wales, and Maghull in Merseyside.Authorities have been

direct to your inbox‘If the water rises another metre, we could be in big trouble.’Some residents in South Manchester say they are 'preparing for evacuation' as the River Mersey reaches the highest levels ever recorded on the waterway and roads become flooded.'Flooding to properties is expected', according to the Environment Agency.Greater Manchester Police declared a major incident on Tuesday evening and the Met Office warns of a 'danger to life' due to fast flowing or deep floodwater.

direct to your inboxUp to 3,000 properties are at risk of flooding in south Manchester and Trafford this evening, police have warned.Authorities have been monitoring the heavy rain brought by Storm Christoph and a number of warnings have already been issued.At the Mayor Andy Burnham's press conference this afternoon, Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey gave an update on the latest information.He said the main risk in the Greater Manchester area is around the River Mersey relating to Didsbury,

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.