Calls to ban cars from Manchester city centre as part of council's new transport strategy

straight to your inboxManchester City are on course to win the Premier League title this season - but can they go on to mount a historic quadruple charge? Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas certainly think so, sharing their views on the BBC Sport panel alongside presenter Gary Lineker after Pep Guardiola's side swept aside relegation-threatened Fulham.

direct to your inboxA moment of reflection and a moment of solidarity.That was the mood as up to two dozen people gathered around the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter's Square this evening.Some laid flowers, others lit candles, but the majority stood watching in quiet reflection.But one thought was in mind, that of Sarah Everard, the 33-year-old who was sadly found dead after being reported missing earlier this week.Organisers of the gathering were forced to cancel the official events

sites it wants to open in Greater Manchester, released in 2019.

direct to your inboxPolice officers stopped a nurses' protest held in St Peter's Square today.Health workers organised the demonstration in response to the Government's proposed 1 per cent pay rise for NHS workers.Yet the small, peaceful rally was halted by over a dozen officers from Greater Manchester Police shortly after midday.It is not clear why protestors were moved on but organisers at the demonstration claimed they had been told they would be fined for breaching coronavirus laws if they

direct to your inboxEvery local authority in Greater Manchester is preparing to raise council tax bills from April to keep services running despite the financial impact of Covid-19.The budgets of town halls across the city-region have been hit hard by the pandemic, with some councils having to plug huge gaps in their finances.While the government has paid out millions of pounds in emergency funding to councils, their leaders say the money does not go far enough.The government has also allowed

direct to your inboxA pedestrian has been hit by a tram in Manchester city centre.The collision happened in Market Street at around 1.15pm today (March 2).An ambulance attended but no serious injuries have been reported, police said.No arrests have been made.Metrolink trams on the Bury line to Piccadilly Station were unable to operate for around 40 minutes while emergency workers dealt with the incident.At around 1.20pm Manchester Metrolink tweeted: “Due to an incident at Market Street, we are

direct to your inboxManchester City and Manchester United are almost guaranteed to finish in the top two places in the Premier League, according to Roy Keane.City now have a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table following Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham, which was their 20th successive victory in all competitions.United remain in second place despite their frustrating 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, one point above Leicester, who were beaten 3-1 at home by Arsenal.

direct to your inboxPolice found a quantity of suspected drugs after shots were fired from one car at another racing through the city centre last night.St Peter's Square has been reopened following extensive searches by Greater Manchester Police today.Officers responded to reports of suspected gunshots and a car crashed into a lamppost at around 8.30pm on Saturday evening.They found a silver Vauxhall Astra abandoned at the scene.Following a short footchase, three teenagers were arrested on

direct to your inboxTwo cars chased each other through Manchester city centre before multiple gunshots were fired last night, eyewitnesses have said.A large police cordon remained in place in St Peter's Square on Sunday morning after the shocking incident unfolded at around 8.30pm on Saturday evening.A silver Vauxhall continues to be examined by forensics officers at the spot where it was abandoned between the Metrolink stop and Wagamama restaurant.Crime scene markers were laid out across the

straight to your inboxGary Lineker has hailed Manchester City's 'extraordinary consistency' after they extended their winning run with a 2-1 victory over West Ham. With nearest challengers Manchester United and Leicester City not playing until tomorrow, Pep Guardiola's side went 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to their 2-1 win, which came courtesy of goals from defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones.

straight to your inboxManchester City ace Phil Foden has shown he has plenty of strings to his bow this season.Foden has been used in a number of different roles by City boss Pep Guardiola during the 2020-21 campaign so far.The England international has played in central midfield - as a "number 8" or "number 10" - as well as out wide and even up front, in a "false 9" position.

straight to your inboxManchester City resume their Premier League title push this weekend when they face West Ham United.City are 10 points clear at the top of the table and on a remarkable 19-match winning streak. Thirteen of those have come in the league and they are unbeaten in 26 games in all competitions.They were in Champions League action on Tuesday, beating Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 in the first leg of their last 16 tie.

direct to your inbox Firefighters tackled a blaze at a high-rise building in Manchester city centre this morning.

straight to your inboxRio Ferdinand thinks Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are the two likeliest teams to challenge Manchester City for the Champions League trophy this season.City beat Borussia Monchengladbach comfortably in the first-leg of their Round of 16 tie on Wednesday night.With City's extending their winning run to 19 matches in all competitions, they have emerged as the bookmakers' favourite to win the Champions League for the first time.Ferdinand believes there are only a

which has provoked strong local opposition.Councillors had been asked to consider the £130m plans for the tower housing 853 student flats - described by critics as a ‘tombstone’ or ‘caramel wafer’ - in January.If approved, the 165m building on the corner of Hulme Street and Great Marlborough Street would be one of the tallest in Manchester.It would also dwarf the neighbouring 37-storey Liberty Heights and 32-storey UNITE student apartment complexes.The committee delayed making a decision in

direct to your inboxBoris Johnson has expressed confidence that city centres such as Manchester will 'bounce back' from the coronavirus pandemic.At a Downing Street press conference tonight, the Prime Minister was asked about fears that cities are 'staring disaster in the face' due to restrictions that are likely to last until mid-summer and perhaps drive a more fundamental shift in living and working trends."I think there will be changes as a result of the pandemic, I think it will accelerate

straight to your inboxManchester City will be looking to take another step towards regaining the Premier League title on Sunday when they take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.Pep Guardiola 's side are 10 points clear at the top of the table and on a stunning run of form, going unbeaten in 24 matches in all competitions since their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in November.

direct to your inboxA Manchester MP has warned city and town centres will resemble 'ghost towns' unless the night-time economy receives urgent and tailored support from the Government.Many nightclubs and music venues, pubs and bars will not survive the Covid-19 pandemic without it, said Withington MP Jeff Smith.The former Manchester councillor was an indie, dance and house DJ in the 90s and early 2000s and had a 20-year career in the music industry, playing at some of the north's top clubs and

Big Grillie Style, Burgerize, and a new partnership between Crazy Pedro's and Eat New York. Even Manchester's only Michelin-star restaurant has joined the burger bandwagon this year, with Mana launching a takeaway burger service that's consistently sold out for weeks on end.

Canvas Manchester, a new gig venue and events space.