Fire service called commercial unit in the city centre after lighting unit catches fire

Sign up to the MySalford newsletter and don't miss a thing happening in and around the cityA 68-year-old woman is in hospital with serious burns to her back and legs following a fire at a residential care home.Firefighters, police and paramedics were called to Kenyon Lodge, off Manchester Road West in Little Hulton, just after 10am this morning.Residents reported seeing two fire engines as well as a number of police cars outside the home, with crime scene investigators arriving

direct to your inboxParking will be free at a number of Manchester city centre car parks next week.It comes as some of the city's car parks are taken over by Manchester council from NCP.The council says there will be free parking at more than a dozen car parks from Friday, January 1, until Thursday, January 7.Then from January 8, motorists will need to pay for parking before they leave their cars.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN

direct to your inboxPolice have had to shut down a Boxing Day rave after a huge gathering in the city centre.A man was arrested and two teenagers were handed a £1,000 fine following the incident.Officers were called at around 4.20am this morning after getting reports of loud music at an address in Shudehill.When they got there, they discovered around 100 people attending a rave at empty flats in Hanover Street.They dispersed the crowd and seized musical equipment.Two teenage boys – aged 17 and

straight to your inboxFerran Torres has challenged his Manchester City teammates to continue their momentum after the 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.The win marks only the second time this season that City have won three times in succession, after edging out Southampton and thrashing Arsenal earlier this week, and they move above Chelsea and Tottenham in the table.There won't be much time to celebrate, however, as the Blues will be back in action on Monday when they travel to

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola challenged his Manchester City players to pull together as they deal with the setback of losing Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker.The two first team players tested positive for Covid-19 just before Christmas and are set to miss at least the Everton game having already been absent for the Newcastle game.

direct to your inboxThugs shouted 'Manchester Manchester' at horrified onlookers after battering a man in a shop doorway in Liverpool city centre. Mobile phone footage shows two men kicking and punching the man on Basnett Street in front of Christmas shoppers on Sunday, the Liverpool Echo reports.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola was critical of Manchester City's finishing as they picked up a narrow 1-0 win at Southampton. The Blues won for the first time in three games to lift themselves up the Premier League table after difficult draws with West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United had halted their momentum.

straight to your inboxRaheem Sterling admits it has been a difficult time for himself and Manchester City - but believes they have taken a step in the right direction with victory over Southampton. Pep Guardiola's men beat the Saints 1-0 in Saturday's Premier League showdown at St Mary's, with Sterling scoring the only goal of the game in the first half.

direct to your inboxA man was taken to hospital after he was rescued from a canal in Manchester city centre.Emergency services were called to the Rochdale Canal, off Castle Street, shortly before midnight on Friday.The man had already been rescued before firefighters arrived.He was taken to hospital by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).It's not clear who pulled the man from the water.A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 23.44PM on the 18th December GMFRS were

direct to your inboxPolice were scrambled to Manchester city centre after a car crashed into railings.Pictures from the scene showed a badly damaged saloon car after it had crashed through railings on Great Ancoats Street.The road was closed briefly while the wreckage was cleared from the carriageway.A flatbed truck later removed the damaged car.Unconfirmed reports from the scene suggested the crash followed a police pursuit.The incident happened on Great Ancoats Street at its junction with

direct to your inboxManchester City's Lauren Hemp fired her side through to the last 16 of the Champions League - and says that they're hoping to complete a famous quadruple this season. The 20-year-old scored the opening goal in a 3-0 victory over Goteborg at the Academy Stadium with Georgia Stanway adding a second-half brace to complete a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate victory.

direct to your inboxPolice and firefighters were called to a street in Hale Barns following reports of an explosion.They were scrambled to Alan Drive at 8.10pm.When they arrived, they found the remnants of a firework and a box of nails in the road.There were no reports of any injuries.Police later confirmed that a loud bang had been caused by accident when a car ran over building materials.A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines were scrambled following

direct to your inboxThree people are in hospital including a young child after a van crashed into a bus in Manchester city centre last night.Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the incident on Angel Street near the Co-op headquarters in the NOMA district at around 9.24pm.A transit van appears to have collided head-on with a bus while travelling the wrong way down the one-way road.

direct to your inboxCity centre residents are being warned about the dangers of parcel theft after a surge in incidents this year.Covid restrictions and the subsequent spike in online shopping has meant postal deliveries are at an all time high.But for shared buildings in Manchester city centre that often means parcels being left in insecure postal rooms or communal areas, especially as busy drivers are being told to have 'zero contact' with customers.Thieves are then taking advantage by

Tim Burgess has propelled one Manchester band onto BBC Radio 6 Music – as well as a slot at next year’s Kendal Calling.Guitarist Jack Iddon approached Burgess while working at Crewe train station to ask for a photograph, according to 6 Music DJ Chris Hawkins.When Iddon bumped into the Charlatans frontman a second time, the young musician told him about his own band, prompting Burgess to suggest that Iddon send him one of their tracks.‘Love Is A Pleasure’ by Rhys E – the band fronted by Rhys

direct to your inboxFor landlord Simon Delaney, owning a pub isn't just about pulling pints.Running the Firbank Pub and Kitchen in Wythenshawe is about bringing members of his community together - young and old - in one safe space.It's about making sure his elderly regulars have a conversation that day, or the local football team have somewhere to celebrate their win.Simon, who also runs the Little Bee in Sale, has even won awards for his pub's ability to connect people, including best community

direct to your inboxJeremy Corbyn's brother led an anti-lockdown march in the city centre today.Piers Corbyn was one of around 500 people who marched through Manchester in another protest against lockdown regulations.The protesters marched through the city centre, starting in Piccadilly Gardens at around midday.

direct to your inboxA restaurant in Crumpsall will be allowed to serve alcohol despite 'unfounded' claims that the premises attracts gang-related violence and drug dealing.The new licence applied for by Ryan's sought to sell alcohol from 11am to 9.30pm seven days a week prompted objections ahead of a licensing hearing.Manchester council licensing officers had been monitoring the Lansdowne Road establishment after allegedly finding customers eating and smoking inside in November during

straight to your inboxManchester City fans want to see Aymeric Laporte partner Ruben Dias at the back in the upcoming Manchester derby, rather than John Stones.City have finally started to gather some momentum, after an inconsistent start to the campaign, as Saturday's 2-0 victory over Fulham saw them win successive Premier League games for the first time this season following last weekend's 5-0 mauling of Burnley.Both victories saw Stones star in the heart of defence as the 'Barnsley