From Strictly to shelf stacking in Sainsbury's: What became of Greater Manchester's children's TV stars

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to launch a new taskforce to tackle grooming gangs during visits to Greater Manchester and Leeds today. The PM has pledged 'political correctness' will not get in the way of a crackdown, as ministers promised tougher sentences and new support for local forces to protect children from abuse.

Manchester has a pub for every possible mood. For the quiet afternoon pint, the after-work quick one that turns into a midweek crawl, or for the 1am scorched earth karaoke session that no one saw coming.

Around two dozen cops are being briefed ahead of a job. They don't need motivation, but a timely reminder of the importance of the operation is offered.

April is here and it brings with it the promise of brighter days, Easter chocolate and colourful displays of blossom. Or perhaps it will live up to its reputation and give us lots of rain instead.

It's just after 1pm on a Monday and three old friends are attempting to dredge a section of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal by hand. It's dirty, smelly, back-breaking work, but Carol Garner, Sarah Greenhalgh and Lynne Curley are happily giving up their free time to do it.

A debate has erupted in a Greater Manchester borough - over the location of the border between two areas.

In a region as big as Greater Manchester, it can be difficult to know where are the best areas to live. Each year The Sunday Times puts together a comprehensive guide of the Best Places to Live in the UK - and this year it featured three areas in our region.

Families who are looking for a new home often want to get the right mix of a good location near to reputable schools and a generous living space, all within a reasonable budget.

A Greater Manchester children's arts and crafts maker owed almost £4m when it collapsed into administration and 30 people were made redundant, it has been revealed.

An unbelievable property which most would considered to be their dream home has come up for sale - and despite its LA-style appearance it is actually located in Greater Manchester.

Homes and businesses across Greater Manchester have reportedly been hit by two power cuts. More than 1,000 properties in total are affected by the incidents this morning (March 23), according to Electricity North West.

A local historian is writing to the Pope to protest over an ‘abandoned’ Roman Catholic graveyard which he says has become a ‘drugs den’. The overgrown cemetery - known as Barton Upon Irwell Roman Catholic Graveyard - in the Peel Green area of Eccles has not been used for a burial since 1940.

A watersports lake hosting activities including cable water-skiing, windsurfing and kayaking could open just an hour’s drive from Greater Manchester. Plans have been submitted to Preston City Council for the lake, along with a 12m high dry ski slope.

It's 8.20am on a Thursday morning. Students are walking, cars are queueing and parents are panicking as the lights turn green at the junction from 'hell'.

Councils have been setting their annual budgets over the last few weeks. This includes the difficult decision of whether to raise council tax and by how much.

Many of us will have woken up to see our gardens submerged in snow, and found ourselves battling blizzards on the journey to work or school in recent days.

Every Saturday morning, thousands of people lace up their running shoes and set out on parkrun routes across the country.

Forecasters have issued another warning for icy weather in Greater Manchester this weekend. But with a bit of luck we might have seen the back of the snow... for now.

Schools across Greater Manchester will close today after heavy snowfall across the region.

Over the past week temperatures across Greater Manchester have plummeted, leading to heavy snow in many parts of the region.