Greater Manchester's weather forecast as North West hit with several flood warnings

April has begun with heavy rain across Greater Manchester and around the country. Our region has enjoyed some pleasant weather over the Easter bank holiday weekend so far.

The M.E.N recently reported on the scale of demand for high school places in Trafford, the only Greater Manchester borough which still has a state grammar school system decided by the 11-plus exam. Here, the M.E.N's Damon Wilkinson writes about how Trafford came to be the only borough in our region which kept a selective school system which defined post-war Britain - but only survives in a few parts of the country today.

The one thing that can make a long bank holiday weekend better is when the sun comes out, and it looks like Greater Manchester is in for a treat - for now. After a spell of wet and windy weather earlier this week, the region is enjoying some pleasant sunshine.

Greater Manchester has woken up to a sunny Saturday morning as we enter the Easter weekend.

Amid the mansions in one of Greater Manchester's leafiest suburbs sits a row of pristine white cottages with a little-known history.

A mix of sunshine and showers is forecast for Greater Manchester over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

New council rules regarding dogs on a beach near Greater Manchester will come into force from Easter weekend.

Greater Manchester Police has issued a warning as 'childhood infections of measles and whooping cough are rising dramatically'. The police force is urging parents to make sure they and their children are vaccinated as 'we are already seeing cases requiring hospital attendance including hospital admittance'.

A house in Greater Manchester was swept off the market less than a week after being put up for sale - despite having a hefty price tag. The 'time capsule' property in Altrincham, Trafford, which has been in the same family since the 60s, proved to be a hit with buyers looking for a big project.

Leaders at the University of Bolton are pressing ahead with controversial plans to remove the town from its name. The organisation’s Office for Students (OfS) has launched a consultation on a proposal to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester.

Yellow buses will now be seen buzzing through Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Bury and north Manchester following the launch of the Bee Network’s second phase.

Rent costs have risen by nine percent across the country over the last year, with some areas experiencing much bigger price hikes than others. It now costs £1,238 a month on average to rent a private home in Great Britain, according to the latest data from the government’s Housing Market Indices Team.

A number of Greater Manchester hospitals have issued alerts regarding their A+E departments this evening. Tameside General Hospital, The Royal Bolton Hospital and the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan are all warning that high demand is leading to long waits for many patients.

Winter is officially over - but you're still going to need your big coat in Greater Manchester. The region is gearing up for the first weekend of spring since the March equinox.

Residents across Greater Manchester have been issued with an important warning - or they could face losing a basic right.

Plans for a home that have sparked outrage in Hyde are set to be approved next week.

Patients are being warned to expect long delays in hospitals across Greater Manchester. Four of the region's NHS trusts, which run eight A&E departments in total, have issued alerts to the public online today (March 12).

Dozens of flood warnings and alerts have been issued across the UK as more heavy rain is forecast - with Greater Manchester braced for downpours.

The potential regeneration of Heaton Park’s ‘jewel’ is the plan that will capture the imagination of many this week.

Tax cuts, changes to child benefits and public sector reforms were all announced in the budget today (March 6). Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed that a further 2p cut in National Insurance will be introduced from April, saving the average employee £450 a year.