Greater Manchester town named among UK's silliest place names - here's the full list

Wigan by the deadly impact of Covid-19. Two other areas in Greater Manchester - Tameside and Rochdale - are also among the ten boroughs in the country with the highest death rates.

direct to your inboxManchester Evening News readers are overwhelmingly in favour of the return to a full lockdown, according to our latest survey.A survey of 8,751 people on the site found 81 per cent of those who responded agreed with measures introduced on Monday (January 4).People in Greater Manchester were less likely to be in favour of full lockdown than others across England, based on surveys across Reach's national and regional websites, with 85pc overall backing the full lockdown.The

direct to your inboxCoronavirus cases are continuing to rise across Greater Manchester as the government starts the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.Our region currently has a Covid-19 infection rate of 374.8 per 100,000 people in the week ending January 3.That’s a 73.4 per cent increase on the previous week.However the regional rate here is still far below that of London - where it was 971 on January 1.Across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs the upward trend in infection rates is

direct to your inboxThe latest infection rates for every local authority in England have been published with one area toppling 1,500.Large numbers of areas of London and the South East are recording rates of more than 1,000 per 100,000 people while all Greater Manchester boroughs continue to fall below the national average of 606.9 per 100,000. However, coronavirus infection rate in Wigan has almost doubled in a week with rises continuing to be recorded in every borough.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police officer who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl has been jailed.Farooq Ahmed, 37, walked into a police station with a confession note before Christmas.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester’s Covid-19 infection rate has crept above 300 for the first time since November 19.It is currently 300.9 per 100,000 people in the seven days up to December 31.That represents a 45 per cent week-on-week increase and is the first time it has risen above 300 since November 19.Despite the rising number of cases here, our region’s rates are still well below the English rate - which is currently 537.5.The fastest growth is happening in Wigan, where cases are up

direct to your inboxSeven Trafford wards have among the highest rolling coronavirus infection rates in Greater Manchester.Altrincham West, Dunham and Warburton has a rate of 409.7 new cases per 100,000 people.Hale Barns is at 406.9, for the week ending December 29.That ward has seen particularly high rates of infection throughout the pandemic, having been a hotspot for the borough repeatedly over the last 10 months.Other problem areas include Firswood, which has seen its individual infection

Follow our dedicated live blog hereThe ones that are closed are providing places for key worker and vulnerable children, as they did during the first lockdown.And some that were due to reopen later this week are warning parents they'll be staying closed.If your child's school has closed, get in touch with us on our Manchester Family Facebook page here, let us know in the comments here, or email [email protected] are the schools that have closed by boroughMount Carmel RC, BlakleyOswald

direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns

direct to your inboxIt has been a year like no other.However Great Mancunians have still made headlines across the world, for all sorts of reasons.Here we look at those who have put the region on the map in 2020, a year we will never forget.2020 has undoubtedly belonged to Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.However it is his incredible work off the pitch which has made the headlines, even more than his impressive goal-scoring feats on it.The Withington-born and Wythenshawe raised

direct to your inboxPeople living in Greater Manchester woke up to a blanket of snow again this morning. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice in the region, which came to an end at 2pm.

direct to your inbox"It's absolutely gut-wrenching."Hair salon owner Jane Nixon describes how she felt as Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester would be moving into Tier 4.And it's a feeling thousands of business owners across the region will be familiar with.A change in restrictions, businesses finally being allowed to open then being forced to shut again just a few weeks later.

direct to your inboxThese are some of the brilliant people who have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours list.The list features many people who have been going above and beyond in their professional lives or voluntarily to support their communities through the pandemic, as well as many Greater Manchester medics.They include a GP Dr Amir Hannan, who took on the challenge of joining Harold Shipman's old practice 20 years ago, and set about restoring patients' trust. Since then, he has

direct to your inboxThe New Year Honours list for 2020 has been revealed, celebrating Brits who have made significant contributions to society.While the full list this year is dominated by those working in the healthcare profession, on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic, there are plenty of nods for cultural and sporting achievements too.Famous faces in the worlds of television, film and sport have all been recognised in the prestigious list.Sheila Hancock will be made a Dame, while

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester's doctors and nurses feature heavily on the New Year Honours List. This year's list also includes many people who have gone above and beyond in their careers, or through voluntary work in the community, to help others throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

direct to your inboxDoctors and paramedics say they are bracing themselves for a new tide of Covid patients to hit Greater Manchester's hospitals within weeks. Speaking as plans for the region's move to Tier 4 were announced and the return to school for secondary pupils was delayed, Dr Carole Gavin, a consultant in Greater Manchester, said concerns were growing as hospitals in the south battle to find beds as infection rates - largely found to be caused by the new mutant strain - rise.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police chief has urged people to stay at home in Tier 4 tomorrow night instead of celebrating New Year's Eve as they normally would. Under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, people are required by law to remain at home unless they need to leave their home for essential reasons.

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Greater Manchester certainly has a lot to look forward to. Despite a challenging 12 months, the region already has a long list of new developments coming up in the next year and through to 2023.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester's cold snap is set to continue with more snow expected to hit the region until New Year's Eve. Many parts of the region woke up to a blanket of heavy snow today following two days of adverse weather conditions.