Manchester Aquatics Centre could 'wither and die' without repairs - there are now plans to spend £31m fixing it up

Sign up for our What's On newsletter - for all the latest whether you're staying in or heading out and aboutOne of the Northern Quarter's most popular cafes is preparing to relaunch with a new lockdown takeaway offering.Evelyn's, one of the city's most celebrated brunch spots, will soon be preparing giant pittas stuffed with slow-cooked meats and homemade sauces and fillings.Trading as The Pitta Shop, the giant sandwiches have been created by its head chef Phil Cardy, who grew up in Israel.Phil

direct to your inboxManchester city centre had a record-breaking year for home building in 2020 - despite the pandemic.The number of units completed - nearly 5,000 - was the highest on record for a single year, according to Deloitte Real Estate's annual crane survey.The remarkable figures, a huge increase on 2019 which was itself one of the busiest years for home building on record, demonstrate the extent to which the construction sector has continued working during several coronavirus

direct to your inboxManchester Aquatics Centre will undergo extensive repairs and refurbishment after councillors agreed to spend £31m to save their flagship facility from closure.The swimming centre, known as MAC, is seen as one of the most important legacy outcomes of the city’s hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.It is one of the busiest facilities of its kind in the UK with more than 10 million people - around 500,000 a year - using it since it opened on Oxford Road in 2000.The centre is

straight to your inbox every day for freeThe games are still coming thick and fast and Manchester United are back in action on Wednesday as Sheffield United visit Old Trafford.United go into the game full of confidence after beating Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday and having not lost in the Premier League in 13 matches.The players were back in training at the start of the week ahead of the Blades' visit.

direct to your inboxThe Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is to open emergency Covid beds for adults in a sign of the unprecedented pressure facing Greater Manchester’s hospitals.Sir Richard Leese, the region’s health chief, said the situation in the system was now ‘critical’ as NHS bosses have scrambled to discharge as many people as possible ahead of a sustained peak over the coming three weeks.Crisis meetings have been held to determine the ability to scale up beds, as Salford Royal and

direct to your inboxThe NHS has sadly confirmed the deaths of 29 more patients in hospitals in Greater Manchester who had tested positive for Covid-19.The region's hospital death toll now stands at 4,757.NHS bosses said on Friday a further 993 people who tested positive for the virus have died in hospitals across England.It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 65,104.In the north west, a further 94 hospital deaths were reported, the NHS said on Friday.A

direct to your inbox The River Irwell has burst its banks in Manchester city centre as Storm Christoph continues to batter the region. Pictures shared with the Manchester Evening News show water levels are extremely high in the Castlefield area with parts of the riverside pathway flooded.

Rochdale town centre. Emergency services rushed to the scene on Yorkshire Street at around 9.10am this morning (Monday).

direct to your inboxA yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Greater Manchester on Saturday as the cold snap looks set to continue into the early part of the weekend.Met Office forecasters say a band of heavy snow could lead to travel disruption tomorrow.The warning runs from midnight to 6pm on Saturday.It comes after the M61 and the M66 were both closed on Friday morning after crashes in icy conditions as Greater Manchester woke up to a blanket of freezing fog.Temperatures

direct to your inboxMajor plans to transform Manchester city centre’s landmark Debenhams building have been recommended for approval by council bosses. The Rylands building on Market Street is for an extensive makeover which will see it restored to its original Art Deco glory both inside and outside.

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

direct to your inboxParking charges at a number of car parks in Manchester city centre have risen after being taken over by the council.

direct to your inboxA mass coronavirus vaccination centre will open at the Etihad Tennis Centre in Manchester next week.The site will open to people over 80 and healthcare staff by appointment only on Monday.It's one of seven mass vaccination sites opening in England next week.People over 80 will be invited to get their jabs at the new hub in the coming days.Health and care workers within a 45-minute drive of the centre will also be offered jabs.The site will be operated by the NHS with support

direct to your inboxThe temperature has certainly dropped and the thought of going outside is filling most of us with dread.And the snow has been falling across Greater Manchester after a brief glimpse of a white Christmas a couple of weeks ago.The Met Office forecast has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice beginning at 5pm tonight (Thursday) right up until late Friday evening.The weather warning means that icy stretches are likely to form, perhaps leading to some disruption to

direct to your inboxThousands more people in Greater Manchester have received coronavirus vaccines as the regional programme continues to take shape. A total of 78 vaccination centres will open across the region next week - including a mass vaccination hub at the Etihad Tennis Centre in Manchester.

direct to your inbox Seven mass coronavirus vaccination centres have been unveiled.

To book a test at the new clinic, visit the website here. No walk-in appointments are accepted. There are three different types of COVID-19 tests you can undergo at The Corona Test Centre, priced from £95..The tests results determine if you currently have the virus, or have had it in the past and developed antibodies.There is also testing available if you are about to travel outside the UK and need to a Fit to Fly certificate.Certificates, validation and results for all tests are sent to you

Just before Boris Johnson announced the new national lockdown on Monday, Olivia Attwood managed to squeeze in a spot of retail therapy before having to be stuck indoors.The reality star, who looked uncrecognisable without lip fillers in a throwback snap, was spotted in Manchester city centre on Saturday afternoon.The 29 year old wore a grey tracksuit hoodie and pants for the outing and wore a protective face mask on her chin as she engaged in a phone call.

direct to your inboxManchester city centre's steepest street has been closed due to a large sinkhole.Jutland Street has been shut off after part of the road collapsed on Monday (Jan 4).It's understood that the cavity was caused by a water leak.Manchester City Council say the area has been made safe and that the leak has been reported to United Utilities.Residents who live nearby believe that the surface of the street has been weakened by heavy vehicles using Jutland as a cut-through between

straight to your inboxManchester City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes appears to be a doubt for Sunday's match against Chelsea and the Manchester Derby on Wednesday.Pep Guardiola 's men face Manchester United at Old Trafford during the week in a Carabao Cup semi-final clash, and they could be without their number one. Ederson has said he is self-isolating, putting him at risk of missing the clash with Manchester United in just four days' time.