Manchester council to press on with plans to take back control of 13,000 social homes across north Manchester

direct to your inboxCoronavirus infection rates are continuing to fall in every borough across Greater Manchester, the latest data shows.The latest Public Health England figures show the overall rate for the region currently stands at 310.5 per 100,000, a fall of 20 per cent.This is lower than the national average which was recorded at 371.8 in the week ending January 23.Though the rate appears to be falling faster nationally, dropping 23 per cent week-on-week.Across Greater Manchester, Covid-19

direct to your inboxManchester council is urging members of the public to have their say on plans to regenerate parts of Piccadilly and create a ‘modern and welcoming’ public space.The major thoroughfare is the busiest part of the city with shops, pubs, restaurants, offices and public transport packed in and around Piccadilly Gardens.Work to rejuvenate the Gardens started last year when part of Tadao Ando’s much-maligned modernist structure - dubbed by some as ‘the Berlin Wall’ - was torn

straight to your inbox every day for free Dean Henderson and Donny van de Beek have earned their FA Cup fourth-round starts against Liverpool through impressive performances on the training ground. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said both players had been working hard to force their way into his Manchester United plans and they will get the chance to impress against the Premier League champions.

direct to your inboxInfection rates are continuing to fall across every Greater Manchester borough.Each of the region’s ten boroughs are below England's average of 452.5 per 100,000 people in the week ending January 18.Only the city of Manchester has a rate above 400 and Oldham - which once had the highest rates in the country - is now sitting at 282.6 cases per 100,000 people for the same time period.Here in Greater Manchester, the borough of Trafford had the biggest drop in cases in the seven

direct to your inboxA further 27 people have died in hospitals in Greater Manchester after testing positive for coronavirus.The region's hospital death toll has now reached 4,731, the latest NHS figures show. A total of 99 Covid-related deaths were recorded across North West hospitals in the latest 24-hour data.

direct to your inboxPolice investigating a shocking gun battle between three cars racing through a suburb have carried out a series of armed swoops across north Manchester.Officers, supported by armed cops, smashed their way into six address on Wednesday night as they executed a number of warrants.One man, 38, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody being questioned by detectives.

Wigan, a woman became stuck in her car with water up to the bonnet.  In Radcliffe, fire crews were called to a river that had burst its banks.

direct to your inboxA number of flood warnings and alerts are in place across Greater Manchester and its surrounding area after hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes overnight. Storm Christoph has brought heavy, torrential rain to the region yesterday (Wednesday) before snow settled in overnight.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester is being hit by yet more wild skies as heavy rain turns to snowfall across the region in what residents have called 'bonkers weather'. Many boroughs have been overwhelmed by the deluge that came with Storm Christoph, with some areas, including Didsbury, Northenden, Ramsbottom and Leigh, seeing waterways burst their banks and flood houses.

direct to your inboxManchester Council has apologised for causing ‘avoidable distress’ to a mother trying to get a school place for her profoundly deaf son.The council was found at fault by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for numerous delays in signing off the child’s special education needs (SEN) assessment.This had a negative impact on the mother, referred to as Ms X, who had to go to ‘enormous lengths’ to find a school that would meet the needs of her son, Child B.The council

direct to your inboxResidents have blasted Manchester Council for backing plans for a controversial 55-storey student skyscraper - despite being warned it will face an immediate legal challenge.Hundreds of people living in the Macintosh village area off Oxford Road have been fighting the £130m proposal to build a 'landmark' student tower block with 853 rooms for several years.They have raised a long list of objections including the 'tombstone' design which would leave many facing onto a

direct to your inboxA number of flood warnings and alerts are in place across Greater Manchester and its surrounding area as Storm Christoph hits the region. River levels have risen rapidly after torrential rain hit the region yesterday (Tuesday) and through the night.

direct to your inboxThe coronavirus infection rates have fallen again in Greater Manchester.The spread of infection has slowed in nine out of 10 boroughs.Experts say the impact of the third national lockdown is starting to be reflected in Public Health England's infection rate data.The overall figure for Greater Manchester has fallen by 14pc to 392.2 per 100,000 for the seven days ending January 15.It is still lower than the average rate for England, which stands at 495.4 for the same week.The

direct to your inboxA number of flood alerts have been issued across Greater Manchester and Cheshire as Storm Christoph brings torrential downpours to the region. The Met Office has issued an amber 'danger to life' weather warning for heavy rain and flooding for large parts of northern England.

straight to your inbox every day for freeHere is your Manchester United morning digest for Tuesday, January 19.Edwin Van der Sar insists that United remain confident that Donny van de Beek can be a success at Old Trafford.Van de Beek has endured a difficult start to his career in Manchester, making just two Premier League starts all campaign.

direct to your inboxThe coronavirus infection rates have fallen in nine out of 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.Bolton is the only area in the region where the transmission rate has increased.Public Health England have released the most up-to-date figures for the seven days ending January 14.Health experts say England is beginning to see the effects of national lockdown measures.Yet Prof Powis, NHS medical director, said it would be a number of weeks before current lockdown measures would begin

direct to your inboxA further three men have been charged as part of an investigation into stolen vehicles across Greater Manchester.Tayub Hasnain, 36, of Shepherd Street, Bury, has been charged with conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and conspiracy to handle stolen motor vehicles.Ibraaz Shafique, 22, of Camberwell Street, Oldham, has been charged with conspiracy to steal motor vehicles, fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to handle stolen motor vehicles.Asif Hussain, 43, of Tonge Moor Road,

direct to your inboxThis week, the oldest and most vulnerable residents of Manchester began to turn up to a repurposed sports stadium, the Etihad Tennis Centre, to receive a vaccination.The jab, produced thanks to a global scientific effort, will protect them against a potentially deadly disease sweeping through the population.Its impact promises to be significant - especially in the most deprived areas where people are more likely to live in cramped conditions and have poor health already.The

direct to your inboxThe week-on-week coronavirus infection rate for Greater Manchester has fallen for the first time since before Christmas.Figures released today (Saturday) by Public Health England revealed there were 410.9 positive tests in Greater Manchester for every 100,000 people in the week ending January 12, which was the first full week of the national lockdown.The rate was 2.3 per cent down compared to the infection rate for the previous week (420.5).The last time the week-on-week

direct to your inboxThe Met Office has issued a weather warning for flooding across Greater Manchester."Fast-flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life," warned forecasters.They said homes and businesses could be at risk as a result, with more heavy rainfall expected across the region.The alert, issued today, is for a period from early Monday evening through to Wednesday.The whole of Greater Manchester is covered by the yellow-coded weather warning, alongside parts of the