Manchester's Albert Hall will reopen on Saturday with a socially-distanced Bavarian festival

Up to 6,000 children who normally would have been referred to social services in Greater Manchester have potentially been missed during lockdown.Social care professionals are calling for a change in approach to tackle the ‘hidden harm’ faced by children who are stuck at home with abusive family members while schools remain closed.Alison Alexander, the CEO of children’s services support organisation Cornerstone, said referrals have dropped in many parts of the UK by 50pc, and by up to 75pc in

Manchester Central Library will reopen its doors to the public on Thursday.New measures will be put in place to combat Covid-19.A maximum of 250 visitors will be allowed into the library at any time, with hand sanitiser stations available on all four floors.The council said that in line with government guidance, face coverings must be worn at all times.All visitors will also be expected to complete a contact details form to help the NHS Test and Trace programme on entry.The council said

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are the last English side remaining in Europe this season after Man City's shock Champions League defeat to Lyon. United are looking for their first silverware since winning the Europa League in 2017.

straight to your inboxVan Persie defends United’s penalty record under Solskjaer Manchester United’s high penalty count this season has been the subject of much discussion, but former player Robin van Persie has come out in defence of his old club. United were awarded 14 penalties in the Premier League this season, a record for the competition, and 21 in total.

straight to your inboxFormer Manchester United forward Robin van Persie has moved to defend the club's penalty record this season.Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot on Monday night to book his side’s place in the last four of the Europa League.The penalty was United’s 21st spot-kick of the season in all competitions, with them also having broken a Premier League record for penalties awarded this season.Much has been made of the number of spot kicks United have been awarded, but the Dutchman

Manchester United players in the BT Sport studio, following the 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen, summed up the situation succinctly. Robin Van Persie, asked about Martial and how far he has come under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, turned to Paul Scholes and remarked innocently: "He was struggling under Mourinho right?" Scholes' reply was typically deadpan: "Who wasn't?" The transformation of Martial under Solskjaer is simply incredible.

straight to your inboxFormer Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has heaped praise upon Anthony Martial following the 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen in the Europa League.The victory sees Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side secure their spot in this weekend's Europa League semi-final, where they will play either Sevilla or Wolves.

United players were robbed: David Beckham and Robin van Persie should have picked up those respective awards.But since 2013 it has not been a debate. Both in the main award and the PFA young player of the year stakes, United have lagged behind as players from Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have dominated.

Hale has become one of Greater Manchester’s top ten coronavirus case ‘hotspots’.Trafford had 85 new cases of COVID-19 last week – with eight new cases declared in Hale between July 20 and 26.It means the ward was one of the top 10 for new coronavirus cases in Greater Manchester during that period.In an interview on BBC Radio 5Live, council leader Coun Andrew Western announced the ward had an infection rate of around 95 per 100,000 people.According to data from Public Health England, when areas

Manchester Evening News have looked back over the cases where Manchester’s most jealous criminals have landed themselves in the dock. The jealous ex who terrorised his former partner by turning up at her house, climbing through her bedroom window and attacking herA jealous ex terrorised his former partner by climbing through her bedroom window and attacking her.Stewart Edge, 34, has been jailed for 16 months following the incident at the woman's home in Denton.

despite Greater Manchester's rising infection rates.The Prime Minister has said that shielding will still end this weekend despite the local lockdown - for everyone except those in Blackburn or Darwen and other high risk areas of the country. But people in Greater Manchester who have been shielding told the Manchester Evening News they would either continue as they were - or venture out reluctantly only because they no longer have the Government's protection and have to go to work.

maybe ," compere Kiri Pritchard-McLean tells the crowd. The last few months have been no laughing matter, with the Covid-19 death toll still ticking and the devastating impact of lockdown laying waste to countless jobs.The performing arts industry has been among the hardest hit, with redundancies at institutions such as Manchester's Royal Exchange theatre feared to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Levenshulme, East Manchester Leisure Centre in Beswick and Hough End Leisure Centre. Moss Side Leisure Centre, North City Family & Fitness Centre in Harpurhey and Wythenshawe Forum will also reopen.All six centres will operate in a limited capacity to ensure that social distancing measures can be implemented successfully.Tennis facilities at Manchester Tennis & Football Centre and the outdoor athletics track at Manchester Regional Arena will also reopen to the public on August 1.

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was targeted by vandals on Tuesday night (July 21).The portrait of the American security guard was created in the weeks following his death on May 25.Akse - who has created a number of stunning murals across the city - started work to repair the mural on Wednesday morning.He was seen wearing a facemask and using spray paints to rectify the artwork - which was repaired in just over 30 minutes.The “intolerable” racist language scrawled across the painting was initially boarded up by council