Manchester tourist tax expected to raise nearly £3million in first year

He was one of Oasis' founding members. But bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan has rarely been seen in public since he quit the iconic Manchester band at the height of their fame back in 1999.

Car drivers in Manchester are facing eye-watering insurance costs when they renew their policies, following a year of sharp price rises that are now leaving the average Mancunian driver around £1,279 out of pocket, just to get their vehicle on the road.

Manchester manband Take That are back with their new live tour - and thousands of fans in Sheffield were the first to see it at the weekend. Their new This Life on Tour sees the band's Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen perform a host of new tracks as well as a selection of their biggest hits from their three decades in pop.

Brookside actress Claire Sweeney is reportedly putting her £2.3million mansion on the market for double what she originally paid, amid her blossoming romance with Ricky Hatton.The 52 year old star has been making headlines recently after going public with her relationship with Ricky over the weekend, with pals revealing why they're such a great match. Claire, who's been living in the London pad for nearly two decades, initially bought it for £1.15 million back in 2006.The four-storey home boasts four bedrooms and even has planning permission for a rooftop garden.The mum-of-one has previously given fans a glimpse into her stylish abode via Instagram.

Now that the days are longer and brighter it’s the perfect time to get outside and explore the beautiful landscapes we have right on our doorstep. We’re spoilt for choice in Greater Manchester with miles upon miles of gorgeous countryside to visit nearby.

A play centre in Greater Manchester is letting parents pay what they can in a bid to help struggling families.

With brighter and warmer days ahead of us now that winter is over, many people will be planning trips out in the countryside. One natural wonder which provides a beautiful backdrop to a walk or picnic is a breathtaking waterfall.

Paul Ince has admitted he realised Liverpool didn't have the mentality to replicate Manchester United's success quickly after making a controversial move to Anfield.

Over the coming weeks woodland areas will be transformed with bluebells as these gorgeous purple flowers start to bloom. They usually follow suit once golden daffodils have appeared and signify that spring is well and truly underway.

It's been another week of talk around Premier League clubs being dominated by Profit and Sustainability and the PSR rules that are causing plenty of them a headache heading into the summer transfer window.

Real Housewives of Cheshire star Paige Chohan has welcomed her first child with husband Amir.The reality TV star gave birth to her first baby on 30 March and has now shared the first photograph of the tot. Paige, 32, who has joined RHOC as a main cast member for the 17th series, exclusively told OK! the happy news and shared a black and white snap, showing her holding her baby's hand.The new mum is yet to reveal if she welcomed a boy or girl, and has not disclosed her baby's name. She said: "Alhumdulliah the greatest gift given to us.

There’s nothing quite like recharging your batteries with an escape to the countryside and waking up to breathtaking views of rolling green fields. With warmer and brighter months ahead, many of us will be planning rural getaways in the coming weeks, and, while camping is a popular way to reconnect with nature it’s not for everyone - especially for those who like their home comforts.

The cost of renting is continuing to soar across the UK - and Greater Manchester is no exception. Rents have now risen by 8.8 percent across the country, with prices up by as much as 20 percent in some areas.

Reality TV star Charlotte Crosby may be known as a proud Geordie, but she says Manchester more than matches her home city when it comes to the nightlife.

This spring, Tattu, the modern Chinese restaurant group, welcomes Blossom Season with enchanting floral installations, a fresh spring menu, terrace takeovers and bespoke cocktails.

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.

Plans for a solar farm at a landfill in Greater Manchesterwould power nearly 3,000 homes, the developer has said. The Whitehead site at Astley, on the border of Wigan and Salford, will be used to generate 10m watts of electricity, if the plans are given the green light.

Manchester United are back in Premier League action this weekend when they travel to Brentford on Saturday night.

Police are looking into the circumstances behind a video that shows a group of youths gathering near a mosque in Bury.

Renting in the UK is now more affordable than owning your first home in nearly all UK regions - according to Halifax. The latest data shows that first-time buyers in the north west are 'better off' renting a property rather than buying a home due to higher mortgage payments.