New strain of Covid-19 not in Greater Manchester yet say region's health leaders as they battle to keep it at bay

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester Police responded to 1,500 reports of ‘stupid and selfish’ people breaking Covid-19 laws over the New Year period.More than 1,000 callouts involved officers breaking up house parties held inside residential homes, properties rented for the night and short-term lets.‘Hundreds’ of fines have been handed out to those attending illegal gatherings in the past week, including people who went to a rave on an industrial estate.Rising infection rates are also

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.

announced a new national lockdown to curb the virus on Monday night, Greater Manchester's infection rate was just over 300 cases per 100,000 people - way below the national average of over 537.

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

Christmas over-indulgence or need to stretch your legs and get out into nature, these local walks are sure to blow off the cobwebs.

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 inboxIt's going to be a very, very different New Year's Eve across Greater Manchester.This has been a year like no other in living memory... 2020 can't end soon enough for many.But with the region's pubs, clubs and bars shut - and a stay at home order now in effect after Greater Manchester entered Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions - there will be no big parties.As the clocks strike midnight, the celebrations will be muted.Manchester city centre will be all but deserted.

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 inboxUp to 25pc of all new coronavirus cases across Greater Manchester can be attributed to the new strain seen spreading rapidly through southern England.Experts predict there could be even higher number of new cases down to the new variant currently due to a data lag.Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham announced the figures at a press conference this morning.He said that partly as a result of this new strain, he and Greater Manchester’s leaders are in agreement with the

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 inboxGreater Manchester residents with certain health conditions are expected to be told to begin shielding again as the region is placed under Tier 4 restrictions.The government updated its advice for clinically extremely vulnerable people when it introduced the toughest new level of measures earlier this month.

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.

Sign up for the latest from M.E.N.

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 inboxIt wasn't quite the white Christmas we see in all those festive movies.But there was a dusting of snow across Greater Manchester on Christmas Day.However, things quickly turned to strong winds and heavy rain as Storm Bella began its approach on Boxing Day.The Met Office has since issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice beginning at 6pm tonight (Sunday) into Monday morning.Therefore sleet, snow and flooding is all expected in parts of Greater Manchester as the extreme

direct to your inboxForecasters have posted three flood alerts across Greater Manchester as Storm Bella wreaks havoc in parts of the country.People in communities in Trafford, Stockport and Tameside close to the River Mersey valley and also residents in Oldham, Bolton and Rochdale in the River Irk catchment have been urged to be prepared for possible flooding.Met Office forecasters have warned that Storm Bella could bring 70mph winds and heavy rain to parts of the UK on Saturday, with the worst

direct to your inboxIt could be a rough day across Greater Manchester tomorrow as forecasters warn of extreme weather.The Met Office has issued alerts for strong winds and heavy rain, alongside a weather warning for snow and ice in Greater Manchester as Storm Bella sweeps across the country.Temperatures are expected to reach no higher than 3°C across most of the region on Sunday but the windchill will make the conditions feel much colder.Forecasters say icy surfaces are likely in much of Greater

direct to your inboxIt's not something that happens very often on Christmas Day - snow actually falling.But yesterday, parts of our region witnessed the magical white stuff fall from the sky after a terrible year.What will the weather do today, on Boxing Day, as Storm Bella sweeps in?Here's our hour by hour guide to the forecast today.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by following the instructions

direct to your inboxLike this entire year, Christmas Day in 2020 is anything but normal.It's a restricted, and for some quite sad time.But Greater Mancunians did have something to smile about today...