The hidden valley by Great Ancoats Street that could help solve the city centre's green space debate

direct to your inboxThugs shouted 'Manchester Manchester' at horrified onlookers after battering a man in a shop doorway in Liverpool city centre. Mobile phone footage shows two men kicking and punching the man on Basnett Street in front of Christmas shoppers on Sunday, the Liverpool Echo reports.

straight to your inboxJermaine Jenas has urged Gareth Southgate to consider John Stones for England again after his Manchester City form. The defender has dropped off the international radar after he became effectively sixth-choice centre-back for City last season due to injuries and poor form.

direct to your inboxA man was taken to hospital after he was rescued from a canal in Manchester city centre.Emergency services were called to the Rochdale Canal, off Castle Street, shortly before midnight on Friday.The man had already been rescued before firefighters arrived.He was taken to hospital by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).It's not clear who pulled the man from the water.A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 23.44PM on the 18th December GMFRS were

direct to your inboxPolice were scrambled to Manchester city centre after a car crashed into railings.Pictures from the scene showed a badly damaged saloon car after it had crashed through railings on Great Ancoats Street.The road was closed briefly while the wreckage was cleared from the carriageway.A flatbed truck later removed the damaged car.Unconfirmed reports from the scene suggested the crash followed a police pursuit.The incident happened on Great Ancoats Street at its junction with

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson have paid tribute to former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier who has passed away aged 73.Prior to his six-year spell at Anfield, Houllier worked as assistant manager to France national team boss Michel Platini, working closely with one of the best players to ever represent United in Eric Cantona.Houllier was pivotal in Cantona moving to England, believing the notorious forward needed to leave France after a

direct to your inboxThree people are in hospital including a young child after a van crashed into a bus in Manchester city centre last night.Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the incident on Angel Street near the Co-op headquarters in the NOMA district at around 9.24pm.A transit van appears to have collided head-on with a bus while travelling the wrong way down the one-way road.

direct to your inboxCity centre residents are being warned about the dangers of parcel theft after a surge in incidents this year.Covid restrictions and the subsequent spike in online shopping has meant postal deliveries are at an all time high.But for shared buildings in Manchester city centre that often means parcels being left in insecure postal rooms or communal areas, especially as busy drivers are being told to have 'zero contact' with customers.Thieves are then taking advantage by

direct to your inboxJeremy Corbyn's brother led an anti-lockdown march in the city centre today.Piers Corbyn was one of around 500 people who marched through Manchester in another protest against lockdown regulations.The protesters marched through the city centre, starting in Piccadilly Gardens at around midday.

direct to your inboxThe fire service was called to the city centre on Friday morning to a fire in a lighting unit at a commercial property.Crews from Moss Side and Salford were called to Lloyd Street and spent just under an hour at the scene.A spokesperson for GMFRS said: “On Friday, 11 December, at 8.37am, firefighters were called to a fire on Lloyd Street in Manchester.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very

straight to your inboxManchester City fans want to see Aymeric Laporte partner Ruben Dias at the back in the upcoming Manchester derby, rather than John Stones.City have finally started to gather some momentum, after an inconsistent start to the campaign, as Saturday's 2-0 victory over Fulham saw them win successive Premier League games for the first time this season following last weekend's 5-0 mauling of Burnley.Both victories saw Stones star in the heart of defence as the 'Barnsley

direct to your inboxManchester United carried on their unbeaten start to the Women's Super League season on Saturday when the Reds won 2-0 away to Aston Villa. And United manager Casey Stoney was full of praise for 21-year old forward Ella Toone after the match, whose long-range lob notched United's second of the game and Toone's fifth in all competitions this season.

direct to your inboxManchester city centre has seen a 480 per cent increase in the number of people claiming universal credit in just five months, it has emerged.A report that went before the council's economic scrutiny committee on Thursday paints a bleak picture of the impact of coronavirus restrictions on Manchester this year.And, in particular, the wide range of concerns in the city centre from vanishing footfall to fears about trade in 2021.In many ways, the data included in the report from

direct to your inbox A pub in Manchester city centre has been hit with a fine after it allowed customers in to drink during the coronavirus lockdown.

heading for tier 3 restrictions when lockdown ends next week, pupils are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region. We reported at the weekend how many feel schools are 'descending into chaos' and concerns are growing over Year 11s being expected to sit exams next year despite missing out on large chunks of classroom learning time.

straight to your inboxOwen Hargreaves has told Pep Guardiola that getting the balance right in midfield is crucial to solving Manchester City's struggles in front of goal.City have had a largely inconsistent start to the season and currently find themselves in the lowly position of 13th, already eight points behind champions Liverpool.While only five sides have conceded less than the Blues, the other end of the pitch appears to be the problem as they have only scored 10 times so far - less than

after we observed 50 cars making the turn in just half an hour.Seven years later, traffic gridlock around Manchester city centre remains a problem, particularly on routes heading towards Salford and Trafford at rush-hour.

schools in Greater Manchester 'descending into chaos', bubbles of schoolchildren are continuing to be sent home from primaries and secondaries across the region. Staff shortages are having a huge impact - with teachers either being confirmed with the virus themselves, identified as a close contact, or having to stay home because their own children are isolating from schools.

straight to your inboxBarcelona defender Gerard Pique has suffered a cruciate ligament injury that could change how they approach their January search for a new centre-back.Barca wanted to sign Manchester City defender Eric Garcia over the summer, but their offer did not meet City's valuation of the young Spaniard. Garcia is out of contract this summer and has told the club he will not extend his deal.

We'd like to know what you think should happen next. Would you like to see the lockdown extended or should all restrictions be lifted? Have your say in our survey below.Click 'display interactive content' or follow this link if you can't see it on your device. United City's privately-funded research will help to bridge that gap, giving clear data to manage safety in workplaces, hospitality venues and on transport, they say.The research will also allow Greater Manchester leaders to negotiate with

mounting tensions between Greater Manchester leaders and the government over lockdown measures.