The horrific pasts behind the smiles of the Piccadilly Rats - and how they beat their demons to entertain on Manchester's streets

Salford and started the blaze using the hob on the oven. His girlfriend's mum, who suffers from dementia and epilepsy and is bound to her bed, was in the living room just metres away, Manchester Crown Court heard.

confirmed nearly 500 job losses here this afternoon after what he said was a summer that had seen the airport left ‘swinging in the wind’ by government.

court cases our reporters have covered in September 2020.A woman has been jailed after a scuffle with police officers saw her spit at them as she was being restrained - one officer said the spit landed ‘directly in her mouth’.Michelle Brown, aged 44, had turned up at her ex’s house, breaching a restraining order against her, and the police were called to attend.After trying to attack the officers with a wine bottle, Brown, of Salford, was restrained on the floor by the four officers, Manchester

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Piccadilly Gardens has been cordoned off tonight after a serious 'police incident'.There have been unconfirmed reports of a stabbing, with a victim said to be in a serious condition.Trams have been stopped as a result.The Manchester Evening News is attempting to contact Greater Manchester Police for comment.Images and videos taken at the scene show a large police cordon in place.It appears to start around the top end of Piccadilly Gardens, nearest to Portland Street, and stretch down to Market

hereReynhard Sinaga - Britain's most prolific rapist - stalked the streets of Manchester hunting for victims.Branded a narcissist and a psychopath by police, Sinaga lured dozens of men back to his city centre flat, where he raped them and filmed the attacks on two iPhones.The details emerged during a series of trials at Manchester Crown Court over an 18-month period.Sinaga was found guilty of 159 offences in total - 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes, 13 sexual assaults and two assaults by

Elbow singer Guy Garvey has released new solo single ‘My Angel’, his first new solo material since his 2015 album ‘Courting The Squall’.‘My Angel’ is the theme to BBC1 drama Life. Starting tonight (September 29), it’s from Doctor Foster writer Mike Bartlett, and stars Garvey’s wife Rachael Stirling as Kelly, one of a community of neighbours in a Manchester housing development.

Doctor Foster creator Mike Bartlett has revealed the inspiration behind his new TV series.

hereA series of arrests and drug seizures were made across the north.'County lines' is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries and usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs.The 'county line' is the mobile phone line used to take orders of drugs.Arrests were made in Preston, Sheffield, Leeds and Lancaster.BTP said a new taskforce aimed to tackle drugs on the railway network, and protect

Manchester Evening News Tommy was a 'loving and caring dad, husband, brother and uncle'.Kathleen Berry, who is married to Tommy's nephew, said he treated her 'like his own niece'.She lovingly called him 'Uncle Mush'.In a message to Tommy, penned with husband Alan McDonagh, Kathleen said: "From all of us, Uncle Mush, we all love you."A legend, the one and only Tommy Sharp. You will never be forgotten."We would all give anything in the world to have you back.

hereCups will be turned into upcycled reusable cups and other products including tissue and packaging, reducing waste and encouraging a 'circular economy', Network Rail said.The initiative is a partnership with environmental charity Hubbub and waste provider, Interserve.The YouGov study, commissioned by Network Rail, found consumers want to recycle cups, but often do not know how, they said.Only three in 10 adults who purchase a coffee while travelling reported using a bin specifically designed

Bolton South East, told The Guardian that many people in the area believed the virus was a fake, government-constructed concept and as a result were refusing to adhere to social distancing guidelines. “There is a lot of confusion about the virus in the area and there are a lot of people now who do not believe it is true,” she said.

Salford City football club.

Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here. And you can follow us on Facebook here.