The moment a 'suspected mortar round' was pulled out of a canal sparking a major alert

discovery of the Nazi symbol in a police officer's locker at Pendleton police station in Salford on July 19 prompted a significant criminal investigation, which included samples being taken for DNA analysis. But five months on the M.E.N.

straight to your inbox every day for freeOwen Hargreaves believes Sir Alex Ferguson would have fumed at Bruno Fernandes for his role in Leicester's first goal during Manchester United's draw with the Foxes.Fernandes was in inspired form against Brendan Rodgers' side at the King Power Stadium, providing the assist for Marcus Rashford to open the scoring with a deft touch before scoring himself in the second half.Despite his brilliance for the opener, the Portuguese contributed to United conceding

direct to your inbox On Christmas Eve last year, as had become annual tradition, a Manchester Evening News reporter was at the airport to record and capture the poignant moments as families and loved ones were reunited for the holiday season. Their warm hugs, passionate kisses and carefree abandon with personal space might now seem like a foreign concept.

direct to your inboxThis is the heartwarming moment Jason Manford turned up outside a care home in Greater Manchester to sing Christmas songs to residents.The Salford-born comedian sang a series of Christmas classics from outside the window of the home, thought to be in south Manchester.He posted the video on Facebook, saying he'd wanted to surprise his friend's dad at the care home.Residents can be seen inside the home cheering, dancing along from their chairs, and singing along.Jason gave them

straight to your inbox every day for freeMarcus Rashford's friends knew he'd be a 'superstar' - years before his incredible Manchester United debut at 18. The footballer is starring in his own BBC documentary, Marcus Rashford : Feeding Britain’s Children, which follows his journey this year to raise national awareness of the effects of child food poverty in the UK.

direct to your inboxA suspected grenade was found in a canal in Rochdale.Police were called to the water off Smith Bridge Road at around 10.40am on Sunday.The item was found by a member of the public.A Royal Logistic Corps bomb disposal unit was sent to the scene. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Police were called at around 10.40am this morning to a report of a suspected grenade found by a member of the public in the canal of Smithy Bridge Road in Littleborough.

direct to your inboxA cyclist who was seriously injured in a crash in south Manchester last month has died in hospital.The 31-year-old had been receiving treatment at Salford Royal Hospital following the smash in Didsbury on Saturday, November 28.Police were called to Kingsway, at the junction with Fog Lane, following reports a blue Honda Civic crashed with a bike at around 12.25am.Emergency services attended and the cyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries.He died on Friday (December

Manchester Evening News as a new book about her father's life is published, Kelly said the family hoped an inquest would shed fresh light on his murder.

straight to your inbox every day for freePaul Scholes says Manchester United could challenge for the Premier League title if they manage to keep 10 players fit for the remainder of the season.The Reds continued their dominant away form on Thursday as they saw off Sheffield United with a 3-2 victory at Bramall Lane to move sixth in the table, five points off leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

direct to your inboxAn inquest has opened into the death of a month-old baby.Bethany Mae Bradley died on February 14 this year, Manchester Coroners' Court heard.She was taken to North Manchester General after being found unresponsive on February 11.Get the latest news from Greater Manchester, the UK and around the globe on the free Manchester Evening News apps - download them here for your Apple or Android device.

straight to your inbox every day for freeAlthough the Manchester derby is looming this weekend, the past few days have been dominated by the post-mortem following Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig.One of the players highlighted as a contributor to the defeat was goalkeeper David de Gea.

straight to your inbox every day for free Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pinpointed Manchester United's defeat away to Istanbul Basaksehir as the moment they lost control in the Champions League this season. United were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday night after a 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig in the Red Bull Arena.

direct to your inboxHashem Abedi, the convicted brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, has admitted playing a 'full and knowing part' in the 'planning and preparation' for the attack.The development was revealed at the ongoing public inquiry into the atrocity.Hashem, 23, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to cause an explosion, following a trial in March.He was subsequently jailed for a minimum of 55 years in August.Hashem

straight to your inbox every day for freeMino Raiola claimed that Paul Pogba is 'unhappy' and urged Manchester United to sell him in the January transfer window, as a new segment of his now eagerly awaited interview with Tuttosport emerged on Monday night.Raiola, Pogba's agent, caused a stir on Monday after he suggested his client's time at United was coming to an end.

direct to your inboxFrom the man who killed his 'best friend for 20 years' after slamming into roundabout at 'over 100mph' - to the 'Iceman' Mark Fellows who was handed another life sentence for gangland attack before he murdered Salford's 'Mr Big' Paul Massey, these are some of the criminals locked up in November.The region's courts have given out hefty prison sentences for all manner of crimes last month with M.E.N.