'We are struggling with capacity as it is': Greater Manchester medics share their fears as they brace themselves for mutant strain after Christmas mixing

direct to your inboxPolice have declared a major incident due to concerns about the impact of Storm Christoph.An amber weather warning for rain has been issued as torrential downpours are set to hit the region.It's in force until Thursday lunchtime, with forecasters warning of potential flooding.A top police chief urged people to leave their home if they need to despite the stay at home message.Residents are being urged to follow their local authority's advice about evacuations.Assistant Chief

direct to your inbox A road is closed in Oldham due to a serious crash between a car and a motorbike.

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

direct to your inboxThe latest coronavirus infection rates have been revealed, as cases continue to rise across Greater Manchester.Rates are still rising in all ten boroughs, but week-on-week percentage rises do not appear to be increasing as rapidly as they have in previous days.The average infection rate for England was the same as it was the previous week.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by

direct to your inboxNerves are growing within the Greater Manchester system about whether the current stop-start rate of vaccine supply will be sufficient to hit government targets by mid-February.Some areas are understood to have received barely half as many doses this week as they have capacity to deliver, while across the board there is worry about the last-minute nature of their arrival from the national distribution system - meaning local health officials and GPs are struggling to plan and

direct to your inboxThe latest coronavirus infection rates have been revealed, as cases continue to rise across Greater Manchester.Cases are increasing in all ten boroughs, with Wigan remaining the worst hit area across our region.The statistics from Public Health England show that the average infection rate across England and in London has decreased.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

direct to your inboxThe latest coronavirus infection rates for Greater Manchester show cases are continuing to rise across all ten boroughs - but at a slower rate than they were.Statistics released by Public Health England show the post-Christmas rise in cases appears to have slowed.The average infection rate across England has dropped off slightly, while the average for Greater Manchester has flattened off.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free

direct to your inboxCoronavirus infection rates across Greater Manchester are continuing to surge, the latest figures show.Across the region rates are below the national average, which stood at 671.9 cases per 100,000 people, as of January 5.But every town and city in Greater Manchester is seeing a spike in cases.Wigan is the worst-affected area, with an infection rate of 459.7, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.But the week-on-week growth of cases in the borough has

Wigan by the deadly impact of Covid-19. Two other areas in Greater Manchester - Tameside and Rochdale - are also among the ten boroughs in the country with the highest death rates.

direct to your inboxA yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been forecast for Greater Manchester this weekend following days of freezing temperatures. Mercury levels could plunge to as low as -9C in the north west this evening, according to the Met Office.A warning for snow and ice is in place until midnight tonight.Then a weather warning for ice is in place tomorrow (Saturday).It should feel a bit warmer by Sunday, with temperatures around 5C.  Here is a borough-by-borough forecast for

direct to your inboxHospitals across Greater Manchester have begun postponing cancer operations as fears grow that the region could run out of intensive care beds.Some cancer surgery has already been cancelled at the last minute due to a lack of critical care beds, while more broadly trusts are beginning the process of rescheduling cancer operations not deemed to be the most urgent.The move comes amid expectations of a ‘very scary’ surge in admissions from Monday, according to one senior doctor

direct to your inboxCoronavirus cases are continuing to rise across Greater Manchester as the government starts the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.Our region currently has a Covid-19 infection rate of 374.8 per 100,000 people in the week ending January 3.That’s a 73.4 per cent increase on the previous week.However the regional rate here is still far below that of London - where it was 971 on January 1.Across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs the upward trend in infection rates is

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.

further 60,916 lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK.

Follow our dedicated live blog here The ones that are closed are providing places for key worker and vulnerable children, as they did during the first lockdown. If your child's school has closed, get in touch with us on our Manchester Family Facebook page here, let us know in the comments here, or email [email protected]. These are the schools that have closed by boroughMount Carmel RC, BlakleyOswald Road Primary, ChorltonSt Peter's Catholic Primary, WythenshaweBirchfields Primary,

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

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 inboxWhen the new term starts next week for primary schools, headteacher Ruth Vayro knows some parents will keep their children at home."Our families do trust us at St Ambrose to keep children safe but I'm sure some parents will take the decision not to return their children to school because they just don't know."Parents will be concerned just as they are in London and Greater London."I completely empathise with parents - I'm a parent.

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 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.