“We’re no further on than we were in May" - you share your reactions to Greater Manchester staying in Tier 3

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.

direct to your inboxA further 43 people have died in Greater Manchester's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus.The region's hospital death toll has risen to 4,315, the latest NHS England data shows.Thirteen more deaths have been recorded by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust in their 24 hour data.Meanwhile, 11 more Covid-related deaths have been recorded by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).The trust runs some of the city's main hospitals, including the MRI and

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 inboxAs the clock struck midnight this New Year, snow fell onto the empty streets of Manchester city centre.Fireworks filled the sky as people celebrated at home and some shouted 'Happy New Year' from their balconies.Earlier in the evening, there was an eerie feel as fog masked much of the city and temperatures dropped to almost freezing.The usual nightlife hotspots were empty.Shutters were down on bars and pubs, though some, who perhaps had a glimmer of hope that they would be

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 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 inboxThese are some of the brilliant people who have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours list.The list features many people who have been going above and beyond in their professional lives or voluntarily to support their communities through the pandemic, as well as many Greater Manchester medics.They include a GP Dr Amir Hannan, who took on the challenge of joining Harold Shipman's old practice 20 years ago, and set about restoring patients' trust. Since then, he has

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 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.

direct to your inboxThe NHS has sadly confirmed 47 more people have died in hospitals across Greater Manchester after contracting coronavirus.They include a further 20 deaths at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust both reported 10 further deaths.There were a further six deaths at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, with one more death reported at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.It

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direct to your inboxThe tide has turned.After weeks of declining infection rates in Greater Manchester, coronavirus cases are climbing again. There has been a 10.6pc week-on-week rise in the region as of December 19, according to Public Health England.

direct to your inboxTwo men from Greater Manchester who won £20,000 on the hit BBC show Race Across the World have donated their prize money to charity.Emon Choudhury, 36, from Stockport, beat four other teams to win the race alongside his nephew Jamiul Choudhury, 25, from Oldham.The pair beat the odds to complete an epic 54-day journey from Mexico City to the south of Argentina for the second series of the BBC2 show.On their travels, the men were visibly moved by the number of homeless children

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester Police may have to send some of its officers to Kent in the event of a no deal Brexit.Deputy mayor for crime and policing, Beverley Hughes said during a press conference that the force had been asked to offer 'mutual aid' if the situation warranted it.The deadline for a deal on Brexit set by the European Parliament passed with no sign of progress and may now go on until December 31 - when the transition period is due to end.Dept Hughes expressed concerns

direct to your inboxA further 22 people have died in hospitals across Greater Manchester after contracting coronavirus, NHS figures revealed today.They include nine more deaths at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust and seven at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.Nationally, the NHS reported on Tuesday a further 405 deaths in hospitals of patients who tested positive for the virus.The figure brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 46,983.In the

direct to your inboxA further ten people have died in Greater Manchester's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus.The region's hospital death toll now stands at 4,029, according to the latest NHS figures.Another four deaths have been recorded at both Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.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