Will there be a white Christmas in 2020? This is the forecast for Greater Manchester over the next five days

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 inboxRochdale Infirmary patients became the first in Greater Manchester to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this week.It was given to people aged over 80 attending scheduled outpatient appointments at the hospital, after its pharmacy team took delivery of the vaccine on Monday.The vaccine was approved for use in the UK by the medical regulator at the end of December.

straight to your inbox every day for freeMauricio Pochettino has been confirmed as the new manager of Paris Saint-Germain but that hasn't stopped some supporters from holding out hope that he will one day join Manchester United.Although they made last season's Champions League final and qualified for this year's knock-out stages, PSG sacked former manager Thomas Tuchel on Christmas Eve and Pochettino was installed as the immediate favourite to be his replacement.The Argentine has been out of a

direct to your inboxHeavy snow is expected to fall in Greater Manchester this afternoon as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning.Snow and ice could lead to dangerous conditions as up to 5cm of snow could fall in some places, the Met Office warns.A yellow weather warning covering the north east and north west of England, Wales, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber is in place until 6pm this evening.Greater Manchester is forecast to get heavy snow at around 4pm today, with

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 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 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 inbox A man has died after being hit by a car in Middleton on Christmas Eve. The 30 year-old pedestrian was involved in a collision with a grey BMW 320i M Sport on Rochdale Road just after 7.30pm on Thursday, December 24.Emergency services raced to the scene he was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

Jason Manford has shared his heartbreak after finding out his BBC and XFM radio star pal has died.The stand up comedian took to his Instagram feed to share a photo of Michelle Mullane before explaining to his 318,000 followers that she sadly lost her battle with bowel cancer aged 50 on Christmas Eve.The snap saw the the brunette beauty smiling at the camera, which he captioned: "Just found out my dear friend and ex-BBC Manchester presenter Michelle Mullane sadly passed away on Christmas Eve.

direct to your inboxA family is trying to track down the person behind a kindhearted random act of kindness.An envelope with a £5 note inside had been left in the car park of Asda in Chadderton on Christmas Eve.Inside the envelope, which had a Christmas tree drawn on it, the card read: "To whoever has found this, I hope you have a lovely Christmas, treat yourself."Keep smiling, there is light at the end of the tunnel!Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with

direct to your inboxIt's not something that happens very often on Christmas Day - snow actually falling.But yesterday, parts of our region witnessed the magical white stuff fall from the sky after a terrible year.What will the weather do today, on Boxing Day, as Storm Bella sweeps in?Here's our hour by hour guide to the forecast today.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 instructions

ECHO. Several stores in Greater Manchester have the following opening hours.

direct to your inboxLike this entire year, Christmas Day in 2020 is anything but normal.It's a restricted, and for some quite sad time.But Greater Mancunians did have something to smile about today...

straight to your inbox every day for freeThere's no rest for Manchester United, who were last to play on Wednesday night and are first to kick off on Boxing Day. That gives Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad little time to prepare for a tough test at Leicester tomorrow, let alone fit in a proper Christmas Day with the family.

direct to your inboxA man in a Manchester United mask stands alone with his holdall bag in an empty, closed check-in hall. His story is anything but festive.He tells me he he left home following a row with his girlfriend and decided to jet off on a flight abroad on a whim.But now that he is in Manchester Airport with no ticket, he just wants to get back home to east Manchester.Last year I visited the airport on December 24 to capture the heartwarming moment couples reunited for the festive

This white Christmas ended with three men arrested on drug charges.  More than $600,000 worth of drugs -- hidden inside pizza boxes -- were seized by authorities in the U.K. after police discovered cocaine, marijuana and cash during a raid of two homes on Christmas Eve, according to the Greater Manchester Police Department.  More than half a million pounds worth of drugs found in pizza boxes have been seized following raids in Greater Manchester on Wednesday.