Charlie Fenton

A fire at an industrial unit in Greenfield, Oldham, caused contaminated firewater runoff to enter the River Tame, producing large accumulations of foam and killing several hundred fish. The Environment Agency and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service responded, reporting no additional fish fatalities the following morning while continuing to monitor the river. Local resident and countryside warden Craig Hannah described foam formations as high as four metres and expressed concern about the wider ecological impact. The incident follows a separate foam pollution event on the River Irk in Middleton, prompting concerns from local anglers about repeated damage to wildlife during drought conditions.

Ella Jones and Kevin Fields were sentenced at Chester Crown Court after their 12-week-old baby became critically ill when cocaine entered the infant's system. The couple admitted taking cocaine in the baby's presence and failing to seek medical attention after an earlier collapse. Fields received a two-year prison sentence, while Jones received a two-year sentence suspended for two years, along with rehabilitation activities, mental health treatment and unpaid work. Cheshire Police said the child's survival was a miracle and condemned the couple's reckless neglect.