John Scheerhout

Zherko Rasul Osman, 24, died after suffering stab wounds on Chapel Street in Levenshulme on August 15. Greater Manchester Police arrested a second man, aged 23, on suspicion of murder; a previously arrested 27-year-old man was released on bail pending further inquiries. Detectives have renewed their appeal for witnesses, CCTV, doorbell and dashcam footage, while stressing that the attack was isolated and posed no wider threat to the public.

A man wanted on suspicion of robbery was detained by Greater Manchester Police on Bowes Street in Moss Side at about 1:30pm on 18 August. He became unwell during the incident and was taken to hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition. Police cordoned off the street and said a scene remained in place while enquiries continued.

Senior south Manchester coroner Alison Mutch concluded that 93-year-old Edith Jones died of heart failure exacerbated by an infected grade-four pressure ulcer whose management was inadequate during a critical ten-day period. The inquest identified delayed visits, missed or incomplete wound assessments, poor documentation, weak managerial oversight and ineffective triage by both the district nursing service and Brooke Surgery. Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust expressed regret, cited a national shortage of district nurses and said significant improvements had been implemented; Brooke Surgery also reported changes to strengthen urgent-referral systems.

Ideel Shad, 22, drove a BMW at high speed along the M6 hard shoulder near Lymm while weaving through traffic, before colliding with a lorry. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance. Chester Crown Court sentenced him to ten months in prison suspended for 18 months and disqualified him from driving for 12 months. Cheshire Constabulary said his reckless conduct endangered himself and other road users.

Former maths teacher Anthony Hook, 66, has been prohibited indefinitely from teaching after the Teaching Regulation Agency found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. Hook admitted touching pupils’ hair and shoulders, making overfamiliar comments and singing “I love you” to one pupil, while denying sexual motivation. The disciplinary panel accepted that his conduct was not sexually motivated but found that he had failed to learn from a previous warning, blurred professional boundaries and failed to safeguard pupils. Hook was acquitted in 2023 of sexual assault charges but may seek a review of the teaching ban after two years.

A water main on Birchington Road in Withington burst again after engineers had reportedly completed repairs the previous night. United Utilities attended the site and said additional repairs had been carried out, with the road and barriers expected to be restored over the following days and no impact on customers reported. The incident is placed in the wider context of water leakage, including United Utilities' claim that it fixes about 32,000 leaks annually and research estimating that 2.87 billion litres of water leak daily from pipes in England and Wales.

Charles Foy, 41, was jailed for three months and banned from driving for four years and three months after fleeing Cheshire Police on an illegal electric scooter. During the pursuit, one of his dogs led officers to his Runcorn address, where they found him hiding beneath loft insulation. Foy had been convicted of failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified, using a vehicle without insurance and failing to provide a drug test. Police said he appeared to have been riding under the influence of substances and highlighted the safety and legal risks of using uninsured e-scooters on public roads.

Former railway engineer Akeel Knight-Pascoe was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for running four drug lines named after Sonic the Hedgehog characters and targeting university students in south Manchester as well as Parklife festivalgoers. Police found cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, 2CB, cannabis, magic mushrooms and other drugs, along with phones and promotional materials. Five associates also received sentences, including four prison or suspended terms, after Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Stallion exposed their roles in supplying and managing the lines.

Simon Harris, 37, appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court after a 48-hour police stand-off on rooftops in Salford. He is accused of burglary, assaulting two emergency workers, causing a public nuisance and criminal damage between 14 and 16 August. Harris entered no pleas, and the court remanded him in custody for a pre-trial hearing at Manchester Crown Court on 21 September. Greater Manchester Police said two officers suffered minor injuries during the arrest.

Lee Hevingham, 41, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison after admitting assaulting his former partner Charlotte Bridgeman, breaching a restraining order and causing criminal damage. He punched and struck Bridgeman during a drunken, jealous confrontation in Longsight, leaving her with serious bruising, concussion and lasting psychological trauma. The court heard that Hevingham had 31 previous conviction sets covering 63 offences, including domestic violence and breaches of protective orders. Recorder Mark Rhind KC described an entrenched pattern of violence and rejected the suggestion that Bridgeman’s decision to meet Hevingham mitigated his responsibility.

A water main burst on Birchington Road near Mauldeth Road West in Withington, sending water onto the pavement and potentially affecting local water pressure. United Utilities cordoned off the leak, identified the cause and said engineers would begin repairs soon.

Greater Manchester Police ended a 48-hour rooftop stand-off in Salford after drone footage showed a 37-year-old suspect sleeping on a veranda roof. Tactical Aid Unit officers climbed a ladder, seized him and pulled him into a garden, during which his trousers came down and two officers suffered minor injuries. The man was arrested on suspicion of public nuisance, criminal damage, public order offences, burglary and assaulting two police officers. The incident caused property damage, required a cordon and the evacuation of a nearby home, and involved substantial emergency-service resources.

A large grassfire broke out near Upper Monsall Street and Monsall Metrolink station in north Manchester shortly before 6pm on 15 August. Four fire engines attended, and firefighters used hose reels and beaters to extinguish the blaze after about 90 minutes. Metrolink services were unaffected because the Rochdale line was already closed for track maintenance. The fire followed a government alert warning of a very high national wildfire risk and urging people to avoid activities that could start fires.

A 37-year-old man has been arrested after a 48-hour rooftop standoff on Ash Street in Salford. Greater Manchester Police said he was wanted on recall to prison by another force and was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, public order offences and burglary. A police negotiator attended, tiles were thrown from the roof, and a cordon displaced one resident before the incident ended safely.

A large, sticky mass of foam described as a 10-foot-tall “foam iceberg” formed on the River Irk in Middleton, prompting residents and a local angling club to contact the Environment Agency. An eyewitness reported a strong detergent-like odour and throat irritation. The agency found no visible pollution during its site visit but detected a detergent smell and collected water samples. Local conservationists said the incident could further harm wildlife already affected by drought, low river levels and previous pollution, while Manchester City Council is pursuing an Irk Valley regeneration project.

Rail passengers face delays and cancellations after two train derailments and a major fire near Stourbridge Junction. Network Rail is inspecting damage to signalling, telecoms, embankments and fencing, with the line between Stourbridge Junction and Hagley expected to remain closed through the weekend and early the following week. Services through Manchester Piccadilly and on the Manchester–Sheffield/Chesterfield route are disrupted, while rail operators are offering replacement transport, shuttles and ticket acceptance where possible.

Two brides say Je Roche, an Asian-wedding fashion house with shops in Manchester, Bradford and Birmingham, failed to deliver dresses for which they paid deposits of £1,600 and £1,450. One bride arranged and paid for a replacement dress from Pakistan, while another married in a separately sourced gown delivered just two days before her wedding. Other customers have posted similar complaints online. Je Roche manager Mohammed Farid Anwar says a June robbery at the Bradford store, in which he alleges he was assaulted and clothing worth £50,000 was stolen, disrupted the business and payments to suppliers. He maintains the dresses were completed and ready to ship, and that the brides cancelled their orders. West Yorkshire Police confirmed four suspects were arrested and released on bail while enquiries continue.

Simon Richardson, 35, appeared by videolink at Minshull Street Crown Court charged with murdering Stretford Grammar School headteacher Michael Mullins, who died after a car-and-cyclist collision in Dunham Massey on April 20. Richardson faces additional charges of manslaughter, dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving without insurance. No plea was entered, and he was remanded in custody. A four-week trial is scheduled to begin on October 12, following another pre-trial hearing on September 10.

A 24‑hour dispersal order was issued for Victoria Park in Denton to address recent antisocial behaviour. Greater Manchester Police were granted enhanced powers to direct individuals suspected of causing disruption to leave the designated area or face arrest. Officers said the measure aims to reduce crime and improve safety for residents and visitors, with continued patrols planned and appeals for information from the public.

Fire services in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire urged the public to avoid moorland areas near Dovestone, Swineshaw and Tintwistle as crews continue battling multiple wildfires. Emergency teams warned that visitors hinder operations, strain resources and increase the risk of additional fires. The A628 Woodhead Pass remains closed to allow safe access for responders. Firefighters continue containment efforts using specialist equipment and helicopters while advising residents to avoid using BBQs or open flames and to follow public health guidance regarding smoke.

A six-hour stand‑off ended when Greater Manchester Police escorted a wanted man from a rooftop in Middleton town centre. Emergency services, including fire crews and paramedics, responded to Oldham Road around 1pm, establishing roadblocks and diverting buses. Additional police units later arrived with protective equipment. After being brought down safely shortly before 7pm, the man was assessed for injuries and returned to prison on recall.

A former Trump economic adviser warned that US officials view Andy Burnham’s new government as shifting leftward, potentially straining relations with President Trump. Stephen Moore criticised Burnham’s early economic moves, including a bus fare cap and scrapping VAT on electricity bills, arguing they diverge from conservative economic principles. Despite these concerns, Trump has publicly offered support, praised initial discussions with Burnham, and expressed optimism about future cooperation, particularly regarding potential North Sea oil and gas development. The two leaders are expected to meet ahead of next year’s G20 summit in Manchester.

Police cordoned off parts of Victoria Park in Stretford after reports that a teenage girl was sexually assaulted. Greater Manchester Police confirmed an active investigation, stated no arrests had been made, and said the victim is receiving support. Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, and authorities highlighted available support services for victims of sexual violence.

A back-garden fire on Cormallen Grove in Failsworth prompted a major emergency response, with three fire engines dispatched from Manchester Central, Blackley and Philips Park. Firefighters used hose reel jets to control the blaze, cooled the exterior of the adjoining home to stop the fire spreading, and made the area safe within about 35 minutes.

Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Barcelona to Manchester endured more than two hours inside a stationary aircraft in extreme heat, reportedly exceeding 40C, with several people fainting and children crying. Travellers were surprised to be charged for water and said information about the delay was limited. After eventually disembarking, they re-boarded and departed shortly before 1am. Ryanair attributed the delay to thunderstorms and said passengers received updates and refreshment vouchers.

Fire crews continue to contain the moorland fires around Dovestone and Swineshaw, with operations expected to run at least through the weekend as dry conditions persist. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has scaled back external support but maintains significant resources on site to manage hotspots and prevent flare‑ups. A separate blaze at Tintwistle is being tackled by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, supported by helicopters, leaving the A628 Woodhead Pass closed until next week. Authorities urge the public to avoid the affected areas and refrain from activities that could ignite further fires while smoke remains a concern for nearby residents.

A shed attached to a property on Wallbrook Crescent in Little Hulton caught fire, prompting the dispatch of four fire engines and paramedics. Firefighters using breathing apparatus brought the blaze under control and prevented it from spreading to nearby homes. One person was assessed for smoke inhalation but did not require hospital treatment. Crews continued damping down and checking for hotspots into the evening.

A large woodland and grass fire broke out in Macclesfield Forest, prompting Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to deploy six engines with more en route. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area, keep windows closed if affected by smoke, and not obstruct access for emergency vehicles as crews work to contain the blaze.

Authorities confirm that Shabir Ahmed, leader of the Rochdale grooming gang, is not in Bury or Greater Manchester following online rumours of sightings. Officials state he has been relocated outside the region under strict licence conditions after public disclosure of his previous accommodation caused uproar. Local MPs express alarm over his release and reiterate calls for his deportation, while legal and diplomatic barriers persist due to existing immigration laws and Pakistan’s refusal to accept his return. UK ministers plan legislative changes to remove protections preventing his deportation, though implementation still requires Pakistan’s cooperation. Ahmed and other gang members remain subject to lifelong monitoring and restrictions.