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Manchester Airport owners agree restructure to fund Stansted acquisition

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:59:59 -0000

Greater Manchester's 10 councils have agreed in principle to restructure their ownership of Manchester Airport to fund a swoop for Stansted.

Manchester Airports Group is seeking equity investment to give it the firepower to buy Stansted after current owner BAA was forced to put it on the market.

Drivers who mowed down caring dad while racing through Longsight are jailed

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:25:24 -0000

Daniel Lee, 21, was crossing Plymouth Grove in Longsight, when he was hit by a VW Golf driven by Kamran Khan.

A jury heard how Khan, 24, had been playing a reckless game of chase with his pal Shamin Uddin, 25, who was driving an Audi when the accident happened in the early hours of January 30 last year.

Sinnott’s side returning to full strength

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:56:11 -0000

Altrincham boss Lee Sinnott is looking forward to the rare treat of having a full-strength squad at his disposal when the Robins emerge from their three-week-long, mid-winter hibernation for the visit of Blyth Spartans on Saturday.

Alty suffered a second successive blank weekend when their trip to fellow Blue Square Bet North promotion hopefuls Corby was frozen off.

Jobs in the frame: Manchester council backs plan to create offshoot of Sharp Project media hub

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:40:23 -0000

The studio, housed in the former Sharp warehouse in Newton Heath, is home to hit TV shows such as Sky One’s Mount Pleasant and Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meat.

But an ambitious plan could see the disused Fujitsu tower in Gorton being turned into an off-shoot of the media hub.

CAMRA publishes guide to best real ale pubs on Metrolink tram routes

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:07:25 -0000

The free pocket-sized leaflets list the top pubs near every tram stop on the Altrincham and newly-opened South Manchester routes.

Connoisseurs of traditional ale hope the guide will encourage locals and tourists to uncover unsung boozers across the tram network and reduce drink driving.

'My hip joints can't take it': Happy Mondays' Bez reveals his dancing days are over

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:59:06 -0000

There will be no more Freaky Dancin’ from Happy Mondays star Bez – he’s announced his shock retirement from maraca-shaking duties ahead of the band’s big reunion tour this summer.

For Bez, real name Mark Berry, admits that he is now more of a creaky dancer with his aching joints.

Praise for Football Association after suspension of ‘Holocaust jibe’ ref boss Phil Morris

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:29:37 -0000

We revealed yesterday how Phil Morris – referee appointments secretary at the Manchester FA – had been suspended from all football activity until May for making a jibe about the Holocaust.

He had appeared before a disciplinary panel following an alleged outburst at Manchester United’s Carrington complex.

JLS singleton Aston Merrygold coy on rumours of being item with ex-Hollyoaks star Emma Rigby

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:01:08 -0000

While JLS star Aston Merrygold is the man of millions of girls’ dreams, the heart-throb tells me he spent another Valentine's Day as a singleton. When I asked if he was with a special someone yesterday, he replied: "In a word, no. But I send my mum flowers if that counts."

Hmm, but what about ex-Hollyoaks actress Emma Rigby? He was spied in Manchester only last month after a long lunch with the blonde beauty at Cicchetti in the city centre, fuelling rumours they’re an item. But he reckons that's not quite the case.

Van exhausts new target for metal thieves

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:01:06 -0000

Crooks hacked off 11 catalytic converters – most of them from under Mercedes Sprinter vans – in Stockport last month.

Cops say vans in Stretford and Urmston have also been attacked for their exhausts.

Good call: Doctor saves Reddish tot’s life by diagnosing meningitis over phone

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:01:02 -0000

On-call medic Dr Muhammed Saleem suspected one-year-old Connor Tomlinson had the killer bug and called an ambulance to take him to hospital.

Connor’s mum Shelley had phoned an out-of-hours GP service for help after her son developed a high temperature and began vomiting.

Paul Taylor: A tale of our times ... the injury that is ‘cured’ by post

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:01:01 -0000

Here’s a true story of our times. A woman is driving to an important business meeting, stops at the entry to a roundabout and, to her horror, sees a car coming the wrong way round the roundabout.

The car then exits the roundabout on the wrong side of the road and collides head-on with the woman’s car. She is shaken but not hurt.

Talks over future of Iranian Consulate in Bowdon break down

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:00:43 -0000

Talks between Iran and Trafford council over the future of the former consulate building on Charcoal Road, Bowdon, broke down when the Middle-Eastern country’s officials were ejected from Britain.

The house was torched last August, the third arson attack in 11 months. Iranian officials met with the council in September and reiterated their commitment to refurbishing the building – which has become a blot on the local landscape.

Limited Fashion opens first store in Manchester

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:01:24 -0000

Online retailer Limited Fashion has opened its first store, in Manchester's Triangle shopping centre.

The menswear chain, founded in 2004, focuses on brands that are not widely available in Manchester, which are aimed at fashion-conscious men.

MLS targets overseas expansion

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:01:24 -0000

Library software firm MLS has embarked on a new chapter targeting overseas growth after spurning several takeover approaches, its chairman said today.

MLS – which as rebranded from Micro Librarian Systems – was courted by a number of suitors last year but its board turned them down, believing they undervalued the business.

David Whitehouse appointed joint administrator to Rangers Football Club

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:01:23 -0000

The co-founder of the Manchester office of Duff & Phelps has been appointed as joint administrator to Rangers Football Club.

David Whitehouse has been appointed alongside his London-based colleague Paul Clark.