We have been made aware of a number of thefts from garden sheds over the past few days in the Eccles area, one man was awoken by a loud noise in the early hours, only to discover that the door to his shed had been broken and several items of garden equipment had been taken, fortunately he found them dumped behind a bush at the end of a pathway.

In another incident a lady heard voices coming from the walkway at the side of her home, she switched the landing light on and looked out of the window to see what she described as 3-4 youths running away carrying something between them. On waking her husband they went out to check and discovered a welding machine and several other power tools had been taken from their shed.

Bicycles are a top target followed by lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, drills and other electrical equipment.

Meanwhile in Monton we have been told that there have been a number of attempts to gain entry to vehicles over the past week, so ensure your car doors are locked at night and remove any valuables from the vehicle.

As the evenings grow darker the thieves are emboldened by the the cover of darkness, although many are actually opportunists who do not have to break in at all because a door or window has been left open or unlocked. Keep your home and any shed doors securely locked at all times.

Don’t leave valuables in sight of windows, or on view in cars.

Salford council have revealed that ground tests have began on land proposed for housing under the latest draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, which sets out where development could take place around the region over the next 20 years. As part of those plans an area of land next to Irlam station has been earmarked for development alongside plans to protect huge areas of moss land and restore peat bogs.

Public consultation expressed concerns that the land was unsuitable for building because of peat underground.

Protest groups argue that the new builds are not necessary within Irlam and that there would no benefit at all to the local community, the majority of whom they say, would be unable to afford them. There have also been concerns raised over the increased demand for local resources with school places being a major concern along with the additional traffic in an area which already has a well documented history of problems.

The GMSF has come under fire across most of the region as protest groups clashed with local councils and Manchester's Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham, on the issue.

Neighbouring Cadishead Labour councillor Lewis Nelson has found himself at odds with much of his party and fellow councillors over the issue, a keen environmentalist, Lewis has spoken out over the plans for the area outlined under the GMSF since day one, even using his first speech as a newly elected councillor to shine light on the matter which is set to have huge concerns for constituents.

Earlier in the year, Labour came perilously close to losing the seat in Cadishead to Core independents, in Irlam the fortunes of Labour were not so lucky as Core's Darren Goulden romped past the winning post to gain the seat.

Meanwhile, local protest groups have accused the council of hypocrisy after having only recently claimed a climate emergency.

One campaigner told us,

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"It is absolute idiocy of the highest order to be on the one hand advocating tearing up moss land in order to build homes and warehousing, whilst at the same time declaring to the world that there is a climate emergency which is massively impacting the planet.

"You simply can not have it both ways, it's either one or the other, it is total hypocrisy."

 

Salford City Council promised to undertake a survey of ground conditions to understand its development potential.

The council says that the work has started today (Monday September 16) and should take a week to 10 days to complete.

The investigation was focused on the opening of the car park and the surrounding area, with a heavy police presence in the area said to have numbered up to 15 emergency vehicles. 

The 41 year-old male victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable but serious condition.

The pub and its car park were closed off to the public with crime scene tape and forensics officers are on scene but the cordon had been removed by this morning.

A spokesperson for GMP confirmed that a 41 year old man has been stabbed outside the pub, saying,

Quote

"This is being treated as an isolated incident and there is not believed to be any wider threat to the public,"

As of this moment no-one has been arrested.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 2568 of 14/09/2019, or the ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The Big Day Out is back at Swinton Civic Centre and this year there looks to be even more fun for all of the family as well as delicious food on offer to munch as you watch the entertainers and live music acts perform.

The fearsome Ydalir Vikings re-enactment society will be back slinging their swords and engaging in (safe) hand to hand combat and if that is not your thing then the vintage Salford double decker bus will be parked up outside.

There’s loads of free craft workshops, entertainers, birds of prey, big vehicles and other activities to keep the whole family busy as well as The Merry Trotter, extreme climbing wall, princesses, magicians, RHS exhibition and the BBC philharmonic 

You can also cheer on the racers as they fly along Manchester road as they compete for the Ovo Energy Tour of Britain which makes a welcome return after a 15 year hiatus. They are expected between 2:30 - 3:30pm so make sure you get there early if you want to get a good spot.

The best thing of all is it is absolutely ruddy FREE, no tickets needed, just pop along with the family and share in the fun. Even the parking is FREE.

Please be advised that there is a planned peaceful anti fracking demonstration against the former Sky UK team who are now sponsored by fracking firm INEOS. It is not expected to affect the race.

The family of a baby boy who sadly died after being rescued from the River Irwell have paid tribute to him.

Emergency services attended and the baby boy was retrieved from the water and quickly taken to hospital.

The boy - who has since been formally identified as 11-month-old Zakari William Bennett-Eko - sadly died a short time later despite the best efforts of paramedics and specialist doctors.

Specialist officers are continuing to support his family at this devastating time.

The father of the little boy Zak Eko (22/08/1997) has now been charged with his murder.

Paying tribute to him, Zakari’s mum Emma Blood, said:

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“On Wednesday afternoon my life changed forever. I woke up that morning being a mummy to the most wonderful cute little boy and by the afternoon Zakari was taken from me in the most tragic of circumstances.

“Zakari was my life for 11 months and will be the heart of our family for many years to come.

“He was a cheeky little chappie with a smile that melted hearts. He was the youngest of 5 generations of our family and was loved beyond belief.

“Zakari wrapped everyone around his little finger. He was a happy and content baby with a gorgeous little smile and a head full of curls. Everyone that met him fell in love with him instantly.

“It’s hard to comprehend what has happened and that I will not get to see my baby grow up to be the handsome decent man I knew he would become.

“My family and I would like to thank everybody for their continued support, it is very much appreciated and would like to ask for privacy at his traumatic time.”

Police have opened a murder investigation after a child believed to be almost 12-months old - died shortly after being recovered from the river Irwell after being thrown in by a 22-year-old man.

Shortly before 4.25pm today (Wednesday 11 September 2019), police were called to reports that a child was in the River Irwell near to Blackburn Street.

Emergency services immediately attended along with the police helicopter assisting overhead. Rescue teams recovered a baby boy from the waters of the Irwell and he was taken to a nearby hospital.

Sadly we have to report that he has unfortunately died a short time later despite the best efforts of paramedics and specialist doctors.

A 22-year-old man, who was arrested at a nearby public house, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody tonight for questioning.

Blackburn Street is currently closed at the junctions with Stand Lane and Radcliffe New Road whilst enquiries are carried out at the scene by specialist scene of crime officers.

A murder investigation has now been launched and detectives are urging any witnesses to get in touch as a matter of urgency.

Police have told us that they are treating the tragedy as a domestic incident.

Detective Superintendent Jamie Daniels of GMP said:

Quote

 

“This is an incredibly tragic incident that has led to an innocent baby boy losing his life and we are doing everything we can to support his family at this unimaginably devastating time.

“I know his loss will be felt by the entire community and our thoughts are very much with his loved ones this evening.

“A murder investigation is underway and we are working hard to piece together the circumstances that led to the baby boy ending up in the water.

“Whilst we have a man in custody, our investigation is ongoing and I’d urge any witnesses or anyone with any information to get in touch as soon as possible so that we can find out what happened to him.”

 

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8797 or 101 quoting incident number 1930 of 11/09/2019, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

There was a huge emergency response after a baby was thrown from a bridge over the River Irwell in Radcliffe this evening.

The baby boy was rescued and given first aid by firefighters but he is said to be in a very serious and critical condition.

Multiple emergency service vehicles responded along with the forces helicopter.

Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, he has been detained into custody for questioning. 

Unconfirmed accounts on social media have describe an argument between a man and a woman taking place before the man threw the child over the wall of the bridge into the river below, however, police say they are still investigating how he came to be in the water.

The man is then said to have walked into the nearby Lock Keeper public house and sat down on a chair where he was later arrested by police. The premises are currently closed.

Quote

 

"Shortly before 4.25pm today (Wednesday 11 September 2019), police were called to reports that a child was in the River Irwell.

"Emergency services attended and with the support of the police helicopter the child was retrieved and taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

"A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He remains in custody for questioning.

"Blackburn Street is currently closed at the junctions with Stand Lane and Radcliffe New Road."

 

A police cordon is in place at the bottom of Stand Lane going on to Blackburn Road

An investigation is underway and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident number 1930 of 11/09/2019, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Susie Salmon is just like any other young girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school.

There's one big difference though – Susie is dead.

Now she can only observe while her family manage their grief in their different ways. Her father Jack is obsessed with identifying the killer. Her mother Abigail is desperate to create a different life for herself. And her sister Lindsey is discovering the opposite sex with experiences that Susie will never know. Susie is desperate to help them and there might be a way of reaching them…

Alice Sebold's bestselling novel The Lovely Bones is a unique coming-of-age tale that captured the hearts of readers throughout the world.

With a talented cast, incredible set design and a soundtrack combining 70's favourites with original music, this wonderfully creative production brings her vision to life in an exciting, emotional and uplifting theatrical experience.

Charlotte Beaumont returns to play Susie Salmon. Her theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe), Pebbles (Katzpace), No One Will Tell Me How To Start A Revolution (Hampstead Theatre), Jumpy (Theatre Clwyd), 3 Winters (National Theatre), Love Your Soldiers (Sheffield Theatres), Playhouse Creatures (Chichester Festival Theatre), Blue Heaven (Finborough Theatre), The Flooded Grave and 2,000 Feet Away (Bush Theatre). Television credits include as series regular Chloe Latimer in Broadchurch, and as series regular Kenzie Calhoun in Waterloo Road. Film credits include Sex, Drugs & Rock & Roll.

Listings

15 –19 October
Box Office: 0343 208 6000
www.thelowry.com

St James Lunch Club in Lower Broughton, Salford, dishes out more than 100 free hot meals every week to local people including the homeless, the elderly and families on low incomes.

The church’s food pantry, which runs alongside the lunch club, provides a further 50 families with 10 essential food items for just £2.50 every week.

The initiative is run from the church hall at St James Church, but until now the volunteers have struggled with a tiny kitchen limiting the number of people they can help.

Now Salix Homes and our partner contractor Emmanuel Whittaker have come to the rescue to upgrade and extend the old kitchen facilities – enabling the lunch club to welcome even more people through its doors.

Rev Christine Threlfall, who runs the initiative alongside a team of eight volunteers, said:

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“The old kitchen was a real struggle to work with – there was only one work surface, the sink was too small and we had no plugs.

“As you can imagine it was really difficult cooking Christmas dinner for 40 people who would otherwise be on their own, off a single oven and four rings - it was about as near as impossible as you could get.

“The new kitchen has made a massive difference – we would never turn someone away, but we were really struggling for capacity. Now we can help so many more people, which will have a real impact on people’s physical, emotional and mental health as we can serve more meals and bring more people together.

“We’re a very diverse group, we have young people, older people, some are homeless, some are suffering from mental health issues or isolation. Some people need the food and some people just need the company and someone to talk to, but thanks to the support of Salix Homes and Emanuel Whittaker, we can feed more people and get them through the door.”

 

The new facilities have also enabled the church to launch cooking classes to teach families how to cook fresh and healthy meals on a budget, using the ingredients available in the food pantry.

Salix Homes has been working alongside Emanuel Whittaker to improve properties across Lower Broughton as part of its multi-million pound investment to homes and communities across Salford.

Ben Cruickshanks, neighbourhood manager at Salix Homes, said:

Quote

 

“Salix Homes is committed to supporting the communities where we are delivering our home improvement schemes and working with our partner contractors to improve local facilities.

“We’ve been proud to support St James Church with various projects over the years, so when we heard they were struggling with the outdated kitchen facilities, we were more than happy to ask our contractors Emanuel Whittaker to carry out the work.

“The lunch club and food pantry provide a lifeline for the local community, so we hope the new, modern facilities will enable Rev Christine and the volunteers to continue the wonderful work they do.”

 

John Gallagher, contracts director at Emanuel Whittaker, added:

Quote

“Emanuel Whittaker supports community and voluntary organisations to grow by channelling additional resources to enable them to build on their ideas and assets to deliver changes within their own neighbourhoods.  The community had already made this project a success, so we were more than happy to provide our skills, labour and materials to improve it even further.”

The food pantry and lunch club runs every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 11am and 1pm to provide a free hot meal and companionship to anyone who calls by.

Romanian born Natase was just days into a life sentence for the rape of a woman as she walked home after a night out with friends

He died as he was being rushed from the prison to a nearby hospital via ambulance.

The woman was forced into a property he was living at on Findlay street in Leigh, whereupon, Natase raped her.

He was sentenced to 10 years and 5 months for his crime which he denied being involved in, however his lies were exposed via forensic evidence.

Police had said that his death is not being treated as suspicious.

A police spokesperson said,

Quote

 

“Shortly after 6.45am on Sunday, September 1, police were called by the ambulance service to reports that a 49-year-old man had died at HMP Forest Bank.

“There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances and a file has been passed to the coroner.”

 

The large group said to number between 40-50 have been engaging in anti-social behaviour, intimidating locals and bringing traffic chaos to the area with their antics. They are said to be using the local Aldi car park as a meeting place.

One lady from nearby Langworthy, who asked not to be named, told us that she was pulling out from the car park at the local Aldi store, whereupon a young boy on a bike shot out in front of her pulling a wheelie, had she not stopped in time they would have collided. Her 75-year-old mother was in the car and she was hurt by the seat-belt as the car came to an abrupt and unexpected stop.

As she turned right onto Bolton road, another youth proceeded to pull a wheelie along side her car whilst shouting obscenities at her.

Another local man who also asked not to be identified because of fears of reprisals, told us that he challenged one youth who had scraped along his car with his bike, he quickly became surrounded by between ten to fifteen youths who were acting aggressively towards him. After threatening to call the police he was called a 'Nonce' by one young girl and another young boy threatened to return to 'Brick his car windows'.

There have been other reports on Facebook of youths flying around corners on bikes and on a number of occasions clipping pedestrians.

This kind of reckless behaviour has risen across the whole UK, with teens uploading videos of themselves pulling wheelies and disrupting traffic on busy roads to Youtube.

One such Youtuber from London known as Wheelie Kay has caused outrage after a number of videos of both he and his friends went viral as they rode through a supermarket. He uploads videos of their dangerous antics to his channel which has over ninety thousand subscribers.

We are being told that police have been called out for the past three evenings to deal with the anti-social behaviour.

Parents are being asked to tell their children that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

William McConville, who was aged 70, has sadly passed away at Brookdale View Care Home in Newton Heath on 26 August 2019.

Police have so far been unable to locate any of his family members and so are asking the public if they can help.

It may be that he has family living within Salford so we are sharing this in the hope it may help.

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Anyone with information about William McConville’s immediate family should contact the Police Coroner’s Office in Manchester on 0161 856 6069.

Shelagh Delaney’s remarkable taboo-breaking 1950s play, which was first produced in the Lyttelton Theatre in 2014, is directed by Bijan Sheibani and designed by Hildegard Bechtler, re-conceived in an exciting new production featuring a live on stage band.

Jodie Prenger (Oliver!, Shirley Valentine, Abigail’s Party UK tour), leads the cast as Helen. Joining her are Gemma Dobson as Jo, Durone Stokes as Jimmie, Stuart Thompson as Geoffrey, and Tom Varey as Peter.

They are joined by understudies Liam Bessell, Katy Clayton, Claire Eden, and Marcel White.

Written by Salford's very own Shelagh Delaney when she was nineteen, A Taste of Honey offers an explosive celebration of the vulnerabilities and strengths of the female spirit in a deprived and restless world.

When her mother Helen runs off with a car salesman, feisty teenager Jo takes up with Jimmy, a sailor who promises to marry her, before he heads for the seas.

Art student Geoff moves in and assumes the role of surrogate parent until, misguidedly, he sends for Helen and their unconventional setup unravels.

Listings Information

National Theatre: A Taste of Honey
Dates: Fri 13 - Sat 21 September

https://thelowry.com/whats-on/nt-a-taste-of-honey/

on Thursday 11th of July, parents headed to school to pick up their children only to bear witness to a gun battle which broke out before them. They watched on in horror as gunfire was exchanged between the rider and pillion passenger of a stolen black Yamaha MT1030 Motorcycle and the two occupants of a blue Renault Megane.

During the exchange the Megane received bullet hole damage to its front windscreen and was later found abandoned not far from the scene at nearby Port Soderick Avenue.

Police later arrested four men in relation to the shoot-out.

During their investigations police discovered Daryll Hewitt to be in possession of a Rohm blank firing revolver which had been converted to fire a .22 ammunition.

Hewitt of no fixed abode, plead guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm as well as possessing a firearm when prohibited, a judge at Manchester Crown Court handed him a five year sentence on each count which will run concurrently. 

It was also revealed that he has a previous conviction dating back three years for other firearms offences.

Police are asking that anyone with further info which could help their investigation, to call police on 0161 8565187 quoting reference 1850 of 11/07/19 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police were called to Crescent Drive in Little Hulton on Sunday night after reports of a firearm having been discharged at a property.

The incident happened just before 11pm on Sunday the 8th of September.

Police have not yet disclosed if anyone was injured in the incident but upon inspection they discovered damage to the property that is said to be consistent with a firearms discharge.

A police spokesperson said:

Quote

 

"We were called shortly before 11pm last night to reports of a firearms discharge on Crescent Drive.

"We have attended and found damage to a property consistent to that of a firearms discharge.

"Enquires are ongoing."

 

This latest incident comes less than a week after shots were fired at a car and the door of a house was set alight in Ordsall.

This comes after it was awarded the best Indian Restaurant in the North West by Asian Restaurant Awards, 2018.

The awards were presented in three categories recognising outstanding chefs and successful restaurants and food businesses across the UK.

The inaugural ceremony took place on Monday 2nd September and was attended by politicians and celebrities, along with staff and restaurant owners from establishments across the country, who gathered in London to hear the winners announced.

Nominations for Best Chef, Best Takeaway and Best Restaurant came in from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales with awards handed out to winners in locations as far apart as Bangor and Bedfordshire and as far north as St Andrews in Scotland.

Winners at the National Curry Awards 2019 range from long-established family businesses to more recently launched ventures which, along with the winning chefs, exemplify what can be achieved through dedication to first-class customer service and the creation of fantastic cuisine.

Picture: Mr William Wragg MP(1st from the left) is presenting the award to owner Abdul Mannan (3rd)

The Sporting Memories Network invite you to come along to any of the regular events being held Salford.

The Sporting Memories Foundation is the World's first charity dedicated to Sports Reminiscence & Physical Activities. 

They support older people living in England and Wales with dementia, depression and loneliness by engaging them in social activities and helping them to recall memories of watching or playing sport.

In their groups, older sports fans meet up to discuss sport and reminisce about their favourite sporting memories, have fun, and meet new people. 

Every meeting includes sports quizzes with prizes.

The meetings are free to attend and include refreshments

If you are interested in attending or would like some more information, phone or text Trev on 07939 265 370

Events:

Langworthy Cornerstone, 451 Liverpool Street, Salford, M6 5QQ:

Every Friday from 10.30 am until 12

St Andrew’s Church, Chadwick Roar, Eccles, M30 0NZ

Every Friday from 1 pm to 2.30 pm

Crompton House, 100 Chorley Rd, Swinton, M27 6BP

Michelle Johnson and Nicola Hand were both sentenced at Manchester Crown Court earlier today for their parts in a residential burglary which took place in Eccles in August of this year (2019).

Michelle Johnson was given a 32 month prison sentence whilst her accomplice Nicola Hand was subsequently handed a 24 month sentence.

Nationally, there has been a 19% cut in front-line firefighters since the Tories took office, cutting firefighter numbers in every brigade in the UK. Overall spending on UK fire and rescue services has fallen by 38% since 2005.

In England, firefighter numbers have been cut by 21% since 2010, despite a 1% increase this year, with recruitment concentrated in London and the North West. Central government funding for English fire and rescue services has been cut by 30% in cash terms between 2013 and 2020.

Northern Ireland and Wales have seen firefighter numbers fall by 4% and 1% respectively, while Scotland has seen a slight increase of 3%.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:        

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“This shameless government is doing nothing to ease the pressure on overstretched and underpaid firefighters, all while making dubious claims of spending elsewhere. Fire and rescue services are in crisis after years of brutal cuts – and this year’s measly increase in posts is wholly insufficient to plug the gaps.

“We cannot allow firefighters’ life-saving work to go unrecognised. The Chancellor must fund firefighter recruitment and end the years of real-term pay cuts for firefighters. Our communities need more firefighters – and the government needs to reflect the work they do in their pay-cheques.”

 

The news comes as fires are increasing, with a 10% spike in England and an 8% spike in Northern Ireland over the last year, after wildfires tore across the country. The latest data for Wales saw a 3% increase in fires, while Scotland saw a 4% decline in fires.

41,771 of the 45,653 people rescued by UK firefighters last year were from non-fire incidents, such as flooding, road traffic collisions, height rescues, lift rescues, and hazardous chemical spillages.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, continued:                             

Quote

 

“The Whaley Bridge dam collapse saw fire and rescue services stretched to the limit. Firefighters were pulled from every brigade in the region, and from as far as Chichester and London.

“If this government is serious about tackling the climate emergency, it needs to invest in our front-line defences – and it is firefighters who are tackling wildfires and rescuing people stranded in flooding. Whaley Bridge will not be the last extreme weather event to stretch fire and rescue resources.”

 

This year is the only net increase in UK firefighter numbers in a decade. Around 8,000 of the jobs cut since 2010 are whole-time firefighters, while 3,000 retained (on-call) firefighters have also been cut. Around a quarter of fire control staff, who take the emergency calls and mobilise fire crews, have been lost.

A report compiled by HM Inspectors of Prisons reveals that data collected suggests violent incidents have doubled at the Category B prison over the past three years.

Inspectors found that incidents of self harm had significantly increased and an incident in 2016 led to the self-inflicted death of one prisoner. The data suggests that incidents are higher than would be the norm.

In May when the inspection was carried out, it was found that there were some 400 acts of violence reported during the previous six months, 25% of which were deemed to be of a serious nature.

This has resulted in a third of inmates feeling unsafe.

Sodexo, which runs the jail, said it would "continue to work tirelessly to improve safety".

Sodexo said,

Quote

"In common with many prisons, Forest Bank had seen increased levels of staff turnover in recent years", but all staff had the "maximum training, support and guidance possible to perform their job to a high standard".

HMP Forest Bank director Matt Spencer said the firm acknowledges

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"There is more to do around levels of violence, but we are pleased this report recognises the positive steps we are taking to improve safety".

"We take on board the recommended improvements and will continue to work tirelessly to improve safety at HMP Forest Bank for all who live and work here,"

 

With a capacity of 1460 male prisoners the prison has experienced five deaths over the past 14 months with the latest death reported over the weekend on Sunday the 1st of September. Since the prison opened in 2016 it has seen 10 deaths in custody.

Inspectors reported that the relationships between inmates and staff were 'respectful and polite', however, there were concerns raised over the experience of some staff who it is said 'did not assert enough authority' whilst carrying out the role of supervising the prisoners. It was also suggested that because of this it presented a danger of some prisoner groups being able to take advantage.

Additionally there were concerns over low-level antisocial behaviour which was considered were not being fully addressed sufficiently, as well as concerns that 60% of inmates were sharing single occupancy cells.

The prison has responded by saying that they had already started to implement recommendations put forward by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, regarding the problems with prisoners self-harming.