The driver failed to stop for officers and drove off at speed. A stinger was deployed to reduce the risk of a high speed pursuit and bring the vehicle to a safe stop.

The tyres were successfully deflated on Ashton Old Road, but the driver still attempted to drive off at speed. While the car was driving across the junction on Lees Street, Openshaw, it collided with a second car where the driver of the Golf lost control and hit a brick wall, resulting in the car landing on its roof.

The driver and passenger of the second car were not injured but were badly shaken from the ordeal.

The driver of the Golf, a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and dangerous driving.

Both the man and passenger in the Golf suffered minor injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A gand who hid drugs amongst kitchen equipment and vegetables in lorries arriving to the UK through Dover have been jailed today

The drugs were transported via fake businesses and lockups located in Manchester, Bolton and Warrington.

They even dug a secret underground bunker formed of buried storage containers on a farm in North Wales to grow cannabis within.

Between July 2017 and November 2017 seven deliveries of cannabis were imported to the UK via Spain through Port of Dover.

Drugs were concealed in packages labelled as oven filters. They purported to be destined for a kitchen firm But the business didn’t exist and the address associated with it actually referred to a yard containing lock-up units behind a convenience store on Newton Road, Lowton, Warrington.

Between September 2017 and August 2018 six further deliveries arrived through Dover with drugs concealed in pallets of lettuce and peppers. This tranche was destined for a cold storage company in North Manchester.

Officers stopped the sixth delivery in Dover on 12 August 2018 and uncovered 177kg of cannabis with a street value of more than £1.5 million.

Police raided a unit at the site in Lowton which was owned by Tony Cadman.

Further investigations linked the unit to Michael Lawler, Wesley Kinsella and a second lock-up at Hartford Works, Western Street, Bolton.

Police executed a warrant at the lockup and found a stolen Mercedes which contained £20,000 worth of cannabis.

This recovery led police to Lee James Jackson and Scott Byrne.

Meanwhile, enquiries at legitimate storage companies found consignments were destined for onward delivery to ‘Bog Farm’ in North Wales.

Police raided the farm and a concealed underground bunker designed to grow cannabis. Police arrested Michael Harley, who was living in a caravan on the farm, as well as Michael Moore, who was living in the farmhouse.

Harley admitted that the underground bunker was built at the farm three years previously but that production there ceased shortly afterwards as it was too wet to grow cannabis.

Drugs imported using the concealment in the cooker filters to the lock up in Lowton totalled £6,600,000.

Drugs imported using the concealment in vegetable pallets North Manchester totalled £8,850,000.

The total value of drugs believed to have been imported by the organised crime group if sold on the street is £15,450,000.

Detective Sergeant Richard Castley of GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group investigating team said:

Quote

 

“Thanks to the excellent work of our officers and colleagues on partner forces and agencies, we have managed to bring down a vast drugs network.

“These men were responsible for attempting to import enormous amounts of cannabis into the UK; the sale of which would have been used to further criminal enterprise.

“They even went to the expense of creating a large underground complex intended for cultivating the drug.

“However the exceptional detective work of our investigation team was able to identify and dismantle this organised crime group.

“Consignments packaged among lettuces or kitchen equipment were intercepted and prevented from finding their way onto our streets.

“Drugs blight communities and ruin lives. Their sale is used to further the activities of organised criminal gangs who have no regard for the safety of the public or the rule of law.

“Today the law caught up with these would-be kingpins and they have a long time behind bars to consider their foolishness.”

 

Today (Friday 19 July 2019) at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square the following were sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy.

Scott Byrne (03/01/1987) of Sandlewood, Westhoughton was found guilty of importing cannabis and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Michael Lawlor (09/05/1970) of Lewisham House, Kenton Close, Bolton was found guilty of importing cannabis and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Tony Cadman (11/09/1986) of Alder Avenue, Widnes was found guilty of importing cannabis and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Wesley Kinsella (30/09/1987) of Heatherfield, Bolton pleaded guilty to importing cannabis and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Lee Jackson (08/01/1981) of Bradmoor Road, Wirral, pleaded guilty to importing cannabis and was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.

Michael Moore (05/10/1988) of Bog Farm, Eryrys, Mold pleaded guilty to production of cannabis on an industrial scale and was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.

Michael Harley (29/04/1984) of Bog Farm, Eryrys, Mold pleaded guilty to production of cannabis on an industrial scale and was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.

On Wednesday 16 January 2019, 42-year-old Alison Hunt was brutally murdered in her own home by Vernon Holmes – a man she had previously been in a long-term relationship with.

In a presentation of the facts of the case, the prosecution told the court how Holmes (11/04/71) of Caroline Street, Irlam, stabbed Alison repeatedly in the chest, back and neck 18 times before leaving her laying in a pool of blood in the hallway of her family home in Swinton as her daughter slept in her bed upstairs.

Holmes then fled the scene, making off in his red Mini Cooper before disposing of the knife he used to kill Alison.

Officers quickly traced the red Mini Cooper, which was parked outside Holmes’ address and he was subsequently arrested in the early hours of Thursday 17 January 2019.

They used CCTV to track the movements of the Mini and DNA and blood from his victim were found present in his car.

He maintained “no comment” to all questions put to him throughout police interview and continued to deny killing Alison throughout trial. However today (Friday 19 July 2019) a jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty of murdering Alison.

Judge David Stockdale QC, described how Holmes had a history of controlling and jealous behaviour during his relationship with Miss Hunt.

It is believed he took Alison's life in a jealous rage after learning she had engaged in a serious relationship with another man.

His actions that evening left Alison's 16 year old daughter robbed of a loving mother.

Holmes was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years in prison.

Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe, of GMP’s Major Incident Support Unit, said:

Quote

 

“This is a heartbreaking case in which a young woman has tragically lost her life and I cannot begin to imagine what her family are continuing to go through.

“Holmes denied killing Alison and his cowardice put her family through further agony, but thankfully a jury saw through his lies and he will have to spend the next 25 years behind bars, reflecting on the misery and pain he has caused.

“My heartfelt thoughts today however remain with Alison – a devoted mother who was taken from her family and friends in the most tragic and senseless way. And whilst no jail term can ever bring her back, I hope that today’s sentence provides some comfort to those who loved her and bring them the opportunity to begin rebuilding their lives.”

 

Noel Steadman (18/03/1973), of no fixed address, was sentenced yesterday (Thursday 18 July 2019) at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square to 22 months in prison after pleading guilty to theft.

He has also been given a four month prison sentence for vehicle interference. The two sentences will run concurrently.

On 21 March 2019, Steadman’s victim, a 39-year-old woman, was walking out of an office building on Nicholas Street, when she fell to the ground and began suffering a seizure.

Immediately after spotting her struggling on the ground, Steadman and another man – who remains unidentified - rushed over to her.

It was at this point that Steadman began rooting through the woman’s pockets and stole her iPhone 6 Plus.

After being disturbed by a passer-by and spotting an ambulance arriving at the scene, Steadman and his accomplice fled the area.

An investigation was launched by GMP’s Operation Valiant team – a specialist unit dedicated to tackling personal robberies in the city centre – and further enquiries identified Steadman as the offender seen on CCTV stealing the victim’s phone.

Chief Inspector Cherie Buttle, of GMP’s City Centre team, said:

Quote

 

“Noel Steadman’s actions were nothing short of despicable and I am pleased to be able to say that, as a result of the work carried out by our City Centre Team including officers from Operation Valiant, he has now been jailed.

“This has been a painstaking investigation for the team, and they kept the victim at the heart of everything they did in their pursuit of justice.

“I know the fact that Steadman will be unable to offend in Manchester City Centre for the foreseeable future has brought her great comfort and reassurance. I would like to thank her and pay tribute for the incredible courage she showed in coming forward to support the investigation.

“I hope this case serves as a clear example of the dedication that our Operation Valiant team is prepared to show to bring prosecutions against those who seek to commit one of the most personal of crimes.”

 

The film, which stars Academy Award® winner Vanessa Redgrave and BAFTA® Nominee Timothy Spall in the title roles, depicts the complicated relationship between the two in 1930s Salford.

Tickets for the red carpet event have gone on sale today priced at £15.

Spall will be among those attending the premiere in the venue’s Lyric Theatre and will take part in an on-stage ‘In Conversation’ with the film’s director, former Royal Shakespeare Company director, Adrian Noble, after the screening.

Commenting on their hosting of the Gala Premiere, Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said:

Quote

“We’re absolutely thrilled to showcase this very powerful yet humorous insight into the relationship between Lowry and his mother to a home audience here in the heart of Salford.

“Lowry is a much-loved artist but there’s so much more to him than many people know. I think cinemagoers will be surprised to see some of the struggles he faced throughout his career, not least of all his mother’s criticism of his work.”

Timothy Spall said:

Quote

“I'm delighted to be bringing this film back to Lowry's hometown of Salford, and am thrilled that the premiere is taking place in the building where his work is on display for all to enjoy."

The robberies have all occurred between 3 and 5 July 2019 targeting both adults and children.

All victims have described three teenage boys, all around the age of 16 who have approached them and stolen their bikes and possessions.

We reported on one such attack on a 13 year old boy using the Winton-Worsley loopline earlier in the month.

Since then a 24-year-old man was attacked with a hunting knife during one of the robberies and suffered facial injuries. Police are now warning to be extra vigilant.

Two of the youths are black, one is around 6ft tall, of slim to muscular build with short plaited/dreadlocked hair with fell just below his ears. The other is described as around 5ft7in tall, of average build and wearing a dark tracksuit.

The third youth is white, around 5ft 7in tall with short dark blonde hair and wearing grey shorts.

Enquiries are now ongoing into the series of robberies are now ongoing and police are appealing for anyone with any information to get in touch.

Police Constable Neil Wright of GMP’s Salford Division said:

Quote

 

“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have any information about these offenders or may have been a witness to any robberies in the area.

“I would like to warn people to take extra caution in the area and would advise parents to remind their children to stay with friends if possible.

“We have increased patrols in the area, and anyone with any concerns should come and speak to our officers.”

 

Anyone who has any information about the robbery should call police on 0161 856 5401, alternatively call 101 or  the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Officers were called to School Road, Stretford shortly before 1.50pm on Wednesday 17 July 2019 to a report that a boy had been stabbed.

Emergency services attended and the boy, aged 17, was taken to hospital.

He remains in a stable condition with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.

A boy aged 13, three men aged 19, 21 and 28 and a woman aged 22 have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Detectives are treating it as an isolated incident and are appealing for information and witnesses.

Detective Inspector Iqbal Ahmed of GMP’s Trafford District said:

Quote

 

“Thankfully, the boy has made good progress and his injuries are not as severe as first thought.

“We wish him well as he continues his recovery and we continue our investigations.

“The attack occurred in daylight on a relatively busy residential street and we’re confident there are witnesses who will be able to assist with our enquiries.

“If you have any information or footage that can help, please get in touch as soon as possible.”

 

Information can be left with police on 0161 856 7673, quoting incident 1623 of 17/07/19 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Greater Manchester Police say the operation is part of an investigation by the force into the supply of guns in Salford.

Police descended on an old disused chapel in Weaste Cemetery earlier this evening and are said to have recovered a number of firearms. Forensics officers were seen putting items into white boxes, information on the type or number of firearms recovered has not been released..

It is unclear as to if the operation is related to the recent gun-fire which took place on Liverpool Street last week, or if the weapons are related to previous shootings. It will not be known if the firearms are viable until they are tested.

A statement released by GMP reads,

Quote

 

"On Wednesday 17 July 2019, police recovered what is believed to be a number of firearms from Weaste Cemetery, Salford.

"This is in connection with an investigation into the supply and possession of firearms in the Salford area and is not in connection with any other investigation.

"Tests will now take place to establish whether or not the items are viable firearms.

"GMP are asking people to surrender their firearms as part of The National Firearm Surrender campaign that will take place between Saturday 20 July and Sunday 4 August 2019 and is running across all forces with the aim of reducing violent crime."

 

The police are currently running a campaign to get guns off the streets by offering an amnesty on handing them in.

Officers planned the warrant after intelligence-led research highlighted that the premises was housing illegal immigrants who were being used to manufacture counterfeit footwear and sports clothing.

As the building was around 700sqft in size, a large number of staff were assembled and deployed, which were made up of partners from Immigration Enforcement, Border Force, Police Officers from Op Challenger, City of Manchester Police, City of London Police, Manchester City Council, the Drone Unit, North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and other private industry partners.

The British Red Cross were on hand at a rest centre to provide emotional support, clothing, and refreshments to potential victims evacuated as a result of the operation. The British Red Cross plays a leading role in providing support to people who have been trafficked, both in the UK and internationally.

On arrival at the premises officers found there were no victims of modern slavery on-site, however a large amount of counterfeit goods were discovered, that on first-look is being estimated to have a street value of millions of pounds.

DI Jamie Pearson said:

Quote

 

“Although we didn’t find any victims of modern slavery today, we have seized a huge amount of counterfeit goods that have been made illegally.

“This warrant is the first to be conducted through a new multi-agency approach called Op Magpie, which aims to highlight the human cost of counterfeiting by tackling intellectual property crime, counterfeiting and the associated crime and anti-social behaviour in the areas of Cheetham Hill and Strangeways.

“We will continue to lead a focused approach to tackling modern slavery in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways in order to prosecute any offenders.”

 

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said:

Quote

 

“The fake goods industry is an insidious one and I hope the message taken away from Operation Magpie is that this is not a victimless crime.

“A person may think when they buy a pair of fake trainers or knock off designer clothes they are striking a blow against multi-million pound brands. In fact, what they are doing is putting money into the hands of some of the most deplorable criminals in our society.

“This industry is a conduit for modern slavery, human trafficking, drug dealing and a host of other illegal enterprises. We are fully committed alongside Greater Manchester Police in shutting down these criminals for good.”

 

Photo: Google

City Mayor Paul Dennett made the announcement today after receiving a 2000 signature petition from local residents calling for further acknowledgement of the Eccles taxi driver. All 60 councillors on Salford City Council have backed the idea of paying another tribute to Alan in this way. 

It is five years since Alan from Eccles, Salford, was captured and tragically killed in Syria where he had gone as a volunteer to deliver humanitarian aid.

Kas Jameel, who travelled to Syria with Alan, presented the petition and spoke at the full council meeting of Salford City Council in support of the idea.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

Quote

 

“After Alan’s heart-breaking death we worked with his family on a lasting tribute to him and they chose a memorial garden at Eccles recreation ground where many people gathered to light candles for Alan after news of his death broke.

“Now the public are asking for a road to be named after Alan and, with the support of his family and the full backing of the council, we are more than happy to do that. Alan was a humble man who put aside his own fears to help people of all faiths in their time of desperate need.

“Naming a road after him will be a further tribute to this brave son of Salford who sadly lost his life doing acts of kindness for others. His story touched all our hearts.” 

 

Work is already underway to choose an appropriate principal road on a new development in Eccles, Alan’s home town.

Councillor Shamina August, who gained all party support for the idea, said:

Quote

 

“Alan was a remarkable man, a devoted father and an inspiration to all Salfordians.

“It was a pleasure to help get this idea off the ground and gain the support of all councillors, MPs and the City Mayor. A special thanks must go to those who started the petition and all the signatories.

“I am pleased this tribute will soon be taking place on a road in Eccles, so we can all remember the man that Alan was, just as the Henning family do.”

 

Mayor Dennett said the Alan Henning memorial garden, opened in May 2016, was a place where Alan’s family and the community could reflect quietly on his life and kind deeds.

The garden was based on a clock face to symbolise time and planted with yellow flowers to reflect the overwhelming love, support and remembrance to Alan and his family that came from Eccles and Salford.

Communities from across the city came together and launched individual Alan Henning memorial funds while the former City Mayor Ian Stewart launched a council-led memorial fund to provide support for Alan’s children. 

Quote

“The garden will remain a special place to remember Alan but the new road will be a daily reminder of how he embodied the Spirit of Salford,”

said Mayor Paul Dennett. 

On a personal note we wish to thank the tireless work of Councillor Sharmina August who has been instrumental in making this happen, also the Salford City Councillor, MP's and both its ceremonial and city mayors. Most of all I would like to thank Alan's family for showing such strength in the years that have passed since his death, this is as much for them as it is for Alan. I can not even start to imagine the suffering they have endured over those years but rest assured you are always in our hearts and the people across the whole of Salford stand with you and your family.

Video: Salford Labour

For the past year, housing association Salix Homes has been awarding grants to groups and projects across Salford that are making a difference in communities.

Salix Homes has donated more than £100,000 to dozens of local groups and initiatives across Salford as part of its Springboard community grant programme.

From children’s drama clubs and bowling teams, to youth groups and dance troupes; Springboard has provided much-needed cash injections to local projects that boost community spirit, promote health and wellbeing, reduce isolation and improve the environment.

Now, Salix Homes has picked four fantastic projects from across its neighbourhoods as the Springboard Heroes finalists.

It’s now over to the public to vote for their favourite and the winning project will receive a £1,000 cash boost.

The finalists for the second annual Springboard Heroes are:

Peel Park parkrun- a group of local volunteers are hoping to bring the international running phenomenon – parkrun to Salford’s Peel Park

The Fountains  - a Swinton care home raising funds for a sensory room and empathy dolls for its dementia patients

Audacious Foundation - a Salford charity which supports the homeless and families living in poverty

Friends of Green Grosvenor Park – a Broughton community group which organises events and activities for local children and families including a new children’s drama class at St Clements Church.

Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said:

Quote

 

“The Springboard Heroes is our way of honouring some of the fantastic work that ordinary people in Salford are doing day in, day out; and it’s projects like these that make our communities so special.

“We’re incredibly proud of our Springboard grant programme, which has provided a lifeline for dozens of fantastic groups and projects, which are really making a difference in Salford.

“It’s been difficult to pick just four finalists from all the projects we’ve supported over the year, as they’re all heroes in our eyes. We’d urge you to cast your vote for your favourite and help them win the £1,000 prize, which we hope will enable them to continue the wonderful work they do.”

 

Lower Kersal Young People and Community Group (LKYPCG) were voted the winner of the first ever Springboard Heroes Award in 2018. The Salford charity has transformed the lives of hundreds of people and were named as the deserving winners of the accolade last year.

The winner will be announced during Love Your Neighbourhood Week, which takes place from 19 – 23 August, and is organised by Salix Homes to encourage people to take pride in their neighbourhoods.

Voting is now open and closes on Monday, August 5, and you can vote via the Salix Homes website, where you can also watch a video about each of the groups. https://www.salixhomes.org/springboardheroes

The National Firearm Surrender campaign will take place between Saturday 20 July and Sunday 4 August 2019 and is running across all forces with the aim of reducing violent crime.

Firearms legislation is regularly updated and GMP is asking people to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to help avoid them getting into the wrong hands.

This surrender is not just targeting those involved in criminal behaviour it’s also aimed at collectors, licence holders and anyone who has inherited a firearm. Many firearms may be held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or may be forgotten in people’s homes.

We also want to highlight that stun guns and similar devices, in particular front venting blank firers,  are illegal in the UK and if you have ordered any illegal guns or component parts using internet sites, this is your opportunity to hand them in before we find them.

Illegal possession of a firearm can result in a sentence of up to five years in prison and if you are found guilty of possession with intent to supply this can increase to life in prison.

There has been an increase in the theft of legitimately held firearms over the past year, and anyone who has a gun in their house is at risk of becoming a victim of gun theft.

These stolen guns are then used in illegal activity and assist criminals with their corrupt behaviour. This year alone has seen 31 confirmed discharges from firearms. Do your part and get shot of the gun by handing it in at the front desk of any of the 12* police stations across Greater Manchester.

Chief Superintendent Tony Creely said:

Quote

 

“Gun crime in the UK remains one of the lowest in the world, however we are not complacent about this type of crime, which is why we are conducting the firearms surrender now.

“If you have a firearm in your house that you have inherited, have found, or are keeping for someone else, this is your opportunity to hand it into us, to free yourself of the burden. Burglaries involving firearms have increased so don’t let yours fall into the wrong hands.“

 

Firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at any GMP station without any questions being asked. Please check opening times by visiting your local force website. If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity please call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

#gunsurrender #getshotofit

Brandon Cooper (16/07/95) of Brook House Avenue, Eccles has today (Tuesday 16 July 2019) been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square to one year and four months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to inciting a child to commit a sexual act.

He will also have to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.  

In August 2018, police received a report from the victim’s father who was concerned about messages of a sexual nature, which his son had received through a social networking platform.

The victim – a boy who was under the age of 13 at the time of the abuse – had been contacted online by Cooper, who was using a fake name and profile.

It emerged that Cooper had cloned the account of a well-known, local body builder in order to gain the trust of the young victim.

He went onto send the child messages of a sexual nature and incite him to commit a sexual act.  

The court heard how the man who Cooper impersonated was initially arrested as part of early enquiries, but thankfully he was quickly eliminated by detectives who were able to uncover the truth.

Detective Constable Tina Jackson, of GMP’s Project Phoenix team in Bury, said:

Quote

“Cooper’s actions could easily have robbed a young person of his childhood. It is only due to the resilience of this young victim that he feels able to put this incident behind him and move on. Considering his age this is remarkable, however nothing should take away from the severity of Cooper’s abuse.

“In impersonating an innocent man in an attempt to veil his identity and sadistically lure the young victim in, Cooper spared no thought for the consequences of his actions and the damage he could have done to another, innocent person’s life.

“This investigation only goes to reiterate the need to be safe online and the fact that you can never be 100% certain who is behind a computer screen. So, I would speak directly to parents and guardians and stress the need to discuss with their children the risks of modern-day social networking sites and how they can keep safe online.”  

For information on protecting children from Child Sexual Exploitation and how to seek support or report concerns visit www.itsnotokay.co.uk

Shortly after 2pm on Thursday 11 July 2019, officers were called to reports of shots being exchanged between two men on a stolen motorcycle and at least two men in a blue Renault Megane.

The incident happened as locals were picking up their children from a nearby primary school.

The rider and pillion passenger on a black Yamaha MT130 motorcycle, fled the scene, as did the occupants of the car who left it abandoned on nearby Port Soderick Avenue.

Officers found evidence consistent with a firearms discharge at the scene. There are thought to have been no injuries.

Following a number of warrants executed in the Salford area yesterday, four men- aged 17, 18, 22 and 25- were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Officers also recovered a handgun.

Two of the men- aged 22 and 25- remain in custody for questioning. An 18-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were released on bail pending further enquiries.

Detective Inspector Joanne Kay, from GMP’s Salford District, said:

Quote

 

“We have now made four significant arrests but this investigation does not stop here, and we’re still keen to hear from anyone who has information about this incident.

“We’re appealing for the public’s help, so if you know anything at all about what happened then please get in touch with us as a matter of urgency.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage who was in the area at the time.”

 

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5187 quoting reference number 1850 of 11/07/19 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Blackleach Country Park, Clifton Country Park, Boothsbank Park and Peel Green Cemetery, have kept their Green Flag status for another year.

Boothsbank Park in Boothstown scored in the highest category with judges praising the planting and community orchard, how the park attracts birds and insects and the dedication of the Friends of Boothsbank Park to the appearance and upkeep of the site. Salford City Council has invested Section 106 money from developers in resurfacing paths, installing security lighting and adding a new play area and multi games area.

All four spaces have now held the award for five years or more – after being judged  on key criteria such as being welcoming, clean, healthy, safe and secure and how well they involve the local community.  Peel Park, Salford, Victoria Park and Winton Park, which were checked but not judged this year, also have Green Flag status. 

The national award is given to the top parks, cemeteries, community gardens and other green spaces in the country and the Salford parks are among over 1970 to receive or retain the award this year.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, congratulated staff and volunteers on their achievement, he said.

Quote

“Parks are judged by very high standards to retain a Green Flag so everyone involved should be very proud of themselves and all their hard work and commitment,”

The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army of more than 700 green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

The Green Flag scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the government.

Two elderly occupants of a light blue Hyundai Tucson were taken to hospital this afternoon (15/07/19) after the car swerved abruptly from the road and collided with a wall at the junction of Claremont and Cholomondley Road.

The accident happened shortly before 4:00 pm.

A witness told us that the vehicle had suddenly stated to be driven erratically along Claremont Road before making an abrupt swerve towards the wall. The vehicle is said to have flipped onto its side after impacting.

The circumstances as to how the accident happened are currently unknown but we are told that thankfully a male (thought to be the driver) had managed to pull himself free from the wreckage, whereupon he immediately tried to assist a female who was trapped inside. We were told that she was rescued shortly after by emergency services and that both occupants were taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance after being treated at the scene.

Sadly a third canine passenger did not make it and unfortunately died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

Fortunately there were no other casualties.

The busy road was temporarily closed until the incident had been dealt with, both Claremont and Doveley's Roads were reopened not long after although a cordon was still left in place for a little while after at the top of Cholomondely Road.

Police now believe they have identified teenager who was involved in a ride-by phone theft at Salford Quays on Sunday.

Thanks for sharing.

Police are appealing to the public asking if they have seen a 2003 model silver coloured Suzuki Swift car around the Buile Hill Park area between the 2nd of July and the 9th of July, as they are eager to trace its movements.

The registration number of the car is DG03XKE.

They are also appealing for anyone who may have video or photos from Eccles Old Road between 11:10 pm on the night of Tuesday July 2nd 9:00 am on Tuesday July 9th.

Any footage can be uploaded at the Major Incident Public Portal mipp.police.uk

If any members of the public have seen the car then please get in touch with GMP

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said:

Quote

 

"We are determined to find Hiran’s family the answers they deserve, and have a team of detectives working to establish the full circumstances surrounding their loved one’s death.

"If you noticed something suspicious or have any information that may assist our enquiries, then please get in touch as soon as possible."

 

Fortunately we are happy to report that it was not the historic grade 2 listed mansion house which is situated a few hundred meters to the west.

Once again, arsonists have set another building alight in Buile Hill Park and by our reckoning this latest fire has finally taken out the last one in the depot area which was left standing from previous arson attacks. 

At around 6:30 pm GMFRS were called to reports of a fire at Buile Hill Park, upon arrival it was discovered that a fire had been started in the old union building in the depot area of the park.

The union building has been targeted before (May 2017) but thankfully firefighters were able to prevent the fire spreading to the roof at the time, sadly not the case this time as the building has been gutted by the flames and past of the roof has now collapsed. Firefighters knocked the remaining roof beams into the shell of the building for safety and to allow them access to the fire from above as it was deemed too unsafe to enter.

Three fire apparatus were on hand to dampen the flames and a cordon was put in place by police in order to ensure the safety of the public.

Smoke billowed out of the buildings now collapsed roof and quickly spread around the park with reports that people could smell it as far away as Eccles and Peel Park.

An ambulance was sent to the scene but thankfully it seems that it was not needed as no one was hurt.

It is currently unknown who the culprits are or how the fire started but a witness we spoke to at the scene told us that she had seen a group of teenage children coming from the site shortly before the smoke appeared. They were said to have ran off towards the bottom exit on Weaste Lane, however, unfortunately she was too far away to get a proper look at them.

Police responded to a report of a man carrying a firearm at the Coach and Horses pub on Eccles New Road.

Armed police descended on the area and a cordon was put in place across the road at around 7pm, however there was no evidence found of anyone with a firearm and despite extensive searches of both the pub and the surrounding area, the cordon was lifted just 20 minutes later.

Tensions are currently high after a gun battle took place less than a mile away in the nearby Clarendon area on Thursday.

Police have remained at the scene to continue their investigations and there has been an increased presence in the area to reassure the public.

It is thought by police that the call was a hoax with the malicious intent.