This Saturday music fans will flock to The Turnpike, Civic Square in Leigh to be entertained by a mix of legendary bands, including  Fast Cars, The Harveys, The Freshies, Static Line and Urban Poet, Simon Williams.

This heady mix of music and verse will be in a concert, called, Love You More to help celebrate the life of musician, Pete Shelley who died in November, 2018 and help raise funds for a permanent memorial in his hometown of Leigh.

The event sadly had to be cancelled last year following the Covid pandemic, but organiser Paul Lally, has pulled out all the stoppers and the show became a quick sell out, such is the popularity of this event.

I spoke to, Steve Murray from the cult, punk band Fast Cars whose single, The Kids Just Wanna Dance is still an anthem and a crowd favourite.

"The Buzzcocks were a massive influence on me, and led to us forming our band, I saw them play at many venues including The Oaks pub in Chorlton. and we supported them at Manchester Polytechnic way back in 1978!

"We were asked to play the first event in 2020 and were honoured to do so, and to be asked again is a great feeling, this time will be very poignant as it's the first time we have played together since our lead guitarist, Craig Hilton sadly passed away last year, however we had a ready made replacement with his brother Nigel, and the band feels nice and tight.

"All of the bands have chosen one Buzzcocks song to perform, and straight away we went for, "Love You More" which as we all know is the title of the concert, but face it, it's a cracking song"

The Fast Cars have two more gigs lined up this year including one at Wangies, Patricroft in April with The Drones, which promises to be a memorable night.

Simon Williams will once again be compering the show, delivering his, caustic, observational poetry in his own inimitable, Salford style.

A vital cog in the Salford poetry machine that has given us the true voice of Salford cut from the same cloth as JCC and JB Barrington.

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"I'm really looking forward to this show, the last one I played at in 2020, was great but with this massive Salford influence on the night, we intend to make it a night to remember.

"I have lots of new material to perform and to be honest I was on the verge of giving it all up, but it's part of me, being on stage, I played at the Wigan Diggers Festival last year and the buzz of playing to such a large audience, has given me a change of heart, I will be playing at The Irlam Live show in June, so let's see what happens, but it all be good I can promise"

 

The Love You More concert is this Saturday, 12th February, 7pm -11pm at The Turnpike Centre, Civic Square , Leigh, and is a sold out event.

Police in Salford are running Operation Chaffinch within the district in a bid to tackle a rise in cars being stolen in the area.

Many of the stolen vehicles go on to be used in other crimes both in Salford and across the rest of the region, others are stolen to order and are either stripped of parts in chop shops or cloned and shipped out of the UK.

Some useful tips to protect your vehicle from theft are:

Store keys away from doors, windows, or any place it can be seen or easily located

Invest in a faraday bag – they are lined with metal material and can block the key’s signal

Invest in a tracking device – it won’t stop your vehicle being stolen, but it can significantly increase the chances of police locating and returning a vehicle to the rightful owner

A steering or wheel lock can be enough of a deterrent to stop a thief

Car theft typically occurs in residential areas during the night – talking to your neighbours can help your community be alert to anyone behaving suspiciously.

Inspector Darren Lomas said:

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"Operation Chaffinch will be led by my team and supported by GMP's Roads Policing Unit and partner agencies.

"Keeping people safe is a top priority and we will do everything we can to fight this issue and identify those responsible so we can bring them to face justice.

 

Information can be forwarded to the police by calling 0161 856 6377 quoting incident 2320-02/02/2022, to local neighbourhood sergeant at Peter.MacFarlane@gmp.police.uk, reported online using the LiveChat function at https://crowd.in/PUUFRr, calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sadly we have to report that a 73-year-old man from Salford was killed following a road traffic accident involving a lorry on Tuesday (Feb 8th).

Emergency services were called to the scene on Worsley Road North at around 3pm but tragically the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and is helping police with their ongoing inquiries.

At the time, police extended a cordon which closed the road as emergency services carried out their work.

The deceased has not yet been named.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said:

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"Officers attended Worsley Road North, Salford, at 2:50pm on 8 February 2022 to reports of a road traffic collision.

"A 73-year-old man was in collision with a lorry and emergency services attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The driver of the vehicle is assisting officers as investigations continue. There have been no arrests made.

"Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are in attendance and there will be ongoing activity whilst enquiries continue.

 

Officers are appealing for anyone with may have been travelling in the area or witnessed the collision to get in touch with police as soon as possible.

They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have dash-cam, mobile phone or CCTV footage that could assist their investigation.

Anyone with information - or footage - should contact GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 1700 of 08/02/22.

Alternatively, details can be passed via our LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk or via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Salford Community Libraries are currently recruiting for courses starting in February and March 2022 in libraries across Salford and for Tech and Tea At Home.

Would you like to learn how to get safely online to access the Internet and keep in touch with friends, family, local information and services?

If you are over 55, live in the Salford and do not have access to digital equipment they are here to help you!

You can access Tech and Tea At Home from the comfort of your own home or in one of their carefully selected Covid-secure community settings. Courses are delivered in small groups and you need to be able to commit to one hour per week for five weeks.

To enable you to take part in the course they will provide you with a tablet for a contribution of £30. If, at the end of the course, you don’t want to keep it, they will we will arrange to collect it from you and refund you the £30.

If you are joining from home, their trusted local volunteers will deliver the tablet to your front door - set up and ready-to-go with just “one-click”.

Please note, if you are joining from home you will need a Wi-Fi connection.

If you don’t have Wi-fi but do have a landline telephone, they can talk to you about the options offered by your telephone company and help you get online.

Call Jo on 07375 924 424 / Freya on 07535 586 372 or click on the link here to register your interest.

Salford Lads Club is proud to announce that Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham will be in-conversation with special guest, Ricky Tomlinson for a fundraising evening on Saturday 5th March.
Actor, author, comedian, political activist ~  and a wizard on the banjo ~ Ricky Tomlinson has entertained audiences for 40 years.

After making a name for himself on Brookside back in 1982 and a subsequent variety of roles in TV and films Ricky is probably best known for his well-loved role as Jim Royle in The Royle Family.

Ricky’s hilarious performances spanned three series and eight specials, starring as the character for over ten years. The Royle Family is regarded as one of Britain’s greatest comedies and viewed by millions.

A versatile performer, and proud of his working-class roots, Ricky’s on-screen career has seen him become a very popular television personality. It takes a lot to coax Ricky to leave his beloved Liverpool but a request by the Manchester Mayor to have a chat on stage at the iconic Salford Lads Club, won him over.

Former Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Everton fan, occasional DJ and now mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham has been a supporter of this historic venue for several years. In 2017 he came along to meet a group of young people and volunteers before they set off on a trip to New York, which was funded with the support of The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. 

Last summer, Andy and and Salford Mayor Paul Dennett helped Salford Lads Club promote their latest 'The North' t-shirts to raise funds to cover the 90k loss of income as a result of the pandemic.

Andy had said to a 'friend of Salford Lads Club' that Ricky Tomlinson was on his wish list of people he'd love to interview on stage. So this special event will be a fantastic opportunity to hear them chat on stage together in front of an intimate audience at Salford Lads Club.

Leslie Holmes, manager of Salford Lads Club:
 

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 "It will be great to have Ricky Tomlinson visit our venue as a special guest and also to welcome back Andy Burnham. Andy and Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett helped us promote our latest 'The North' t-shirt, which has raised over 25k. Our campaign was part inspired by Andy standing up to the unfair treatment of our region from the government. We are all looking forward to this first event of 2022 with Andy and Ricky and I wouldn't be surprised if 'The North' comes up in conversation!"

For the second part of the evening, there will be a Q&A, where Andy will be reading out selected questions submitted by members of the audience to ask Ricky.

This special event will be a fundraiser for the building itself and projects for its young members.

As a small charity Salford Lads Club relies on opening up its famous building for visitors and events - including weddings - and film crews. It is run by a team of volunteers, who will be happy to show everyone around and talk about the famous club's history.

It will also provide an ideal opportunity for the audience to look at the impressive Wall of Names and The Smiths Room, which now has two unique giant hinged panels to display the increasing number of photos and post-it notes from fans.

The Salford Lads Club doors will open at 6.30pm. The event will start at 8pm and will finish at approximately 9.45pm, including an interval.

The bar will open from 6.30pm until 10.30pm.

Tickets cost £27.50 for all ages and are available via TicketWeb on this link.

Salford City Council has announced that it will commit to paying all social care workers in the city the Real Living Wage from the 1 April 2022. This will be delivered in partnership with Salford’s Clinical Commissioning Group through the city’s joint funding arrangements.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“We have been working hard with colleagues in the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as we prepare for next year’s budget and I am delighted to announce that all our care workers, our heroes of lockdown, will receive the Real Living Wage. It is absolutely without doubt the right thing to do, our care workers who have actively been our fourth emergency service throughout the pandemic deserve every penny!”

The pay increase will benefit over 4,000 care workers in the city who are not yet at this level and it will uplift salaries to £9.90 per hour. The workforce is 86% women and over half work part-time with the majority in family age groups. It is also expected that the pay reward will help retain our care worker heroes in this critical sector.

The increase is subject to agreement of budgets by Salford City Council and Salford CCG.

Mayor Dennett said:

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“We have strived to extend the Real Living Wage to social care employees for some time and is more important than ever after two years when they have protected and cared for our most vulnerable, it is only morally right and fair that we recognise their hard work and dedication.

“We have appealed for Government to address the health and social care crisis but can’t continue to sit back and watch the exodus of people from the sector

“The decision is one of the ways that we are tackling poverty in the city, as these are amongst the lowest paid workers. The National Living Wage will be £9.50 from April 2022. The Real Living Wage will lift that to £9.90 per hour which is an extra £768 per year, making a definite difference to people’s lives.  

“In a time when the costs of living are escalating, the Care Quality Commission has found vacancies in social care have doubled since April 2021, we need to value and keep committed, caring people in these critical roles within our city, looking after our loved ones

“We pride ourselves on working to be a Living Wage City and it is important more than ever that no one is left behind. We ask businesses and agencies in the city to join us in paying the Real Living Wage, to put money back into the purses and pockets of local people.”

 

Dr Tom Tasker, GP and chair of NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group says;

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“Care workers play a critical role in looking after some of the most vulnerable people in Salford, ensuring they receive the best possible care.

“We recognise that all care workers have a challenging and demanding job which has been especially difficult throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am delighted that our commitment to the Real Living Wage means that all care workers’ salaries will be uplifted, and I want to personally thank all care staff for their valuable contribution to the health and care system in Salford.

“Costs of living are rising, and we value the commitment that each of our care workers put into their challenging role. It is very important that we keep these people in these roles looking after our family, friends and loved ones.”

 

Steve North, Branch Secretary of Salford City UNISON, the trade union representing Salford care workers says:

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“If a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, then it should also be judged by how it treats those who care for the most vulnerable. Care and support workers have always been underappreciated heroes and the pandemic has highlighted this for everyone to see. UNISON has long campaigned for these crucial key workers to receive at least the Real Living Wage and we commend the City Mayor, the council and the CCG for working with us to deliver this increase.”

This will affect over 4,000 workers in the city, a largely female workforce.

Looking to keep the kids entertained over the coming half-term?

Manchester Printworks is bringing seven famous film heroes to take over the Pump Yard and offer fans the ultimate superhero selfie. 

The life-size statues will descend upon Printworks where fans can marvel at their favourite heroes and snap a selfie for free.

The iconic venue is offering fans the opportunity to brush shoulders with the likes of a giant 10ft Hulk, Captain America, Spiderman, Batman, Wonderwoman,  Aqua Man and Iron Man.

It’s all of your Marvel & DC Comic favourites all in one place! 

Zoom, Thwack, and KaPow your way over to Printworks’ Pump Yard from 19th-27th February for your chance to catch a glimpse of the heroes and show your best superhero pose with the statues. Best viewing times are upto 7pm Sun-Thur, and up to 5pm on Fri-Sat (times may vary in busy periods). 

And don’t forget to tag Printworks on Twitter in your Superhero Selfies for the chance to win tickets to the upcoming “The Batman” film release.  

Jason Shay, Printworks’ Centre Director said: 

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“This is a fantastic opportunity for some family fun this half-term in Manchester, with Printworks bringing people together to make memories with the superhero trail.

We’re excited to welcome all visitors to unleash their inner superhero and can’t wait to see all your pictures!”

 

For more information follow this link.

Salford based homelessness charity Emmaus is celebrating after receiving a generous donation of £3,500 from The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund.

On Friday 17 December, Sue Lomas OBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, visited Emmaus Salford to present the cheque and meet with people supported by the charity. The funding will be used to help continue Emmaus Salford’s Lucie’s Pantry social supermarket, supporting vulnerable residents with food and household essentials.

Sue said:

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“We are pleased to support the work of this amazing organisation whose work is so needed in Salford. Emmaus give support and hope to people in difficult circumstances, and we thank them for all they do to restore self-esteem and help rebuild lives.”

Emmaus Salford supports formerly homeless people by providing them with a stable home, meaningful work and support for as long as they need it. Whilst at Emmaus, people gain skills, experience and confidence by working within the charity’s social enterprise and Lucie’s Pantry social supermarket.

Rachel Richardson, Community Director at Emmaus Salford, said:

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“We are extremely grateful to The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund for their support of Lucie’s Pantry. Demand for our pantry has increased since the start of the pandemic and this funding will directly benefit Salford residents, hopefully easing their financial pressures.”

Lucie’s Pantry was established in 2017 to support people faced with financial hardship or in poverty and help them avoid becoming homeless. The pantry provides a sustainable and affordable source of food and household essentials to members of the Salford community struggling to make ends meet through debt, illness or low income.

Earlier this morning (Tuesday 8 February 2022), detectives from Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team have arrested three teenage boys, one aged 15 and two aged 16, on suspicion of murder.

They remain in police custody for questioning.

Alan Szelugowski was found dead in Clowes Park, Salford on Sunday 30 January 2022.

Detective Chief Inspector GarethDavies, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said:

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"As our investigation continues, our thoughts remain with Alan's loved ones.

"We have three suspects in custody but our enquiries are very much on going and we continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact us."

 

Anyone with information should contact police quoting Operation Rabaul via 0161 856 0055, https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP22F20-PO1, gmp.police.uk or 101. Alternatively the independent charity - Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111

Terresa McMahon was a former Salford Online journalist who went on to achieve great success at ITV as a producer and news editor, it was revealed today that she had been the victim of assault and subjected to online abuse more than once in the time shortly before tragically taking her own life on August 3rd 2021.

Despite family members being unaware of any intent to commit self harm or suicide, the 43-year-old was found hanged inside her flat in Little Hulton by her father and another unnamed man.

Although her sister Naomi told senior Coroner Timothy Brennand that she was aware that her sister had been assaulted on a number of occasions which lead to her at one point having to flee to London for a period of three months to escape her situation, there was no indication she was suicidal.

During the hearing at Bolton Coroners Court, it was established that the police had previously received reports of abuse from friends, colleagues and relatives before her tragic death.

Her sister expressed a hope that the police would now look into the case further.

Saying:

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"Just because Teresa isn't here today, it doesn't mean it shouldn't be looked into."

As a result of Naomi's appeals, Granada Reports presenter Lucy Meacock, said she was 'fully aware of Teresa's problems', and expects she will be called upon as a witness at a full inquest to be held later this year.

Mr Brennand told Naomi:

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'If there are criminal proceedings, the coronial investigation will be suspended.'

He said that his jurisdiction extended only to how Ms McMahon died, but added: 'I also have to look into if the death was preventable.'

 

Teresa can only be described as a hard worker who put her heart and soul into whatever job she undertook. Her time at Salford Online is filled with happy memories of a hardworking mother who was dedicated to the profession she loved as well as to her family.

She was described as a beautiful soul by all who met her.

It was a cause for immense pride when Teresa moved onto the job of her dreams and she will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.

If you have been subjected to abuse, either physical or online, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for futher details.

Julian Gray, Stories For Us will run from Saturday 19 March 2022 until Monday 2 May 2022 and is part of The Lowry’s EDITS Series.

The exhibition will bring together a range of work by Manchester based illustrator and comic creator Julian Gray. As a queer, trans, disabled and mixed race artist, Julian is passionate about filling the world with stories featuring marginalised characters that focus on more than just their hardships.

Gray’s comics explore tales with protagonists such as trans knights and disabled aristocrats. The exhibition will display comics including Witch & Warrior, a Sapphic medieval fantasy, and The Invalid’s Valet, a queer Victorian romance. Accompanying these comics, will be a number of development sketches and timelapses demonstrating Julian’s draughtsmanship and approach to character designs. The exhibition will also highlight a number of comics and graphic novels that have influenced Julian’s work, which include references to film noir, 80s comic art, and other queer creators.

At the heart of the exhibition will be an opportunity for visitors to engage with the process of comic making through drawing and writing. Visitors are invited to display their finished creations in the gallery space, contributing to an evolving, collective response to Stories For Us.

Julian said:

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"I create my comics and the stories within not just for myself, but also for people like me, people who don't see themselves reflected in the media around us. I want this exhibition to carry that message; I want it to be a space that encourages everyone to discuss and reflect on what stories get told in fiction, especially mainstream comics and comic adaptations."

Zoe Watson, Curator at The Lowry added:

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“Julian's moving work platforms central characters who aren't generally represented in mainstream comic culture, enabling stories to be told through the lens of different voices. By bringing Stories For Us into the gallery, we welcome visitors to explore Julian's fantasy tales and feel inspired to share their own experiences through the medium of comic making.”

EDITS is a strand of the exhibitions programme that enables artists and performers to develop previously unexplored ideas in a gallery setting. Previous EDITS include installations and live performances by Igor+Moreno, DJ Paulette and Girl Gang Manchester.

The Lowry’s galleries are open: Tuesday-Friday (11am-5pm) and Saturday-Sunday (10am-5pm). Admittance is free, donations are welcome. The galleries will be open on Bank Holiday Mondays which includes the final date, Monday 2 May 2022.

Police were called at around 11pm last night (Sunday 6 February 2022), after reports of a stabbing on Manchester Road (A6) in Walkden.

Emergency services attended and a 21-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries to his abdomen. He remains in hospital in a serious condition.

During the incident the road was closed in both directions but has since been reopened this morning although a cordon remains around a house on the road.

A dark Grey Audi car was recovered from the scene for forensic analysis.

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

A large police presence remains in the area.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5194 quoting incident number 2859 of 06/02/22.

Reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Four men from Salford have been sentenced to over 45 years in prison after their conspiracy to shoot a man in the city was snared by the takedown of the encrypted network EncroChat.

Jordan Waring, Brandon Moore, Louis Coleman, and Umair Zaheer were each jailed today (Friday 4 February) at Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) after being convicted of eight offences between them, including conspiracy to possession firearms with intent to endanger life and a million-pound conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The court heard how the National Crime Agency (NCA)'s infiltration of EncroChat devices in early 2020 exposed the scale of the offending that the organised crime group were operating.

After a shooting in the Kersal area of the city in April of that year, encrypted messages uncovered the gang's plan to retaliate with a sophisticated plot and a persistent desire for revenge.

Evidence of Waring (24) and Moore (24) - injured in the discharge on 3 April 2020 - communicating through EncroChat to hit back with the supply of firearms of Zaheer (34) was detailed to the court.

The men made clear in their conversations that the man responsible for the shooting would 'be dead' and that they would 'do him' once they had his location.

Messages from Moore repeated his need to have a car and a gun, while Zaheer (known on EncroChat by the nickname Assasin's Creed and who led a class A drug conspiracy estimated to be worth £1million) reiterated his desire to 'kill this kid'.

Zaheer sent Moore a list of firearms for sale including two AK-47s with ammunition, to which Moore replied: 'yeah nice bro this kid needs it'.

Our arrest of the suspected gunman for the Kersal shooting stalled the gang's plan for revenge, and their plot was subsequently rumbled by Operation Venetic - the UK's largest ever law enforcement operation.

Evidence passed by the NCA to detectives in GMP Salford's Organised Crime Unit - Operation Arctic - began months of meticulous work to correlate the user-handle nicknames with the men responsible for the messages that were plotting lethal retribution.

Our investigators formed the case for all four men to be part of the conspiracy, and also had communications documenting the conspiracy to large-scale drug-deal, including Coleman (23) complaining about purchasing half a kilo of cocaine for £20k as he thought it was too inflated.

Today Zaheer, of Somerset Road, Eccles, was sentenced to 25 years in jail after admitting conspiracy to possess firearms or ammunition with intent to endanger life relating to the revenge shooting and a separate count of possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

Zaheer and Coleman, of Pendlecroft Avenue, both admitted conspiring to supply cocaine, with Zaheer also admitting conspiring to supply cannabis, and Coleman admitted conspiring to supply ketamine - to which he was sentenced to a total of six years and nine months.

Moore, and Waring, both of Murray Street in Salford, also both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms or ammunition with intent to endanger life relating to the revenge shooting, and have been jailed for 11 years and five months and eight years and seven months respectively.

Detective Constable Steven Walker, of GMP Salford's Organised Crime Unit, said:

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"This group of men undoubtedly posed a significant threat to the city of Salford and it's right that they'll now spend the rest of the decade, at least, behind bars.

"The weapons that they were trying to get in possession of and the conspiracy they were planning could’ve proved to be a lethal combination, and the work we've been able to do with the National Crime Agency has certainly saved at least one life.

"We believe some of the serious criminality we've seen in Salford over recent years has stemmed from the threat posed by these individuals and there's no doubt the community can welcome that fact that these men won't be operating on our streets - whether it be in drugs or firearms - for years to come.

"This was a complex case and I'd like to thank detectives from our team tackling organised crime in Salford, as well as partners from the National Crime Agency who brought the encrypted material to our attention, to ensure that this group can be brought to justice for the full extent of their offending."

 

Neil Gardner, NCA operations manager, said:

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“The weapons we took off the street and out of the crime groups’ hands were some of the most lethal around with a truly devastating capability.

“In seizing these weapons which are capable of firing multiple rounds per second, we have saved lives and protected the public.

“The offenders thought they were safe using encrypted comms, but working with the Crown Prosecution Service and Greater Manchester Police, we built a solid case that resulted in the men admitting their involvement.

“We will continue to do everything we can with partners at home and abroad to prevent organised crime groups trafficking firearms.”

 

Five years of sitting outside Swinton Civic Centre have left poor Woody (Salford’s iconic tribute to local miners) a little weathered around the edges.

The wooden sculpture of a miner sitting on a bench eating his lunch was created in 2016 by The Friends of Agecroft Colliery to pay tribute to local miners and the many who died, including 178 men and boys who lost their lives in the Clifton Hall Colliery disaster of 1885.

The installation also includes a stone commemorating those who worked in the Irwell Valley pits.

The much-loved miner and his bench have been taken away today for minor repairs but will be back to carry on keeping alive the memories of Salford’s proud coal-mining past.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“Woody has been loved by people from day one and we want to make sure he can continue for many years to come. He will be back after some much needed work.”

Salford residents are being urged to report hate crime incidents after fears too many are simply putting up with it. 

The number of actual incidents of hate crime is believed to be far higher than the number of reported cases.

Next week (7-13 Feb) Salford, along with all nine other Greater Manchester areas, will mark Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness week and shine a light on the unacceptable verbal or physical abuse of people because they have a disability or because of their race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, who they choose to love or how they choose to dress.

Seven local people have spoken out about how hate crime makes them feel. (names have been changed).

Amman, a taxi driver, said he was not sure why people thought they could make threatening and hateful comments about his race or religion when he was driving them around.

“I am just doing my job to pay my bills. Other drivers say get used it it, grow a thick skin, but it happens often and every time it happens, I feel upset and sad for humanity,” he said. After reporting it his taxi was fitted with a camera to deter offenders or capture evidence to pass to the police.

Joseph said he was just walking to the shop when a car slowed down and people started “hurling antisemitic abuse.”

“They were spitting and throwing takeaway rubbish at me, making a mess of my coat. They were laughing as they pulled away. I couldn’t see why it was funny and was really upset,” he said. People nearby noted the car registration and Joseph reported the incident. The offenders were prosecuted and one lost their job as a result.

Bobby said the joy of moving in with his partner was ruined by “a vile, threatening homophobic note through the door.

“It made us feel unsafe at home. I don’t think people understand the effect hate crime has on people,” he said. He reported it to his local housing association which used CCTV to trace the  person responsible The neighbour was warned they could lose their home if it ever happened again.

Mohamed, a local shopkeeper said teenagers hanging around his shop had gone from just being cheeky to shouting racist abuse, throwing eggs and stones and racist graffiti had been painted on the shop windows. After he reported it Salford City Council organised activities for young people to keep them away from the shop.

Luka, a trans man, fled death threats in his home country hoping he would be safe in the UK.

“I could no longer pretend to be a woman when I have known since I was a small child, I would be happier as a man. When I came to the UK, I thought I would be safer but I have been beaten and abused on many occasions. I just want to live in peace,” he said. Luka reported the hate crime and is now getting specialist support.

Ruby, a teenage Goth, said she had even received death threats.

“You always get online trolls who think they are clever – abusing people because they look different. When this happened to me, I ignored it and blocked the person but it started to happen more and more and really began to affect my confidence. I reported it and got support to help deal with it.”

Ben, who was born with cerebal palsy, said he regularly gets comments about his disability.

“I like to keep fit by swimming. One day kids started calling me names and mimicking me. You could say it’s just words but it’s wrong. It makes me feel like hiding away,” he said. After Ben reported it, police made sure those involved knew what they did was wrong and potentially a criminal offence.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment, neighbourhoods and community safety, said: “These seven brave people who have spoken out show hate crime hurts. There is no excuse for it and no-one should feel they have to put up with it.

“That’s why I’m urging anyone who experiences or witnesses hate crime of any kind to report it so they get the support they need and members of Salford Community Safety Partnership get a true picture of what is happening in our city and can work together to stamp it out.

“People can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, report online Through True Vision at www.report-it.org.uk or visit one of our reporting centres across Salford.

"Social housing tenants should speak to their landlords and Greater Manchester Victim Services, provides free support whether or not the crime has been reported to the police.

"All reporting is confidential. You’ll get the support you need and your information could stop it happening to someone else.”

Bolton Road in Swinton was taped off by police earlier today as emergency services responded to an incident which we are being told by witnesses to have been a suspected explosive device found by builders in the front garden of a house.

This has yet to be confirmed by GMP.

This would appear not to be the case as emergency services have now stood down.

An area just after the roundabout on Irlams O' Th Height was cordoned of all the way up towards the junction with Agecroft Road.

Traffic in the area was diverted as were bus services but the road has now since been reopened and is flowing as normal.

We have contacted GMP for more information.

A man received life-threatening injuries after being involved in a road traffic collision in Salford.

Officers were called to Alexandra Road in Eccles at 6:40pm last night (3 February 2022) to reports a 32-year-old male pedestrian had been struck by a Toyota Yaris while crossing the road.

Emergency services attended and the man was taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

The driver of the Yaris stayed at the scene to assist police.

A section of Liverpool Road was cordoned off as emergency services attended.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 2577 of 03/02/22.

Information can also be reported online or by using the Live Chat function at www.gmp.police.uk.

If you can't report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on

The parents of a salford man at the centre of a murder investigation, say 'he gained his angel wings far too soon'.

Sadly Andrew Wishart, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene on Tuesday 1 February 2022 after police were called to a property on Agecroft Road, Swinton.

Two men in their 40's have been arrested and police are now treating the investigation as a murder.

Andrew's parents have paid a loving tribute to their son, saying:

Quote

 

"Our family are shocked at the sudden and tragic death of Andrew. We are at this time grieving as a family and we appeal to any persons with any information that can assist the police with the investigation into his death.

"He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Andrew gained his angel wings far too soon. 

"Andrew Jan Wishart; A doting father to Jay, Dear brother to Graeme, Loving partner to Caroline, Brother in law to Sarah, Loving uncle to Milly and Megan, Great Cousin and Nephew to all the family.

"R.I.P Andrew, we loved you so much."

 

Anyone with information should contact police via 0161 856 6377 or our website gmp.police.uk quoting 2878 of 01/02/22. Alternatively, the independent charity - Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

It is hard to believe but it's soon to be 64 years to the day since a nation stood silent at breaking news of an air disaster in Munich which would claim the lives of most of those on board.

In total 23 lives would be lost that cold day in February 1958, 8 of whom were some of Manchester United's beloved players.

As we edge closer to the day of remembrance (Sunday 6th Feb) it is heart warming to see that these once titans of football are still revered by the fans as much now as they were back in those glory days.

One of those Fans is Tony Easom from Salford who rose to a challenge we made in a video a few years ago. We paid a visit to the grave of 25-year-old legendary Busby Babe, Geoff Bent, and noticed at the time that it had fallen into a state of neglect as a result of the pandemic restrictions.

Tony watched the video, heard our call and promptly jumped into action to restore the grave of one of his beloved heroes to its former glory, and what an amazing job he has been doing ever since.

The headstone has been cleaned, the ground around the grave is always kept tidy and he and his beloved better half are regular attendees, taking home scarfs, tributes and trinkets to wash and clean them to be returned like new to adorn his grave once more.

Tony is just one of many unsung heroes across Salford who have never forgotten the pain and suffering of his beloved club at that time of such terrible tragedy. 

He's a regular attendee, guitar in hand and singing loud at remembrance celebrations at the club and we will be there no doubt alongside him on Sunday amongst countless others who will be heading to the hallowed ground of Old Trafford to pay homage to our fallen footballing heroes.

Well done Tony Easom and a huge Thanks from us.

May we never forget them.