A round-up of news from around the North West
A nine-month-old baby girl has died after choking at a nursery.
The tot was being fed at Ramillies Hall School and Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, when she fell ill.
Paramedics were called to the school, on Ramillies Avenue, and the baby was taken to Stepping Hill hospital by ambulance but she later died.
Police have yet to confirm whether her death is being treated as a crime or a tragic accident.
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A social worker’s life has been left in tatters after she was tormented by a smitten client – and then his jealous wife.
Jane Bowmer was first targeted by Brian McManus after he fell in love with her when she supported him through his mother’s dementia.
He became obsessed with her and even had Ms Bowmer’s initials tattooed on his chest.
Mr McManus, 56, also sent her a pair of diamond earrings and a card, but things took a sinister turn when he began following her in his 4x4.
And when Deborah McManus, 47, learned of her husband’s affections for Ms Bowmer she launched her own attack – leaving shocking notes on Ms Bowmer’s father’s gravestone.
The letters – which included the victim’s photograph – were also posted around the neighbourhood on bus stops, railings and phone boxesBoth Mr and Mrs McManus, of Greenwood Avenue, Walkden, appeared at Manchester magistrates court and both pleaded guilty to harassment.
The couple were ordered to pay £100 each compensation to Ms Bowmer and given a restraining order banning them from contacting her or entering her street.
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A historic recital will take place in Manchester today (THURS) – when a 200-year-old hymn written by Beethoven is performed for what is believed to be the first time.
The organ and choral work, thought to have been written around 1820, was discovered by Barry Cooper, a professor at Manchester University’s music department.
A choir of 10, including the professor and his music students, will be accompanied by a student organist for the two-minute performance, which will take place at Manchester University’s Martin Harris Centre, Bridgeford Street, at 2.30pm today.
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For years, schoolchildren have been inspired to learn about the Ancient World by 14 mummies on display at Manchester Museum.
But now the mummies are taking a back seat in the museum’s Ancient Worlds display after a £2m makeover.
The Oxford Road’s famous collection of preserved bodies has all but disappeared – and those still on display will now have their modesty protected by a sheet.
Museum bosses say the plans – which were devised in consultation with the public – will allow them to display much more of their 16,000-piece collection from Egyptology.
To learn more about the new gallery, visit ancientworlds.co.uk
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He went down in history as the man who led the mass trespass at Kinder Scout, where hundreds of ramblers claimed their right to roam in the Peak District countryside.
But as a blue plaque was unveiled to honour Benny Rothman, he was also fondly remembered as a life-long campaigner, a rambler, a father and a friend.
Benny, who died in 2002, became famous in 1932 after he led 400 ramblers on to Kinder Scout in Derbyshire in protest against access laws. He was jailed for four months for his part in the mass trespass.
It was only in 2000 that the Countryside and Rights of Way Act finally enshrined in law the right to roam which Benny fought so hard for. The plaque in honour of Benny was unveiled at his home of 58 years on Crofton Avenue, Timperley, where he continued to campaign.
A DAD was stunned to discover an exotic giant moth in his back garden.
Jonathan Blackmore, 41, saw the Giant Atlas Moth, measuring one foot from wing to tip, fluttering outside his home in Ramsbottom, Bury, late one evening.
The dad-of-two discovered it was a
moth normally found more than 6,000 miles away in Malaysia. It is believed it may have escaped from a private collection.
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Manchester United have been forced to issue an embarrassing apology after they offered sought-after derby tickets as a sweetener to potential corporate clients.
The Reds contacted would-be customers via email and told them that if they paid upwards of £1,539 for posh seats and executive boxes at Old Trafford for the rest of the season, they would receive two tickets for the clash with City at the Etihad Stadium in December.
Derby tickets are hugely desirable. Around 2,600 were allocated to the Reds last season – there were 20,000 applicants – and the incentive has prompted a furious reaction from supporters.
But the club said although the offer was discussed, it was subsequently scrapped.
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A gang who stole jewellery worth more than £1.8m of goods have been jailed.
The gang armed themselves with crowbars, swords, machetes and sledgehammers, and used stolen cars to target busy high-street jewellers in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
They threatened shop staff and members of the public while carrying out the raids. On one occasion, the gang even waved a Samurai sword in the face of a terrified elderly lady who had tried to intervene.
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A devoted dad is undergoing major surgery today (THURS) in a bid to give his son a new lease of life.
Steve Buckley, 63, is having one of his healthy kidneys removed for surgeons to put in his son’s body. Without the transplant, Danny, 40, would face a future on dialysis.
Grandad Steve, a painter and decorator, lives with his wife Ann in Denton. He said: “Me and my wife just had a talk about it and we decided that if I couldn’t do it for some reason, she’d put herself forward. It didn’t really take much thinking about.
“Since then I’ve had a fantastic MOT and they’ve said I’m fit enough and healthy enough to do it.”
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Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall was among celebrities and businesspeople who received honorary degrees at the University of Manchester.
The Denton-born star was given the accolade to mark his success in the music industry. He has sold more than 50 million albums over 25 years.
Also recognised were shoe repair firm founder John Timpson and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, a former lecturer at the university and Lord Mayor of Manchester who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
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Conservative chairman Grant Shapps has defended the party’s record in Greater Manchester and insisted ‘we’re not all toffs’.
Mr Shapps spoke out after weeks of embarrassing headlines for the Tories – including chief whip Andrew Mitchell’s resignation after swearing at a police officer, and the row over Chancellor George Osborne getting into a first-class train carriage with a standard ticket.
But Mr Shapps, a cabinet minister without portfolio, denied that the Conservatives were elitist or ‘a party of toffs’.
He said: “I don’t buy it – I don’t think it’s true, I don’t think it’s right. Actually, the Chancellor thing on the train seems to boil down to man gets on train and buys upgrade. You can sum it up in seven words.
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Manchester Science Festival kicks off this weekend – with more than 100 events set to take place across the region over nine days.
The festival was officially launched by the Science Junkies, who gave a demonstration of death-defying jumps on bikes outside the Museum of Science and Industry on Liverpool Road, and used a computer powered by dominoes to show the effects of adrenaline on the body.
Fashion designer Helen Storey also unveiled an unusual installation – a collection of jeans that have been specially treated to make air cleaner.
Manchester Science Festival opens this Saturday, October 27 and runs until Tuesday, November 4.
The festival – which is in its sixth year – will feature more than 100 events across Greater Manchester, from comedy, to dance, art and hands-on activities for the family.
You can look at the festival programme online at www.manchestersciencefestival.com.
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A pubgoer was taken to hospital after his ear was badly bitten during a brawl.
The victim, 26, was also grabbed in a headlock and kneed in the face after an argument with another man in Bridge Bar, in Latchford, Warrington, on Saturday, October 20. The offender was thrown out of the venue at around 12.30am.
If you have any information, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Daily flights between Manchester and the capital of Portugal will be launched on Sunday.
TAP Portugal is extending its Manchester Airport to Lisbon service to carry more passengers and improve links between the destinations.
The airline is launching the service with a poster campaign in the city centre and 100 taxis branded in the carrier’s colours.
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Hotels in Manchester celebrated a bonanza month thanks to football, cricket and an arena date from Lady Gaga.
City centre hotels enjoyed their highest September occupancy in six years with 82 per cent of rooms taken.
Lady Gaga’s Manchester Arena gig, Champions League football at Old Trafford, the LV county cricket championships at Lancashire Country Cricket Club and the Labour party conference at the end of the month helped occupancy to reach 98 per cent on peak nights.
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A public consultation on the future of the birthplace of the NHS is to end on October 31.
Bosses at Trafford General are proposing to downgrade the A&E department. Doctors say the change is required if the hospital is to survive.
Dr George Kissen, medical director at NHS Trafford said: “It is important that all Trafford residents have had a chance to influence the decision around the future of the local hospital, and which services will continue to be provided in a safe and effective way. No change at the hospital is not an option.”
To have your say go to www.healthdeal.trafford.nhs.uk or call 0161 873
6008 if you would like a paper copy of the document.
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