EncroChat gang bought blocks of cocaine in Manchester before moving them around the UK during lockdown

A Greater Manchester NHS chief issued a public statement on Wednesday night (January 3) as hospitals across the region face huge pressures and long waits at A&E.

Some of Greater Manchester's biggest names spent their formative years as pupil's of the regions now vanished schools.

A nightclub that was one of the country's longest-running and which saw the likes of Sir Elton John and Eric Clapton grace its stage is set to be demolished.

As we welcome in the New Year, we can reveal our annual (non-exhaustive) list of U.S. and international movies we think could grace the festival circuit in 2024. We’ve stuck to our criteria that the project must already be in production and have not already been announced for a festival. More than 70% of our selections last year went on to debut at a major festival. Those that didn’t were largely delayed by the strike or are still in post-production. If the titles below make the cut, it will be a thrilling year on the festival circuit once again.

The familiar face of Toby Jones has returned to our screens for the new ITV drama Mr Bates vs Post Office, but what fans might not know is that he also has star-studded parents.Toby, 57, who holds an OBE, is best known for being the voice of Dobby in the Harry Potter films from 2002 to 2010. Other huge roles from the actor include Percy Alleline in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Claudius, the announcer for The Hunger Games.

It was another historic year with another change in Prime Minister, a new monarch officially crowned and the Lionesses reaching the World Cup final.

LGBT activist Paul Fairweather has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours List 2023.

Ah January, a month which has an undeserved negative reputation. Everyone always complains that it drags after the festivities of December, moans that it’s gloomy and scowls at their bank balance.

Community campaigners, two star footballers and charity champions are among those from Greater Manchester who have been recognised in this year's King's New Year Honours list.

A family told of their terror after a freak 'tornado' destroyed their home. Gareth and Lyndsey Moody and three of their children were at home shortly before midnight when the extreme weather hit Stalybridge in Tameside.

Lewis Anderson and his little sister provide just the kind of back-up our emergency workers need at Christmas. The pair have been playing Santa to nurses, firefighters, and police officers.

Victorian Manchester is often celebrated as a place of industrial might, technological innovation and economic growth. But there was another side to the city that was not for the faint-of-heart.

Manchester United are heading into a new era after Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his deal to invest in the club.

Planners came under fire as affordable apartments with less than the required standard space were given the thumbs up. Salford’s planning committee approved the development of a nine-storey block with a community centre on the ground floor and 35 apartments above at St Mary’s Road, Eccles.

A female prison officer exchanged explicit messages with three serving prisoners and also sent money to one inmate when he was transferred to prison in Manchester.

Work to transform a historic warehouse behind Piccadilly Station into a series of ‘creative workspaces’ is getting underway in a matter of weeks.

This year, Greater Manchester has seen devastating headlines of children suffering life-changing injuries in the wake of violence.

A Hotel and Spa in Cheshire has been awarded the AA Best UK Spa Award.

A nurse who drugged patients at a Blackpool hospital for an “easy shift” has been locked up for more than seven years.

A concert featuring a huge line-up of artists will be held in Manchester next year to raise money to fight food poverty - and it’s going to be hosted by football royalty.