'We've been set on fire and shot at, but this is our worst Christmas yet': The fear that Covid could kill Manchester's bravest pub

direct to your inboxPrimary schools in London will remain closed following a government U-turn.It comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced 50 education authorities in the south of England would be closed to primary school pupils for the first two weeks of term.The list failed to encompass several school areas in London, where Covid-19 rates remain alarmingly high as the new strain continues to spread across the country.Latest scientific advice warns that the new strain variant

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester is bracing itself for yet more cold weather over the next few days.The region has already seen several days of snowfall, making for a white Christmas in many places.While a weather warning for snow and ice had been issued for the best part of a week, the white stuff appears to be clearing across all 10 boroughs.Temperatures are set to remain cold for the week ahead, but Greater Manchester could have seen the last of the snow for a few days.As people prepare

from Bolton, say they don't yet know what caused her death. They fear it could be connected to an undiagnosed stomach problem, which caused her pain for several years. Silhesha leaves behind twins Aliyah and Hugo. Her inconsolable partner Marc Stott said he had made plans to propose to her in the near future. "Just like her name, she was one in a million, there was no one else like her," he told the Manchester Evening News ."She drove me to be a better man.

direct to your inbox A man has died after being hit by a car in Middleton on Christmas Eve. The 30 year-old pedestrian was involved in a collision with a grey BMW 320i M Sport on Rochdale Road just after 7.30pm on Thursday, December 24.Emergency services raced to the scene he was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

direct to your inboxA family is trying to track down the person behind a kindhearted random act of kindness.An envelope with a £5 note inside had been left in the car park of Asda in Chadderton on Christmas Eve.Inside the envelope, which had a Christmas tree drawn on it, the card read: "To whoever has found this, I hope you have a lovely Christmas, treat yourself."Keep smiling, there is light at the end of the tunnel!Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with

direct to your inboxA house was shot at twice yesterday - including once while children were eating Christmas dinner, police have said.The shocking attack was carried out at a property on Chelston Avenue in Moston.Police said it was targeted once at around 1am and then again at around 5pm on Christmas Day. During the first shooting, two adults aged in their 50s and two teenagers aged 17 and 14 were inside, police said.

direct to your inboxLike this entire year, Christmas Day in 2020 is anything but normal.It's a restricted, and for some quite sad time.But Greater Mancunians did have something to smile about today...

straight to your inbox every day for freeThere's no rest for Manchester United, who were last to play on Wednesday night and are first to kick off on Boxing Day. That gives Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad little time to prepare for a tough test at Leicester tomorrow, let alone fit in a proper Christmas Day with the family.

direct to your inboxA man in a Manchester United mask stands alone with his holdall bag in an empty, closed check-in hall. His story is anything but festive.He tells me he he left home following a row with his girlfriend and decided to jet off on a flight abroad on a whim.But now that he is in Manchester Airport with no ticket, he just wants to get back home to east Manchester.Last year I visited the airport on December 24 to capture the heartwarming moment couples reunited for the festive

direct to your inboxA rough sleeper brutally attacked another man after he 'threatened to set his tent on fire'.James Byrne, 33, has been jailed after punching and kicking the man during a 'completely unprovoked' attack in the city centre.Byrne said he knew a homeless man who was murdered after his tent was set on fire and admitted losing his temper.Manchester Crown Court heard Byrne, who is homeless, said the man had also been selling Spice to 'young girls'."You say that you had a grievance

straight to your inbox every day for freeMauricio Pochettino is reportedly in line to become the new manager of Paris Saint-Germain after Thomas Tuchel was sacked on Christmas Eve.Tuchel leaves the Parisian club one point behind league leaders Lyon and with PSG having secured their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League, eliminating Manchester United in the process, earlier this month.The MEN understands United approached Pochettino about the possibility of taking over as the new United

direct to your inboxDreaming of a white Christmas?Sadly, forecasters have predicted there will be no snow on Christmas Day this year.But the Met Office has said Greater Manchester is likely to see widespread frosty conditions that will bring a 'seasonal feel' to festivities on the day.Temperatures across most of the country will stay in mid-single figures on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but no snow is expected to settle, Met Office forecasters have predicted.They said that despite a wet

direct to your inboxPolice have recovered a 'large knife' from the scene of a stabbing in Moss Side.A 15-year-old boy remains in a serious condition in hospital after he was stabbed in the back near Alexandra Park on Saturday night.Three teenagers, all 15, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack.They remain in police custody for questioning.Police are treating the stabbing as a targeted attack.Greater Manchester Police are appealing for anyone with information about

direct to your inboxA mother and daughter are homeless for Christmas after a car crashed into their house for the second time in months.Friends of Pauline Fitzgerald, 82, and Verna Harper, 54, are rallying round to help and raise money - alongside the community where they live in Oldham.A red Volkswagen Golf collided with the front of their terraced property on Hollins Road, Oldham, in September last year.

After her fiancé Bradley Dack branded her The Grinch, Olivia Attwood decided to give the footballer a festive surprise by giving their flat a Christmas makeover. With the help of Lasting Memories Weddings & Events, Olivia transformed their Manchester flat into Santa’s Grotto complete with two giant Christmas trees, festive garlands and stunning decorations.

Ramones festive track ‘Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)’.The song, which originally featured on the New York band’s 1989 album ‘Brain Drain, has been reworked into a more downbeat version by the Manchester trio.