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War hero on murder charge

A MIDDLETON Royal Marine has been charged with the murder of a 21-year-old sailor.

£73m college revamp thrown into doubt

MULTI-MILLION pound plans to revamp Hopwood Hall have been left in tatters after it emerged the college would not get any funding from government.

‘Where has our bridge gone?’

RESIDENTS have reacted angrily after thieves stole part of a bridge.

No work on new ‘town hall’ for at least a year

WORK won’t begin on Middleton’s new ‘town hall’ for at least another 12 months.

Death of former police chief

THE life and work of a former Middleton police chief, charity champion and community stalwart have been celebrated by his family and many friends.

Playground teens caught having sex

A PENSIONER has spoken of his disgust after he caught a group of naked teenagers having sex outside his Alkrington home.

Students bow out in style

A DAZZLING display from the Red Devils was one of the highlights of a college’s Uniformed Public Services spectacular passing out parade.

Guilty after 11 years

A RAPIST who believed for more than a decade he had got away with his sickening crime has been convicted.

M-way closure postponed to help Take That fans

WORK to remedy mysterious cracks in the M60 has been postponed this weekend to help people going to Take That concerts.

Family's knifeman terror

A MUM whose family was held at knifepoint by a thug who stabbed two policemen has told of her ordeal. Joanne McNally said she thought she was going to die as Leon Smith attacked her family.

Louise bids for summer charts hit

STUNNING model Louise Cliffe has turned her attention to the pop charts with the release of a song about internet social networking sites.

Tonge Hall revamp ‘just weeks away’

WORK to restore a fire-damaged Middleton landmark could be weeks away.

Call for councillor to stand down

MIDDLETON’S ‘missing councillor’ made it to just THREE council meetings last year.

Mark is rewriting his youth

A FORMER Middleton Guardian reporter has written a new book about teen angst and striving to surface from an industrial town to the top of the charts.

Working men’s club – ‘We’re here to stay’

ONE of the town's oldest watering holes is still in business – despite a for sale sign being placed outside.

Not a meek and mild story...

DRUGS, depression, murder and suicide - the tale of maverick record producer Joe Meek is almost stranger and fiction.

Alan reaches end of the road

HE set himself an uphill task, but Alan Taylor has faced much tougher challenges than riding the length of Britain on his beloved motorbike.

What your MP claims in expenses

DETAILS of MPs' expenses claims were finally published by the House of Commons - but with much of the detail that led to a public outcry blacked out. You can access the details here ...

Thieves clear out shop stock

A MIDDLETON boutique owner has told of her ‘nightmare’ after heartless thieves stole her entire stock last week.

Young mum’s seaside death was accidental

THE boyfriend of a young mum who drowned while on a night out in Blackpool today opened his heart and said: "I’m no murderer."

Stolen drugs may prove lethal in wrong hands

A HAUL of potentially deadly drugs has been stolen from a pharmacy.

Council rings up a fortune in mast fees

MOBILE phone companies are paying the council £125,000 a year to site their masts on public land.

Multi-million pound new look for school

A LANGLEY primary school is set for a multi-million pound revamp.

Charity worker needs our help

DEDICATED charity worker Karl Iveson is facing the prospect of coming home early if he does not find a sponsor soon.

Robin joins the green revolution

A MIDDLETONIAN has been trying out a revolutionary energy scheme, which is due to be introduced across the country.

Precycle: Ice cream and sorbets

WE only recently started making ice cream, mostly because we imagined it a messy process, but not so really.

Pensioner knocked over in bag snatch

AN ELDERLY woman was left badly shaken after a robber forced her to the ground when he snatched her handbag. The 81-year-old was taking a short cut when the thug grabbed the bag from her shoulder.

Armed robbers strike at Arena

MIDDLETON Arena has been targeted by armed robbers.

Crackdown on drugs

POLICE have seized £150,000 of cannabis in the town in just two months.

Blackley drug arrests

FOUR women have been arrested for suspected drug possession after a series of police raids.

‘Claire’s death has left me numb’

THE mother of police officer Claire Howarth has said she feels ‘empty and numb’ after the death of her only child.

£11m Aldi superstore gets go-ahead

A MULTI-million pound supermarket development has been given the green light – despite objections from furious protestors.

Was it all rock ‘n’ roll?

THE sun has set on a bumper weekend for north Manchester after Oasis played three memorable gigs in Heaton Park.

‘Missing’ councillor’s £7,000 plus ex’s claim

MIDDLETON'S ‘missing councillor’ claimed more than £7,000 in allowances last year.

MP claimed £100 for a mattress cover

MORE revelations about what our MPs have claimed have been published - and it includes £380 for decking and a £100 mattress cover.

Old classmates relive the good old times

GUESTS travelled from as far afield as New Zealand to catch up with old friends at a school reunion.

Devil dog kills blind Max

A TREASURED family pet was torn apart while out for a walk on popular playing fields in a Rottweiler attack last week.