Local News

A striking new mural has transformed the exterior of Rochdale Borough Libraries’ Balderstone branch, creating a vibrant community garden space for visitors of all ages.

A major refurbishment of Radcliffe Library will create a new centre to support local entrepreneurs and tackle high unemployment

Police and council efforts in Whitefield are tackling serious crime and antisocial behaviour while transforming problem areas into safer, greener spaces.

A report by Transport for Greater Manchester has found Rochdale’s modern bus interchange was pivotal to the borough’s most significant urban regeneration project in decades

Transformation of Heywood's popular venue and square enters new phase with new café and bar area taking shape

Police are appealing for witnesses after a van stolen in a violent robbery in Rawtenstall was later found dumped in Ramsbottom alongside a burnt-out car.

A scout group in Kirkholt will start paying for use of its long time venue at St Thomas Church from August 2025, after confirming it operates independently as a non-church group.

A Rochdale man has been banned from owning animals for a decade and given a suspended prison sentence after puppies in his care were discovered in filthy, faeces-covered conditions.

Plans for a world-leading centre for sustainable manufacturing in Rochdale have taken a major step forward, after a landmark agreement was signed by regional leaders and the University of Manchester.

A key stretch of a local bus route in Middleton has been reinstated following pressure from Rochdale Council after it was controversially axed by transport officials.

Roch Valley Radio has officially launched our first ever Community Heroes Awards, celebrating the everyday people, groups and organisations going above and beyond to make Rochdale and Bury a better place to live.

Repair works to the cremator at Middleton’s Boarshaw Cemetery are set to begin in late July, with cremations expected to resume shortly after.

A man has died after his car collided with a petrol station in Bury yesterday afternoon.

An application for a 275 home estate on former green belt land is set to be the most objected to planning proposal in Bury’s history.

Bury Council has confirmed its political leadership for the year ahead, with key changes including Sean Thorpe taking over from Tamoor Tariq as deputy leader as part of a new-look cabinet for 2025/26.

A new playground is finally set to be built in Alkrington after years of battling.

Friends of Brandon Kershaw’s family are raising funds to support them following the 19 year old’s tragic death, as police investigate his killing as murder.

A leadership challenge mounted against the leader of Oldham Council has failed after an explosive council meeting.

Two Rochdale foster carers have spoken about the joy and purpose fostering brings to their lives as they encourage others to consider making a difference.

A new touring outdoor performance is calling on 100 Greater Manchester residents to help bring giant puppet animals to life this summer, with a key stop in Heywood.

ELR to host their biggest ever live music festival with iconic acts, vintage fair, and unlimited rail travel this weekend.

Two Bury venues have been named joint winners of the CAMRA Pub of the Year award for Rochdale, Oldham and Bury, with Irwell Works Brewery calling the result a “dead heat”.

A family has paid tribute to a ‘gentle and kind-hearted young man’ as detectives continue to appeal for information following the death of a man in Bury.

The East Lancashire Railway’s oldest working volunteer, Bob Johnson, has celebrated his 93rd birthday and more than three decades of dedicated service.

Work has started to to transform a major M60 motorway junction – with FIVE LANES of traffic and a new link road all on the cards.

A teenager killed in a suspected targeted attack in Bury has been named locally as Brandon Kershaw, as tributes continue to be laid at the scene.

A murder investigation is underway after a 19 year old man was killed following a collision involving a vehicle on Porritt Street in Bury on Monday evening.

A bold new open air exhibition has transformed the entrance to Rochdale town centre, as the borough celebrates its year as Greater Manchester's Town of Culture

Officers are appealing for help to identify a man following two separate reports of indecency on Metrolink services, including one on the Oldham to Rochdale line.

Littleborough is gearing up for a packed calendar of community events in 2025, kicking off this weekend with a band concert in Hare Hill Park.

Four men arrested as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation have been released from custody.

A woman from Heywood has been banned from a local retail park for four years after being convicted of persistently urinating in public flower beds.

Padel courts and a clubhouse are set to be built at a current caravan storage yard. Plans have been published this week to create five courts at land at the rear of Eton Hill Road, Radcliffe, currently used for caravan storage.

A man has died after suffering a cardiac arrest in a police vehicle shortly after being detained under the Mental Health Act

Annual tribute returns with route through Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton

Greater Manchester is falling behind in the race for the rollout of 5G and are now facing the consequences, says one telecoms company.

People in Oldham are worried planned roadworks this summer will cause ‘absolute mayhem’ on the roads. Oldham Council and Transport for Greater Manchester are unrolling a new road layout plan, which will see some major changes to Royton town centre.

Mayoral nominations are usually straight-forward and largely ceremonial. But this year in Oldham, the affair has courted controversy.

A key bridge linking Bury town centre to the wider road network is to undergo essential repairs as part of a £500,000 improvement project starting later this month.

Three teenage boys have been arrested in connection with a moorland fire on Holcombe Hill in Bury earlier this week.

A new outdoor space focused on creativity, nature and student mental health has been officially opened at Falinge Park High School in Rochdale.

Rochdale marked the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) with a flag-raising ceremony outside the town hall today, 16 May.

A ‘concrete volcano’ has appeared in a picturesque area of Newhey – leaving locals fuming.

A new Pegasus crossing has been installed on Shawclough Road in Rochdale to improve road safety for schoolchildren and other residents, as part of a £1.9 million borough wide upgrade funded by Transport for Greater Manchester.

Elsie Blundell MP has launched a new summer school aimed at giving teenagers from Heywood and Middleton North a glimpse into careers in public service and government

Police are investigating following an incident where a Prestwich office block has been covered in red paint and graffiti.

The new mayor of Rochdale took on the civic chains in an official ceremony last night.

Police are calling on the public for information after a 62-year-old man was attacked near Middleton cemetery earlier this month

The developer who was refused permission to build a new Spar convenience store in Littleborough has lost an appeal.

Two new public artworks have been unveiled in Prestwich, one at the Creative Living Centre on Bury New Road and another at Prestwich Metrolink stop on Fairfax Road as part of a collaborative community art project.

It’s all on the line tonight as Rochdale AFC face Southend United in a huge Vanarama National League Playoff Eliminator under the lights, in front of a packed Crown Oil Arena. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Hospital Pipeline Installations shuts down with immediate effect following financial pressure and low-margin contracts

Police are asking for witnesses and dashcam footage after a woman in her 60s was seriously hurt in a motorway collision earlier this month.

A famously steep road revered by cyclists as one of the toughest hill climbs in the country is riddled with potholes and has been likened to the surface of the moon. The Rake, which links the centre of Ramsbottom to Holcombe, is the subject of a plea from a local councillor to highways chiefs for ‘proper repairs to be made’.

This is the moment to set up Liverpool and Manchester for growth and prosperity through the development of a “crucial” new rail line, Metro Mayors have told ministers today.

Political leaders attending this year’s Bury Pride have been told to come with action, not just a camera ready smile.

All scheduled heritage journeys to continue with diesel locomotives through Irwell Valley

The development of a new rail line between Liverpool and Manchester can “balance up the economy of the country” and provide better economic growth than anywhere else in the UK, Metro Mayors will argue today.

A three-foot tall security ‘robot’ is issuing loud warnings to walkers on a field in Bury. The security unit is close to a public footpath, off Scobell Street in Walshaw.

Free family events will take place in late July and early August across Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale and Littleborough, with each location hosting a full day of activities, performances and entertainment as part of this year’s Feel Good Family Picnic.

The regulator, Ofcom has launched a probe into whether IX Wireless failed to consider visual impact when erecting a 15 metre mast in a residential area.

A huge plan for a new housing estate and a revamped golf club in Middleton has been given the final sign off.

Bury Football Club has appointed Tony Cunningham as its new club secretary, following a competitive recruitment process involving over 20 applicants.

A fire has broken out on the moorland near Peel Tower in Ramsbottom, with residents urged to avoid the area.

Rochdale has revealed more details of its plans for a cultural year in the spotlight, following a visit by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

Students at Great Howarth School in Rochdale are developing key skills for life and work thanks to new funding support from The Guinness Partnership.

Community organisations across Greater Manchester are being invited to apply for up to £40,000 in funding to help improve their neighbourhoods with green projects, as the sixth round of the Mayor’s Green Spaces Fund opens for applications.

Labour MP James Frith has called on the government to establish one of its new VALOUR Centres in Bury North, arguing the area’s rich military heritage makes it an ideal location to serve the Armed Forces community.

A new apartment block in the heart of Heywood will be built.

A young girl from Rochdale has been honoured by the UK’s Chief Scout for her bravery after saving her injured grandad during a countryside walk.

Every GP practice in Rochdale now has an active Patient Participation Group, thanks to support from Healthwatch Rochdale.

A SCHOOL uniform shop has officially opened its doors at The Rock Shopping Centre in Bury.

Patients in Rochdale will benefit from over 8 million new GP appointments this year, being delivered through Labour’s Plan for Change

Services between Rochdale town centre and Rochdale railway station have restarted with delays, after emergency crews blocked the tracks earlier this morning

Bury shopping centre, The Rock is inviting nominations for its next charity partner, offering local causes the chance to benefit from fundraising and public support.

Bury North MP, James Frith, has joined a nationwide campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight what he calls a 'crisis in fatherhood' driven by poor paternity rights in the UK.

People living in Middleton have struggled for years with a problem that would baffle many modern day residents.

Metrolink (KAM), operator of the UK’s largest light rail network, is recruiting new tram drivers for its upcoming training programmes, with the next cohort beginning on Monday 2 June 2025.

Rochdale has officially launched its year as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025–26 with a preview event packed with local talent, voices and plans for the months ahead.

Several residents on a street in Rochdale were celebrating last week after each scooped a £1,000 prize in the People's Postcode Lottery.

After a chilly spell, Rochdale is set to bask in weekend sunshine with temperatures reaching 21°C today, but fire services are urging the public to enjoy the heat responsibly to avoid moorland wildfires.

Rochdale marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with poignant services, honouring veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

A Middleton man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after admitting to orchestrating the supply of millions of pounds worth of class A drugs across Greater Manchester.

James Frith, Labour MP for Bury North, has taken part in a campaign expose the UK’s inadequate paternity leave by hanging baby grows spelling out “Two weeks isn’t enough” on the Peel Memorial statue in Bury town centre.

The Mayor of Bury has officially opened a major extension to Achieve Training’s Birch Business Park site, signalling a new chapter for the alternative education provider supporting young people across the North West.

The funeral of former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson will take place on Monday, May 12, at 11am at St Mark’s Church, Worsley (M28 2WH).

Nine Greater Manchester Police officers have been found to have a case to answer for gross misconduct following an internal investigation into allegations of racial discrimination against a fellow officer in the Bury district.

Bury New Road is set to re-open to traffic on Friday, Bury Council has said.

Essential safety improvements on the M60 motorway between junctions 16 and 18 are set to last until August 2025, National Highways has announced.

Landmarks across Rochdale and Bury have been lit in red, white and blue to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

A striking new mural featuring the White Cliffs of Dover was unveiled in Veterans Walk, Middleton, on Thursday evening, 8 May, as part of the town’s commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Rochdale’s last surviving World War II veteran wished his comrades were there to witness the 80th anniversary of VE Day by his side.

Oulder Hill Leadership Academy in Rochdale marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, VE Day with a community street party, today, Thursday 8 May.

Bar staff are being hired to work at the long awaited Oasis reunion concerts at Heaton Park with organisers promising an unforgettable experience and the chance to be part of a major moment in music history.

Bury Conservative group has confirmed its shadow cabinet for the upcoming 2025/26 council year, with Cllr Jack Rydeheard the only member not to keep his position.

A newly built sports facility at Redbank Playing Fields has been officially named The Paul Hilton Pavilion, in honour of Paul’s outstanding contribution to sport, Radcliffe Football Club, and the wider Radcliffe community.

An inquest has been opened following the death of a six-year-old girl who was involved in a collision with a vehicle in Rochdale.

A Middleton family is hoping their popular annual event, Gig in the Garden, will help raise vital funds for their four year old relative Connor Murphy, who is living with a condition so rare that doctors are unable to offer a definitive diagnosis.

A funeral business in Heywood has launched a new community funding initiative aimed at supporting local projects and organisations that are making a difference to people’s lives.

Essential engineering work to ensure a Victorian-era tunnel remains safe will result in a reduced tram service on the Bury line this weekend.

In a landmark move for Rochdale's flourishing cultural scene, Sammy Weaver has been unveiled as the town’s first ever poet laureate.

Police are appealing for help to identify a man whose body was pulled from Rochdale Canal near Oldham Road on Sunday afternoon.

Over 200 people from across the Rochdale borough gathered at Rochdale Town Hall on Tuesday evening for a community event hosted by the Ogden family.

A major route remains closed to traffic in both directions after an underground ‘void’ was found across its full width. Bury New Road, near Clifton Road, close to the Rudy’s Pizza branch and the Railway and Naturalist pub, was closed off to all vehicles travelling in either direction on Tuesday afternoon.

A group of Scouts and Explorers from Wardle Scout Group successfully completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday 3 May to raise funds for future international travel opportunities.

A front-page investigation in The Daily Telegraph revealed that Facebook reported 6.9 million fewer child sexual abuse incidents to global authorities in 2024 than the year before.

A disused church building could be converted into offices. Plans have been submitted to change the use of the the former New Jerusalem Church, Stand Lane, Radcliffe.

A new temporary special needs school could be built on an industrial estate in Middleton.

Budding artists, schoolchildren and creative residents in Bury are being encouraged to get their pens, paints and digital tools out for a special competition launched by The Rock Shopping Centre.

Locals can find out about a range of different health, care and council services at a special event, which is taking place this month at Rochdale Town Hall.

A man has been charged with murder and attempted murder following a series of road traffic collisions in Rochdale.

Six blocks of flats in the centre of Rochdale are now doomed and one man now fears his house is next.

A new public defibrillator has been installed outside The Famous Gamecock Inn on Rochdale Old Road in Bury, marking the 40th external defibrillator provided by the charity Restart the Heart CIO.

Harwood Park Primary School in Rochdale has been awarded the Silver Rights Respecting School Award by UNICEF UK.

A woman who spent three decades dedicating her life to hospice care has been named Woman of Rochdale 2025.

Four Iranian nationals, including a man arrested in Rochdale, can now be held in custody and questioned until Saturday (10th May) as part of a counter terrorism investigation, following the granting of warrants of further detention.

A massive counterfeit operation believed to be tied to an organised crime gang from Cheetham Hill has been uncovered in Rochdale, with Police and Trading Standards seizing fake goods estimated to be worth around £6 million.

A large emergency services response was seen in Ramsbottom on Sunday evening, 4 May, after a man’s body was tragically discovered in the River Irwell.

A man's body has been recovered from the water in Rochdale, following a large emergency service presence.

Emergency services are currently on scene of an incident at the Rochdale canal.

A woman has died after being struck by a car in a shocking incident on Whitworth Road, Rochdale, which police are now treating as murder.

A Workers Party councillor in Rochdale has raised serious concerns regarding Thursday's by-election in Balderstone & Kirkholt, citing multiple issues that call into question the integrity of the electoral process.

Residents on Daisy Street, Rochdale came together on Saturday 3 May for a VE Day street party organised by the New Pioneers Spotland Community Centre.

At Spotland Community Centre, there’s a café doing more than just serving food, it’s aim is to help people feel less alone.

Officers from GMP Bury are appealing for information following the theft of a rare commemorative boat from a van parked at The Millgate shopping centre in Bury.

Five men have been arrested, including three in Greater Manchester, as part of a counter-terrorism operation investigating a suspected plot to target a specific premises.

Armed police in camouflage uniform were deployed to East Street in Rochdale on Saturday evening (3 May), where a significant police presence remains in place and a property has now been sealed off as a crime scene.

A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following two serious road traffic incidents in Rochdale on Saturday afternoon (3 May), in which four people were injured – one critically.

A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following two serious road traffic incidents in Rochdale on Saturday afternoon (3 May), in which four people were injured – one critically.

A 60 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving following a major collision on the M62 near Birch services that left one person seriously injured.

Scarce parking will be at even more of a premium in Prestwich village as up to a quarter of spaces at the town’s only significant public car park are closed off for the next three months.

The upcoming Manchester Remembers charity football match, due to take place at Gigg Lane on 14 June 2025, has been cancelled. Organisers have also announced the permanent closure of the Manchester Remembers Foundation.

The following statement is attributable to Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry:

Bury Business Improvement District have begun hosting the Knife Angel in partnership with Bury Council and GMP and several organisations and partners.

An old empty mill is to be transformed into much-needed housing for people with mental health issues.

The National Poppy Appeal has been launched in Bury today (Thursday 26 October) as we remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods during past and current conflicts.

On Tuesday 19 September 2023, Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a burglary on Brandlesholme Road, Bury.

Asian Community Radio Station in Moorgate, Bury Sparks Controversy with Anti-LGBT Education Signs

The charitable organisation known as the LGBTQI+ Forum in Bury, has issued a statement.

On Tuesday 29 August 2023 at around 11:55pm, officers were called to reports of a man who had been attacked with a knife on Haworth Walk in Radcliffe, Bury.

Housing association Onward Homes and construction firm John Southworth will be working in partnership on a new development of 30 affordable homes in Whitefield, Bury.