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Father and son beaten in Middleton armed robbery

A father and his son were assaulted during an armed robbery at their home in Middleton on Tuesday night (6 January).

At around 11.30pm four or five men, one armed with a baseball bat, forced their way through the front door of the Mossway home and confronted the 52-year old man and his son, 22.

The young man tried to push the offenders out of the house but they forced their way passed him and kicked him a number of times, while the father was hit over the back of the head with the bat.

Date published: 08/01/2009

Police warn of bogus callers

Rochdale’s elderly residents are being visited by Police in a crackdown on doorstep crime.

Police Community Support Officers from Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been distributing leaflets and offering crime prevention advice following incidents of bogus callers stealing from vulnerable members of community....

Date published: 08/01/2009

Ex-Mafia man enthralls Middleton youths

Prince's Trust Team members with ex-Mafia man Louis Ferrante.

Reformed Mafia man Louis Ferrante captivated Middleton youths with tales of his law-breaking days.

Ferrante, who has flown over from the USA to publicise his book, “Tough Guy”, called...

Date published: 08/01/2009

Police urge residents to register valuables

Police officers will be travelling around the area to encourage Rochdale residents to register their valuables online.

Officers will be at Morrisons Supermarket, Heywood, Asda on Dane Street, Rochdale and Tesco at Middleton Gardens, Middleton between 10am and 6pm on Tuesday 13 January to demonstrate the use of the UK’s National Property Register “Immobilise”....

Date published: 08/01/2009

Rush hour pile-up causes motorway blaze

Rush hour traffic was brought to a standstill this morning (Thursday 8 January) after a three-car pile up caused a fire on the M62.

Fire fighters rushed to the eastbound carriageway between junctions 18 and 19, Heywood, just before 8.00am this morning to tackle the blaze....

Date published: 08/01/2009

Council says no to parking charge increases

Rochdale council is to keep parking charges on its pay and display car parks at the same level for a second year running.

Council officers had proposed an increase in the charges to make up a budget shortfall but elected councillors opted not to up the prices....

Date published: 08/01/2009

Council is owed £3M in council tax arrears

Past Due, debt grows out of control

Rochdale Borough Council is currently owned £3M in unpaid council tax, it has been revealed.

Rochdale Online reported yesterday (Wednesday 7 January) how over 10,000 residents have been...

Date published: 08/01/2009

Church treasurer faces £3M fraud allegation

The former treasurer of Spotland Methodist Church at the centre of a multi-million pound fraud investigation is awaiting a court appearance.
David Atkinson, who makes his living as an accountant, is facing allegation of fraud of up to £3M. Police are investigating claims that he deceived dozens of clients into trusting their savings with him, some of which are families who...

Date published: 08/01/2009

Further funding to boost fire rescue service

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority will receive more than £70,000 in funding for equipment used to rescue people from collapsed buildings.

The funding is part of a £19 million lump sum aimed at providing vital equipment for the 46 Fire and Rescue Services nationwide. ...

Date published: 08/01/2009

Rochdale teams raise funds for refugees in five-a-side tournament

The finalists line up alongside guests of the tournament Simon Danczuk and Councillor Mohammed Sharif (middle) and Azmat Khan, Community Officer at Rochdale Football Club.

Amateur football teams from across Greater Manchester and Yorkshire flocked to Rochdale for a charity five-a-side tournament which raised £500 for Palestinian refugees.

A record total of...

Date published: 08/01/2009

New hope for asbestos cancer sufferers

Sufferers of mesothelioma, the asbestos related cancer, have been given new hope through the development of a groundbreaking treatment in Germany.

Rochdale has one of the highest proportions of mesothelioma sufferers in the country. The town was once home to world's largest asbestos factory, Turner & Newall in Spodden Valley....

Date published: 08/01/2009

Broadfield Hotel to re-open soon

The Broadfield Hotel will re-open soon having undergone a £150,000 refurbishment, upgrading the 29-bedroom hotel to four star standard.

The building on Sparrow Hill was purchased by the Best Western hotel group in November last year and will re-open under their banner. Local jobs will be created when the hotel re-opens....

Date published: 08/01/2009

Stabbing in Rochdale - man charged

A man has been charged after a boy was stabbed in the neck in Rochdale.

Kamran Akram, 26, of Kingsway, Rochdale is due to appear at Rochdale Magistrates Court today, (Thursday 8 January 2009) charged with a Section 18 wounding.

At 11pm on Tuesday 6 January 2009, police were called to Moss Street, Kingsway, to a report a boy had been stabbed....

Date published: 08/01/2009

Businessman claims interest rate cut is 'absolutely right'

British Chambers of Commerce logo

A leading businessman has spoken out about the recent slash in interest rates.
Deputy Chief Executive at Greater Manchester Chamber Chris Fletcher claims it is “absolutely right” that the...

Date published: 08/01/2009

Boost for Rochdale apprentices

A funding boost could see more apprenticeship places available for young people and adults throughout Rochdale.

The number of people completing an apprenticeship has risen by 112% over the last three years from 225 in 2002/03 to 477 in 2005/06. ...

Date published: 08/01/2009

Grant could improve health of local people

A new grant is in the pipeline intended to help boost the health of local people.

The Primary Care Trust submitted plans to the Pennines Township Fund Grants Sub-Committee which were aimed at developing Health and Wellbeing Partnerships in local areas....

Date published: 07/01/2009

Lottery grant puts cycle route wheels in motion

Woman on her way to work on a bicycle

A lottery grant of almost half a million pounds has resulted in the proposal of a cycle network across Rochdale.

As part of Sustrans’ Connect2 bid back in 2007, Rochdale received...

Date published: 07/01/2009

Arsonists burn £14m of tax payers money

Rochdale Fire Brigade deal with fire at garages behind Woodstock Street

The fire service has forked out £14M to deal with arson attacks in Rochdale – in just one year.

Arsonists have struck the town 1,900 times in 12 months, according to damning new...

Date published: 07/01/2009

Council sends bailiffs to thousands of homes

Over 10,000 residents have been summoned to the courts in the past year

Thousands of vulnerable people are having their homes visited by bailiffs because they are unable to keep up with their council tax payments.

Shocking new figures have revealed how...

Date published: 07/01/2009

Rochdale M&S survives closure

Marks and Spencer logo

Rochdale will not be losing another of its major retail stores. The Rochdale branch of Marks & Spencer survived the chop after the chain announced the closure of 27 of its nationwide...

Date published: 07/01/2009

Warning issued as more extreme weather is forecast

Hollingworth Lake partly frozen

Anyone planning to visit Hollingworth Lake is being warned to take extra care in the extreme icy weather.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning about the...

Date published: 07/01/2009

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