Littleborough News

Both the Milnrow ‘Pink’ Hey and Little ‘Pink’ Borough campaigns see windows across the Pennines put on their very best pink displays throughout October (Brian Gumbley Accountancy Services)

Painting the Pennines pink for Cancer Research UK

The first pink displays in aid of Cancer Research UK have started to dress windows across Littleborough, Milnrow and Newhey.

Date Published 09/10/2021

Men walk 45 laps around Hollingworth Lake for mental health fundraiser

Two young men were left limping after 45 laps and 100 miles around Hollingworth Lake – to raise awareness of the connection between exercise and improved mental health.

Date Published 14/06/2024

20 new homes ready in Littleborough in time for Christmas

Four one-bedroom apartments, eight two-bedroom houses, and eight three-bedroom houses are now complete and ready for tenants on the site of the former Phoenix Ironworks on Howarth...

Date Published 17/12/2021

Little ‘Pink’ Borough: Busy Beans Coffee and The Image Warehouse named best dressed windows

Busy Beans Coffee and The Image Warehouse beauty salon have been named the joint winners of this year’s Little ‘Pink’ Borough campaign in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Date Published 19/10/2021

Ten parks in the borough awarded Green Flag status once again

Ten of the borough’s parks and green spaces have triumphed once again at this year’s Green Flag Award scheme - ranking them among the best in the UK and around the world.

Date Published 18/10/2021

One week until railway closure for Summit Tunnel track upgrade

Passengers travelling by rail between Rochdale and Hebden Bridge from 23 October to 31 October and Rochdale and Manchester on the weekends between those dates are being reminded...

Date Published 14/10/2021

Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

Martin Brennan, in his Solo, was on form on Sunday (10 October) winning the first and third races as he mastered the shifty north west winds.

Date Published 14/10/2021

PDS Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge raises £4,000 for Springhill Hospice

Performance Doorset Solutions, based in Littleborough, have raised over £4,000 for Springhill Hospice.

Date Published 11/10/2021

First older residents taken out by Rochdale Cycling Without Age volunteers

A new initiative to improve the lives of older people who are feeling socially isolated and lonely officially launched on Thursday (30 September) at Hare Hill Extra Care in...

Date Published 06/10/2021

Man stabbed in Littleborough during early morning fight

A man in his 20s has received minor injuries after being stabbed following a fight in Littleborough this morning (Tuesday 28 September).

Date Published 28/09/2021

Local rail lines shut for 9 days in October for railway tunnel upgrade

One of the world’s oldest railway tunnels is being made more reliable for passengers this autumn.

Date Published 27/09/2021

Work begins on 420-place primary school in Littleborough

Wates Construction began work this week on the Littleborough Community Primary School and Nursery, marking the occasion with a turf-cutting ceremony.

Date Published 24/09/2021

Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club celebrates 75 years

The Lake Sailing Club celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding on Saturday and Sunday (18 and 19 September).

Date Published 23/09/2021

Police conduct week of road safety round local schools

Greater Manchester Police have conducted a week of road safety and parking around schools in the Rochdale and Bolton areas.

Date Published 23/09/2021

Controversial plans to build new housing estate on former chemical works site resurrected

Controversial plans to build a new housing estate on a former chemical works site have been resurrected.

Date Published 20/09/2021

Boxing: Leevan Fong Junior reaches semi-finals of England Boxing National Schools Championships

Littleborough ABC’s Leevan Fong Junior has advanced to the next stage of the England Boxing National Schools Championships.

Date Published 17/09/2021

Missing: Christopher Wilkinson

UPDATE 16/09/21 5.15pm: GMP has confirmed that Christopher Wilkinson has been found safe and well.

Date Published 16/09/2021

Men’s mental health support group launched in Littleborough

A new support group for men struggling with their mental health has been set up in Littleborough.
Directions for Men, which runs peer support groups across England, has launched...

Date Published 15/09/2021

Darren Rushton to tackle Rochdale Way

Butcher Darren Rushton has added an additional challenge to the Cryers Butchers 20,000 steps a day in September to raise money for CALM and Springhill Hospice.

Date Published 15/09/2021

'Revive' support group for those struggling after isolation

A new support group for people who are struggling after isolating during the pandemic has been started by the Bridge Centre in Smithy Bridge.

Date Published 12/09/2021

Littleborough Amateur Boxing Club climb National Three Peaks

Members of Littleborough Amateur Boxing Club took on the National Three Peaks for a post-lockdown fitness challenge.

Date Published 11/09/2021

Boxing: Littleborough’s Leevan Fong Junior takes 62-65kg North West England Boxing Championship schoolboy title

Littleborough ABC’s Leevan Fong Junior has been named the North West of England schoolboy boxing champion for the 62-65kg weight category.

Date Published 10/09/2021

Rowing: North of England Sprint Rowing Championships at Hollingworth Lake

Hundreds of competitors descended on Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club on Saturday (4 September) for the largest rowing regatta in the North – the North of England Sprint Rowing...

Date Published 09/09/2021

Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

It seemed like a summer’s day on Sunday 5 September, which also meant a wind that was very fickle. It could change direction by 180m degrees or just fade away. It was particularly...

Date Published 09/09/2021

Smithy Bridge and Littleborough Save the Greenbelt Group host well-attended 'green walk' at Hollingworth Lake

A well-attended ‘green walk’ was hosted by the Smithy Bridge and Littleborough Save the Greenbelt Group at Hollingworth Lake on Sunday (5 September).

Date Published 08/09/2021

Work on new Hollingworth Lake Animal Centre to begin in September

Work to transform the former Hollingworth Lake Visitors Centre into the new modern home of the Rochdale and District RSPCA is to begin in early September.

Date Published 31/08/2021

Cryers Butchers scoops Lancashire Business Champion 2021 award

Littleborough’s Cryers Butchers have scooped the title of Lancashire Business Champion 2021.

Date Published 16/08/2021

School uniform exchanges across the borough

A number of school uniform exchanges are taking place across the borough, perfect for those whose children are starting a new school, moving up a year or have simply outgrown last...

Date Published 16/08/2021

Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group remembers atomic bomb victims on annual Hiroshima Day

Victims of the atomic bombs dropped in Japan during World War Two have once again been remembered by the Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group.

Date Published 14/08/2021

Sprinter Ethan Hussey goes the extra mile to help medical pros in #75miles challenge for Day One Trauma Support

Ethan Hussey, an 18-year-old sprinter from Leeds, has raced to Littleborough as part of the final stretch in a 75-mile challenge for the Day One Trauma Support charity.

Date Published 10/08/2021

Lakeline extends bus services to Shore and Stansfield

The Rosso Lakeline bus service extended to Shore and Stansfield on Monday (26 July).
The extension sees the 457 route between Rochdale, Littleborough Road and Littleborough now...

Date Published 29/07/2021

Calderbrook Alpacas visit Oldham care home

An Oldham care home recently had some unusual guests from Littleborough when two alpacas paid them a visit.

Date Published 15/07/2021

New natural flood management scheme completed

A project designed to slow the flow of flood water by using natural techniques has been completed upstream of Rochdale.

Date Published 13/07/2021

Auctions of English literature from Littleborough's Honresfeld library postponed as a UK charity bids to save collection

The auctions of the Honresfeld library books from Littleborough's Honresfeld House have been postponed to allow for a bid from the Friends of the National Libraries.

Date Published 17/06/2021

Littleborough man charged with death by dangerous driving after girl, 11, died in collision

A Littleborough man has been charged with death by dangerous driving after a young girl died in a collision in Bury last year.

Date Published 09/06/2021

Extremely rare British literature from Honresfeld library to be auctioned off

A book of handwritten poems by Emily Brontë, first editions of Jane Austen novels and a manuscript by Scottish poet Robert Burns – all from the Honresfeld library – are to be...

Date Published 08/06/2021

Teen released under investigation after reported rape at Hollingworth Lake

A 14-year-old boy has been released under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of rape.
The teenager was arrested on Wednesday (2 June), following a report of rape of...

Date Published 04/06/2021

Littleborough artist sells NHS-inspired artwork to raise £1,000 for Salford Royal’s Critical Care Unit

An artist, who created a series of rainbow-coloured floral paintings to thank the NHS, has raised £1,000 for charity after her artwork was snapped up by social media followers.

Date Published 30/05/2021

Planning application could see demolition of dilapidated bungalow overlooking Hollingworth Lake

Planning permission is being sought to demolish a dilapidated bungalow overlooking Hollingworth Lake and replace it with two detached houses.
Construction work began on 15 Lake...

Date Published 25/05/2021

A cleaner and greener borough with the Environment Agency

Hello from everyone at the Environment Agency and welcome to our latest round-up exclusively for Rochdale Online. With summer just over the horizon, our teams have been busy...

Date Published 17/05/2021

Littleborough and Areas Ladies Circle wins record four awards at national AGM

The Littleborough and Areas Ladies Circle has won a record-breaking four awards at the Ladies Circle Great Britain and Ireland National AGM.
The local Circle branch was presented...

Date Published 12/05/2021

RBH sets out plans for new social homes at ‘eyesore’ former ‘Smithybridge’ pub

Proposals for new social housing at the ‘eyesore’ site of the former Smithybridge pub are being developed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).

Date Published 10/05/2021

Littleborough's Imagination Books raising money for new books for Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home and local hospitals’ children’s wards

Imagination Books – which is run by Littleborough couple Lizzie LeVardi and Niall Grindrod – is raising £250 for brand new books for the Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home and...

Date Published 07/05/2021

Walter Kershaw jailed for four years after stalking ex-lover

Littleborough artist Walter Kershaw has been jailed for four years for stalking his former lover and for breaching a restraining order numerous times.

Date Published 30/04/2021

Littleborough's Tackling Minds to become first organisation to work with NHS in prescribing angling

Littleborough social club Tackling Minds – which aims to help people through fishing – is to become the first organisation to work alongside the NHS in prescribing fishing for...

Date Published 23/04/2021

Vistry Partnerships selected to build 171 houses on former Akzo Nobel site in Littleborough

Vistry Partnerships, part of the Vistry Group, has been selected by Homes England to develop the former site of Akzo Nobel in Littleborough.

Date Published 17/04/2021

Rochdale Council local elections 2021: All the candidates standing in your ward

The borough of Rochdale was hit by a ‘political earthquake’ at the 2019 general election when Chris Clarkson became Heywood and Middleton’s first ever Conservative MP. But will...

Date Published 14/04/2021

Cryers Butchers shortlisted for final of 2021 Town And County Business Champions

Darren Rushton and Stephen Bamford, of Cryers Butchers in Littleborough, have reached the final of the Town And County Business Champions for the Lancashire region.

Date Published 14/04/2021

Motorcyclist receives serious injuries after colliding with a wall

A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after colliding with a wall on Smithy Bridge Road, Smithy Bridge, on Monday afternoon (12 April).

Date Published 13/04/2021

Locals thanked for generosity donating to teenager's sponsored walk in mum's memory

Local residents have been thanked for their generosity after donating money to a teenager’s sponsored walk around Hollingworth Lake in memory of his mum.

Date Published 08/04/2021

Police chase suspected drug dealer over two miles of moorland after car pursuit through Littleborough

Police chased a suspected drug dealer for more than two miles on foot after a car pursuit through Littleborough on Tuesday 30 March.

Date Published 08/04/2021

Cat owners distraught as car containing pets’ ashes stolen on the way home from crematorium

Two cat owners from Littleborough have been left distraught after picking up their beloved cats’ ashes – only to have their Range Rover stolen on the way home.
Toby Rhys Thomas...

Date Published 31/03/2021

Campaigners vow to continue fight to protect ‘special’ woodland sold off at auction

Campaigners have vowed to continue the fight to protect a ‘special’ woodland after it was sold off at auction.
The two-acre plot near Stubley Mill Estate, in Littleborough, went...

Date Published 31/03/2021

Local community greenspaces to benefit from Green Recovery Challenge Fund Grant

Four nature reserves in the Rochdale borough which are managed by Groundwork Greater Manchester will benefit from a portion of the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Date Published 18/03/2021

Decision to reduce Smithy Bridge trains to one per hour 'is move in wrong direction' says 'appalled' councillor

Wardle and West Littleborough councillor John Taylor says Northern’s decision to reduce Smithy Bridge trains to one per hour is 'a move in the wrong direction'.

Date Published 11/03/2021

Multi-million pound flood scheme off the starting blocks

Enabling works for a multi-million pound flood alleviation scheme in Littleborough which aims to protect around 1,000 homes are set to get underway in the coming weeks.

Date Published 10/03/2021

Rail community groups' "disappointment" as trains at Castleton and Smithy Bridge set to drop to one an hour

Local rail community groups STORM (Support the Oldham Rochdale Manchester lines) and The Friends of Littleborough Stations have told of their disappointment at a decision to...

Date Published 08/03/2021

Railway platforms extended at three local stations

Platforms at three stations in the Rochdale borough have been extended as part of a £60 million Platform Extension Scheme as part of the Great North Rail Project...

Date Published 27/02/2021

LEAF cancels major events in Littleborough calendar

The Littleborough Events and Associations Forum (LEAF) has officially cancelled two of its biggest events in the Littleborough calendar this year.

Date Published 11/02/2021

Littleborough company fined after worker's arm is crushed

Littleborough based company Ken Mills Engineering Ltd has been fined for safety breaches after a 48-year-old worker suffered a life-threatening injury.

Date Published 29/01/2021

Find out who your local police officer is as every ward now has a named neighbourhood bobby

Every ward in the Rochdale borough now has a named neighbourhood police officer on the beat, following a pledge by Greater Manchester Metro Mayor Andy Burnham last year.

Date Published 28/01/2021

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