A woman was the victim of a robbery at knifepoint in Manchester city centre yesterday afternoon, near the Christmas Markets. The victim was walking on New Cathedral Street after leaving work when she was approached by a group of males. The group threatened her with a knife before stealing her phone – armed police were called to the scene shortly after.
Manchester’s Finest Group
The incident happened at around 4.10pm yesterday afternoon, Wednesday November 17th, according to police. Both armed police and city centre officers responded and several males were arrested in the vicinity of the crime. The suspects remain in custody for questioning today, police have confirmed, while the victim was reunited with her phone and luckily escaped without serious injury.
For the remainder of the Christmas Markets armed police will continue to be on patrol, with covert operations also underway.
Wikimedia Commons
Chief Inspector Wignall, of GMP’s City of Manchester Central Division, said: “The victim was simply leaving work to go home when she was threatened and robbed of her phone. “Thankfully she wasn’t seriously injured and following a swift response by GMP officers, the suspects were arrested and the phone recovered.
“Personal robbery can have a huge effect on the victim so I am pleased we have these four men in custody. “The city centre will become increasingly busy over the coming weeks and we want people to enjoy the Christmas period, so there will be an increased police presence throughout the Christmas period to keep people safe.”
But punters don’t need to panic just yet, as the pubs won’t close until they have been sold.
Despite the closures Spoons has also opened branches, including The Square Peg in Birmingham and The Lord Palmerston in Southsea – after undergoing major refurbishments. The chain is also redeveloping pubs in Wakefield, central Cardiff and Glasgow, to the tune of around £8 million.
Wetherspoons currently boasts around 822 branches across the UK and recently announced its busiest-ever Saturday was during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Cl1kr / Flickr
The 11 Wetherspoons pubs now up for sale:
The Pontlottyn, Abertillery
The Ivor Davies, Cardiff
Spa Lane Vaults, Chesterfield
The Gate House, Doncaster
The Market Cross, Holywell
The Regent, Kirkby in Ashfield
The Mockbeggar Hall, Moreton
The Hain Line, St Ives
The Sir Norman Rae, Shipley
The Sir Daniel Arms, Swindon
The White Hart, Todmorden
These are just the Wetherspoon locations recently announced to be closing by the chain, but there are dozens more that have already closed this year.
JD Wetherspoon
The list of Wetherspoon locations that have closed are:
Greater Manchester Police have issued an update on Ronald Webster, 81, who went missing from Oldham last Thursday.
The news comes after Ronald’s grandchildren made an appeal to the public asking for help to find their beloved grandad and to ‘keep him safe’ until they, or the police can get there.
It was believed the last sightings of the grandfather-of-five were at 10.52 am on Walkers Road, in Limeside, Oldham and again at 3.45pm as he got off the 184 at Huddersfield Bus Station, on September 14th.
Family submit / ITV
However, police have confirmed a new sighting of the pensioner, known by loved ones as ‘Ronnie’, just minutes later at 3.53pm, as he entered Huddersfield Train Station.
It is believed he may have links to the Bridlington, Whitby and Scarborough areas, although officers have said they are ‘not ruling out that he may have travelled elsewhere’.
Ronald’s family shared that he had recently undergone a triple heart bypass and had medication for his heart and for epilepsy, but that he had not taken any of his medicine with him when he went missing.
His grandchildren said that this is the first time he has not come home.
#MISSING | An update on Ronald. He was last seen at 15:53pm on 14/09/23 entering Huddersfield Train Station
He is 81, around 4'11, of small build and has grey hair around the back and sides, bald on top. He has a few gaps in his teeth
At the time of his disappearance, Ronald was wearing a blue and black coat with grey trousers.
He is described as 4’11 ins with grey hair around the sides, bald on top, and uses a walking stick.
In an update, a spokesperson for GMP said: “Since Ronald was reported missing, officers have been working closely with his loved ones to understand where he might have travelled to.
Greater Manchester Police
“It is believed he may have links to Bridlington, Whitby and Scarborough, although officers are not ruling out that he may have travelled elsewhere.
“Whilst officers are continuing to review CCTV from locations of significance, they are also working with colleagues from other forces to ensure everyone is on the lookout for Ronald so we can help him return to his family safe and well.”
Anyone with information about Ronald’s whereabouts should call 101 quoting 1013 of 16/09/2023.
At long last, H&M Home is opening up a store selling its interiors range in the city centre.
Shoppers were delighted when the Swedish fashion retailer, full name Hennes & Mauritz, decided to branch out and launch a homeware range in 2009, following in the footsteps of the likes of Zara.
At first, it teased us with a small concession in Selfridges at the Trafford Centre back in 2015, where shoppers and home decor enthusiasts could find affordable pieces that looked as good as those sitting on their Pinterest boards.
H&M Home
But then it closed for a long while and for many shoppers, it left a void that couldn’t be filled, with its home stuff only being available online. No more could you wander into the shop, pick up cute pieces and admire stylish bedding sets to decorate your home.
Recently, it opened up a H&M Home shop within the Trafford Centre which sells everything from cushions to lamps, candles, vases, bed linen, towels, dried flowers and a whole selection of homeware accessories you didn’t even know you needed.
And now a H&M Home shop is coming to the city centre too.
H&M Home
The retailer recently closed the majority of its Market Street store while it undergoes a refurbishment, leaving just a small section open for fans to continue to shop at the high street favourite.
This week, H&M announced that the small section will now become its H&M Home showroom so decor lovers can ‘scratch that interior design itch’ once again.
In a newsletter distributed to its members, H&M said: “You may have seen that our Market Street store is temporarily closed whilst we work on our new look and feel.
@hmhome / Instagram
“But from 23rd September, you can head down to our H&M HOME showroom in the same location where you can scratch that interior design itch by shopping our latest home decor collection.
“The first 100 members in the queue will receive a free H&M HOME gift and an exclusive offer for the full launch in winter 2023.
“There’s even some exciting new AR technology to help you visualise your living space and enhance your shopping experience just that little bit more.
@hmhome / Instagram
“If you’re looking for the rest of our assortment, you can find your nearest store in the Trafford Centre and we’re always open at hm.com.”
The H&M Home showroom located on Market Street will open this Saturday, September 23rd. The shop will fully launch in winter this year.