Local Democracy Reporting Service

Five council nurseries in Salford threatened with closure are set to charge parents an extra £100 a month under new plans.

Image source, PA

Little Hulton Day Nursery, Winton Day Nursery, Barton Moss Day Nursery, Belvedere Day Nursery and Higher Broughton Day Nursery were all threatened with closure in February.

Town hall officers are considering raising the fees for nursery places for babies and toddlers to £200 a week – a jump of more than £37 a week for kids over three.

It would also mean a rise of £31 a week for two to three-year-olds, and a weekly increase of £25 for newborns to two-year-olds.

The figures are revealed in a report going before councillors next week.

Kev Geoghegan
Arts and entertainment reporter

It's been 33 years since Simply Red's debut album Picture Book introduced the world to Manchester singer Mick Hucknall's northern brand of blue-eyed soul.

Image source, Brian Rasic

They say the last thing to depart a champion boxer is his knockout punch and if a similar comparison can be made with singers, then it's the voice. Too many tours, too much hard-living and not enough rest can ravage what was once a thing of beauty.

Now, aged 58, Hucknall - who has just released a live performance CD and DVD, backed up by a full orchestra - has cottoned on to the best way of preserving what has been his livelihood for four decades.

He did, however, break his silence and spoke to BBC News about how he keeps his voice in good condition.

BBC Sport

BDO women's world champion Lisa Ashton from Bolton has qualified for next month's PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Image source, Getty Images

Ashton beat world number 10 Maria O'Brien 6-3 in Sunday's UK and Ireland women's qualifier at Milton Keynes.

The expansion of this year's worlds has led to two guaranteed places for female players.

Ashton, the world number one and a four-time world champion, will be joined at the tournament by Russia's Anastasia Dobromyslova.

Eight people have been charged following a climate change protest in Manchester city centre on Saturday.

Just after 15:00, police were called to Oxford Street after reports of a number of people obstructing the road.

Two people from Leeds, two from Lancaster and four from Manchester have been charged with wilful obstruction of the highway.

All eight have been bailed to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on 3 January.

Do you remember Mike the magpie who formed an unexpected yet beautiful friendship with a whippet named Boo earlier this year?

Well, Mike's back - and has learned a festive greeting.

National League promotion hopefuls Wrexham sign midfielder Bobby Grant from League One Fleetwood Town on a month's loan.

A man who's gone missing from Leeds is thought to be in Blackpool, police say.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

James Atkinson, 32, from Seacroft, was reported missing on Saturday evening when concerns were raised for his welfare.

He was last seen wearing a khaki parka coat, white shirt, blue jeans and khaki trainers.

Officers are appealing to people in Blackpool who may have seen him to get in touch with West Yorkshire Police.

A man who was shot three times outside a club has survived the "targeted attack", Greater Manchester Police has said.

Image source, Google

The victim, believed to be in his 20s, had been at the Kingston Mill venue in Salford on Friday night before the "isolated incident", officers added.

He was taken to hospital at about 05:30 GMT on Saturday, where he remains in a stable condition.

His wounds are not believed to be life-threatening.

Workers at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead have walked out in a row over what unions believe are plans to cut almost 300 jobs.

Image source, Unite

It is the first in a series of 24-hour strikes across different sections of the workforce.

Industrial action began on Friday with a ban on overtime, which will last until February.

The company has described the strikes as "counterproductive".

Police are searching for a driver who fled from a collision, leaving a passenger in the car to die.

Image source, Google

A 37-year-old woman was fatally injured in the crash between a black Mercedes and a Range Rover just after 20:40 on Saturday in Elton, Cheshire.

Police said the Mercedes driver "made off in an unknown direction" before officers arrived at the scene in Meadowview.

The passenger was taken to hospital where she later died.

A manhunt is continuing after a woman was fatally stabbed in Merseyside.

Image source, Merseyside Police

The 29-year-old victim was found with several wounds at a property in Swan Avenue, St Helens, by police officers just before midday on Saturday.

She died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics and an air ambulance crew.

Police, who believe the victim knew the offender, want to speak to Adam Brettle, 23, from Warrington.

Officers advised members of the public not to approach him.

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