Summary

  • Latest updates on Friday 5 April

  1. Join us for today's live news coveragepublished at 08:01 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    Good morning! We'll be with you until 18:00 today with the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates from across the North West of England.

  2. Fear and yearning in Liverpoolpublished at 00:00 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

    What would it mean for Liverpool to break their 29-year wait for a league title? Those who have followed, worked for and reported on the club for decades explain.

    Read More
  3. Bury finances 'worse' than believedpublished at 22:29 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Chairman Steve Dale says Bury's financial position is "significantly worse" than he believed it to be prior to his takeover.

    Read More
  4. Hillsborough event halted to avoid 'risk'published at 20:57 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    A commemoration with speeches, performances and prayers was planned for St George's Hall plateau.

    Read More
  5. 'Miracle' baby faces deportation battlepublished at 18:26 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Elizabeth Phiri was given a 50/50 chance of survival when she was born at 23 weeks.

    Read More
  6. Mall Dini ruled out of Grand Nationalpublished at 18:21 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Mall Dini is ruled out of Saturday's Grand National with a leg injury and will be replaced by first reserve Just A Par.

    Read More
  7. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    That's all from the live team for now, but we'll be back from 08:00 on Friday with more of the latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the region.

    In the meantime, this page will be updated automatically with content from across the BBC.

  8. North West weather: Showery rain this eveningpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC Weather

    Showers with some bursts of heavier rain will sweep across the region this evening.

    Temperatures overnight will fall as low as 4C.

    Media caption,

    North West weather: Showery rain this evening

  9. Liam Gallagher's Pretty Green fashion brand bought by JD Sportspublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Liam GallagherImage source, Getty Images

    Pretty Green, the fashion brand founded by Liam Gallagher, has been rescued from administration by JD Sports.

    JD Sports will keep the flagship store in Manchester open, but 11 other stores and 33 concessions in House of Fraser will close, putting 97 jobs at risk.

    Pretty Green store in Liverpool

    Pretty Green called in administrators last week.

    "Challenging" retail conditions and House of Fraser's fall into administration have been blamed for the fashion chain's problems.

  10. Raheem Sterling arranges for 550 children to attend Man City's cup semi-finalpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC Sport

    Raheem SterlingImage source, Getty Images

    Raheem Sterling has arranged for 550 pupils from his old school to attend the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Brighton at Wembley on Saturday.

    Students from the Ark Elvin Academy in London will also meet the England winger at City's training complex in Manchester on Thursday.

    Sterling, 24, was raised near Wembley after moving from Jamaica aged five, and attended Copland Community School, which adopted its current name in 2014.

  11. Cleaner stole jewels and goods worth £42kpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Nicola Walker is jailed for 16 months for stealing jewellery and other items from clients in Cheshire.

    Read More
  12. Mystery surrounds 250-yard trail of bloodpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    A mysterious trail of blood stretching 250 yards (230m) through the streets of Liverpool is being investigated by police.

    Montague Road, Old SwanImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    Police said the trail of blood stretched 250 yards from Montague Road in Old Swan

    The blood, between Montague Road in Old Swan to Rathbone Road in Wavertree, was discovered at 17:45 BST on Wednesday.

    Police said the blood stains ended at a bus stop and believed the injured individual may have boarded a bus.

    Officers are carrying out forensic inquiries and checks at Merseyside hospitals to trace the casualty.

  13. Blackpool: 'We can create a vibrant destination', council sayspublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    With the "right sort of interventions", Blackpool can be a "vibrant destination", the council has said.

    It follows a parliamentary report which found coastal towns were in desperate need of reinvention and have been neglected for too long.

    BlackpoolImage source, Getty Images

    Improvements to Blackpool including the revamped seafront, investment in trams, hotels and a new electrified rail link to London were mentioned - but the report also said serious deprivation persists.

    Blackpool Council Chief Executive Neil Jack said the report has highlighted the "challenge" facing the Lancashire town.

    He said:

    Quote Message

    We welcome this report and the recognition it brings to the challenges we face and our aspirations for the future.

    Quote Message

    We know from experience that, with the right sort of interventions, we can create a vibrant destination that has a thriving retail, leisure and accommodation offer, complemented by better housing, sustainable employment and a tangible sense of civic pride.”

    The government said it would carefully consider the committee's findings and said it was on track to invest £200m in coastal communities by 2020.

  14. Blackburn cat dies after being shot for second timepublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    A cat which survived being shot in the head has died after an air rifle pellet was fired into its spine.

    Pet catImage source, RSPCA

    Lulu was put down after being taken to a vet by a neighbour who found it injured and in distress.

    The owners of the six-year-old Siamese, Debbie and Henry Ramsey, said a pellet had been removed from its skull after the first shooting 18 months ago.

    The RSPCA has appealed for information about the latest "callous" shooting in Blackburn, Lancashire.

  15. Phil Foden: Man City youngster will be 'important player for decade'published at 14:45 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC Sport

    Phil Foden "will be an important player" for Manchester City "for the next decade", boss Pep Guardiola said.

    The 18-year-old midfielder made his first Premier League start in a 2-0 win over Cardiff on Wednesday as City went back to the top of the table.

    Foden has played 24 times this season, a mix of cup games and substitute appearances in the league.

    "Even though he is a young player he is able to do everything. Every game he creates chances," said Guardiola.

  16. Prince Charles 'impressed' by British Muslim Heritage Centrepublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    The Prince of Wales has praised the team at the British Muslim Heritage Centre for making a difference in their community.

    The Prince of Wales was greeted by schoolchildren at the British Muslim Heritage CentreImage source, PA

    Prince Charles attended the centre in Whalley Range during a series of royal engagements in Greater Manchester yesterday.

    He said he "admired" all the work being done and said "how important" Muslim communities were in the UK.

    The prince also travelled to Wigan to visit The Old Courts, the Toffee Works and Wigan Little Theatre.

  17. Bert Trautmann: From unlikely football hero to film starpublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC Entertainment and Arts

    Bert Trautmann was born in Germany but he went on to have one of the least likely careers in British football.

    Actor playing Bert TrautmannImage source, Parkland

    The former prisoner of war from Bremen became one of the most acclaimed British goalkeepers of his generation, playing eventually for Manchester City.

    Now the film The Keeper tells his story and Vincent Dowd has been talking to the stars about an unlikely football hero.

  18. Bolton games go ahead but players not paidpublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    Bolton Wanderers' next two home matches will both go ahead as planned, but the club's players have still not been paid.

    Read More
  19. Kash Ali apologises for biting David Price in British heavyweight boutpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    BBC Sport

    British heavyweight Kash Ali has apologised for biting rival David Price, saying his behaviour was not a "true reflection of who I am".

    David Price bite markImage source, Getty Images

    Ali has had his boxing licence suspended pending a hearing and his fight purse withdrawn.

    "I am hugely embarrassed for my actions and the way the whole fight unfolded," Ali, 27, said.

    Price, 35, says Ali chose to bite him because he "wanted to get thrown out" of their bout in Liverpool on Saturday.

  20. Man shot in leg in Salfordpublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    A man, aged in his 20s, has been shot in the leg in Salford, police said.

    Boundary Road, IrlamImage source, Google

    Officers were called to Boundary Road in Irlam at about 22:50 BST on Wednesday.

    Police have taped off Barton Lane in Eccles while they investigate. The man remains in hospital.