Michael Portillo's journey from the Irish Sea to the North Sea continues by tram from Manchester. At the imposing town hall of the world's first industrial city, Michael comes face to face with the Victorian scientist who invented modern atomic theory. He then heads to the city's National Graphene Institute, where he learns to make the groundbreaking material invented there by two Nobel Prize-winning scientists. His Bradshaw's leads him to an 18th-century settlement built by refugees from Europe.

Next, deep underground at Standedge, Michael discovers an ambitious Victorian engineering marvel. At Silkstone Common, he tracks down the forge where a Victorian metallurgist created wrought iron axles strong enough for railway rolling stock and is delighted to discover the works operates its own miniature train.

Cheshire host Cumbria at Didsbury Cricket Club in the National Counties Trophy - listen to BBC Radio Cumbria commentary.

St Joseph's Hospice's furniture shop and warehouse were destroyed in the Aintree fire.

Two bus operators are challenging the franchising proposal in a judicial review at the High Court.

Lancashire take full control on the first day against Yorkshire after bowling the visitors out for 159.

"A debt of gratitude" is owed to the staff for their work during the pandemic, a council says.

The three officers turned off their body-worn cameras while the assault took place, a court hears.

Stephen Watson says his goal is to take Greater Manchester Police to a "demonstrably better place".

A man is being held on suspicion of murdering the 25-year-old man in Oldham on Wednesday.

A charity workers says there is still work to do, 20 years after racial rioting broke out in Oldham.

Restrictions are not being imposed on Indian variant-affected areas, the government says.

The man was stopped after driving at 131mph on the M65 near Burnley, police say.