An insurance company has been given permission to build nearly 200 homes on land which used to form part of the Cheshire green belt.

Royal London wants to develop land adjoining its headquarters in Wilmslow.

The proposals are part of the company's wider plans that will see it transfer all 1,200 staff from the site to nearby Alderley Park.

Campaign group Residents of Wilmslow said it was preparing to take legal action against the plans.

Homes were evacuated on a street in Oldham following reports of a suspicious package being found.

The bomb squad was called in after reports of a device being discovered on Hillside Avenue. A cordon is in place on the road.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "At around 11:20 BST on Thursday police were called to Hillside Avenue in Oldham to reports that a suspicious device had been found.

"As a precautionary measure, some nearby properties were evacuated whilst bomb disposal experts carried out an assessment.

"The device has now been removed from the property and existing cordons have been lifted."

BBC Sport

Wigan Athletic have been charged by the Football Association over a pitch invasion by fans after their FA Cup fifth-round win over Manchester City.

Sergio Aguero had an altercation with a fan after the tie last month but the City striker faced no punishment.

Now Wigan have been charged for 'failing to ensure that no spectators or unauthorised persons encroached onto the pitch' at the DW Stadium.

The League One club has until 18:00 BST on Monday 9 April to respond.

• Wigan Athletic are charged by the FA over a pitch invasion by their fans after their FA Cup fifth-round win over Manchester City
• Alder Hey Children's Hospital says it will help Alfie Evans's family ensure the best end-of-life care for the Bootle toddler after a final appeal against his life-support being withdrawn is rejected
• Man suffers serious leg and back injuries after being hit by a car in Darwen, say police

The "Tornado" has returned to the East Lancashire Railway for the first time since 2010.

BBC Radio Lancashire were given exclusive access, including on the footplate of the legendary locomotive.

BBC Weather

This afternoon will see patchy cloud develop, with more frequent showers and the risk of hail and thunder too. Highs of 8C.

More from BBC Weather

The eight-week-old terrier was set free with the help of vegetable oil.

Eight of Lancashire police's front counter services will close today following a review that took place last year.

Image source, Google

Counters in Bispham, Clitheroe, Colne, Darwen, Leyland, Ormskirk, St Annes and Waterfoot are closing.

Lancashire Constabulary decided to make the closures as part of wider savings and a restructure, saying it needs to "use resources wisely".

Alternative front counters for people in those areas can be found here, external.

Sale Sharks and England wing Denny Solomona has been charged after allegedly verbally abusing a Worcester Warriors player.

A man suffered serious leg and back injuries when he was hit by a car in Darwen on Monday, police said.

Image source, Google

It happened at about 15:10 outside the Shell petrol station on Blackburn Road.

Lancashire Police say the driver of the black sports car - believed to be a woman - failed to stop.

The injured man, in his 60s, was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police.

• Alder Hey Children's Hospital says it will help Alfie Evans's family ensure the best end-of-life care for the Bootle toddler after afinal appeal against his life-support being withdrawn is rejected
• Man suffers serious leg and back injuries after being hit by a car in Darwen, say police
• Eight Lancashire Police front counters close today as part of the constabulary's wider savings

Liverpool Echo

Peter Kay has broken his Twitter silence , externalafter his official account announced a charity event.

The much-loved comedian has been quiet on social media after cancelling his hotly-anticipated tour last year, external.

BBC Sport

A man from Liverpool says his daughters could be "two of the greatest female tennis players the planet has ever seen".

Ray Wood, born and raised in Liverpool but now living in Australia, is helping train his daughters Livinnia and Palmoa and is determined that they will make it to the top.

Passengers using Northern trains face more disruption today as members of the RMT union stage their latest 24-hour stoppage over plans to introduce driver-only operated trains.

Image source, PA

Members of the union say passenger safety would be put at risk if guards are scrapped.

Northern says driver-only operated trains are widely used elsewhere.

It's the second walk out this week, with the dispute now in its second year.

Manchester Evening News

Transport bosses are warning holidaymakers to brace themselves for disruption as the massive Easter getaway begins, external.

Manchester Airport is gearing up for its busiest year on record, with 160,000 passengers set to jet away over the long weekend.

• Alder Hey Children's Hospital says it will help Alfie Evans's family ensure the best end-of-life care for the Bootle toddler after a final appeal against his life-support being withdrawn is rejected
• Another strike disrupts Northern rail passengers as members of the RMT union stage the latest in a series of one-day stoppages over plans to scrap guards on trains
• A man in his 60s suffered serious leg and back injuries when he was hit by a car in Darwen

The "Tornado" has returned to the East Lancashire Railway for the first time since 2010.

The legendary locomotive, built in 2008, celebrates her 10th birthday this year.

Tornado cost £3m to build.

BBC Sport

Southport manager Kevin Davies says "mucking-in" is part and parcel of his job, speaking about the fact that the club has 40-50 volunteers.

Image source, BBC Sport

The non-league team are on a high after winning eight of their last 12 games since the turn of the year, taking them from a relegation-threatened side to one which is challenging for the National League North play-offs.

Davies, a former England, Blackburn, Bolton, and Preston North End striker, says there's more work to do.

Tate Liverpool's Ken Simons has had his hands on Picasso paintings, moved Tracey Emin's bed and manoeuvred an Antony Gormley sculpture though a third-floor window.

Image source, ROGER SINEK

For him, a famous painting or sculpture isn't just a precious creation to be admired - it's a practical puzzle.

Will it fit through the door? How can it be carried? Which trolley is best to wheel it through the gallery? And, in the case of some outlandish modern sculptures - how does it fit together?

As the long-serving art handling manager at Tate Liverpool, these have been Simons' first thoughts when faced with works by the likes of Dali, Rodin, Hockney and Freud.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital says it will work with the family of toddler Alfie Evans to ensure the best end-of-life care plan, after his parents lost their final appeal to stop his life-support being turned off.

Image source, Alfie's Army

The European Court of Human Rights dismissed the case yesterday.

Alfie has been on treatment in Liverpool for 15 months with an undiagnosed brain condition.

The hospital says it will work with Alfie's parents to agree the most appropriate palliative care.