Summary

  • Key updates on Friday 3 May:

  • Local elections: Minor parties make gains across North West

  • Labour celebrate 'stunning' win in Trafford

  • Wirral Council hung after gains by Tories and Greens

  • Bid to oust Liverpool mayor launched after polls close

  • Labour loses seven seats and control of Bolton Council

  • Lancashire: Labour make gains in Chorley

  1. Man charged over United protest at hotelpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    A man is charged with throwing fireworks and using threatening behaviour near the team's hotel.

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  2. Couple get engaged at Blossoms Covid trial gigpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    Jimmy Overill proposed to Rhia Griffiths as thousands gathered for the concert in Liverpool.

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  3. Man proposes at UK's first post-lockdown gigpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    Jimmy Overill got down on one knee at a Blossoms gig at Sefton Park in Liverpool on Sunday.

  4. Health boss 'confident' in Covid gig pilot successpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    Scientists will now analyse data after some 11,000 people attended a series of experimental events.

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  5. Mayoral election comes at end of 'odd campaign'published at 13:55 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    Frustrations and last-minute cancellations mar the run-up to the Liverpool City Region mayor poll.

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  6. Jury discharged in farmhouse torture murder trialpublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    Christopher Guest More was accused of murdering Brian Waters who was tortured and killed in 2003.

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  7. Tributes to British man killed in Israel crushpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    Manchester student Moshe Bergman was among 45 people killed at the religious festival.

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  8. Midlands Live: Breaking news and local storiespublished at 06:19 British Summer Time 4 May 2021

    The latest news and updates from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

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  9. Arrest over 'hostility' at Man Utd fans protestpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 3 May 2021

    Six officers were injured in the "violent disorder" at Old Trafford on Sunday, police say.

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  10. MUST urges Glazers to engage with fanspublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 3 May 2021

    The Manchester United Supporters' Trust urges co-chairman Joel Glazer to engage with fans to avoid a repeat of Sunday's protests.

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  11. 'If I don't vote, my voice won't be heard'published at 14:15 British Summer Time 3 May 2021

    Kyle says it is important for people like him to ensure they "have a voice" in how decisions are made.

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  12. Negative tests and positive vibespublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 3 May 2021

    Five-thousand music fans attend a pilot concert held in a big top in Liverpool.

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  13. Man charged with teenager's rapepublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 3 May 2021

    An 18-year-old is charged with rape, attempted sexual assault, actual bodily harm and exposure.

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  14. Covid gig experiment brings the good times backpublished at 03:16 British Summer Time 3 May 2021

    Blossoms play to 5,000 fans in Liverpool to help gather research for this summer's festival season.

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  15. Percussionist Fang Zhang wins BBC Young Musicianpublished at 21:58 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    The 17-year-old, who has been performing internationally since he was 11, "deeply moved" the jury.

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  16. 'Emotions have been simmering for 16 years'published at 21:16 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Protests at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground came just weeks after European Super League plans were thwarted - but emotions have been simmering for 16 years.

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  17. Protesters on Old Trafford pitchpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Manchester United's Premier League game against Liverpool has been postponed after fans broke onto the pitch protesting against the Glazer family's ownership of the club.

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  18. British man named among victims of Israel crushpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Manchester student Moshe Bergman was among 45 people killed at the religious festival.

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  19. Kelly double sends Man City top of WSLpublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Manchester City go top of the Women's Super League as Chloe Kelly's double helps to beat Birmingham.

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  20. Fans ready for live music’s big testpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Ian Youngs
    Entertainment and Arts Reporter, BBC News

    Fans at Liverpool pilot gig

    “A sigh of relief.”

    That’s how music fan Ben Carroll-Vickers, 19, describes the feeling of ripping off his face mask just after getting through the gates for the first “normal” gig for more than a year.

    He’ll be among 5,000 people who will pack into a big top in a Liverpool park this evening – with no masks and no social distancing necessary – as part of the government’s research into how to reopen large events.

    “It feels a bit surreal,” says his friend Freya Devine. “We’ve been looking forward to it for ages. I think it will be weird getting in there and being so close to people without our masks on. But yeah, I’m really, really excited.”

    Screens at Liverpool pilot gig reading: “Want more live music? Don’t forget to take your PCR test on Friday”

    It is a bit surreal to see a normal festival set-up after all this time – the pricey bars, the burger vans, the rows of Portaloos (as well as the obligatory grey clouds).

    One of the only signs of Covid inside the venue are the big screens inside the tent. They are showing messages like: “Want more live music? Don’t forget to take your PCR test on Friday” and “Don’t forget – as soon as you leave the event all current government rules apply – hands, face, space!”