Newman RC College in Oldham reopened Monday March 16 after a fire broke out in a science lab on Wednesday March 11. Three fire engines from Oldham, Hollins and Chadderton stations responded at 1.50pm to extinguish a wooden work bench fire using one hose reel. Headteacher Kerry Phillips confirmed detailed safety inspections by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and specialist contractors deemed the building safe. Ten affected classrooms passed checks and will be ready for use, while one science lab where the fire began remains closed for specialist repairs. Cosmetic work including ceiling and carpet tile replacement will be completed during Easter holidays.
Explosives experts were called to Samuel Laycock School in Ashton-under-Lyne this morning after a WWII-like device was found on school grounds. Police arrived within minutes of the call and evacuated pupils to a safe location inside the building. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, along with other emergency services, confirmed the device was an empty illumination flare. The flare has been removed and the scene closed. Chief Inspector Tim Rudd said all pupils and staff are safe and thanked parents and staff for their cooperation.
Green MP Hannah Spencer paid tribute to Oldham suffragette Annie Kenney during her maiden speech in Parliament on March 12, 2026. The MP from Greater Manchester honoured Kenney alongside other local female trailblazers including Emmeline Pankhurst, Hannah Mitchell, Mary Quaile and Elsie Plant. Kenney, born in Springhead in 1879, was a mill worker who became a prominent suffragette and co-founder of the Women's Social and Political Union. She was arrested in 1905 at Manchester's Free Trade Hall and imprisoned 13 times total. A statue of Kenney was unveiled in Oldham's Parliament Square in 2018 to mark the centenary of women gaining voting rights.
An inquest has opened into the death of 43-year-old Benn Warburton, a labourer from Honeywell Lane, Oldham, who was found dead at Snipe Clough Nature Reserve on February 23. A construction worker at a nearby site spotted his body in woodland, prompting emergency services to respond. CPR was administered but Mr Warburton was declared dead at the scene. Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. Assistant coroner Matthew Cox adjourned the inquest, setting a review date for April 16, and requested information from Mr Warburton's GP and any mental health services he may have used.
Oldham residents raised concerns after the new indoor market opening March 28 was named 'The Market' rather than Tommyfield. A petition with 38 signatures called for restoring the historic name. Council leader Arooj Shah responded that Tommyfield 'isn't disappearing' but will be given to a new five-acre town centre park instead. The new market opens March 28 at 9am with entertainment, while The Loom event space also opens that day. The first 100 visitors receive free goodie bags.
A fire broke out at Newman RC College in Oldham on Wednesday, March 11, causing the school to close. The blaze occurred in a science laboratory around 1.50pm, involving a wooden work bench. Three fire engines from Oldham, Hollins, and Chadderton attended the scene. Students and staff were safely evacuated, with headteacher Kerry Phillips praising their calm response. Fire suppression systems activated quickly, preventing further spread. The college will remain closed on Friday, March 13, with pupils attending remote learning while safety checks are completed.
Critical care staff at Royal Oldham Hospital are striking for 12 hours on March 12, 2026, over a dispute about overtime pay. The strike involves nurses, support workers, and housekeepers represented by UNISON. Staff members say they are 'burnt out' and morale is at an all-time low due to reduced pay and increased workload. The union argues that proper overtime payments and pension contributions are needed to relieve pressure on the hospitals. The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, says patient safety remains their absolute priority.
The Park Inn pub on Buckstones Road in Shaw, Oldham, has a new landlord Steve Hastie who took over in September 2026. The 45-year-old previously worked in pubs and as a delivery driver. Hastie plans summer renovations including new decor, pool table, and darts board with camera. The pub attracts diverse customers including walkers from nearby Crompton Moor, couples, and pool players. Food service will continue with a new chef focusing on traditional pub fare at good prices. The pub currently serves Timothy Taylor's Golden Best and various lagers, with Carling being most popular. Hastie acknowledges the challenging pub industry but aims to maintain The Park Inn as a community hub.
A petition has been launched to preserve the Tommyfield name for Oldham's new market, which is set to open on March 28, 2026. The petition, started by Kathryn Burns, argues that removing the historic name risks erasing part of Oldham's heritage. The new market in Spindles will replace the current Tommyfield Market building, which closes on March 21, 2026. The council has named the new market simply 'The Market' with an adjoining space called 'The Loom'. The petition has gathered 17 signatures so far and asks the council to either restore the historic name or at least display Tommyfield above the market sign. Council leader Arooj Shah previously acknowledged the closure as 'the end of an era' but emphasized looking forward with confidence as market heritage continues.
Critical care staff at Royal Oldham Hospital will strike for 12 hours on Thursday, March 12, alongside colleagues from Fairfield Hospital in Bury and Salford Royal. UNISON members, including nurses, support workers, and housekeepers, will walk out from 7.30am in a dispute over overtime pay. The union says critical care units are heavily reliant on overtime due to staff shortages and wants proper overtime payments and pension contributions for additional shifts. Talks between UNISON and the Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust collapsed on Tuesday. Kevin Dolan, UNISON North West regional organiser, said staff are highly trained professionals who keep people alive and should be rewarded properly for overtime work.
West Yorkshire Police have launched an appeal to find Phillip, a 52-year-old black man from Leeds with links to Oldham and Manchester. Phillip was last seen on Tuesday, March 10, in the Leeds area wearing a gold chain, dark shirt, and green trousers. He is described as 6ft 3in tall, of heavy build, with black hair. Officers are concerned for his welfare and are asking anyone with information to contact Leeds CID on 101 or via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat, quoting log 2036 of March 10.
A four-bedroom detached dormer bungalow on Brellafield Drive in Shaw has been listed for £500,000 by Cornerstone Estates and Lettings. The property overlooks Crompton Park and features an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space with bifold doors leading to an Indian stone patio. The ground floor includes two double bedrooms, one used as a music room or home office, while upstairs offers two further double bedrooms with dual-aspect windows and a modern family bathroom. The home includes an integral garage with utility area, driveway parking, and uninterrupted countryside views.
A Covid memorial in Shaw town centre has been vandalised for the second time in under a year. The engraved stone, tree, and bench installed in 2020 to honour NHS staff and key workers were discovered smashed on March 9, 2026, a day after Covid-19 Day of Reflection. Local councillor Louie Hamblett found the commemorative stone destroyed. This follows a similar attack last year when vandals wrecked the stone, uprooted the tree, and spraypainted the bench, costing Shaw and Crompton Town Council £1,200 in repairs. Councillor Marc Hince compared the memorial to a war cenotaph and said the council plans to erect a new plaque in Shaw's new community hall once a lease is secured at the Lifelong Learning Centre.
An online food reviewer has caused a stir on social media after being turned away from a promotional event at the new Popeye's restaurant in Oldham. Content creator Peety Scranz, who travels around the north west trying and reviewing food spots, has divided opinion with his actions after he was denied entry to the American fried chicken chain's latest branch at Elk Mill Shopping Park. In a post on Facebook, Peety Scranz said he had been invited to an event for the recent opening of Popeye's in Oldham "to help promote" the fast food spot, but said he was turned down at the door because he was late. The food reviewer said he was 15 minutes late due to traffic, which he said was his fault befor
After delays and uncertainty, an opening date for Oldham's new indoor market has finally been announced. It has been described by council bosses as a "huge moment" for Oldham and the latest step in the town's grand £450 million regeneration plan . Announcing the news of a March 28 opening, council leader. Arooj. Shah said: "We know how much markets mean to local people. It's a modern, vibrant space that puts local talent at its heart, exactly what Oldham deserves." Council leader Arooj Shah and some of the market traders moving at the new Spindles space (Image: Oldham Council) The market had originally been slated for a September 2025 opening, but it was postponed until the new year while wo
Oldham's new market opens Saturday, March 28 at 9:00 AM in the Spindles building, offering independent stalls, food businesses, and makers. The £450m town centre regeneration programme includes this modern market as a key landmark, creating new opportunities for local traders. Leader of Oldham Council Cllr Arooj Shah will open the market, which features a full day of entertainment and activities. The first 100 visitors receive free goodie bags. The market links directly to Parliament Square, a refreshed public space reopening alongside the market.
Oldham's new indoor market will open on Saturday, March 28 at 9am inside the Spindles shopping centre. The £450 million town centre regeneration includes this market space featuring independent stalls and food traders. Council leader Arooj Shah called it a 'huge moment' for Oldham, emphasizing support for local traders and creating a modern, vibrant space. The opening day includes entertainment, tasters, and opportunities to meet traders, with the first 100 visitors receiving free goodie bags. The market's opening also marks the wider reopening of Parliament Square for town centre events.
A Grade II-listed four-bedroom cottage in Delph, Saddleworth, has been listed for sale at £675,000 by Ryder & Dutton. The semi-detached property sits on a 0.25-acre plot in a private hamlet off Gatehead Road, featuring south-facing gardens, a stable block, and a large garage. Inside, the cottage includes exposed beams, a country-style kitchen with modern appliances, three double bedrooms, and a bathroom with a panelled bath and electric shower. The property is heated by gas central heating and is located near Delph's cafes, pubs, and wine bars, with easy access to neighbouring villages. Drainage is via a shared septic tank.
A man was seriously injured in a collision on Fairbottom Street, Oldham, on Saturday night. Police and paramedics responded to the incident just before 9pm on March 7, 2026. The pedestrian was taken to hospital with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening. Greater Manchester Police confirmed enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made, and the man's age has not been disclosed. Part of nearby Yorkshire Street was cordoned off as investigations began.
A man was hospitalised following a crash between a car and pedestrian in Oldham town centre on Saturday night, March 7. Greater Manchester Police responded to reports of the crash on Fairbottom Street at around 8.50pm. Emergency services attended the scene where a police cordon was established at the junction between Fairbottom Street and Yorkshire Street. The man sustained serious injuries but they are not believed to be life-threatening. Police are continuing enquiries to investigate the incident.