Melissa Young from Oldham has been named Fashion Designer of the Year at the Liverpool Lifestyle Awards. The awards, hosted by Amanda Moss, involve public voting after business nominations. Young runs Lissa MJY Couture, a handmade fashion brand she founded to help people feel beautiful through fashion. She hosted a fashion show at the awards featuring Nova Models models wearing her designs. Young has been in the fashion industry since 2013, creating wedding, bridesmaid, and prom dresses. She also hosts an annual charity fashion show raising money for SHINE, supporting people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, conditions her son suffers from.
Daisy Nook Country Park, a 40-hectare green space straddling Oldham and Tameside, became a lifeline during lockdown for a local resident who lives nearby. The park features a modest cafe, multiple walking routes including accessible paths to Crime Lake and more challenging trails, and historical sites like the ruins of Riversvale Hall, once home to pioneering Egyptologist Kate Bradbury Griffith. The area also contains remnants of the Hollinwood Branch Canal infrastructure. A volunteer group now works to improve and maintain the park, with Community Payback scheme participants recently helping with the children's play area. The park has become popular with wildlife photographers and has an active Friends group sharing updates and photos.
Avonleigh Gardens care home in Oldham has been named one of the top 20 care homes in North West England by carehome.co.uk. The home was ranked from 1,784 care homes across the region based on reviews from residents, families, and friends. Amanda Hopkins from carehome.co.uk praised the achievement as a testament to the standard of care provided. Home manager Rachel Bowers said the team is 'over the moon' about the recognition, which reflects their person-centred approach to care. The award comes as the UK's elderly population is projected to grow significantly, increasing demand for quality care services.
Jodie Bennett has taken over the Three Crowns pub in Saddleworth, announcing her new role on social media on March 2, 2026. The pub had been listed as needing new landlords since September 2025, with previous owners leaving in January 2026. Bennett's announcement received over 100 comments and was shared more than 250 times, with locals offering advice and wishing her success. She previously worked at The Old School BBQ bus and plans to transform the venue into a family-friendly community hub rather than a traditional pub. Local residents have expressed hopes for reasonably priced food, children's menus, and a return to the welcoming atmosphere when former landlord Ray ran the establishment.
Police Constable Alison Armitage was killed in Oldham on March 5, 2001, while observing a stolen Vauxhall Vectra in plain clothes. She was 29 years old and became the first female officer in Greater Manchester Police to die in the line of duty. The Police Memorial Trust laid a floral wreath today at a memorial on Robert Street, near where she sustained fatal injuries. The memorial was unveiled in July 2002. The driver deliberately reversed and drove over her twice before fleeing, causing injuries that led to her death at Royal Oldham Hospital.
Park Cake Bakeries in Hathershaw, Oldham, operates a factory shop selling M&S treats at discounted prices. The shop, open six days weekly, offers items like mini Colin cakes (£2 for 530g), chocolate orange mini rolls (£2), cornflake cakes (£1), and wonky Colin cakes (£1). A reporter visited on a Tuesday morning, spending £7.70 on various baked goods. The 90-year-old bakery supplies M&S and has plans to expand by demolishing a former pub.
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton MP Jim McMahon has detailed his 'sobering' visit to Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of the war with Russia. As part of a cross-party delegation, McMahon travelled to Odesa, Kyiv and Chernobyl, witnessing missile strikes and drone attacks. During his stay in Odesa, the city was hit by missiles overnight, damaging four residential blocks and a school. In Kyiv, the delegation experienced a significant attack with ballistic missiles and drones. McMahon described visiting the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear power plant as 'a haunting highlight' and recounted meeting a woman whose home was destroyed in an attack that killed her six-year-old daughter. The delegation attended conferences and laid candles in remembrance. McMahon praised UK leadership and Oldham residents who have provided sanctuary to over 150 Ukrainians through the Homes for Ukraine programme.
Lees Village Service Station in Oldham ran out of fuel on March 4, 2026, after panic buying began following Middle East conflict. The independent station said it had 38,000 litres arriving the next day but would run out again due to high demand. Management blamed the situation on motorists panic buying, noting prices were already set to rise before the war. The station warned prices would increase further next week and urged people to only buy what they need. The conflict involves US and Israeli missile strikes on Iran, with Iran responding with attacks across the Gulf and at US and Israeli-linked sites.
Grey remains the most popular car colour in Oldham and Greater Manchester, accounting for 32 per cent of retail sales in 2025 according to Swansway Motor Group. Oldham recorded the highest density of postcodes favouring grey vehicles. Green cars saw a 94 per cent sales increase, more than double the national growth rate of 46 per cent. Red vehicles declined by 12 per cent, while silver has dropped 36 per cent over the past decade. Grey has been Swansway's best-selling colour for seven consecutive years, comprising 31.8 per cent of their 2025 retail sales.
Fly tipping has been discovered in an alleyway in Clarksfield, Oldham, with furniture, litter, and general waste piled up behind homes. An anonymous resident posted pictures on social media calling the situation 'a joke' and 'totally unacceptable', showing a mattress, chairs, sofa, wooden pallets, and bin bags filled with unidentifiable items. Cllr Elaine Taylor, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, condemned the illegal dumping as 'completely unacceptable' and stated that everyone has a duty to dispose of waste properly. The council has installed gates to prevent fly tipping, but these were found unlocked and open when The Oldham Times visited the street. The council is relaunching its 'Don't Trash Oldham' campaign and has launched a 'Clean Alleyway of the Month' initiative to promote community pride.
Oldham Mountain Rescue Team rescued a missing person near Dovestone on February 28, 2026, after they were found suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion. The team was called at 9:15pm to search for two missing people in the area. One person returned home safely after 45 minutes, while search dog Ace and his handler located the second person at 10:20pm, approximately two miles east of Greenfield reservoir. The casualty received medical assessment, shelter, and warm drinks before being stretchered out. HM Coastguard helicopter assisted in the difficult terrain transfer to a road ambulance. The rescue involved 16 team members and took 4.5 hours total.
Co-op Royton manager Darren Ramsden has issued a statement addressing customer frustration over parking fines issued in electric vehicle charging bays that are not yet operational. The car park is now managed by a London-based landlord who has installed ANPR monitoring and is enforcing parking independently. Previously, store management could help cancel fines in exceptional circumstances, but this is no longer possible due to changed management arrangements. The manager said he is actively raising concerns with the landlord and seeking resolution, while asking customers to direct dissatisfaction appropriately as the matter is outside store control.
A Home Bargains lorry crashed on Ripponden Road, A672, between Denshaw and Newhey near the M62 motorway this morning. The vehicle ended up half on the road and half in a field, with police and recovery vehicles attending the scene. Greater Manchester Police confirmed no injuries occurred but reported damage to walls and pavement. The road was temporarily blocked to passing traffic before being reopened according to AA Traffic maps. Home Bargains has been contacted for comment on the incident.
Northmoor Library in Coldhurst, Oldham, has been named North England regional and country finalist for the Library of the Year 2026 award. The library, described as a 'little gem' on Chadderton Way, received £168,000 from the Arts Council in 2024 plus £17,000 from Oldham Council to transform the building with a new roof, doors, windows, study space, and computers. The awards, organised by The Bookseller as part of the British Book Awards, aim to recognise libraries' community roles. Northmoor is competing against eight other northern libraries from Hull, Bradford, Darlington, Waudby, Newcastle, Stockport, Redcar, and North Yorkshire. Winners will be announced on March 12.
Oldham resident Peter Burke, 74, has complained about three new IX Wireless broadband poles installed near his Broadway home, describing them as 'intrusive' and raising privacy concerns. The 15m tall poles allow visibility into bedrooms if someone were to climb them, according to Burke. He claims residents were only notified after installation via notices on nearby telegraph posts. The council told Burke they could not intervene as telegraph poles don't require council approval. IX Wireless stated they provided three weeks' prior notice and the poles are similar to standard lighting columns with a smaller footprint. Oldham Council explained they cannot override national planning regulations and have no opportunity to consult residents on such installations.
Popeyes, the Louisiana fried chicken restaurant chain, opened its first Oldham location at Elk Mill Shopping Park on February 27, 2026. The restaurant took over the former Pizza Hut space and attracted crowds for a launch day promotion offering a year's supply of chicken. The 8am-11pm daily restaurant features New Orleans-style music, orange and turquoise fittings, and offers ordering screens with collection hatches. Menu items sampled included a deluxe burger with freshly marinated pickles, cajun and ranch wraps, mac and cheese, smokey beans, and gravy. The restaurant's signature 'shatter' coating on chicken was highlighted as a key selling point.
A four-bedroom detached house on Counthill Road, Oldham, is listed for £425,000 through Purplebricks. The modern home features a spacious living room with bay window, contemporary kitchen with dining area, and direct garden access. Upstairs are four double bedrooms, including a main bedroom with fitted wardrobes and en-suite. The property includes a driveway, garage, and mainly lawn rear garden. It is freehold and falls within council tax band D.
Oldham's Egyptian Room food hall, located in the restored Old Town Hall, has been nominated for the RIBA North West Awards 2026. The venue opened in November 2024 and is one of ten buildings shortlisted for the regional architecture award. Council leader Arooj Shah praised the recognition as testament to the vision and partnership behind transforming the historic building. The Egyptian Room is nominated alongside notable buildings including the Grade I-listed Rochdale Town Hall, which also reopened in 2024 after restoration. All nominated projects will be visited by the regional jury, with winners announced in spring and considered for national awards.
It is the latest in a string of recent Greater Manchester openings for the fried chicken chain, which also recently launched in Bolton and is now preparing to launch at Piccadilly station. When we arrived just before 10am, there were a handful of dedicated chicken fans in the queue, however the crowds slowly gathered as it drew closer to the 11am opening. The top prize for the first four customers on foot and in the parking bays was free deluxe chicken sandwiches for a year, while the first 50 got some Popeyes merchandise and the first 100 a free deluxe chicken sandwich. Gym manager Ross Gallagher, from Shaw, was the first in the parking bays at 2am. Ross Gallagher was the first in the queue
A four-bedroom detached family home on Millbrook Close in Clough, Shaw, has been listed for £425,000 by Cornerstone Estates & Lettings Ltd. The property features an entrance hall, spacious lounge with dual aspect windows, and a newly-fitted white gloss kitchen with granite worktops and integrated appliances. Upstairs includes four bedrooms, with the master having fitted wardrobes and an ensuite shower room concealed behind wardrobe doors. The home has well-maintained front and rear gardens, a driveway, and an integral garage with front and rear access. Located in a peaceful cul-de-sac, the property is close to local schools, shops, amenities, and the Metrolink station. The home is leasehold with 671 years remaining.