Chadderton news

Chadderton Town Hall will host its first-ever wedding fair on 25 January, and one couple will leave with their entire ceremony paid for. The prize covers venue hire, catering, flowers and photography, turning the grade-II-listed building into a gift rather than a bill.

The fair runs from 11am to 3pm, giving visitors a straight run at 40 local suppliers without an entry fee. Brides, grooms and curious passers-by can taste cakes, test DJs and quiz photographers while the registrar team takes bookings on the spot.

While romance fills the council chamber, growing is under way outdoors. Oldham Council and local volunteers opened a community hub at Berries Field Park in December, offering raised beds, a greenhouse and tool store for anyone who wants to plant vegetables or flowers.

The site is already booked for weekly sessions, and the council says plots will be free for the first year so residents can test their green fingers without risking the rent. No waiting list exists yet, so early callers get the pick of the beds.

Government minister Alex Norris toured Chadderton in May to see how neighbourhood cash is being spent, but the council has not revealed which streets or projects will receive the next round of funding. Residents are still waiting for a list of streets and start dates.