A 13-year-old girl has been involved in a random attack while walking along Stour Road in Astley this past weekend.
Her father is now appealing to the public for information after the girl was punched in the face during the unprovoked incident, which occurred early in the evening last Saturday.
She was said to have been approached by the man, who let his dog pull towards her, despite her walking into the road to avoid them, and as she carried on past and turned to go up a ginnel leading to Helston Way, he turned around and ran after her, pulling her by her hair and punching her in the face.
Just moments earlier, the girl had been on the phone to her mum, telling her she was almost home after walking the short distance from a friend’s house, and her mum could even hear the shouts from the incident.
The girl – who is a black belt in jiu jitsu – managed to fight him off however.
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A video of the incident has been widely shared on social media after the girl’s dad, who wishes to remain anonymous, managed to track down CCTV footage.
The footage shows the offender walking his black dog – thought to be a pug or a French bulldog – in the direction of Chancery Close.
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He is wearing an orange zip-up top, and what look like jogging bottoms.
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Like most parents with teenage children, the girl’s parents had only recently been allowing her some extra freedom to walk alone, and they believe it’s thanks to her martial arts training that she was able to fight the attacker off.
The girl’s father said the attack has now made them extra cautious.
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Relaying the incident, the dad-of-one said: “She’s understandably shaken and she’s been a bit subdued since it happened. It’s frightened her quite a bit. Her mum was waiting on the doorstep as she was nearly home and just after she put the phone down, my wife heard everything down the street.”
He continued: “He never said a word to her when his dog pulled towards her”
“She didn’t think anything of it, I think she had been looking at the dog more than anything. She was nearly home and the next thing he’s pulled her hair, tried to drag her to the floor and punched her in the face.
“She’s used to being punched in jiu jitsu so she fought back and managed to get away.
“She’s not badly bruised, he punched her cheek, but it’s lucky that she knows how to defend herself and she defended herself very well, using her skills to get out of the situation.”
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“She only goes out with a few close friends from school and we usually pick them up [but] it’s only since COVID we’ve said she can walk home as we can’t have them in the car. She didn’t have far to walk at all from her friends,
“But we won’t be letting her do it alone now.”
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Confirming the incident, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called to a report of assault. A girl aged 13 was walking along a ginnel linking Helston Way and Stour Road when she was assaulted by a man who was walking a dog.
“Enquiries are ongoing to trace the offender [but] no arrests have currently been made.
“Police are aware of a video purporting to show the lead up to the assault.”
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The incident happened at around 6.30pm on Saturday 28th November. The man was bald or with short hair, and is thought to have been around 40 years old.
After the assault, he ran back out of the alley in the direction of Glastonbury Road.
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 7124 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Manchester named one of the UK’s ‘most entertaining’ cities for 2026
Emily Sergeant
A new study has named the most ‘fun and entertaining’ cities to visit in the UK in 2026, and it’s good news for the north.
While a new year often brings with it a renewed urge to want to jet off on holiday, it can also make us eager to see what our own country has to offer by booking a little staycation to experience somewhere new right on our doorstep.
But which cities should we be heading to for a good time?
If you’re looking for adventure and excitement out of your staycation, then travel experts at Braw Scottish Tours set out to find the most fun places in the country by analysing 50 cities and towns across the UK to uncover where visitors are most ‘spoiled for choice’ in 2026.
Whether you’re planning a weekend break or a longer city escape, the right destination can make all the difference, especially if you’re looking for a mix of nightlife, outdoor space, and good value for money.
Manchester has been named one of the most entertaining cities in the UK / Alex Bracken (via Unsplash) | The Manc Group | MCR Art Fair
The study looked at 17 key factors across three main areas – entertainment and nightlife, recreation and outdoor activities, and lifestyle and amenities.
Everything from pubs and live music venues, to parks and the cost of a pint or movie ticket were analysed, because according to the travel experts, the best cities don’t just offer fun, they make it easy and affordable to enjoy.
The north has taken the top spot on the list, as Newcastle has been named the UK’s most fun and entertaining city to visit in 2026.
Other northern cities in the top 20 include Leeds, Blackpool, Bradford, and Hull… oh, and Manchester, of course, as our city has claimed a very respectable third place on the list and even ranked first for live music venues, entertainment events, and gyms per capita, which highlights we’re a city that is as active as we are lively.
Top 10 most entertaining cities to visit in the UK
Newcastle
Westminster
Manchester
Norwich
Belfast
Aberdeen
Southampton
Glasgow
Plymouth
Oxford
Overall, Manchester racked up a score of 56.85, cementing its reputation as one of the UK’s leading cultural cities.
Manchester was also praised for its food and retail scene, placing third for restaurants and fifth for shopping centres, and although the average cinema ticket costs around £10, the city was found to balance this out with a wide range of free events, festivals, and accessible green spaces.
Elsewhere in the top 10 list, outside of the north, you’ll find other major cities like London, Belfast, Glasgow, and Oxford.
Edinburgh and Cardiff find themselves in the top 20, but do miss out on the top 10.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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Wayne Rooney expresses interest in joining Manchester United’s coaching staff
Danny Jones
In another unexpected twist in the Manchester United manager saga, club and England legend Wayne Rooney has expressed interest in returning to Old Trafford and potentially joining their coaching staff.
Man United’s all-time leading goalscorer is one of half a dozen different former players to have been linked with either the top job or a backroom role following Ruben Amorim’s departure.
Speaking on his self-titled BBC podcast, the retired Premier League icon turned coach and now pundit, didn’t hesitate when asked about the prospect, simply replying: “of course I would” – dubbing the decision as “a no-brainer.”
"Of course I would!"
Wayne Rooney wouldn't think twice about joining Michael Carrick's staff at Manchester United if an offer arrived. pic.twitter.com/nGEAugQjHH
Rooney’s last coaching job was that of Plymouth Argyle manager, which ended in December 2024 following a run of poor results, much like his time at Birmingham City earlier that year.
Since then, he’s bounced around between punditry and broadcasting, serving as a guest on the likes of The Overlap with his old teammates and peers, as well as now co-hosting his own aforementioned pod, The Wayne Rooney Show.
However, the 40-year-old has always insisted that he still wants a future in coaching, and while it may not have worked as a full-time first-team boss just yet, perhaps more of an assistant position or more specific post (maybe training the forwards as Benni McCarthy did) could be a better fit for now.
‘Wazza’ admitted that, even despite having been on holiday with Carrick “last week”, no one could have expected this situation to have emerged, and certainly not this quick a turnaround.
Moreover, Rooney insisted that rather than preferring any particular person for the next interim head coach/United manager or to join the wider staff, he simply believes that they need “people who know the club” inside and out.
He isn’t the first to have accused the global sporting franchise of losing its ‘identity’ in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and many seem to believe that getting in familiar faces who were at the club during its heyday could help resolve that issue.
This was obviously pretty much the thinking when Ole Gunnar Solskjær not only became interim head coach but got the job on a permanent basis after they began looking more like the confident, attacking teams of old and like they were enjoying their football again. Though we all know how it ended.
Solskjær did look to be leading the race to return to Old Trafford for a second spell as manager initially, but it now looks as though Michael Carrick is the odds-on favourite to replace Amorim in the interim, with the suggestion that one might still assist the other.
Carrick certainly received a good amount of praise during his time at Middlesbrough, and while his time there didn’t end perfectly, either – parting ways after missing out on the playoff spots once again – there seems to be a belief that he, whether flanked by others or not, is the right choice for United at this time.
Once again, there is talk of current temporary caretaker Darren Fletcher remaining with the first team in some capacity rather than simply returning straight to the under-18s, but only time will tell who will be involved. Nevertheless, it now looks nailed on that Carrick will be in the dugout for the derby day.
The Manc -
1st December 2020 
