An illegal ‘car meet’ took place in Denton yesterday afternoon causing congestion and prolonged delays on roads in the surrounding areas and the M60.
The town was said to be ‘gridlocked’ by locals and eyewitnesses.
Hundreds of people were reported to have met up on an industrial estate on Windmill Lane, Denton – which is located just off the motorway – and footage from the event, shared widely on social platforms and in media outlets, showed large rows of cars queuing and lined up near the industrial estate.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed in a statement on the GMP Tameside North and East Facebook page yesterday afternoon that: “Officers are currently dealing with an incident at Tameside Business Centre, Windmill Lane in Denton where there is an increased activity in vehicular traffic.”
“Can we please ask that you avoid this and the surrounding area.”
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“Sadly this is putting a massive strain on our services at this time and causing a back log of traffic, however we hope we can quickly have things resolved with your help.”
Officers are currently dealing with an incident at Tameside Business Centre, Windmill Lane in Denton where there is an…
North West Motorway Police also confirmed on Twitter in relation to the event that reports were received of drivers speeding up and down the hard-shoulder of the M60 and that drivers should “take care”.
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Traffic was then later stated to be at “a complete standstill” in a follow-up tweet.
M60 j24 both anticlockwise and clockwise we have heavy congestion – this is due to an apparent car meet off the motorway network, it is however impacting around M60 , M67, M66 – we are getting numerous re vehicles using the hard shoulder at speed, please take care
— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) July 19, 2020
we now have standing traffic back up to j25 on the anticlockwise m60 – the roundabout at j24 is at a complete standstill. clockwise carriageway not as bad. if you can find a different way to go to your destination rather than come off at j24 it will save you time.
— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) July 19, 2020
A police helicopter was also needed as emergency services became concerned with the large meet.
It was also widely noted by many that several members of the public were appearing to not conform to necessary social distancing regulations, nor did they wear a face covering among crowds.
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Residents have stated ‘hundreds’ of cars and over ‘1000’ people have descended upon the area to participate in and observe what is described as an ‘illegal car rally’.
— Tameside Correspondent (@TamesideCorr) July 19, 2020
Speaking to the MEN, a Denton resident stated that: “They have come from all over the UK as far as London [and] the whole of Denton is gridlocked.”
“It sounds like bonfire night with the cars popping.”
Another eyewitness, who works at Tameside Business Centre and was ‘trapped’ inside, added: “I got in at 7am, I saw there was a banner for a big event. It seems to have been a well organised event. This is a secure site, you’re not allowed to have events like this. You can hear the cars revving. Wheels are spinning. They are doing wheelies on motorbikes.”
“I’m glad I’m inside.”
“There are young kids without their parents. I can’t go until they go, I could be here until 10pm. It might get worse, you don’t know do you?”
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“I don’t want my car being rammed by people wheel spinning.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC09ZrjJdp3/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1BAQdJ5uT/
The event was also publicly condemned on Twitter by Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, and branded as “completely irresponsible”.
Completely irresponsible and I’m informed the Police are on it. In fact as I type, the Police helicopter is overhead. https://t.co/VC8hsIhIRf
North West Motorway Police confirmed that traffic had begun easing off and clearing up just before 6pm.
Posts shared on social media platform Snapchat/SnapMaps also appeared to show a car that had been damaged in a potential minor collision and visible skid marks on the roads nearby to the industrial estate in the aftermath of the meet.
There has been no official follow-up statement on the event by Greater Manchester Police as of today.
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Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants
Daisy Jackson
Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.
In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.
The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.
Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”
The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”
After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.
The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.
He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.
Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.
“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.
“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.
“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”
Police release footage of missing Manchester man Adeo Alston-Ekpei’s last-known movements
Emily Sergeant
Video footage showing the last-known movements of a Manchester man who’s been missing for three weeks now has been released.
Detectives at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are continuing to search for Adeo Alston-Ekpei, who has not been seen since Friday 16 May.
The 25-year-old was seen in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at around 3pm, before later being seen walking down Kingsway away from Manchester and close to the River Mersey, at around 5.20pm that same day.
Multiple lines of enquiry being explored by police at present, but anyone who believes they may have seen him from around this time, is asked to get in touch.
Adeo is described as being a mixed-race male, with long curly black hair and a long singular dreadlock, and bleached eyebrows. He has a cupid’s bow piercing and a right eyebrow piercing. He also has an ‘AKA’ tattoo on his right wrist, and a ‘24’ tattoo in the right side of his chest.
He was last seen wearing long blue denim shorts, an undone green short-sleeved button-up shirt, and white Adidas trainers.
Friends have also recently set up a public fundraiser to help with the search for Adeo.
Adeo Alston-Ekpei has been missing for almost three weeks / Credit: GMP
“We are dedicated to finding Adeo and getting much-needed answers for his family,” commented Detective Inspector Kelly, from GMP’s Manchester district, as the footage was released to the public this week.
“I would ask any residents around the Kingsway area, and surrounding housing estates off Kingsway into Gately, and who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from around this time, to please check and get in touch if you have any information.
“Likewise, if anyone believes they have seen Adeo, please get in touch with one of our officers. Any information is appreciated and investigated as we continue our work.”
#MISSING | We are continuing to ask for information relating to missing Adeo, who was last seen on May 16.
We have additionally released CCTV footage showing Adeo’s last known movements on Kingsway, Manchester.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 5, 2025
A spokesperson for Adeo’s family described the missing man as ‘kind, funny, and intelligent’ with a ‘huge heart’, but they say he ‘wasn’t himself when he disappeared’.
“He may have come across as agitated, lost, or confused,” the spokesperson admitted. “In his last call to his mum, he was in a very vulnerable state.”
Anyone with any information regarding Adeo’s whereabouts is urged to contact South Manchester CID directly on 0161 856 6051 or 0161 856 6063, or you can use the LiveChat function on GMP’s website and quote log number 838 of 18/05/25.
Alternatively, you can report information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Manc -
20th July 2020 
