An Oldham shopkeeper has been fined after an illegal stash of cigarettes and tobacco was found stashed in the basement of his premises.
After a string of complaints from members of the public that illicit or counterfeit tobacco was being sold at Timisoara, on Ashton Road, Oldham Council has confirmed that officers from Oldham Trading Standards and a trained sniffer dog raided the shop, and a total of 22,557 mixed brand cigarettes were uncovered.
100gm of illegal hand rolling tobacco was also seized from the premises.
The illegal cigarettes and tobacco were found stashed and hidden in a number of locations throughout the shop – including in a concealment behind the counter, in an adapted jacket and a holdall, and in the basement.
The owner of the shop, 39-year-old Sardar Mohammed, pleaded guilty to offences under the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015, as well as an offence under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and was told to pay costs of £3,450 and a £95 victim surcharge.
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He was also sentenced to an 18-month community order that requires him to attend 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement, and 180 hours of unpaid work.
Officers from Oldham Trading Standards and a trained sniffer dog raided Timisoara on Ashton Road / Credit: Google Maps
“Thanks to good work by our Trading Standards staff, and tip offs from residents, a large haul of illegal cigarettes has been seized,” explained Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Oldham Council.
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“Illegal tobacco makes it easier for children and young people to buy cigarettes and get hooked on smoking and the people making money out of this do not care who they sell to and the illegal tobacco trade has strong links with organised crime.”
She continued: “We are working with partners across Greater Manchester to drive down the illegal trade and the market is declining – but it still goes on.”
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Oldham Council is asking local residents to keep an eye out, and where they see cheap tobacco being sold, often as ‘duty free’, are encouraged to get in touch and report it either anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or online at keep-it-out.co.uk.
“We will take action if we find illegal tobacco for sale,” the Council insists.
Greater Manchester’s ‘Stroll for Salford’ walking event returns for its second year in 2026
Danny Jones
Following its successful debut last year, Greater Manchester’s now much-loved Stroll for Salford (SfS) event is back for 2026 this autumn.
We’d like to think everyone from around here is filled with hometown pride, but you ask anyone from Salford, and they’ll quickly remind you that this place is its own city, and that it quite rightly deserves celebrating all of its own.
And that’s exactly what the SfS is all about: not just toasting it as the region’s so-called ‘second city’, but as the culturally abundant place that it is and has been for more than 100 years.
Yes, with this sophomore edition following on from the borough celebrating its official Centenary, what better time to hail all things Salfordian.
Stroll for Salford is back🚶🧡
We are delighted to announce the return of the popular fundraising walk back for its second edition on Saturday 19th September as part of Salford's Centenary Year celebrations!
— Salford City FC Foundation (@SalfordCity_FDN) July 30, 2026
Set up by Salford City FC and the partnered charity arm, Foundation 92, the inaugural walk raised more than £3,000 for charity with its maiden event.
Thousands got behind the cause, be it through volunteering and/or donating, as well as talking on the walking route itself back in October.
It’s actually happening a little earlier this time, with the second Stroll for Salford scheduled for Saturday, 19 September.
Kicking off from 10am, those taking part will be setting out on foot for a six-mile journey across the city, starting at the likes of the Civic Centre in Swinton, before passing through other key towns and finishing, of course, at Salford’s AIG Stadium on Moor Lane in Kersal.
The local League Two side continues to do plenty of important work in and around the community – this is just one of many recent, well-received initiatives.
As mentioned earlier, those getting involved will not only receive a special Salford t-shirt following the event alongside a finisher’s medal, but even a complimentary ticket to go and see ‘The Ammies’ in action at their home ground this season.
Not a bad deal at all.
For anyone uninitiated interested in coming along the journey, the route will also pass several key landmarks and a real sense of local history – all while doing your bit for a good cause.
You can help raise important funds for the local area and sign up for the Stroll for Salford 2026 HERE.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, another wholesome all-ages event is fast-approaching this August, too; keep on reading to find out all about it…
Andy Burnham invites opposition party leaders to help tackle ‘broken’ social care system
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has announced that he is making the choice to fix the ‘broken’ social care system by finding ‘common ground’ across party lines.
Attempting to draw a line under what the Government has described as ‘decades of decline’ and a refusal to tackle these problems head on, Andy Burnham has now called on all political parties to focus on solving problems and finding solutions together, rather than pointing fingers at the opposition and getting nowhere.
The Prime Minister has reiterated the need for ‘a new kind of politics’ that puts differences aside in order to come together and face up to the challenges that he says Westminster has left unaddressed for ‘too long’.
Burnham invited the leaders of the two main opposition parties, Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey, to meet with him today (29 July) to ‘kickstart’ this work and discuss an urgent reform on social care.
The three leaders were jointed by Health Secretary Yvette Cooper and Baroness Louise Casey, who is leading the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care which will draw up recommendations to deliver a National Care Service.
Baroness Casey has also launched the new Big Conversation on Care today.
The Big Conversation on Care is giving the public a chance to share their views and help shape the future of adult social care in England so that it is designed for the people it is there to serve.
The consultation will be open to everyone through a new online platform, and will start off the conversation by asking people about what the ‘values and principles’ we should all expect from a care system are.
“Last week I said we needed a different kind of politics [and] nowhere is that more urgent than social care,” Andy Burnham said in his speech.
“For decades, Governments have kicked this issue down the road because they’ve seen it as too risky, too difficult, and too complicated. Politicians might have different views but I’m serious about fixing this issue, and to do that, we have to find common ground and listen to others to find a way forward.
“That’s why I’m making this choice and I’m prepared to put everything I’ve got behind it.”
The Prime Minister says it’s time to ‘draw a line under people playing politics’ when the human cost of that means carers are struggling, families are paying the price, and the NHS is ‘buckling’ under the strain.
“This comes down to a choice,” his statement continued.
“We can carry on passing the problem to the next generation, or we can face it head on and work together to build a care system that gives people dignity, security and the support they deserve.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th June 2022 
