Some local schoolkids from Bolton are among the lucky few to be chosen for a great honour: to be the people responsible for selecting the street names for a brand new neighbourhood.
That’s definitely something to tell their little ones and grandchildren someday.
For anyone from the Bolton area, you may have heard of the new development popping up over in Little Lever, a burgeoning suburban area not too far away from Moses Gate Country Park.
Carrying on the ‘Creams Mill’ moniker as a whole, a group of students from nearby Mytham Primary School have further been entrusted with naming the next leafy chapter of village life.
Credit: Watson (press shots)
Picking a handful of pupils from members of the school council, who have clearly already shown plenty of initiative and interest in extracurricular activities, property firm Watson Homes first visited the school back in 2023 to allow some young minds to take part in an exciting competition.
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Known as ‘The Change Makers’ in Mytham Primary, not only did they find out more about the brownfield plot, but also more about the site’s surrounding history, including its rich industrial heritage, the significance of the canal corridor in the wider context of Greater Manchester and more.
Having then been inspired by everything from the waterways to the native wildlife, names were thrown into the mix; now, more than two years later, eight of those bright-eyed pupils and some of their teachers were invited back for a mini grand opening of their own.
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Getting to see the road signs unveiled for the first time – Woodpecker Road, Deer Lane, Owl Lane, Dragonfly Court, Middle Bents Lane, and Bally Close – as well as putting the finishing touches on other things like hedgehog pathways and birdboxes. Cute.
They even got to name three apartment buildings within Creams Mill, which have now been dubbed Davenport House, Fletcher House, and Waterway House. Such a cool experience for these youngsters.
Honestly, how wholesome is this?
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Credit: Supplied
The Manchester-based affordable housing firm’s director, Mike Watson, said in a statement: “It has been incredibly rewarding to see the pupils of Mytham Primary return to the site and see their ideas become part of the streets they helped to imagine.
“This project started with conversations in a classroom and is now taking shape on the ground – from the new homes rising across the site to the restoration of the canal.
“This is a development that genuinely reflects Little Lever’s heritage and future ambitions, and is a powerful example of how regeneration is rooted in community pride as well as bricks and mortar.”
We think we speak for everyone when we say this is the kind of work in the community that we’d like to see more of from the various developers across the region.
Man jailed after violent machete attack in Bolton left victim ‘seriously injured’
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after carrying out a ‘violent’ machete attack in Bolton that left another man seriously injured.
Dale Dean appeared at Manchester Crown Court on last Friday (20 February 2026) after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a bladed article, and affray, and was subsequently sentenced to six years behind bars.
The 27-year-old from Manchester was found to be carrying a machete ‘without lawful reason’.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, back on Saturday 5 April 2025, it received reports of a man holding a machete in a shop on Kentmere Road, in the Breightmet area of Bolton, and when officers attended the scene at around 7:50pm, they were told Dean was seen attacking another man in front of staff and members of the public.
The machete was used to attack the victim in the shop, who suffered several serious injuries – including to his head and shoulder.
Dean also caused ‘extensive damage’ to the shop and fled the scene.
In the aftermath of the attack, the victim was said to have struggled ‘to walk out on the street’ and had difficulty sleeping due to the pain and location of his injuries, but he has since recovered well from the attack overall.
On top of the six years in prison, the court imposed an additional 20‑month extended licence period upon Dean’s release due to the seriousness of the offence and the danger he poses to the public.
“This was a shocking and violent incident that left the victim with serious injuries and caused fear within the community,” commented Detective Constable Jordan Brown, of Bolton’s Criminal Investigation Department, following the sentencing at the end of last week.
“Dean’s actions were deliberate, dangerous, and showed a blatant disregard for the safety of others.
“[He] used or threatened unlawful violence, causing significant fear to those nearby, and was found to be carrying a machete without lawful reason.
“We welcome today’s sentence, which reflects the gravity of the offences. Our officers will continue to take decisive action against those who carry weapons and commit violent offences on our streets.”
Featured Image – GMP
Bolton
Former Bolton Council employee jailed for stealing nearly £900k from client benefits accounts
Emily Sergeant
A former Bolton Council employee has been sentenced to jail this week after admitting to stealing from client benefits accounts.
Richard Shaw transferred £893,296 to himself from benefit claimants’ accounts held by Bolton Council between 2015 and 2023 – which he had been managing as part of the Council’s Financial Protection Team, before he was subsequently suspended when mismanagement of appointeeship cases was discovered.
He was then sacked for gross misconduct in March 2023, after the Council identified and reported the possible fraud to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
A lengthy investigation by GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit then began, with ‘full cooperation’ from Bolton Council, which went on to show that Shaw had been transferring the money to his own accounts for a number of years.
He also transferred money between clients’ accounts in an attempt to hide his fraud.
Investigations in 2023 showed several bank transfers to nine personal accounts held in Richard Shaw’s name – with just over £250,000 transferred to one account, and £215,000 to another.
During the investigation, it was established that Shaw spent £100,000 buying a holiday home in Lancashire, and almost £18,000 on garden improvements.
It is estimated to Shaw’s failure to act in the best interest of his clients meant he lost them a total of £129,749 in unclaimed benefits.
Two BMW cars and several high-value items – including computers and bikes – were seized during a warrant at Shaw’s home address of Harrier Close in Bolton on 27 April 2023, when he was initially arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.
Shaw failed to attend his first court appearance on 23 September 2025 and was then arrested on the same day in Blackpool. He initially denied fraud by abuse of position, but then went on to change his plea to guilty at Bolton Crown Court in December 2025.
He was finally jailed for four years and eight months at Bolton Crown Court yesterday (18 February 2026).
Speaking following Shaw’s sentencing this week, Detective Sergeant Daniel Sanchez, from GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, said: “In his role as an appointee officer, Shaw was responsible for managing 120 client cases. Shaw abused his position of trust within the council, transferring clients’ money to accounts he had set up in his own name.
“His systematic theft and haphazard spending was uncovered by our financial investigator.
“There will now be a Proceeds of Crime hearing to reclaim the rest of the money so the council can be reimbursed.”
Danny Jones -
20th January 2026 
