Bury

Police raid colossal cannabis farm with 200-300 plants in organised crime ‘crackdown’

Two men have been arrested in connection with organised criminal activities.

The Manc The Manc - 4th June 2021

A colossal cannabis farm packed with hundreds of plants has been raided as part of a Greater Manchester Police operation to bring down a local organised crime gang.

Officers seized 200-300 plants from an address on Parkville Road in Prestwich on Thursday (June 3) morning.

The search was conduced following an arrest the previous day – with a driver in Harpurhey found carrying a large quantity of cash, an extendable baton, and a kitchen knife.

So far, two arrests have been made.

A 24-year-old man has been taken into custody on suspicion of the production of cannabis.

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A 28-year-old was arrested on suspicion of Money Laundering, Possession of an Offensive Weapon and a Bladed Article.

Two men have been arrested as part of the organised crime operation / Image: GMP

Detective Inspector Paul Crompton of GMP’s Intelligence Development Team called the arrests an “an excellent result” in “GMP’s fight to tackle the scourge of organised crime in our city.”

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He added: “Cannabis farms are well known [to] fund organised criminality, and the City of Manchester North Organised Crime Disruption Team, working in partnership with the Districts, will take every opportunity to disrupt their activities across the region.

“GMP often relies on intelligence supplied to them by members of the public. If you see anything suspicious, we encourage you to report it. You can contact Police via our LiveChat on our website www.gmp.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

“If you say something, we can do something.”

Bury

Heaton Park announces death of its two donkeys following ‘complex’ health and age-related issues

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Heaton Park has made the devastating announcement that two more of its beloved donkeys have sadly passed away.

“It is with great sadness that today we announce the passing of Bonnie and Josh, our beloved donkeys, following advice of a vet and The Donkey Sanctuary who visited our Animal Centre,” Heaton Park & Hall announced on its official social platforms at the end of last week.

The death of Bonnie and Josh comes after two of the park’s other donkeys, Ralph and Lenny, also sadly passed away in June and October of last year, respectively.

Both donkeys were born at Heaton Park, and had been steady companions for each other over the last three decades.

Heaton Park announces death of its two donkeys following ‘complex’ health and age-related issues / Credit: Heaton Park & Hall

Josh managed to reach 29, and Bonnie an incredible 33 years of age before passing, and considering that The Donkey Sanctuary says the average life expectancy for a donkey is just over 30, reaching this age was said to be a ‘significant achievement’ for all who cared for Bonnie and Josh.

However in their later years though, both Bonnie and Josh were living with ‘complex’ health and age-related issues.

Ultimately, these complications were what led to them passing away last week.

“They were such kind and gentle souls, and this loss will be felt deeply by all staff, past and present, alongside our visitors,” Heaton Park’s statement continued.

Heaton Park staff closed out their statement thanking everyone who has ever visited the donkeys over the past couple of decades, and particularly the Donkey Welfare Advisers at The Donkey Sanctuary who have supported them and their donkey herd, especially in recent years.

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Many tributes to Bonnie and Josh have been flooding in on Facebook over the past few days.

Featured Image – Heaton Park & Hall

Bury

Loafi – The Ramsbottom bakery thrilling customers with its old-fashioned northern bakes

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A cross-section of the custard tart

There’s a bakery in Ramsbottom that’s been making waves since it opened last year – but it’s not for cutting-edge bakes or trendy desserts.

Nope – at Loafi, it’s all about stripping things back to basics, with a properly northern menu of old-school bakes.

The bakery may be new, but the baking is not. You’ll find nothing but traditional favourites, including Eccles cakes, shortbread, and cornflake tarts.

And then as your eyes rove across the counter, you’ll land on the star of the show, and the one that’s got everyone (us included) travelling all the way up to Ramsbottom. The custard tart.

Loafi’s custard tarts are tall, like a pastry shot glass filled with just-set egg custard filling.

You can get them classic, or in a Manchester tart format with coconut and raspberry jam, or catch occasional specials when they have surplus ingredients to spare (we got lucky with a lemon meringue custard tart).

None of us should be surprised to find that this bakery is excelling in this particular field, because the man behind it is chef-turned-baker Rich Sharples, who was previously the executive chef of Gary Usher’s Elite Bistros restaurant group.

The lemon meringue custard tart special
The lemon meringue custard tart special
Traditional bakes from Loafi
Traditional bakes from Loafi
The custard tart and Manchester tart
The custard tart and Manchester tart

One of those restaurants he was a mastermind of was Hispi, which is known across the region for its perfect wibbly-wobbly custard tart slices.

The custard tart at Loafi feels more nostalgic and approachable though, and the stream of customers pouring through the doors clear each tray within minutes of them landing.

Beyond that, you can pick up a whole host of bakery bits with proudly northern roots, like individual loaf cakes made with Irwell Works stout, and mini carrot and walnut cakes.

There are others that will whisk you back to your childhood, such as a pineapple and brown butter upside-down cake, and a banana sponge with toffee and cream.

Plus expect treats such as bakewell slices, tiramisu roulade, and flapjacks.

A full spread of bakes at Loafi
A full spread of bakes at Loafi
Rich Sharples with the team outside Loafi
Rich Sharples with the team outside Loafi
A selection of butties at Loafi
A selection of butties at Loafi
Fresh loaves of bread
Fresh loaves of bread

Loafi has a fabulous savoury offering too, like sausage rolls made with meat from Walmsley’s Butchers, and bacon butties on soft milk rolls.

Around four different sandwiches drop onto the counter at 11am every day, each of them guilt-free, fuss-free, and affordable. Rich believes that getting a butty for lunch shouldn’t feel like a special treat.

The fillings change regularly but are always local ingredients, prepared and made right in front of you, from cured hams and corned beef to coronation chicken.

During the weekday, you can get this as a meal deal with a sandwich drink and a bag of crisps for £7.95.

There are proper cups of soup served with a wedge of sourdough too, which changes regularly – at the minute, Rich is utilising the stock from his potted ham to make a ham, lentil and tomato soup.

Loafi isn’t setting out to reinvent the wheelhouse, but rather to wind back the clocks to create a nostalgic, quality, Lancashire bakehouse. It’s being incredibly well-received already.

You’ll find Loafi in Ramsbottom – just follow the call of the custard tart.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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