Storm Jocelyn battered the region earlier this week, sending wheelie bins flying, knocking down fences, and… depositing sheep in people’s driveways?
There really is never a dull day in Greater Manchester, as one man’s security footage will demonstrate.
Clips taken from a five hour span in the middle of the night earlier this week captured a flock of sheep taking refuge from the weather in someone’s garden.
The woolly creatures strolled casually onto the property of Mark Howarth, who lives on a normal residential street in Edenfield near Ramsbottom.
After making their way up his driveway, they huddled together in his garden and stayed put until the following morning.
Mark says there were around 12 of the cloud-like beasts outside his house, though added that he: “Fell asleep after counting 12..!”, which is a joke that makes Mark our favourite man of the week.
He told the Manchester Evening News that the sheep helped themselves to some of his grass and weeds while they were waiting for the storm to pass.
Watch the sheep hiding from Storm Jocelyn here:
Mark’s Ring doorbell system normally only picks up neighbourhood cats, so to find a flock of sheep must’ve been quite a surprise.
While storms that batter Greater Manchester can be devastating, us Mancs often find a way to make the best of the situatio
Who could forget the man who went swimming in his back garden, complete with armbands, when Storm Franklin flooded his land?
Or when people were running around Parklife with cardboard boxes for heads when the festival got hit with a huge thunderstorm?
Anyway, hopefully Mark’s sheep visitors have safely found their way back home post-Storm Jocelyn.
Iconic Thomas the Tank Engine replica is back travelling through Greater Manchester this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Everyone’s favourite little blue engine is making another return to Greater Manchester once again this weekend.
And there’s still time to get yourself some tickets.
After delighting families throughout the region during countless successful events over the past couple of years, East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has announced that the Thomas the Tank Engine replica train is back by popular demand now that schools are out for summer, and will return to its tracks this weekend.
In case you aren’t too familiar with the beloved Day Out With Thomas experience, it’s said to be ‘a train ride like no other’.
Everyone’s favourite little blue engine is making another return to Greater Manchester this weekend / Credit: ELR
Families will have the chance to hop onboard the replica of the cult-classic blue train character when he returns next weekend for a 45-minute trip through the Greater Manchester countryside.
The journey begins at Bury Train Station, where you’ll be greeted by The Fat Controller, meet Sir Topham Hatt, say hello to Thomas on the platform, and then climb aboard a carriage, all before Thomas makes a final stop at the beautiful Ramsbottom station.
The doors to Bury Transport Museum will also be open across the weekend and will be hosting loads of fun free activities.
There’ll be Thomas-themed stories, and engaging and interactive activities to make the most of, as well as amusing performances by Sodor’s mischievous station sweepers, Rusty and Dusty, who’ll be entertaining with singing, dancing, and laughter all day long.
Not only that, but you can also expect fun fair rides, face painting, balloon art, and so much more throughout the weekend.
ELR’s Chairman Mike Kelly is “thrilled” about Thomas’ return next weekend.
The Day Out With Thomas experience is said to be ‘a train ride like no other’ / Credit: ELR
Mr Kelly said Day Out With Thomas events hold ‘a special place’ in the heritage railway’s calendar.
He added that: “They remain one of our most beloved experiences, as Thomas is cherished by people of all ages and this makes the event a source of joy, not just for children, but also for parents, grandparents, and our volunteers.”
Day Out With Thomas tickets are still on sale for this Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August – with prices starting at £13.50 for kids, and £22.70 for adults.
Find out more and get your last-minute tickets here.
Featured Image – ELR
Bury
In memory of Gallagher Hill: an ode to one of the greatest moments in Manc music history
Danny Jones
The Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour shows at Heaton Park are officially over, with an estimated 400,000 fans having flocked to the fields for the historic Manchester gigs – but actually, there were A LOTmore than that, thanks to what will now and forever be known as Gallagher Hill.
In truth, it’s impossible to know just how many people went to camp out and watch their favourite rock and roll band and arguably the greatest to ever do it, play their five homecoming nights from the unofficial spectators’ hill that was quickly named after the Burnage boys.
But with approximately 80,000 ticketed fans attending each of the gigs and thousands – more and more each night, as it happens, even with the initial views from Heaton Park’s cow field being restricted by a giant barricade – it’s not too outlandish to estimate that not far off half a million came to listen.
Come rain or shine, like true Mancunians, they turned up and sang their hearts out, as did countless others who made the trip just to watch from Gallagher Hill.
Gallagher Hill says goodbye to Oasis at Heaton Park with an electronic symphony || Day 5 (Finaly night) pic.twitter.com/euyEP9B7IU
By the fifth and final night, as you can see by the scenes above, the raised section of the 600-acre park was absolutely packed with people of all ages and backgrounds, coming not just from all over the region but even further afield.
When boarding one of the trams heading to the show on Sunday, 20 July (Oasis‘ last Live ’25 gig at Heaton Park), we even overheard someone who said they had travelled down from London to the city simply to watch from Gallagher Hill as they’d not yet managed to get a ticket.
Regardless, he just couldn’t wait, and after seeing the videos on social media, was clearly compelled to come and join in the party.
And who could blame him? Like only us Northerners can do, not that we’re biased or anything, the city, Bury, and the boroughs at large managed to turn Oasis Mania/Fever/whatever you want to call it into what we can only imagine it’s like when Glastonbury takes over Worthy Farm and beyond.
OASIS LIVE STREAMED THE FANS ON GALLAGHER HILL DURING THEIR GIG ON SUNDAY
— Liam Gallagher Fans Club (@liamgfansclub) July 21, 2025
The tidal wave of fans jumping on the bandwagon only got bigger with each gig, and it wasn’t long before the Gallagher brothers themselves got wind of it and began dedicating songs to them.
Once the trend had taken off and fully hit social media, Liam told the crowds last week, “If you lot are listening on the hill… ‘Bring It On Down’.”
By the evening of the final farewell, he and Noel had even arranged for free shirts that read ‘Gallagher Hill’ to be handed out to punters posted up on the truly Greater Mancunian mound, with Noel’s daughter Anaïs sharing images of the happy recipients who were among the lucky lot to score one.
With the veritable sea of bucket hats and Oasis merch all over 0161 over the past fortnight alone, ‘Gallagher Hill’ itself was pretty much decked out in ‘Mancuni-form’.
‘What was suppose to be a day in Manchester ended up on Gallagher’s hill singing Oasis with an Oasis top and bucket hat.’The Gallagher kids doing their bit too. ‘What a 2 weeks to be alive. Oasis Manchester unbelievable last night on Gallagher hill with the wee man.’Credit: Anaïs Gallagher (via IG)/Paige Coult (via X)/@rossparlane
If the commitment to seeing the Britpop legends here in the UK and, indeed, ‘All Around The World’ wasn’t already evident and impressive enough, we’re sure it is now.
Would-be gig-goers came and set up shop with their camping chairs, kids, picnics, ever so slightly more affordable crates of cider and so on to join in the action for what was (barring Sunday) the perfect place to soak up the sun and some free tunes.
Some fans even went so far as to fly their paraglider over the event – nope, not joking…
Most people just wanted to turn up so they could say ‘been there, done that’ – and ironically, some really did get the t-shirt to boot.
Fucking love being a Manc.
Popped by Gallagher Hill in Heaton Park with Draco to have a bit of a listen to Oasis.
Thousands were there, all ages, bucket hats galore, all knew every lyric and were having a top time, no issues at all.
Put simply, Oasis’s Manchester homecoming wasn’t just like festival season for the city, it was practically Manc Christmas; we’ve never seen anything quite like it.
And a big chunk of that, we feel, is owed not just to what was witnessed inside Heaton Park but all around, in places like Definitely Maybe Bar, out on St Peter’s Square and, above all else, the magical, musical, Mancunian commune that was Gallagher Hill.
We know there was controversy around it at times, but above all else, it helped create unforgettable memories among those who missed out on tickets that will, well, ‘Live Forever’.
Daisy Jackson -
26th January 2024 
