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A FREE family-friendly lantern parade is returning to Altrincham this Christmas

Now everyone gets a chance to see "Those Christmas Lights".

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 17th November 2025

There’s a family-friendly lantern parade making its way back to Altrincham town centre this Christmas and it’s completely free.

If you thought the Christmas season couldn’t get any better, you were wrong, as now you can have your very own Rapunzel moment as Altrincham welcomes the return of its lantern parade.

Before these dazzling paper creations light up this Greater Manchester town, there will be a very exciting Nativity Trail spread across various locations starting at Stamford Square.

Not only this, you can also expect a range of family-friendly activities running throughout the day featuring everything from live music and storytelling.

And if you’re after getting stuck in yourself rather than just watching from the sidelines, there’ll be lantern making workshops taking place on the day.

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Although these classes will be free for all to enjoy, any families looking at attending will still need to book a ticket to create and design their own lantern at at OYEZ Arts in Altrincham Town Hall.

Previous lantern parades that have been held in Altrincham have seen lots of exciting and fun festive surprises with live donkeys trotting through the town last year.

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The event itself encourages parade-goers to gather in Goose Green from 4pm before the official walk and lighting takes place from 4.45pm.

This illuminated walk includes a full Nativity cast, local schoolchildren, lantern puppets alongside a live soundtrack courtesy of Sale District Scout and Guide Band.

With the lantern parade finishing in Stamford Square and expected to last just under one hour, there will be a live Nativity performance happening at 5.30pm.

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Mandy White, Director of Altrincham BID, said: “The Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey truly capture the spirit of Christmas in Altrincham. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, explore the town and celebrate the festive season.”

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Altrincham’s Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey returns on Saturday 13 December from 12pm with lantern lighting at 4pm onwards – all events and further info. HERE.

Featured Images – Supplied (via Altrincham BID)

News

‘Disgraceful’ Manchester sex offender jailed after messaging several young girls under 16

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant William Howarth mugshot

A sex offender from Manchester has been charged with 35 offences, including messaging several young girls while on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

William Howarth, from the Miles Platting area of Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison – with a further six years on licence.

The 23-year-old’s sentencing follows an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023.

Howarth was subject to routine checks due to him being an already-registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and it was here where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.

After Howarth’s phone was seized by police, forensic analysis revealed a number of messages were sent to several young girls under the age 16. 

An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, GMP managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with – who ‘bravely’ agreed to give their accounts. 

Police say Howarth displayed ‘controlling’ behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests.

When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images to him, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online.

In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last week (10 November 2025), Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences – including 11 counts of breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and possession and making of indecent images of children.

Speaking following Howarth’s sentencing, Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), commented: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them. 

“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.”

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DC Cresswell then spoke directly to child victims of sexual abuse to encourage them to come forward and report it to police. 

“We are here to listen to you, and we will believe you no matter the passage of time. We can work at a pace that you are comfortable with.”

Featured Image – GMP

News

Rochdale man jailed for 16 years after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve party

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Hassan Suliman

A man from Rochdale has been handed a lengthy jail sentence after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve house party.

Hassan Suliman, of Rothesay Terrace in Rochdale, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week after previously being found guilty of the manslaughter.

His sentencing comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance on Essex Street in Rochdale in the early hours of New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), and upon arrival, officers found a man with multiple stab wounds.

Despite the best efforts of all emergency service workers, the man was sadly pronounced dead at hospital soon after. 

The victim was later named as 38-year-old Alberto Ursu.

GMP’s Major Incident Team launched an investigation immediately after, which subsequently revealed that Hassan Suliman had been involved in a confrontation with Mr Ursu – which both of the men were left injured during.

Suliman fled the scene following the confrontation, but was found by officers collapsed nearby a short while after. 

Forensic analysis by officers later linked the weapons to both Suliman and Mr Ursu.

Following a six-week trial at Manchester Crown Court in September, Suliman was convicted of manslaughter, but was found not guilty of all other charges, and then last Friday (14 November), he was sentenced to 16 years – ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years in prison, with a further three years on licence.

Speaking following Suliman’s sentencing last week, Detective Sergeant Helen Hitchen, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “This was meant to be a happy night celebrating the New Year, but sadly ended in the tragic loss of a life. 

“This case just goes to show the devastating consequences of knife crime and its lasting impacts on lives.

“A man lost his life and will never return to his family.  

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“Suliman is now serving time behind bars for his actions that night, and I do hope that this sentence brings some measure of closure to Alberto’s family.”

Featured Image – GMP

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