A Salford family are selling their 5-bed house and BMW for £2 – and you can buy a ticket
The Rowcroft family, who are planning to move to Australia in the coming months, have decided to sell tickets to win their prized assets due to selling complications arising from COVID-19.
A family in Greater Manchester are raffling off their 5-bed home and BMW for just £2.
The Rowcrofts, who are planning to move to Australia in the coming months, have decided to sell tickets to win their prized assets due to selling complications arising from COVID-19.
Their incredible competition offers ticket-holders the chance to scoop a Salford house and snazzy car – worth more than £300,000 together – for the price of a cup of a coffee.
Deals don’t come much better than that.
Childhood sweethearts Bradley and Natalie have been married for 12 years, and they’re heading Down Under in October with their three children to begin an exciting new chapter.
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However, selling their property has proven challenging in the current climate – and the couple decided to host the raffle to raise some funds before they jet off to the other side of the world.
“We decided to launch the competition as we have seen it done with another family in Yorkshire,” says 34-year-old joiner, Bradley, speaking to The Manc.
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“So, we thought – ‘why not?’
“With the current situation we was unable to sell our home. We already have our visas, so we are ready to go as soon as the house is all sorted to the new owner.”
The beautiful 5-bed Salford property was built in 1908 – boasting two bathrooms, a large kitchen, living room and separate utility room.
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There’s also off-street parking for two vehicles (including that handsome BMW), a rear patio and a spacious back garden with decking.
“We have lived in our home for 11 years,” says Bradley.
“We slowly turned it from a 3 bed to a 5 bed, and it has now been valued by a few local estate agents around £300,000.
“We’re also throwing the car in as well – a BMW 320d with additional tinted windows and refurbished black gloss wheels.”
There’s already been massive interest in the property which, once sold, will give the winner a “life-changing prize”.
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“As soon as the winner is announced, we can then start our new life in Australia,” Bradley says.
A house and a car for two quid…
That’s got to be worth a punt.
You can learn more about entering the competition here.
Andy Burnham introduces new rules to tackle ‘rip-off’ parking charges
Daisy Jackson
City centre parking is at a premium, especially in a city like Manchester – but we’ve surely all made honest mistakes when paying and been slapped with eye-watering fines as a result.
Well now, Andy Burnham has announced a new Private Parking Code of Practice, which will clamp down on ‘rip-off’ private parking charges.
It will also make it easier for drivers to challenge unfair charges, capping charges for ‘smaller slip-ups’ at £20, and scrapping charges altogether on appeal for ‘honest mistakes’.
The new Code will get drivers a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave once their session ends.
Under the new Private Parking Code of Practice laid in Parliament today, you’ll be able to appeal to have all charges scrapped for honest mistakes like stopping briefly to check directions, and for situations like a medical emergency, breakdown or broken ticket machine.
Then charges will be capped at £20 for other mistakes such as forgetting a parking permit, entering the wrong vehicle’s registration or forgetting to confirm it in the machine when parking.
The Code also freezes the maximum parking charge at £100. Operators who don’t comply risk losing access to DVLA data, meaning that even if they issue a charge, it will be far more difficult to identify the registered owner to pursue payment.
Data shows just under 17 million private parking charges were issued in the UK last year alone.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your numberplate wrong shouldn’t end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat.
“These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I’m putting a stop to them.
Andy Burnham introduces new rules to tackle ‘rip-off’ parking charges. Credit: Unsplash, Samuel Isaacs
“We are introducing clearer rules, longer grace periods and lower charges for genuine mistakes, while going after the deliberate scams that rip drivers off.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said: “Parking should be straightforward, not another everyday hassle. These changes mean drivers get a fairer deal, protected time to park and leave without fear of being unfairly charged, and confidence that private parking providers are held to a higher standard.
“It’s yet another step forward in this government’s plan to take the stress out of everyday life and ease the pressure on people’s pockets.”
Minister for Consumer Action, Kate Dearden, said: “Nobody works hard for their money just to be deceived by a dodgy trader, and this is exactly the kind of everyday rip-off this government is going after.
“By making it easier to take action against car clocking, we are protecting consumers’ hard-earned money and supporting businesses that play by the rules.”
Two teens arrested after stabbing of 14-year-old boy in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Two teenagers have been arrested following the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Manchester city centre over the weekend.
In case you need bringing up to speed first, at around 3:15pm this past Saturday afternoon (17 October 2026), officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to reports of a stabbing on the ninth floor of the Arndale carpark in Manchester city centre.
Emergency services attended the scene, and a 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital with injuries consistent with a stab wound.
Thankfully, the victim’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life changing, but an investigation and enquiries are ongoing.
Police conceded that this will ‘understandably’ cause concern in the community, but has assured the public that they believe this to be an ‘isolated incident.
And now, it has been confirmed that two teenage boys, also aged 14, were arrested on Sunday night (18 October) on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, and tat this time, they are currently in custody for questioning.
“We’d like to thank the local community for their support during our investigation as well as the passersby who helped the victim following this incident,” commented Detective Inspector Sean McFadden, of GMP’s City of Manchester district.
“Your quick-thinking undoubtedly saved the victim from potentially life-threatening injuries.
“We appreciate that incidents of this nature can cause concern and we’d like to reassure the public that we understand this was an isolated incident and there is no wider threat to the community.
“Officers worked quickly and arrested two juveniles on Sunday, and they currently remain in custody for questioning.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log 2050 of 17/10/2026, or via the LiveChat function. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Manc -
5th August 2020 
