Seven bulldog puppies have been reunited with their heartbroken owners today after being snatched during a house burglary last night in Wigan.
Tammy McKenna and her partner Paul were asleep when intruders entered their home in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday 2nd February), and only after being awoken by a knock on the door from police shortly after 2.30am, they realised the litter of seven-week-old puppies were gone.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were investigating the theft, and appealed to the public for information.
The missing dogs were among nine puppies the couple kept at their home on Shelley Street, in Leigh, and Ms McKenna said she believed that those responsible were “professionals”.
“We didn’t hear anything at all,” Ms McKenna said.
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“The police were responding to a report of a break-in around the corner and noticed the double doors to our extension were wide open. They knocked on our door and asked if we had anything of value and we said the puppies were in there.”
She continued: “We didn’t hear any barking,”
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“They knew what they were doing and have definitely just come for the dogs. They have broken the lock handle of the door to get in.”
Desperate for answers, Ms McKenna took to social media this morning to appeal for information and ask that anyone who knows anything regarding the whereabouts of the missing puppies gets in touch.
The couple were also offering a £1,000 reward upon being reunited with their beloved pets.
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Ms McKenna said: “We just want them to bring them back.
“They are not worth anything without papers. We didn’t breed them to make any money, we were [just] keeping them within the family.
“They are loved dogs.”
And thankfully, their hopes for a quick return came true, as Ms McKenna confirmed this afternoon, in a now-viral Facebook post, that the puppies were found safe and sound, and were returned to them by Merseyside Police, with a little help from “the amazing power of good people and social media”.
“They are now safe and going into protection,” she added.
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The brilliant news has seen the couple since receive comments of support and messages of relief from people all across the country, as well throughout the local community.
How brilliant is this?
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Simon Wood announces gutting closure of Manchester restaurant after seven years
Danny Jones
Celebrity chef and Manchester local Simon Wood has announced that his self-titled WOOD Restaurant has sadly closed its doors.
The Oldham-born chef-owner who won MasterChef back in 2015, revealed the unfortunate news on Wednesday, 2 October, confirming that the First Street site will be closing immediately. Truly gutting.
Wood has remained one of Greater Manchester’s most-renowned chefs for the past decade, not to mention a huge advocate for supporting the hospitality industry, especially post-Covid and during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Sharing an emotional post on Instagram, he wrote: “It is with much regret that I have to inform you that I must close the doors here at WOOD for good, with immediate effect.”
“We have had 7 years as part of the Manchester city dining scene and I’m very proud of what the team and I have achieved”, the 48-year-old continued.
“Sadly with COVID rent arrears now being demanded by our landlord and an increasingly difficult marketplace, energy increases, ingredient costs and soon-to-be spiralling business rates we just cannot make this work.”
“I’d like to thank everyone for your support and patronage over the years. Thank you, Simon.”
It was only at the start of the week that Wood shared a frustrated post about a group of no-show customers over the weekend that failed to even pre-warn that they would no longer be attending one of his most exclusive and costly experiences.
We’re starting to lose count of how many local businesses are unfortunately struggling in the face of the rising business rates and energy bills that all independents are facing at the minute.
It was only last month that we saw Almous Famous had to call it a day with their Withington location and beloved sandwich spot Micky’s sadly suffer the same fate. Even cult favourite Cafe Marhaba looks to have gone up for sale. So tough to swallow.
We’re genuinely gutted for everyone involved with the brand. All the best, Si – we know you’ll be back stronger than ever one of these days.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
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No trams to run through major Manchester city centre station this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Arguably Manchester city centre’s most important tram stop is set to be out of action this weekend, with no services running through it.
In what is another part of Transport for Greater Manchester‘s (TfGM) ongoing programme of works intended to “maintain and improve” the Metrolink system and ensure tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain “safe, reliable, and accessible”, it’s been confirmed that no trams will run through Cornbrook this weekend.
Due to this, there will be a change to operating patterns across the majority of the Metrolink network on both Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October.
As is often the case in instances like these, disruption to passengers is expected.
On Saturday and Sunday [5 and 6 October], no trams will operate through Cornbrook.
There will be a change to operating patterns and replacement bus services will be in operation.
On Saturday (5 October), the tram service pattern will change to Altrincham – Old Trafford, Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury – Firswood, Etihad Campus – Bury (peak time only) / Victoria (after peak only), Manchester Airport – Firswood, Rochdale Town Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield (via Exchange Square), and The Trafford Centre – Wharfside.
Similarly, on Sunday (6 October), the only difference to the above service pattern is that the Etihad Campus tram will only run to Victoria, not Bury.
Services will operate every 12 minutes, except for on the Eccles line, where no trams will run at all.
TfGM is also warning that there may be changes to the first and last tram times during these works, but, in bid to help people still get to their destinations, three bus replacement services will operate from Firswood to Victoria, Old Trafford to Piccadilly, and Eccles to Piccadilly.
No trams will run through major Manchester city centre station Cornbrook this weekend / Credit: TfGM
The Old Trafford to Piccadilly bus service will run through Wharfside, while the Eccles to Piccadilly will travel via MediaCity.
“These works are a vitally important part of maintaining a safe and reliable network for all our customers,” explained
Ian Davies, who is TfGM’s Interim Network Director for Metrolink, said these works are “a vitally important part” of maintaining the Metrolink, and that work has been scheduled by TfGM to “minimise disruption to passengers and residents as much as possible”.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd February 2021 
