Bury

Family pays tribute to ‘courageous and caring’ teen who died in a workplace accident in Bury

Truly heartbreaking words.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 13th February 2024

The family of a teen who sadly lost his life following an incident at a Greater Manchester business have paid a touching tribute to him.

17-year-old Oliver Mawdsley died after being involved in a workplace accident in Bury last Thursday (8 February), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained, and since then a police investigation has been opened into the incident, and two arrests have been made.

A 41-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and gross negligence manslaughter, while a 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

Both men have been bailed pending further enquiries, GMP confirmed.

Following Oliver’s tragic passing, his mum, Samantha, has now paid tribute to “the most courageous, loving, and caring boy”.

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Her tribute reads: “My brown eyed boy Ollie… you are my whole world. I just can’t imagine you not walking through the door, giving me the biggest cuddle, and sloppiest kiss with your big lips saying ‘love you mama’.

“You were always there for everyone. You were the best little brother to Coby, and the best big brother to Hector, and your other siblings. You were never shy to show your emotions in public. You were big and strong, but so soft with a loving personality. You protected everyone with your big, kind, caring heart, and your beautiful smile that lit up the room and everyone else’s heart too. You were always there for everyone else.

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“I will miss every single piece of you. My heart is broken and I wish I could just bring you home with me where you belong.”

Family pays tribute to ‘courageous and caring’ teen who died in a workplace accident in Bury / Credit: GMP

The tribute continues: “You had so, so much more to give to life, and you should never have been taken.

“Your life was just beginning. Me and Papa watched you grow from our beautiful little boy, to the most handsome young man. Your life was only just starting. You were saving to be able to buy the Crosser you always wanted, and your car insurance.

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“Your face would light up the world when you spoke about all your hopes and dreams, and you would have achieved them all.

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“You had the purest of hearts with the purest intentions. “Us against the world”, we would always say, from you being a baby still to this day.”

Featured Image – GMP

Bury

Family-run tapas restaurant shames customers who stole decorations – and then brought them back

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Family-run tapas restaurant shames customers who stole decorations

A family-run restaurant in Whitefield publicly shamed a couple who stole new decorations from them… and it worked, with the stolen items being promptly returned.

Campo Blanco, a popular tapas joint in the Bury suburb, threatened to call ‘Santa’ over the petty theft.

Owned and operated by high school sweethearts Aaron and Faye Cummins, the charming local spot opened back in 2018 and has been a firm favourite in Whitefield ever since.

But it’s not just their tapas menu that’s caught the attention of locals – now apparently it’s their new table decorations.

Campo Blanco shared CCTV footage of a couple who dined there recently pocketing lamps off their table.

The customer in question quietly reaches across her dinner, picks up the pretty gold lamp, turns it off, and shoves it into her coat pocket.

The restaurant shared the video online and pleaded for them to return the lamps by Christmas Eve.

They then said they’d be telling Santa – ‘and by Santa, we mean the police’.

Campo Blanco wrote: “We love our new table lights too. We actually can’t get them anymore as they’ve stopped making them so please bring them back. Also, they aren’t yours!

“You have until Christmas Eve to return them with no questions asked.

“If not, we will tell Santa to put you on the naughty list. And by Santa, we mean The Police. Cheers. Merry Christmas.”

They later shared an update with a video of the second lamp being stolen, which said the police have been in touch but Campo Blanco doesn’t want to ‘waste their limited time over this’.

When asked why they haven’t shared the thieves’ faces, they wrote: “We wouldn’t do that. We’re not willing to ruin someone’s Christmas over 2 Table lights.”

One person replied to their post saying: “You’re joking. No that’s ridiculous.”

Another user commented: “You wouldn’t believe the amount of people that think this is perfectly ok to do. Makes me so annoyed! Theft is theft!!!”

Someone else wrote: “Can’t have anything these days. Disgustinggggg.”

But last night Campo Blanco finally had some good news to share with its customers (who were ‘heavily invested’ in the saga) – the lamps have been returned.

The restaurant shared: “Never have we been more surprised and excited. Thank you for returning them! It’s been an emotional journey but we can finally draw a line under it and carry serving Tapas.

“We’ll leave you with Kate’s reaction to the Third and Final Part of our Saga #LampGate #ReturnOfTheLamp – before you ask, no, we won’t show their face.”

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Featured image: Instagram, @campoblanco

Bury

Hidden drug den full of cannabis plants worth £100k exposed by police in Bury

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Police in Bury have exposed a drug den worth an estimated £100,000 hidden behind closed doors during early morning warrants.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained, earlier this week (9 December), officers from the Radcliffe and Elton and Church Neighbourhood Teams were joined by Bury’s newest district commander, Chief Superintendent Kirsty Oliver, to conduct a warrant at an address on Mitchell Street.

The warrant was conducted by acting on intelligence that was gathered from members of the public within the community.

Officers the address, where they forced entry and discovered what has been described as a “sophisticated cannabis farm” within the property.

A hidden drug den full of cannabis plants worth £100k has been exposed by police in Bury / Credit: GMP

The set-up was spread across two floors, and according to police, resulted in around 300 plants being seized overall – with half of them being at the beginning of their growth-cycle, and 100 which had been harvested.

All the plants seized have a combined street value of an estimated £100,000, it is believed.

On top of this, a vehicle was also seized after officers found it suspiciously parked outside the premises, and following further inspection, it was discovered to be outstanding as stolen and had false registration plates.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Police believe that the warrant could be linked with West Balkan’s Organized Crime Groups, and are investigating additional lines of enquiry.

Chief Superintendent Kirsty Oliver, Bury’s new district commander, thanked the public for their help in yesterday’s warrant.

“We received information sent in by concerned members of the community who wanted to create a safer environment,” Chief Superintendent Oliver explained.

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“Communities are essential to preventing and solving crime, and I encourage you to continue to report any criminal acts or suspicious behaviour to us and let us know what is happening in your area.”

Featured Image – GMP

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