Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a child was hit by a flare at a Bury football match over the weekend.
A group of male protestors gathered outside of the stadium were reportedly throwing flares into the ground at Neuven Stadium, according to GMP Bury Division, causing injury to a player and a 12-year-old girl.
Game 4 of the week and 1st of the day. Bought a programme, saw a goal, left half time. Didn't buy a pie though. Probably go to groundhopper hell for that. Bury v North Shields. pic.twitter.com/nIyzH709zp
The two individuals hit by the projectile in this instance are said to have only suffered minor injuries.
Citing FA Rule E20.1, they reiterated that the national footballing body and North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) have a ‘zero tolerance’ when it comes to pyros and that it is an offence to enter a football ground with ‘flares, smoke bombs or fireworks’.
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Fans of the phoenix club founded in December 2019 have been protesting in recent months over a potential merger with the original club, Bury FC.
Bury FC Supporters Society (BFCSS) and AFC’s Shaker’s Community Society groups revealed proposals to merge the two clubs after Bury FC were kicked out of the English Football League (EFL) for failing to pay off their debts and pay players’ wages back in August 2019.
Moreover, supporters of the ‘Vote No Merger’ movement are said to have marched on the nearby Redbank Playing Fields around 11am, resulting in the cancellation of youth team Radcliffe FC’s scheduled fixtures, as per Bury Press.
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The protests outside the ground began just over an hour later and while the group insisted they ‘were never going to be a threat’, Radcliffe FC’s chairman Paul Hilton said he was “appalled at the decision which has impacted children “who are absolutely innocent”.
The club itself shared a Facebook post detailing the local police statement, emphasising that “Bury AFC is a family-friendly club [and] we are committed to make it a safe environment for all that attend.”
Bury Division’s Chief Inspector Samantha Goldie said: “Whilst we anticipate protests taking place and facilitate them where possible, we absolutely do not tolerate violence.
“This is a public event and ultimately we want everyone to be safe and have an enjoyable time. Thankfully this reckless and dangerous action by a few did not result in serious injury”.
She is also urging people to come forward with any footage or information.
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Meanwhile, Bury’s administration is once asking fans to ‘Be loud and proud when supporting the team, but say #NoToFlares.’
If you have any information, you can contact the police on 0161 856 8181 quoting incident number 1415. Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured image: Bury AFC
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Man jailed for 10 years after raping ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after being found guilty of raping an ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman multiple times in Manchester city centre.
Benjamin Wilson, of Norwood Avenue in Chesterfield, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison after being found guilty of offences committed in Manchester city centre back in June 2022, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed.
The victim – who was described as being ‘extremely vulnerable and intoxicated’ – plucked up the courage to go on a night out with friends in Manchester, however she became separated from them and was later subjected to a serious sexual assault, which was linked to a suspected drink spiking.
During the evening, the victim – whose identity has been withheld – and her friend believed their drinks had been tampered with, and she later found herself alone, heavily intoxicated, and extremely vulnerable, before she came into contact with Wilson near a takeaway.
Wilson took advantage of the situation, guiding her into a taxi before repeatedly raping her at a flat in Manchester.
The following morning, he dropped her near the hotel where she had been due to stay with her friend, and she proceeded to report the incident to police shortly afterwards.
A man has been jailed for 10 years after raping an ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman in Manchester city centre / Credit: GMP
From the outset, investigators said they faced ‘significant challenges’ – including limited early forensic opportunities and issues securing CCTV footage, all while needing to prioritise the victim’s wellbeing.
Hundreds of hours of work went into analysing witness accounts, financial and phone data, intelligence checks, and overcoming cross-force barriers leading to Wilson’s arrest in Derbyshire.
“The case was ultimately built through meticulous investigation, persistence, and, crucially, the strength and courage of the victim’s testimony,” GMP said.
Speaking following Wilson’s sentencing this week, DC Phillip Sargeant, of GMP’s Longsight CID, commented: “I am awestruck not only by the courage of the victim in coming forward, but also by her patience and resilience in waiting for justice.
“The impact on her, her family and her support network has been profound.
“I hope today’s sentence provides some measure of closure and enables them to move on from this traumatic experience.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Council sets out plans to rework busy Manchester junction after ‘serious safety concerns’
Emily Sergeant
Bold new plans to transform one of Manchester’s busiest junctions following ‘serious’ safety concerns have been unveiled.
All the way back in 2022, Manchester City Council identified the junction of Wilmslow Road with Ladybarn Road and Sherwood Street as an area that would ‘greatly benefit’ from upgraded infrastructure.
As a major route into Manchester, and an important route cutting through the city’s southern neighbourhoods, this junction sees a vast amount of road, cyclist, and foot traffic every day… and because of this, there are also said to be ‘serious concerns’ around safety when it comes to this particular stretch of road.
In a five year period between 2018 and 2023 alone, there were 15 collisions at this junction, the Council explained – with two of these classified as ‘serious’.
Under the plans – which have been announced by the Council this week – the junction is to be partially redesigned, creating several new and safer crossing points for cyclists and pedestrians, a more ‘seamless’ route along the current cycling lanes, and overall, just general improvements to the layout.
🚧 Wilmslow Rd Junction Improvements 🚲 Works start 18 May 2026 at Wilmslow Rd / Ladybarn Rd / Sherwood St to make the junction safer for pedestrians & cyclists. ✅ New cycle lanes ✅ Safer crossings ✅ Better links to the Fallowfield Loop 🔗 https://t.co/Y26mH7cc8Epic.twitter.com/IiOih5ehqp
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) May 11, 2026
Some of the safety features set to be included are three dedicated crossing points for pedestrians at the junction, rumble strips for cyclists at pedestrian crossing points, and improved signage and road markings.
Work is due to begin as early as next Monday (18 May), and will run until January 2027.
The work is set to be carried out in four phases, the Council has confirmed – with the first phase of these works comprising of the removal of street furniture, kerbs and tarmac, as well as upgrades to the drainage and road markings.
“This junction in particular sees a high volume of traffic – from cars, cyclists and pedestrians, commented Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council.
“So it was clear that improvements were required following our engagement with local residents.
“As has been the case with other schemes like this in Manchester, safety remains our number one priority.
“We have long said that we want Manchester to be a city where people can walk and cycle around in safety, and by upgrading this junction and improving its crossing points, we are taking another step towards that goal.”
Danny Jones -
5th September 2022 
