News

Helicopter pilot flies from Salford to Preston and back for beef sandwich

A helicopter pilot's 80-mile round trip to pick up a beef sandwich from a farm shop was a "flagrant abuse" of lockdown rules, a councillor has said.

The Manc The Manc - 6th March 2021
Chipping Farm Shop

A helicopter pilot is under fire after making an 80-mile round trip in his chopper for a roast beef butty.

The incident, which has been covered by BBC News, was posted on Instagram by Chipping Farm Shop near Preston when the man landed on their property to pick up his “roast beef in gravy barm with caramelised onion.”

Sounds good that, I’m not going to lie to you.

The video posted by the shop showed the helicopter landing nearby and a member of staff delivering the sandwich to the pilot – before giving the camera a double thumbs up.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CL20W2uJ52F/

But a local councillor now says that this was a “flagrant abuse” of lockdown rules and it has been confirmed that Ribble Valley council is investigating the possible Covid rule breach.

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According to the BBC, the shop has now deleted its account on Facebook, which had also posted videos of the helicopter’s arrival.

A local resident told the BBC that the shop serves “takeaway drinks and snacks to the many cyclists who come here [and] earlier this week there were 20 plus of them and a helicopter for the second day running”.

Both Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Police are looking into the incident.

News

An iconic vintage train is set to pass through Greater Manchester this summer

Danny Jones Danny Jones Vintage 125 Inter-City train passing through Greater Manchester August 2026

Calling all railway enthusiasts: another historic vintage locomotive is set to visit two Greater Manchester train stations this summer.

Whether you’re a passionate trainspotter or just a nearby resident curious to see what all the fuss is about, the cult favourite retro carriages will pass through the pair of Manc boroughs and surrounding areas early next month.

Despite an adjustment in the initial plans, locals will still be able to witness and board the train at multiple stops along the way in the Stockport (Reddish South station) and Rochdale areas.

So, if you consider yourself a bit of a ‘Francis Bourgeois’ figure, or a general public transport connoisseur, pay attention.

The retro train in question is an iconic throwback: the Inter-City 125 ‘Summer Riviera’ HST service, originally manufactured during the 1970s.

Designed by Sir Kenneth Granger and officially launched back in 1976, the fleet was named as such after the top speed of 125mph – simple as that.

Once again, it’s worth noting that the originally proposed route and stops have now been changed due to issues with Network Rail.

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As a result of there currently being no standing approval to use the connection from Paignton to Bury on the East Lancs Railway line, they have been forced to change the start and terminus points.

Writing on the dedicated 125Group website, they say: “We are reviewing our options to start as close as possible to the advertised departure point, and it seems likely that Rochdale will become the start and finish point, with all other previous pick-ups retained.

“For those in the far south west, we are looking to see whether we can offer an Exeter to Paignton return – subject to availability of space. We will add this to the booking site shortly, although we may have to limit numbers sold until we are more certain of booking levels to Bristol and Exeter.”

Two 125s, including ‘The Mancunian Princess’, travelled through the SK region earlier this year.

They have reassured that the journey will still be going ahead and have simply advised those hoping to catch it to keep their eyes peeled on the website and their socials for the latest updates.

Kids’ tickets start from just a tenner, and standard passes for the full tour cost £99, with first-class the class option priced at £149 (there’s also a table for two supplement available for £50).

You can see the full map, find out more information, and grab your seats right HERE.

Bet the internet signal on this relic isn’t far off the current standard either, to be fair…

Internet signals reportedly ‘100x faster on the moon’ than on some UK trains
Give us (signal) strength.

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Featured Images — David Hitchbone (via Geograph)/MaltaGC (via Wikimedia Commons)

News

Temporary location for ‘Number 10 North’ in Manchester city centre reportedly confirmed

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The temporary location for the new Number 10 North project has been announced.

You may remember that earlier last month, it was revealed that Andy Burnham had intentions to create a Number 10 North if he was to become Prime Minister, and now that he is, more details on this move to Manchester have been revealed.

Number 10 North is expected to be a ‘dominant driver of the UK’s economy’ once it’s officially up and running, Government ministers say.

According to BBC News reports, civil servants working for Government departments based in London have been offered relocation packages to encourage them to move to the northern base in Manchester, which is said to be being overseen by cabinet minister and ally of Andy Burnham, Louise Haigh.

The temporary location for ‘Number 10 North’ in Manchester city centre has reportedly been confirmed / Credit: gov.uk (via Wikimedia Commons)

Haigh – who is the first secretary of state – has reportedly been asked, according to the BBC, to have been asked to lead a new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC), which will give her control of key decision-making bodies across Government.

The OPMC will include No 10 and No 10 North, as well as other teams within the Cabinet Office.

It is understood, according to the same BBC reports, that the initial temporary location of No 10 North will be Heron House, just off Albert Square in central Manchester, which is the same building that currently houses offices for the intelligence service GCHQ, and where eyewitnesses have spotted police officers guarding in recent days.

The longer-term base for Number 10 North, however, is expected to be at the new Government ‘Digital Campus’, which is currently under construction in the Ancoats and is not due for completion until 2032.

An idea of what Number 10 North could look like down the line has been shared by Britain’s leading public services think tank, Re:State, this week.

The new blueprint sets out a possible recruitment plan, with reports suggests around 300 staff should be employed within 18 months.

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Alongside Whitehall officials who are willing to move to Manchester, it is also likely there will be a significant movement of staff from Burnham’s former mayoral team at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the BBC reports.

You can discover more about the plans for Number 10 North here.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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