News
Huge ‘one mile’ fire breaks out on Marsden Moor
Firefighters from West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester services have been drafted in to tackle the blaze - which has been raging overnight.
Firefighters from across the north have “working tirelessly” overnight to bring a ferocious “one-mile flame front” under control on Marsden Moor.
The fire – which is believed to have been “started by people” – first erupted at around 7pm on Sunday (April 25) evening.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said that more than 10 crews plus specialist wildfire units arrived on the scene last night in attempt to tame the blaze, which has already “destroyed a crucial area for rare birds and mammals.”
Greater Manchester Fire Service is working with local services this morning to dampen the flames using specialist vehicles and systems.
West Yorkshire Police, Mountain Rescue and the National Trust have also been assisting in an attempt to get the situation under control.
Local residents are being advised to keep their doors and windows closed.
Countryside Manager for the National Trust, Craig Best, said the situation “could have so easily been avoided.”
“It’s so frustrating to see yet another fire on our moors after all the hard work our team have put in to try and restore the landscape after last time.
“Although not on the same area of land as the 2019 fire, this fire has also destroyed a crucial area for rare birds and mammals.”
”Unfortunately this was another fire started by people, and could have so easily been avoided.”
The National Trust tweeted an update at 7:26am on Monday: “Whilst the flames appear to be out, moorland fires can reignite very easily, especially as the weather gets warmer today.”
Feature image: West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
News
Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
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Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
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BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Featured Image – BTP
The Manc -
26th April 2021 
