Greater Manchester firefighters were seen lining the streets in what was a poignant tribute to their late colleague.
Following the funeral of Daniel Lee held yesterday, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has shared a collection of moving photos from the service – which shows many of his colleagues lining the streets with their heads bowed as procession passed, and acting as pallbearers during the service itself.
Fire engines displaying floral tributes from loving family members also formed part of the procession.
Daniel ‘Dan’ Lee was a Watch Manager at GMFRS, and served the communities of Greater Manchester for over 16 years before he sadly passed away back in August.
Today we said goodbye to our colleague and friend Watch Manager Dan Lee. Staff members joined family and friends for a funeral service to honour Dan, who served the communities of Greater Manchester for 16 years 💔 pic.twitter.com/s9NOodZv5t
— Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) September 21, 2022
In a tribute to the dedicated firefighter shared on social media, GMFRS said: “Today we said goodbye to our colleague and friend Watch Manager Dan Lee.
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“Staff members joined family and friends for a funeral service to honour Dan, who served the communities of Greater Manchester for 16 years.
“Dan, a former Royal Marine, was based at Agecroft Fire Station on Green Watch and was also the Service’s lead Air Unit pilot. He had worked across many different departments. He was known for being keen to learn, a good listener and communicator, and for his sense of humour.
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“Dan’s family and colleagues are very grateful to the public for their kind wishes following his sad death, and would like to thank everyone who generously donated to a fundraiser set up by his friends.
“RIP Dan.”
Greater Manchester firefighters were seen lining the streets in what was a poignant tribute to their late colleague / Credit: GMFRS
Daniel Lee went missing in the early hours after a night out with friends.
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The 41-year-old Watch Manager was last seen walking along St Mary’s Parsonage, near Crazy Pedro’s, just after 1am on 22 August, and a huge search and rescue effort took place throughout that week – with Tactical Aid Unit, North West Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit officers searching the River Irwell close to where Dan went missing.
GMP’s statement said at the time: “We’ve sadly found the body of a man in the search for Daniel Lee from Salford. He was last seen in the early hours of Monday morning after a night out with friends in Manchester. His family have been informed and request privacy at this time.”
Fire engines displaying floral tributes from loving family members also formed part of the procession / Credit: GMFRS
GMFRS also shared a tribute to the “popular and valued” colleague at the time.
Dave Russel – Chief Fire Officer – said: “Everyone at GMFRS is shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely death of our colleague Watch Manager Dan Lee.
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“Our thoughts are with Dan’s family and friends, as they have been over the past few days as the search for him has taken place. This is a tragic end to a very difficult week and not the outcome we all so desperately hoped for.
“On behalf of GMFRS, I want to thank Greater Manchester Police for their efforts in the search for Dan, as well as colleagues across GMFRS and residents and partners from across our city region who have supported the search.
“Dan will be greatly missed.”
Featured Image – GMFRS
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Altrincham named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2026 in The Sunday Times’ annual ranking
Emily Sergeant
A popular Greater Manchester town has been named among the UK’s best places to live by the Sunday Times in its annual ranking.
That’s right… it’s that time of year, once again.
The Sunday Times is known for pulling together a list of what it considers to be the most sought-after places to live in the UK every year, and 2026’s ranking has officially been published today – with dozens of locations across the country making up the comprehensive guide, and six of those coveted locations being right here in the North West.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all locations on the list, and assessed factors such as schools, transport, culture, broadband speeds, access to green spaces, the health of the high streets, and much more to devise the always-talked-about annual ranking.
Macclesfield in Cheshire, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Lancaster in Lancashire, and Aigburth in Liverpool are just some of the North West areas named by the publication in the 2026 list.
Altrincham has been named one of the best places to live in the UK / Credit: The Manc Group
A spotlight has also been shone on two Greater Manchester towns, and one of two has even been given the regional North West title… but which are they?
Where has taken the top spot as the best place to live in the North West for 2026, and is therefore one of the best places to live in the whole of the country? Well, that honour has been given to none other than Greater Manchester’s very-own Altrincham.
The publication described the Trafford town as ‘classy, cool and effortlessly comfortable’.
“Altrincham is a top-notch town brimming with independent businesses and big brands, and now it’s flying even higher,” The Sunday Times said.
The fact that co-working has now arrived on the high street thanks to the conversion of the old Rackhams department store, and that the town’s cultural and creative ‘cachet’ is also on the rise, have been highlighted as reasons as to why Altrincham has been chosen as the North West’s winner, as well its newly-flourishing fitness scene.
Of course, the town has also been praised for its transport links into Manchester city centre and across the region, as well as it being a great place for families thanks to the excellent local schools on offer.
Didsbury was the other Greater Manchester town chosen to represent the best of the North West – with the Manchester suburb described as being ‘stylish, solid, safe, and, yes, a little bit smug in parts… but that’s okay’.
You can read the full Altrincham feature here, and see where else The Sunday Times included in its list for 2026 here.
Featured Image – Geograph
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11 arrested and £70k cash seized during early-morning police drug raids across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
11 people have been arrested, as well as a large amount of cash and drugs seized, during early-morning raids across Greater Manchester.
The raids took place during the early hours of the morning yesterday (Thursday 19 March 2026), where Greater Manchester Police (GMP) successfully executed eight warrants simultaneously across Tameside, Oldham, and Rochdale to tackle a ‘suspected criminal network’ involved in the distribution of class A drugs and firearms.
Officers from Tameside Programme Challenger team, the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), and GMP’s Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) were deployed to each of the addresses.
Following weeks of intelligence gathering and preparation, a total of 11 people – each aged between 24 and 77 – were arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences during the raids.
Eight men and three women were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, being part of an organised crime group, possession with intent to supply, money laundering, and possession of an offensive weapon.
They all remain in police custody for questioning at this time, GMP confirmed.
During searches of the addresses, various class A, B and C drugs – including crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and nitrous oxide – were seized, while further recoveries of £70,000 in cash, a zombie knife, a BB gun, and four vehicles were also made at the same time.
Speaking following the success of the raids yesterday, Chief Superintendent Shan Nasim, District Commander for Tameside, said: “[This] operation has been a powerful example of our continued, determined effort to dismantle organised crime in our district and Greater Manchester.
“We have 11 people in custody being questioned by our investigation teams in relation to an organised crime group (OCG) that have been causing widespread harm across our communities.
“This action caused significant disruption of an organised crime group (OCG) and has prevented drugs and weapons from reaching the streets, as well as the associated harms that come hand in hand with organised crime.
“Organised criminals exploit vulnerable people and blight our communities; we will take robust action to catch offenders, keep our communities safe, and protect vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.”
Emily Sergeant -
22nd September 2022 
