News

Police appeal as woman left in ‘critical condition’ after falling off bridge into River Irwell

Can you help?

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th December 2025

A police appeal for information has been issued after a woman has been left in a critical condition after falling off a bridge.

The incident took place at Burrs Country Park in Bury.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, at around 6:30am yesterday morning (3 December), officers were called to a concern for welfare where a woman was reported on the wrong side of the bridge at the Country Park.

The woman, who has not been named, subsequently fell into the River Irwell and is now in a critical condition.

She was been taken to hospital, where she is currently being treated for her injuries, and at this time, police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

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With an investigation currently ongoing and proceeding at pace, GMP are now appealing to the public for help.

If you’re not familiar with Burrs Country Park, it’s located just one mile north west of Bury town centre and lies on the River Irwell, covering an area of 36 hectares of scenic countryside – with wide variety of different wildlife habitats and spots for outdoor activities.

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Police are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward, and this includes any witnesses, or anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage.

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Can you help? You can contact GMP on 101, quoting log 522 of 03/12/2025, or the LiveChat function online at www.gmp.police.uk.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

News

Wayne Rooney expresses interest in joining Manchester United’s coaching staff

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rooney wants to help assistant coach with Carrick at Man United

In another unexpected twist in the Manchester United manager saga, club and England legend Wayne Rooney has expressed interest in returning to Old Trafford and potentially joining their coaching staff.

Man United’s all-time leading goalscorer is one of half a dozen different former players to have been linked with either the top job or a backroom role following Ruben Amorim’s departure.

This most recent development comes after Rooney was discussing ex-midfielder Michael Carrick, now being reported as United’s frontrunner to become the next head coach.

Speaking on his self-titled BBC podcast, the retired Premier League icon turned coach and now pundit, didn’t hesitate when asked about the prospect, simply replying: “of course I would” – dubbing the decision as “a no-brainer.”

Rooney’s last coaching job was that of Plymouth Argyle manager, which ended in December 2024 following a run of poor results, much like his time at Birmingham City earlier that year.

Since then, he’s bounced around between punditry and broadcasting, serving as a guest on the likes of The Overlap with his old teammates and peers, as well as now co-hosting his own aforementioned pod, The Wayne Rooney Show.

However, the 40-year-old has always insisted that he still wants a future in coaching, and while it may not have worked as a full-time first-team boss just yet, perhaps more of an assistant position or more specific post (maybe training the forwards as Benni McCarthy did) could be a better fit for now.

‘Wazza’ admitted that, even despite having been on holiday with Carrick “last week”, no one could have expected this situation to have emerged, and certainly not this quick a turnaround.

Moreover, Rooney insisted that rather than preferring any particular person for the next interim head coach/United manager or to join the wider staff, he simply believes that they need “people who know the club” inside and out.

He isn’t the first to have accused the global sporting franchise of losing its ‘identity’ in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and many seem to believe that getting in familiar faces who were at the club during its heyday could help resolve that issue.

This was obviously pretty much the thinking when Ole Gunnar Solskjær not only became interim head coach but got the job on a permanent basis after they began looking more like the confident, attacking teams of old and like they were enjoying their football again. Though we all know how it ended.

Solskjær did look to be leading the race to return to Old Trafford for a second spell as manager initially, but it now looks as though Michael Carrick is the odds-on favourite to replace Amorim in the interim, with the suggestion that one might still assist the other.

Carrick certainly received a good amount of praise during his time at Middlesbrough, and while his time there didn’t end perfectly, either – parting ways after missing out on the playoff spots once again – there seems to be a belief that he, whether flanked by others or not, is the right choice for United at this time.

Once again, there is talk of current temporary caretaker Darren Fletcher remaining with the first team in some capacity rather than simply returning straight to the under-18s, but only time will tell who will be involved. Nevertheless, it now looks nailed on that Carrick will be in the dugout for the derby day.

Manchester United fans planning another major protest amid more upheaval around the club
For most supporters, the manager merry-go-round is far from the root of the problem.

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Featured Images — Gordon Flood (via Flickr)/The Wayne Rooney Show (screenshot via BBC)

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Police appeal for information after ‘attempted kidnapping’ in Wigan

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A public appeal for information has been issued after the attempted kidnapping of a female in Wigan last week.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Criminal Investigation Department are appealing for information and witnesses following the shocking incident, which occurred last Friday morning (9 January 2026) between 6:05am-6:20am.

The victim was walking along Central Park Way, in Wigan, when she was grabbed and threatened by a man who attempted to force her to come with him.

The victim managed to get free and to a place of safety, however the suspect fled the area.

The suspect is described by police as being a white male, approximately 6ft 1in tall, and was wearing grey joggers, black trainers, a yellow hi-vis vest, and a black beanie hat at the time of the incident.

Officers are supporting the victim and investigating the incident, but at this time are now appealing to the public for information.

“Whilst we understand incidents of this nature are concerning, I want to reassure our communities that we take reports of this nature very seriously and the safety of the public is our top priority,” commented Detective Sergeant Andrew Partington, of GMP’s Wigan CID, as he appealed to the public.

“Our officers are taking every measure and following multiple lines of enquiry to investigate the circumstances of this incident.

“We have extra patrols in place around the area and if you have any concerns, our officers are always more than happy to support.”

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Can you help? Anyone with any information is urged to come forward.

This includes anyone who may have CCTV / dashcam footage, witnessed the incident itself, or can help police identify the man involved, and you can contact GMP on 0161 856 7094, quoting log 472 of 09/01/26.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – Google Maps

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