A Manchester corner shop which became a hotspot for anti-social behaviour has been forced to close by the Council.
Following several months of investigation into a string of alleged crimes and wrongdoing traced back to the premises, Manchester City Council successfully secured a Closure Order against Ash News and Booze, on Culcheth Lane in the Newton Heath area of Manchester – forcing the shop to close with immediate effect.
Some of the allegations levelled against the premises included drug dealing taking place outside, littering, anti-social use of e-bikes, and other forms of anti-social behaviour.
On top of this, the Council’s Trading Standards Team, alongside officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) attended the shop to conduct a search on 7 November, during which they found fireworks on sale, illicit tobacco, as well as a canister of PAVA-style incapacitant – often known as CS gas.
This was despite the premises not being licensed to legally sell fireworks, leading to the fireworks and tobacco subsequently being seized by the Council.
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Ash News & Booze in Newton Heath, before it was closed by the Council / Credit: Google Maps
Police have separately made several arrests relating to drugs offences connected to the premises.
During a hearing held on Thursday (14 November) at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, the owner of the premises claimed they were unaware of the alleged drug dealing or other criminal offences taking place, nor were they aware a licence was required to sell fireworks.
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Following the hearing, the shop will have to remain closed for a three-month period – with no one allowed to enter for any reason, other than the Council, the emergency services, or the owners.
“We know how unpleasant it can be to experience anti-social behaviour,” said Councillor Garry Bridges, who is the Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, after the hearing.
“With Miles Platting and Newton Heath one of the areas most affected by anti-social behaviour and the proliferation of fireworks, we believe this closure sends a clear message to any other premises which engage in this irresponsible manner.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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One million UK adults who have never smoked before are now vaping, new stats reveal
Emily Sergeant
More than a million UK adults who claim to have never smoked cigarettes are now vaping.
According to alarming new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), relating to people aged 16 and over, around 2.8 million men (11.3%) and 2.1 million women (8.2%) are thought to be smokers in the UK… but more than a million people, who have never smoked before, have now made the decision to start vaping instead.
People in the 25 to 34 age group were found to be the most likely to vape, according to the data, overtaking those aged 16 to 24, as it was the only age group to see a rise in e-cigarette usage.
Daily or occasional vaping is still higher than the proportion of people smoking cigarettes too, the ONS revealed, at 5.4 million, or 9.9%, versus 4.8 million (8.7%).
One million UK adults who have never smoked are now vaping / Credit: Lil Artsy (via Pexels) | Pxhere
“Fewer than one in 10 adults now smoke,” commented David Mais, from the ONS.
“This is the lowest proportion on record and continues the long-term decline in smoking. [But] at the same time, e-cigarette use remains more common than smoking and has followed an overall upward trend since 2020.
“E-cigarette users are also getting older, with those aged 25 to 34 now overtaking 16 to 24-year-olds as the age group most likely to use them.
“This may reflect existing users getting older, growing popularity among this age group, or a combination of both.”
Overall, the prevalence of smoking dropped in all four UK nations between 2024 and 2025.
Featured Image – Elsa Olofsson (via Unsplash)
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Three Manchester motorways named in UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’
Emily Sergeant
Three motorways in and around Manchester have been named the ‘most challenging’ in the UK.
As part of MoneySuperMarket’s new Great British Motorway Report, new research has found that one in three UK motorists find motorway driving ‘stressful’ – despite more than 70 billion miles being travelled on Britain’s motorways each year.
From delays and congestion to high traffic levels, there are a number of factors that can contribute to driver stress levels.
But are some motorways more challenging for drivers than others? According to the data, yes. And three of the top 10 worst motorways in the UK are in and around Greater Manchester.
To find out which are the most challenging, MoneySuperMarket analysed everything from collision rates and roadworks, to lane closures and driver feedback in order to reveal the top 10.
Manchester is home to three of the UK’s top 10 most challenging motorways – the M602, M62, and M60, the latter of which took the top spot on the list.
Three Manchester motorways have been named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’ / Credit: pxfuel
Encircling Greater Manchester and linking many of the region’s motorways, the M60 recorded the lowest overall score in the index.
Despite handling significant volumes of traffic, the M60 experienced some of the highest average delays, at 15.58 seconds per vehicle per mile, and alongside this, it saw 34 collisions in the past year alone. But despite these challenges, the M60 remains an essential route for regional connectivity, and often cannot be bypassed.
“If you’re feeling anxious, allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to rush or make last-minute decisions,” commented Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket.
“Plan your route in advance, including where you’ll stop for breaks, as regular rest stops can help you stay alert and reduce stress on longer trips, and if you’re travelling alone, consider sharing your route with someone you trust if it helps you feel more comfortable.”
Emily Sergeant -
19th November 2024 
