In what can only be described as a throwback to the nostalgic drinks of our student years, this week in The Manc office we’re getting excited about the return of an especially festive limited edition flavour of VK.
Get ready for your tongue to turn an insatiable bright red because, in preparation for the Christmas season, the VK team has re-released a popular limited edition flavour.
Yes, we’re talking about the sweet strawberry and peppermint VK Candy Cane. What’s more, we don’t expect they’ll be hanging around for long – so VK fans need to be quick off the mark to get their hands on this festive fan favourite.
First created in homage to the iconic Christmas sweet back in 2019, the last time they were released Candy Cane mixed packs sold out across the UK by 15 December following unprecedented demand
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
The fruity-flavoured alcopops already come in a variety of flavours, with VK Blue, Watermelon, and Orange & Passionfruit all firmly established as cheap party staples, but now there’s a new one for shoppers to hunt out on supermarket shelves.
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The bottles are available in limited edition festive Mixed Packs, available from Tesco, ASDA, B&M, and Home Bargains from the start of November.
The festive VK Mixed Pack, which contains 10 x 275ml bottles of the 4% drink, have an RRP of £10.
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Flavours include VK Candy Cane and a selection of VK favourites – Blue, Strawberry & Lime, Orange & Passion Fruit, Tropical Fruits, Apple & Mango, Watermelon, Black Cherry, and Raspberry & Peach.
Those purchasing a festive Mixed Pack this year will also be in with a chance of winning their very own VK Christmas jumper.
There are over 100 Golden Tickets placed randomly in the festive Mixed Packs – and all that winners have to do is take a picture of their ticket and send this to @VKdrink on Instagram to claim their jumper (while stock last).
There are also hundreds of Christmas prizes to be won in multiple giveaways across VK’s Instagram this Christmas, including VK Santa hats.
Charlie Leaver, Head of Brand at Global Brands Ltd: “At VK we love all that Christmas brings, from celebrations with friends and family through to fun flavours like gingerbread and candy cane. Following huge demand for candy cane in 2019, we couldn’t help but bring it back for fans to try this year.
“We hope you enjoy celebrating Christmas with this fan favourite!”
Trafford Council temporarily bans barbecues, fireworks and more at key local attraction after Dovestone fires
Danny Jones
Trafford Council has issued a limited ban on barbecues, fireworks and more at the beloved public attraction and suburban hotspot, Sale Water Park, following the fires near Dovestone Reservoir.
Wildfires and areas of concern remain around the moorland region, which caught fire last weekend.
After a woman was arrested as part of a wider investigation into a group that accidentally caused the ignition, accidental or not, the Greater Manchester borough’s local authority has temporarily restricted BBQs, fireworks, and any other kinds of naked flame.
This is a proactive and preventive measure by the Council in an effort to avoid similar circumstances as those seen in the Saddleworth and Oldham vicinity, with the sight and smell of the smoke still lingering across the region.
Barbecues, fireworks and naked flames are temporarily restricted at Sale Water Park due to the increased fire risk during the hot and dry weather.
Please help us keep the park safe for visitors, wildlife and nearby communities.
As explained in the official update from Trafford Council, while local residents and tourists alike are welcome to bring picnics and cold beverages as they hope to both beat and enjoy the heat, a serious fire risk is still very much present.
Implementing the ban across Sale Water Park in an effort to protect native visitors, wildlife and nearby communities, increased police patrols will be dispatched across the 152-acre patch of grasslands and artificial lake.
While the Manc nature reserve and popular slice of countryside just beyond the outskirts of the city centre will still be open from “dawn until dusk” throughout the week, security staff will also be on site, ready on standby with water and sand available to safely extinguish any fires.
The Council has also reminded people to park responsibly and avoid blocking access routes in and around the parkland, as recent busy periods during the ongoing UK heatwave have led to congestion in and around the park, which can also delay emergency vehicles.
Visitors are encouraged to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport where possible.
A Trafford Council spokesperson said in an official statement: “We want everyone to enjoy Sale Water Park safely. However, the current hot and dry conditions mean there is an increased risk of fire, particularly from barbecues, fireworks and naked flames.
“This temporary restriction is a proportionate step to protect people, wildlife and the park itself. Visitors are very welcome to bring cold picnics, but we are asking everyone not to bring or light barbecues while the restriction is in place.
“We’re also asking visitors to park considerately, keep access routes clear and take litter home if bins are full. To avoid the busiest times, people could consider visiting before 9am or later in the evening.”
As for the Dovestone and Tintwistle Moor blaze, the latest is that a suspect’s identity has now been revealed; you can find out more down below.
Featured Images — Namiras1 (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Manc Group
News
Woman, 20, publicly named and charged with aggravated arson in relation to Dovestone moorland fire
Emily Sergeant
A woman who was arrested on suspicion of arson as part of the ongoing investigation into a large moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir has now been charged.
She has also been publicly named as 20-year-old Shania Care-Slede, from Hyde.
She has been charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving, and has been remanded in custody before appearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today (14 July 2026).
After the blaze broke out on Saturday evening at the popular beauty spot in Oldham, prompting a major multi-agency response that has now entered its third day, fire crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have been working around the clock in challenging conditions to contain the fire and prevent further spread across the moorland.
Specialist wildfire resources, command support units, drone technology, and partner agencies have also been deployed as operations continue across multiple sectors of the incident.
To make matters worse, ‘strong’ winds carried smoke across parts of Greater Manchester – with reports of haze and the smell of burning being received from areas well beyond the immediate vicinity of the fire.
Residents affected by smoke are advised to keep windows and doors closed where possible.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says its officers are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry and are seeking to identify any other individuals who may have been involved.
“While we have secured charges against one individual, our investigation remains ongoing,” explained Detective Inspector Andrew Day. “Detectives are carefully reviewing all available evidence to identify anyone else who may have been involved in criminality linked to this incident.”
As criminal proceedings are now active, GMP says it would encourage people to ‘avoid speculation’ online, particularly on social media.
Georgina Pellant -
9th November 2022 
