Woman’s ‘dream camper van’ torched overnight in Didsbury on Valentine’s Day
The owner said she was 'heartbroken' to find her beloved van - the 'only thing she had ever owned' - had been torched in a 'mindless' act of vandalism.
Members of the West Didsbury community are pooling their money together to help a young woman replace her ‘dream’ camper van after it was set alight on Valentine’s Day.
A local resident said she was ‘heartbroken’ to find her beloved van – the ‘only thing she had ever owned’ – had been torched on Sunday (February 14) evening.
The culprits appear to have used the vehicle’s spare petrol can to start the fire – which ripped through the van’s interior and left the contents destroyed.
The vehicle had been fully restored, revamped and decorated by the owner herself – who also lost a number of sentimental items in the blaze including some precious scarves.
Police were apparently ‘shocked’ at the egregious act of vandalism, which took place on Lapwing Lane in Didsbury at around 11pm on February 14.
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Anyone who might have dashcam footage of the incident after travelling through the nearby area around West Didsbury Tram Stop on Sunday evening is being encouraged to come forward.
In the meantime, a fundraiser has been launched on GoFundMe to raise enough money for the owner to purchase a brand new van.
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The charred remains of the vehicle after the fire / Image: GoFundMe page – Dan McGlynnThe original van – Image: GoFundMe page / Dan McGlynn
The GoFundMe page reads: “Jemma [the owner] has put her heart and soul into restoring, renovating and building her dream camper van.
“With limited funds she has done nearly all this work herself and it has taken a long time. She was recently thrilled to learn that it had passed it MOT with flying colours and was very excited to be able get out on adventures creating life long memories.”
The fundraiser has already generated over £2,800, with more than 100 people donating so far.
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“Let’s come together as a community to help Jemma to to be able to realise her dream again, and get her out on those adventures,” said the GoFundMe organiser, Dan McGlynn.
“And let’s show that the Didsbury community is much bigger and better than the horrible people that did this.”
Greater Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Dozens of local restaurants will be adding an extra £1 onto every bill over the festive season to help fight street homelessness.
People in Greater Manchester are once again able to give back while they dine at some of the best restaurants the region has to offer in the run up to Christmas, as the successful StreetSmart fundraising initiative is back for another year.
This year, 26 fantastic restaurants have come together to support local homeless charities as the campaign launched this past Saturday (1 November).
Manchester independents such as Mana, Erst, Climat, 10 Tib Lane, Ezra & Gill, Tartuffe, and Blue Eyed Panda are among those taking part in the campaign this year, alongside several city centre chain restaurants such as Lina Stores, Tampopo, Banyan, Manahatta, and San Carlo.
StreetSmart works by each participating restaurant adding an extra £1 to every bill they deliver throughout November and December, with all of the money raised going directly to local homeless organisations, thanks to StreetSmart’s official sponsorship from LandAid.
The funds raised by StreetSmart in Greater Manchester this year will support the crucial work of organisations such as CentrePoint, which funds Independent Living Advisors for young people, and Real Change Manchester, which plugs into the existing homelessness charities to provide that extra boost of funding that makes all the difference.
The StreetSmart team says it’s determined to deliver another record-breaking year in 2025, and provide much-needed support to the services that help some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas / Credit: Supplied | Rifqi Ali Ridho (via Unsplash)
“The festive period can be an incredibly tough time for the vulnerable people in our community,” explained Glenn Pougnet, who is the Director of StreetSmart.
“StreetSmart provides a simple way for people to help some of our city’s most in need. Giving back whilst dining out at Christmas is what StreetSmart is all about, and we’re thrilled to have so many restaurants already taking part.
“Every £1 added to a bill adds up and makes a huge difference.”
Featured Image – John Carey (Supplied)
News
Police appeal for information after pedestrian killed on Mancunian Way followed earlier welfare concern reports
Emily Sergeant
Police are continuing to appeal for information after a pedestrian was killed on Mancunian Way during the early hours.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that the shocking incident occurred at approximately 12:50am on Friday 31 October when it was reported that a Volkswagen Passat had collided with a man in his 20s.
Sadly, the collision was fatal and the pedestrian died at the scene.
The driver of the Volkswagen, a man in his 40s, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Following the incident, subsequent police enquiries have established that a call was made to the force shortly after midnight which reported concern for a man walking on the carriageway, and GMP says it believes the man in that report was the man who was involved in the fatal collision.
Officers were sent out as ‘high priority’ to carry out an extensive search of the surrounding area after the report was made, but it was said that they couldn’t locate him.
#UPDATE | Officers are continuing to appeal for information following the fatal collision on Mancunian Way this morning.
We have referred ourselves to the IPOC after reports that the victim was possibly spotted on the carriageway earlier that morning.
— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) October 31, 2025
Due to this earlier report, GMP has confirmed that it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to look into its response to the search.
The victim’s family is aware, have been updated, and they are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is still appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward, and are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV footage, dashcam, or mobile phone footage from the area in the moments leading up to the incident.
“This is a tragic incident for all involved and we express our deepest condolences to the family of the man who has lost his life, and whom we are doing our utmost to support at this time,” commented Sergeant Andrew Page.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 111 of the 31/10/25, or by using the ‘report tool’ or LiveChat function on the GMP website – www.gmp.police.uk
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Manc -
16th February 2021 
