Latest news with #NorthWest
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Matheus Cunha spotted leaving hotel in Manchester after Wolves star holds transfer talks ahead of £62.5million move
MATHEUS CUNHA has broken cover in Manchester ahead of his blockbuster move to Old Trafford. Manchester United are closing in on a £62.5million deal for the Brazilian forward. 4 4 Cunha, 26, was spotted checking out of The Lowry Hotel on Sunday morning. The hotel is just a short drive from United's Carrington training centre. It is the first time the Brazilian has been seen in the North West ahead of his eagerly-awaited switch from Wolves. The 26-year-old was joined by his pregnant wife Gabriela and their young son. According to the Manchester Evening News, Cunha's representatives met with United's director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, on Saturday night. United have triggered Cunha's £62.5m release clause and will pay the hefty transfer tag in instalments over the next three years. Cunha netted 15 Premier League goals in 33 appearances for Wolves last season. He was high on Ruben Amorim 's summer wishlist, with the Portuguese boss keen to move on from a horror campaign and get business done early. Cunha headed straight to the airport from the hotel, where he jetted out for international duty with Brazil. United's squad are currently heading home from a horror post-season tour of Asia. Matheus Cunha gifts Wolves team-mates Joao Gomes and Andre a Rolex ahead of Man Utd transfer The trip has been marred by a series of gaffes, including a bizarre open-top bus appearance and players flashing middle fingers at supporters. Club legend David Beckham was among those to take a swipe at the players, branding their behaviour "not ok." Cunha released his own statement after Wolves' final game of the season on May 25. Addressing fans on Instagram and appearing to say goodbye, he wrote: "Wolves, what can I say to you? "What an incredible season. We didn't get to where you deserve to be, but we did everything we could to make you proud. I love these guys. "Individually, it was the best season of my life. All of this was only possible because of all the dedication and love I have for this club. "I became the Brazilian with the most goals in a Premier League season, along with @roberto_firmino and @ "I made mistakes and got things right, but always because I lived this club so much. "All I ever wanted was to do the impossible for Wolves. Another one is over. And thank you all for all the affection." United are in desperate need of firepower after mustering just 44 league goals last season. Club captain Bruno Fernandes is said to be "seriously considering" an offer from Saudi side Al Hilal. Alejandro Garnacho also appears set for the exit door, with Chelsea interested in the £50m-rated Argentine. While SunSport revealed last week that out-of-favour Marcus Rashford is holding out for Champions League football.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Meet the Macclesfield grandad sharing his love of the outdoors online
Here in the North West we are fortunate to have incredible countryside, bustling cities, award-winning beaches and not forgetting incredibly friendly year I wanted to reflect on the pride we have of our wonderful region and the people that make it such a fantastic place to I came up with BBC North West Tonight's 25 in 25, a series showcasing some of the best people and places in the north-west of week I met up with Roger Hordley - an 81-year-old walking, photo-taking grandad whose photographs have earned him a following online. Roger's daughter Daniele emailed me about her dad, who enjoys nothing more than walking in and around Macclesfield Forest.I live in Marple. Macclesfield is, as we always say, "down the road" and yet somewhere I am ashamed to say I have never really a morning spent admiring the views I know it is a place I will be returning to - especially with my girls who would love the chance to build a den in the forest, like the one me and Roger stumbled not everyone has that opportunity and that's one of the reasons why Roger takes photos for his blog. "I take maybe 30 - 50 photos during a walk, I'll whittle them down to 15 or 20, put them into a montage and share them."The family can see them and, apparently, I have followers who like them."At the age of 81, some might think it's a time to sit back and relax but not Roger."Why do I walk? To keep fit? No. To keep the joints moving. I'm 81 and it keeps my limbs loose."Walking like this is for my knees, the future me is happy." Roger has walked five miles a day, at least five times a week for the past 10 years, so what motivates him?"Look at it. It's absolutely glorious."The walks are good, the exercise is good. It's just lovely. Who would not want to walk in a place like this?"Throughout our walk, Roger uses an app on his phone which tells him the name of the flower or bug he has stumbled across cotton grass, which looked like cotton wool balls on top of in the cotton a bug hid, Roger's app established it was a slow bug."I see something new every time I come on this walk, no two walks are the same." His advice to those that perhaps haven't got the motivation he shares?"The only thing I would say is don't think of the walking, think about what you're seeing."I wouldn't rather be sat inside watching the telly, I'd rather be here, watching this view." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour plots ‘family bathtime tax' on water bills
Labour has opened the door to 'progressive' water bills that would force those with larger family homes and gardens to pay more. Ministers have said they support utilities companies trialling new tariffs that charge the heaviest users of water a higher rate. Some firms are also pushing for a move to a seasonal pricing system, which would mean it costs more to use water in the summer than the winter. Combined, the changes would disproportionately hit the bills of families with children and of households with gardens and swimming pools. The Tories said the 'punitive' plans would hit young parents hardest, accusing Labour of allowing a 'tax on bathtime' and 'waging war on family homes'. It comes after England experienced its driest start to spring for almost 70 years, with the Environment Agency declaring a drought in the North West. Water companies are lobbying ministers to give the green light to the use of new tariffs, which they say will reduce bills for most households and cut consumption. They want to be able to switch to a model of 'progressive' pricing, whereby families that use the most water are charged the highest prices. Under the system, also known as rising block tariffs, the rate people are charged per litre increases at intervals in line with their usage. Such a system would have to be underpinned by the rollout of smart meters to all homes so that companies could monitor their water usage in real time. Around 60 per cent of homes in England are currently metered, but the vast majority of those have a conventional meter from which periodic readings are taken. The Government estimates that only 12 per cent have smart meters, which are connected to the internet and provide data directly to the utility company.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Photos give rare glimpse of area's first major pop festival at Bickershaw
With the festival season underway. we thought it appropriate to head into the archive and bring you these photos from one of the area's first pop festivals. The event, held at Bickershaw, over three days in May 1972, featured a line-up of major UK and American acts including The Grateful Dead, Hawkwind, Captain Beefheart and The Kinks. Organisers had hoped that over 120,000 people would head to the North West for the Bickershaw Festival - notable as it was one of the first festivals to offer on-site camping. But bad weather meant that the site - which was prone to flooding - turned into something of a mud bath. And a lack of adequate security meant that many tickets were resold and many festivalgoers even got in for free. Around 40,000 people were estimated to have attended with the organisers - who included one Jeremy Beadle, long before he achieved TV fame - losing a substantial amount of money. The site was left an eyesore leading to numerous complaints from local residents.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Mapped: Where hosepipe bans could come into effect after major drought warning
A hosepipe ban could be on the cards this summer, experts have warned, following one of the driest springs on record. The Environment Agency (EA) said Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire have moved from 'prolonged dry weather ' to 'drought' status. Despite recent rain, water levels in the region remain low, the EA said, although no other areas of the country are in drought. There are no current plans to impose a hosepipe ban. Dr Jess Neumann, associate professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, said the northwest of England had seen the driest spring in nearly 100 years, which led to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers. She told The Independent: "The risk of a hosepipe ban in England is currently at a "medium level" according to the EA following an unseasonably dry spring across most of the country. 'In the North West, there is a good chance that water-saving measures will need to be introduced if there continues to be a lack of rain in the region. 'However it is hopeful that with a change in weather called a hosepipe ban) can be avoided." The map below shows the areas in the UK where a potential hosepipe ban could be implemented if the drought continues: When a hosepipe ban – officially called a temporary use ban – is imposed, people are banned from using them for things such as watering their gardens, filling a paddling pool and washing their cars. People who breach the ban without permission from the water company could be fined up to £1,000. The EA said hosepipe bans were a matter for water companies, but they were expected to follow their drought plans, taking appropriate steps to reduce demand and leakage, to ensure more water is left in the environment for farmers and wildlife. United Utilities, the region's water company, said the EA's drought status for the North West doesn't have any immediate impact on customers but has encouraged customers to use water wisely. A spokesperson said: 'We are grateful for the support of customers as we've seen demand reduce thanks to their efforts in saving water where they can, combined with more recent rainfall and cooler temperatures. 'Reservoirs, however, are still lower than we'd expect at this time of year and so we're continuing to move water around our integrated network to get it to where it is needed, as well as bringing extra water into the system from other sources around the region. 'Leakage is at its lowest level and we're repairing record volumes, with customers supporting us by reporting more leaks and we'd ask that they continue to do that as well as doing all they can to save and recycle water, to help protect their local environment.'
