Shameless David Atkinson, who has since been declared bankrupt, stole £200,000 from Spotland Methodist Church, of which he was the treasurer.

The emergency services were called just after 8pm on Tuesday March 16 with five crews tackling the blaze at its height using hose reels and beaters.

Fazal Mohommed was jailed for four and a half years at Bolton Crown Court on Friday for conspiracy to supply drugs.

Homes in Alder Road suffered loss of power three times on Sunday with the most severe lasting for almost 11 hours.

Janie was among 28,000 dogs on show at Crufts, presented by the Kennel Club, and she came away with Best Greyhound Puppy accolade at Birmingham's NEC.

Lib Dem MP Paul Rowen, Labour Party parliamentary candidate Simon Danczuk and Conservative candidate Mudasir Dean were put though their paces at the Big Debate, organised by the Observer and the Voice of Rochdale Independents retail group.

The brewery's Big Chief Bitter, which is five and a half per cent alcohol, was judged champion beer in the strong bitter category of a national competition.

A decision to close the Cutgate care home at January's Cabinet meeting was called in for scrutiny by councillors Colin Lambert and Terry Linden earlier this month.

The Duke took a tour of College Road based Wireless CCTV, which produces mobile surveillance systems, and met bosses and staff and the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift and Ms Sue Etchells.

Akila Naqqash, 31, said she was 'gobsmacked' after Sahil came on the phone after his 12-day kidnap ordeal to say: "I'm OK Mum".

Nomi Jewellers in Yorkshire Street was raided last weekend when a gang broke into the store through the window of the catering business next door before clearing out the stock.

Three-year-old Mia was feeling deflated after accidentally letting go of her pink balloon in Morrisons supermarket in Kingsway.

Genr8 Developments unveiled their initial proposals, which include a department store and more shops on the current bus station site.

Experienced rider Paul Brabazon, of George Street, died after being thrown from his bike shortly after overtaking a mini-bus in Cliviger, on June 27 last year.

'Gentle Giant' Karl Nigel Mansfield had a turbulent start in life but things were looking up before his death.

A number of sensors have been placed on lamp posts in the town centre to allow researchers at Manchester University to measure differences in temperature over the next three years.

Dave Phillips, Laurie Kazan Allen and Jason Addy of the Save Spodden Valley Campaign met with housing and regeneration minister John Healey in Westminster on Wednesday in a meeting organised by Rochdale's Labour prospective parliamentary candidate Simon Danczuk.

The Punjabi Law Minister told reporters this morning that Sahil, from Shaw in Oldham, was found safe yesterday. But detectives in the area say that he has not yet been found and that the search was continuing.

About 15 firefighters were called to the blaze just before 8am at Dickson Green Farm in Sir Isaac Newton Way, Milnrow.

The public are invited to find out more about the £100- £150M development, which includes new retail and leisure facilities and share their thoughts.

A Conservative motion to introduce the £135,000 scheme to make parking free after 10am on Saturdays was defeated at the budget fixing meeting at the end of February.

Burglars caused £4,000 damage when they ripped up floorboards to strip an unoccupied house in Ada Street, Foxholes, of £800 of copper piping between midnight on Friday February 19 and Thursday.

Soccer Factory Leisure is hoping to redevelop part of the large warehouse in Royle Barn Road.

First place in the baby of the year category was presented to Harry Baron.

The five-year-old was snatched by armed robbers from his grandmother’s house in Pakistan on the last day of a two-week family holiday with his father.

The helicopter air lifted a 65-year-old man to Blackburn Hospital where he was treated for serious shoulder injuries.

A detailed planning application has now been submitted for Matthew Moss High School in Marland, which would to receive £10M worth of investment from the government programme.

Rail support group Storm has described the service, which runs between Halifax and Manchester Victoria – including Littleborough, Rochdale and Castleton – as 'inept'.

That was the claim made this week by Community Leisure Association of Whitworth (CLAW) after the green light was given to a new swimming pool at Haslingden Sports Centre, plus more than £2m of new investment at Marl Pits, Rawtenstall.

Reports from Pakistan yesterday suggested there had been a breakthrough in the search for the Oldham five-year-old.

Three girls and six boys, including a set of identical twins, have resulted from the baby boom at St Peter’s Primary School in Rochdale.

Gemma Waterworth is disgusted by the NHS after she received two letters stating her daughter was overweight and offering her support to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Instead of starring in the opening night in the Friends of St Gabriel's School production of Dick Whittington Daniel spent the night in hospital after coming off his scooter.

A senior official for the controversial far-right party was invited to address a classroom at Matthew Moss High School about whether the hijab, a headscarf traditionally worn by Muslim women, should be banned.

Sahil Saeed was snatched and is being held to ransom after a terrifying raid in the Punjab region, where he was visiting his ill grandmother with his dad.

The fire was sparked by an electrical fault in the kitchen, which caused the boiler to explode and flames to burn through the units and dishwasher.

The woman, in her 60s, set fire to a blanket after dozing off on the settee at her home in Thimbles, Hurstead.

Wellfield Working Men's Club, in Prince Street, was forced to close last Saturday after losing money for some time and falling into debt.

Dr Neil McQuire, aged 58, is accused of five counts of rape and a single charge of indecent assault.

Roxanne Preston, aged 19, repeatedly kicked Paul Mullaney's head 'like a football' and attacked him with a four foot plank lined with nails.

Cars parked in in Rooley Moor Road, Emma Street, Edenfield Road, Viking Street and Molyneux Street were targeted by the thugs.

Ben Dailey, aged 23, from Ivy Terrace, Littleborough, has been charged with nine counts of criminal damage and causing damage to a motor vehicle.

Fire crews from Littleborough and Heywood were called to their house in Gandy Lane when an oil-filled mobile heater sparked a fire.

One of the offenders grabbed the 45-year-old victim by the throat, while his accomplice rifled through his pockets.

Dame Gracie Fields is battling for the number one spot against Middleton's indie upstarts The Courteeners.

Twenty-two-year-old Leon is doing a charity sky dive on Saturday March 13 to raise money for The Christie hospital and cancer centre.

The overall level of council tax increase was set at 3.96 per cent last week when taking into account fire service and police demands.

Police made a second appeal for information on Adnan Muhammad, who is wanted in connection with a rape that happened almost seven years ago, on last week's programme.

The month-long festival began last Friday, with the drama section of the competition taking place at the Riverside in Whitworth.

A consultation and at least one public meeting will take place in Whitworth after Lancashire County Council admitted failings in the consultation process.

Eighteen to 24-year-olds now spend an average of just under a year and a half claiming job seekers' allowance, compared to nine months in December 2004.

Preston, of Falinge Road, Rochdale, who had been drinking cider and inhaling aerosol gas, set upon 44-year-old Paul Mullaney outside a takeaway in the town.

The need for savings is expected to impact on 'every aspect of health care' bringing job cuts and changes to services, the Observer understands.

More than 20 people carried 'Save Our Sanctuary' banners and mini placards and heartfelt signs reading 'What is the future use of Three Owls?' and 'What is a zoo licence?' on Wednesday.