A dodgy business man selling watches to defraud customers, the Autumn Budget and a restaurant seeing a huge surge in bookings due to a viral social media post are some of the stories published today
Here are five stories you may have missed today published by the Manchester Evening News…
- A businessman who sold high-value watches defrauded customers out of more than £1m after launching a ‘Ponzi scheme’ when his firm failed. 45 victims were left thousands of pounds out of pocket by Manchester Watch Hub, the company ran by Adam Moore-Lynch. He would sell expensive watches for clients including Rolex, in exchange for a seller’s fee. But when the ‘legitimate’ and ‘successful’ business he had helped to build up began experiencing problems, he began ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’. Manchester Crown Court heard clients would be ‘placated, ignored or misled’ and ultimately left out of pocket. They told of the devastating toll Moore-Lynch’s crimes have had. He has now been jailed for more than five years. READ HERE.
- Manchester council-run firework displays WILL return for the first time in years at Bonfire Night 2026. Free firework displays and bonfires at eight council-run parks, including Heaton Park, were staples of council festivities until 2020, when the pandemic forced the cancellation of the event. However, it did not return once Covid restrictions eased because town hall officers chose to spend its budget on a ‘wider range of free community events across the city throughout autumn and winter’. But council bosses say increased government funding means the fireworks can come back with a bang from 2026 and keep up the community events. READ HERE.
- Rachel Reeves set out her tax and spending plans earlier today as she delivered her second budget since Labour came to power. The Chancellor announced a raft of measures aimed at easing the cost of living as well as a series of tax increases raising £26bn in total. Household energy bills are expected to come down by around £150 a year on average, while rail fares have been frozen and the 5p cut in fuel duty has been maintained. However, tax thresholds will be frozen which Ms Reeves admitted will affect ‘working people’. But how will it impact those living in Greater Manchester? READ HERE.
- A developer has revealed plans for a new 230-home estate on green belt land. Persimmon have published a public consultation document for a green field site on Chew Moor Lane, Westhoughton. The homes are earmarked for current agricultural land between Lostock Cricket Club to Bolton Road. The land, close to the M61, is currently two field parcels separated by a farm access track running west to east. Persimmon said the field parcels are subdivided by fencing into a number of horse paddocks. There is no current planning application for the development, but that is expected to be submitted after a period of consultation. READ HERE.
- The owners of a restaurant in Prestwich say they have experienced a surge in bookings and worldwide publicity, all thanks to a complaint on Facebook. Last week, Codi’s Kitchen, a Pan-Asian restaurant on Bury New Road, was criticised online for its Christmas decorations – for being a little bit too much for the high street it calls home. While many liked the tower of festive present boxes and window art on the front of the building, a negative post on Facebook garnered attention from locals as well as restaurant owner Codi Sheldon. In the days following the original post on Facebook, restaurant owner Codi, 28, told the Manchester Evening News that she has seen a surge in bookings, and has received messages and comments from people far and wide. READ HERE.
Read the latest news and headlines on our website.
