Emergency services were called to Milltown Street around 7.15pm on Tuesday

Drone footage captures the moment flames ripped through a derelict mill in Radcliffe.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Milltown Street at around 7.15pm on Tuesday, April 21.

A cordon was put in place, with dozens of firefighters from across Greater Manchester called to tackle the blaze.

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A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At around 7.15pm today (Tuesday 21 April), eight fire engines and three specialist appliances from across Greater Manchester were called to a building fire on Milltown Street, Radcliffe.

“Crews arrived quickly and are using jets and turntable ladders to extinguish the fire.

“Residents are asked to avoid the area and close their windows and doors if they live nearby.”

Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment.

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Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, was executed in Florida after spending 36 years on death row for the murder of his neighbour Marlys Sather

A convicted murderer on death row, who set his neighbour alight more than three decades ago, used his final statement to deliver a thinly-veiled apology.

Chadwick Scott Willacy was administered a three-drug lethal injection today for the murder of Marlys Sather, who was set on fire after returning home to discover the intruder inside her property.

Willacy, who had broken into the home in a chilling burglary, struck her over the head with a blunt instrument, fracturing her skull, before binding her hands and ankles with wire and tape, reports the Mirror.

Having been found guilty of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery and arson, Willacy spent 36 years on death row in Starke, Florida, before finally being executed on April 21. While the 58 year old offered apologies to his own family and friends and urged his “brothers on the row” to stay strong, Willacy continued to protest his innocence, insisting he would never have killed his friend.

Speaking moments before the lethal injection was administered, Willacy said: “To the victim’s family, I hope this brings you peace. If it does, that’s good. But this is not right.”

This marked Florida’s fifth execution this year, following the death of Michael Lee King, who had raped and murdered a young mother in the state. Both men endured lengthy spells on death row prior to their executions; nearly 36 years in Willacy’s case, following his attack on Ms Sather in Palm Bay, Florida.

When Ms Sather confronted the intruder in her home, he attempted to strangle her with a telephone cord, and when that failed, he doused her in petrol and set her alight, according to records. An autopsy confirmed that Ms Sather had died from smoke inhalation, indicating she was still alive when she was set on fire.

Willacy also stole Ms Sather’s car and other belongings from her home, and used the woman’s ATM card to withdraw cash, officials said. When Ms Sather failed to return to work after her lunch break, her employer contacted her family. Her son-in-law went to check on her and discovered her body. Her killer was subsequently sentenced to death following a 9-3 jury recommendation, after being convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery and arson.

Florida’s fifth execution of 2026 came after a record 19 executions in the state the previous year. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

A further execution is scheduled in Florida later this month: James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, is due to receive a lethal injection on April 30. He was convicted of beating and choking his 13 year old niece to death.

The high street giant is expanding its “ReMarksable Value” range with 15 new purse-friendly products as it battles to win over families doing the weekly shop.

Shoppers will now find more than 140 items in the range, all focused on affordable staples.

And it’s not just new additions.

M&S has also cut prices on 19 everyday items, including fresh veg favourites, as reported by creatorzine.com .

Chestnut mushrooms have dropped from £1.40 to £1.30 for 300g, while leeks have been reduced from £2.20 to £1.90 for 600g.

The retailer has also added seven more products to its “Dropped & Locked” scheme – designed to keep prices lower for longer.

The move comes as M&S tries to shake off its reputation for being pricier than rivals.

All items in the ReMarksable Value range are benchmarked against competitors to ensure they stay competitive.

Bosses say the strategy is already working – with more families seeing M&S as better value than before.

Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said: “Families want to eat well without paying more, and vegetables are at the heart of the weekly shop.

“By lowering prices on everyday veg staples, we’re making it easier for more families to shop M&S as part of their weekly shop.”

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The changes are part of a wider push to grow its food business and take on budget supermarkets.

Price cuts include:

• Sweetheart cabbage – £0.95 → £0.75 (each)
• Brussels sprouts 500g – £1.15 → £0.90
• Red chillies 75g – £1.00 → £0.65
• Red & green mixed chillies 70g – £1.00 → £0.60
• Chestnut mushrooms 300g – £1.40 → £1.30
• Carrot bag 500g – £0.55 → £0.55
• Tenderstem broccoli 200g – £2.00 → £1.75
• Leeks 600g – £2.20 → £1.90
• Garlic net (x3) – £0.90 → £0.70
• Loose ginger – £6.75/kg → £6.20/kg
• White cabbage – £1.00 → £1.00 (each)
• Loose sweet potatoes – £1.40/kg → £1.30/kg
• Red cabbage – £1.00 → £1.00 (each)
• Loose courgettes – £3.20/kg → £2.85/kg
• Courgettes 325g – £1.45 → £1.45

‘Dropped & locked’ additions:

• Tenderstem tips 125g – £1.40 → £1.25
• Organic garlic – £0.80 → £0.70
• Portobello mushrooms – £2.00 → £1.60
• Bird’s eye chilli – £1.15 → £0.75
• Organic leeks – £2.50 → £2.20
• Finger chilli – £1.30 → £0.80
• Santini tomatoes 340g – £2.75 → £1.70

DALLAS (AP) — Texas can require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, a U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday in a victory for conservatives who have long sought to incorporate more religion into schools.

It sets up a potential clash at the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue in the future.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals said in the decision that the law did not violate the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom and prevents the government from establishing a religion.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, called the ruling “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.”

“The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it’s important that students learn from them every single day,” Paxton said.

Organizations representing the families who challenged the law, including the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement that they were “extremely disappointed” by the decision.

“The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority. The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights,” the statement said.

The law is among the pushes by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, to incorporate religion into public schools. Critics say it violates the separation of church and state while backers argue that the Ten Commandments are historical and part of the foundation of U.S. law.

The ruling, which reverses a district court’s judgment, comes after the full court heard arguments in January in the Texas case and a similar case in Louisiana. The appeals court in February cleared the way for Louisiana’s law, requiring displays of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 12-6 to lift a block that a lower court first placed on the law in 2024.

Texas law took effect on Sept. 1, marking the largest attempt in the nation to hang the Ten Commandments in public schools. About two dozen school districts had been barred from posting them after federal judges issued injunctions in two cases against the law but went up in many classrooms across the state as districts paid to have the posters printed themselves or accepted donations.

A cordon remains in place on Milltown Street

Firefighters from across Greater Manchester remain at the scene of a derelict mill blaze in Radcliffe on Tuesday night (April 21).

Dozens of firefighters from across the area, along with police and paramedics, were called to the fire on Milltown Street at 7.15pm.

A cordon was put in place and people were urged to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed.

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In an update at 11.40pm on Tuesday, Leon Henry, GMFRS Group Manager and Incident Commander at the scene, said: “Crews are working hard to extinguish the fire and have made good progress.

“Our firefighters, who have been supported at the scene by colleagues from Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and Bury Council, will remain in attendance overnight to fully extinguish the fire.“Residents are still advised to avoid the area with a road closure in place on Milltown Street.”

——————————————–

Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it.

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If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you’ll be the first to hear about it.

And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@men-news.co.uk or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.

When Sir Olly took over at the helm of the Foreign Office in January last year, Lord Mandelson had already gone through the Cabinet Office’s “due diligence” process, the King and the US had given him approval, and he was already being granted access to “highly classified briefings” on a case-by-case basis – without his security clearance being confirmed, he said.

The conflict in the Middle East between the US, Israel, and Iran has caused major disruptions to jet fuel supplies in recent weeks.

This has led to soaring prices and warnings that flights could be affected because of Europe’s reliance on fuel imports from around the world.

The Airports Council International (ACI), which represents more than 600 airports, has warned that Europe could be hit by a “systemic” shortage of jet fuel in the coming weeks if the Strait of Hormuz (which has been effectively closed off by Iran) does not reopen.

Director-general of ACI, Olivier Jankovec, said: “At this stage, we understand that if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.

“The fact that we are entering the peak summer season is only adding to those concerns.”

Jet2 issues update on upcoming flights

Major airlines around the world, including Air New Zealand, have already responded to the disruption to jet fuel supplies by increasing fares and cutting flights.

Lufthansa has closed its CityLine regional subsidiary, which operates routes between London and Munich and Frankfurt.

Norse Atlantic Airways has also cancelled all routes to Los Angeles, including flights from London Gatwick Airport.

Meanwhile, budget airline TUI has said it is “monitoring” jet fuel shortages.

Jet2 is the latest UK airline to issue an update on its upcoming flights, amid growing concerns about a jet fuel shortage across Europe.

Passengers have taken to social media to question whether flights and holidays, booked with the airline are still going ahead.

One person, posting on X (formerly Twitter), said: ” @jet2tweets Hi there – we are looking to go away for a week to Malaga in June and want to know how concerned we should be about the reporting of lack of airport fuel and what happens to our holiday should something like this happen and impact our holiday. Can you help…?”

Another traveller posted: ” @jet2tweets are holidays going ahead as usual? We’ve booked an all inclusive 10 day to Crete in June. I’m worried about jet fuel prices.”

Hi James, all flights are planned to go ahead as normal. If anything were to change regarding your booking, we would be sure to reach out to you directly to make you aware, and discuss the options available to you. Thanks, Josh

— Jet2tweets (@jet2tweets) April 19, 2026

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Jet2 responded, saying: “All flights are planned to go ahead as normal.

“If anything were to change regarding your booking, we would be sure to reach out to you directly to make you aware, and discuss the options available to you.”

Aer Lingus cancels more than 500 flights

Aer Lingus has also cut more than 500 flights from its schedule due to “mandatory maintenance”.

The cuts are set to cause travel disruptions for “tens of thousands of passengers” over the coming weeks.

The airline is axing a select number of transatlantic flights, internal Aer Lingus documents seen by the Sunday Independent have revealed.

Services to and from Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St Paul, and Toronto will be impacted by the cancellations, according to the documents.

Departures from Dublin to many European airports, including Berlin, Zurich, Athens, Faro, and Amsterdam, will also be removed from the Aer Lingus schedule, on select dates.

A “small number” of cancellations will affect passengers travelling from Shannon and Cork airports.

Flights to London Heathrow, ­Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, and Edinburgh will also be cancelled, with passengers rebooked onto other services, the Sunday Independent said.

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An Aer Lingus spokesperson said: “Aer Lingus has commenced operating its planned summer schedule.

“A number of recent cancellations have been required due to mandatory maintenance on aircraft, along with a limited number of schedule adjustments.

“Schedule changes apply to approximately 2% of Aer Lingus’ overall schedule.

“Where schedule adjustments are being made, the vast majority of customers are being reaccommodated on same day services.”

Do you have a flight booked with Jet2? Are you worried about jet fuel shortages impacting your holiday? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

That said, thankfully, gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh has shared simple advice to discourage the rodents from making themselves at home outdoors.

This time of year is ideal for rats, as it’s peak breeding season and they’re actively seeking food and shelter – both of which many gardens unintentionally provide.

However, there is an easy way to make your plot less appealing.

Alan suggests keeping the lawn closely mown so rats have fewer places to hide, reducing the chances of them settling in.

Alan Titchmarsh’s tips for getting rid of rats:

He said in a video of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine: “Rats are furtive. They like cover and shelter.

“They do not like close-mown grass where they can be seen. They much prefer it longer.”

The simple change of staying on top of cutting your grass can make a huge difference in stopping rats from coming into your garden.

Alan added, “If you have got long grass everywhere, that gives them access.

“Cut it short, have a stripe or two if you want, and that way you can see, no rats.”

Alan said: “Most gardeners, myself included, love encouraging garden birds, so bird feeders are everywhere in this garden. But, they can also be a magnet for rats.”

If you have a compost heap, that can also be a huge draw for rats.

Alan’s own compost heap is made from solid wood with steel sheeting lining the inside.

He said, “Hopefully that goes right down to the ground.

“They can burrow underneath it, but I am really reducing their ability to get in with ease. That’s a start, make the heap with good, strong sides.”

Alan explained you need to be careful about what goes into the compost heap.

He said: “Don’t put processed food, anything you have cooked, any meat, any potatoes.

“Don’t do that because it’s just an absolute open invitation for rats.”

Instead, Alan suggests putting in mouldy apples as they rot down quickly and any green clippings from the garden.”

Do you find rats troublesome? Let us know in the comments

Eligible state pensioners aged 75 or over on Pension Credit can qualify for a free TV licence, cutting their annual £180 bill to £0

A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit can slash BBC TV licence costs to nothing for state pensioners who satisfy particular conditions. A TV licence now stands at £180 annually following a £5.50 rise on April 1, or £60.50 each year for those with a black and white television set.

Another price increase is scheduled for April 2027, as the UK Government determined the TV licence fee would rise with inflation for the remainder of the Charter period, which extends until the end of 2027. This year, the licence fee has increased in line with inflation as mandated by the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement, and will rise again according to CPI inflation next April.

Households require a TV licence to watch or record programmes on a television, computer or other device on any channel or service as they are broadcast – including on-demand BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. However, eligible pensioners can sidestep the licence fee entirely, effectively reducing bills to £0 courtesy of one DWP benefit: Pension Credit.

Pension Credit delivers additional money to state pensioners on a low income. Following a 4.8% increase on April 6, the benefit is now valued at an average of £4,300 annually.

Under the new April 2026/27 rates, single claimants can supplement their income to £238 weekly, or their combined weekly income to £363.25 if they have a partner, reports the Express. However, claiming Pension Credit also grants access to a range of additional financial support, including a free TV licence for those aged 75 or above.

Commenting on the Pension Credit uplift this month, the DWP said: “Pension Credit will also rise by 4.8% and be worth an average of £4,300 a year, unlocking further support including help with housing costs, council tax and free television licenses. Between 2026 and 2027, the government will provide a £6 billion boost to spending on State Pensions and pensioner benefits.”

According to the DWP, applying for Pension Credit takes just 16 minutes on average, and for those who qualify, the benefit can unlock thousands of pounds in additional support. Those already in receipt of Pension Credit can apply for a free TV Licence upon turning 74, though payments must continue until the end of the month preceding their 75th birthday, after which the free licence takes effect.

For pensioners who do not meet the Pension Credit eligibility requirements, alternative options exist to reduce or eliminate their TV Licence fee entirely.

TV Licensing advises cancelling your TV Licence if you no longer watch live television on any channel, TV service, or streaming platform, or use BBC iPlayer. Those who fall into this category may also be entitled to a refund if, before their licence expires, they will not be undertaking any of the following:

• watching TV on any channel, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels
• watching TV on pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
• watching live TV on streaming services, like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
• using BBC iPlayer

This encompasses recording and downloading programmes on any device. However, for those who still require a TV Licence, there are further avenues to help bring down the cost. Residents of care homes, supported housing or sheltered accommodation may be eligible for a reduced fee TV Licence. Those who are severely sight impaired and can provide relevant documentation are entitled to apply for a 50% discount. However, if neither circumstance applies, the full rate will be payable.

For those who do not qualify for Pension Credit or a reduced fee TV Licence, there are still several ways to cut costs. TV Licences are issued per household rather than per individual, meaning that those sharing a property do not each require their own licence and can split the cost between them.

A single TV Licence can be shared across an entire household, provided residents watch television in a communal area or hold a joint tenancy agreement. Those with separate tenancy agreements who watch TV in their own rooms, however, will each need to obtain their own licence.

It is also worth noting that a TV Licence is not required to access streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney Plus, on-demand services including All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, video-sharing sites such as YouTube, or physical media such as DVDs and Blu-rays.

Those content to limit their viewing to these options, while refraining from watching or recording live television or BBC iPlayer, could save themselves £174.50. Be warned, however — watching or recording live TV without a valid licence can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

It might be a small country, but the UK has somewhere for every traveller to explore.

There’s crumbling castles and seaside towns, or vibrant cities and rural landscapes that will take your breath away.

And now, TripAdvisor has released their Summer Travel Index for 2026, which reveals the trending destinations among British travellers this summer.

For those who are looking for a staycation, the fastest growing destination is Grasmere, in Cumbria.

Located in the heart of the Lake District, the picturesque village often gets overlooked for its more popular neighbours, such as Windemere and Ambleside.

But for those who have visited Grasmere, it leaves quite the impression.

Lonely Planet founder, Tony Wheeler, once called the village an ‘absolutely a beautiful corner of the world,’ and it’s been the muse for writers and poets for centuries.

Most famously, Grasmere was the home of William Wordsworth, who dubbed it ‘the fairest place on Earth.’

The TripAdvisor ranking was worked out by looking at searches made by British travellers in the UK between February and April this year, for travel between June and August.

While Grasmere claimed the top spot, second place went to Carbis Bay, in Cornwall.

Belfast took bronze, and another Lake District favourite, Bowness, came in fourth. Portrush, in Northern Ireland, placed a respectable fifth.

Perhaps a little more surprisingly though, Coventry ranked as the sixth trending destination, doing the West Midlands proud.

Things to do in Grasmere

Nestled just north of Grasmere Lake, and surrounded by mountains, the village can count some pretty big names as fans, who have all inspired by the majestic surroundings.

John Constable and William Turner both painted here, Sting reportedly owns a cottage in the village, and even Taylor Swift gave it a nod in her song The Lakes, when she sings ‘tell me what are my words worth/take me to the lakes.’

Poet William Wordsworth’s home, Dove Cottage is perhaps the place’s most popular tourist attraction, with tickets costing just £8 for a full day.

You can experience his home as it had been 200 years ago, as well as wander around the beautiful gardens. Wordsworth described Dove Cottage as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’, so it’s certainly worth a trip.

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You can also head to St Oswald’s Church, at the centre of the village, which dates back to the 13th century, and is the poet’s final resting place.

Another of Wordsworth’s former residences, Allan Bank is a popular National Trust property. But instead of antique furniture, the home is full of artworks, as well as opportunities to take in the views — you might even spot some red squirrels.

Of course, a trip to the English countryside isn’t complete without enjoying a cuppa and cake at a tea room.

Baldry’s is popular among locals and visitors, serving the community for 25 years. They bake fresh bread and cakes on site every morning, and use locally sourced ingredients.

No matter how many sweet treats you eat though, you’ve still got to head to The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop. Not quite the biscuit you’ll be familiar with, this is a cross between a biscuit and a cake, invented way back in 1854.

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While the shops claims to offer ‘the best gingerbread in the world’, you don’t just need to take their word for it. Renee Zellweger, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise have all been spotted here, and even the King has given it a try.

And of course, Grasmere is the perfect spot for those who love the great outdoors.

Hire a boat and take a gentle row around Grasmere Lake. Boats cane be hired from Faeryland for just £25 for one hour, for four people.

For something a little more adventurous, you can also canoes, kayak, paddleboard and even swim.

If you prefer to stay on dry land, there’s also plenty of walking routes around the lake, and up into the hills.

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Perhaps the most famous is the Coffin Route — which isn’t quite as scary as it sounds.

The historic trail links Grasmere to another cute village, Ambleside, and is so-called as it was traditionally used to carry coffins across the countryside.

And, if you’re heading to Grasmere in the warmer summer months, don’t miss Sour Milk Ghyll, a waterfall that makes for the perfect wild swimming spot.

Exploring is thirsty work, so be sure to end your visit to the village at Grasmere Brewery, where you can sample their very own craft beer, as well as whisky, gin and vodka.

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You can also enjoy a distillery tour and tasting, but be sure to book ahead.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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