City news in 250 words

MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL could become a goods artery again according to Peel Holdings, the developers of MediaCity and owners of the Canal. Last week’s movement, by barge, of 400 containers of material for MediaCity showed the Canal can be used commercially in its upper reaches once more.

MANCHESTER IRISH PARADE attracted around 20,000 people on Sunday and was followed by a minute’s silence in Albert Square. This was as a mark of respect to the soldiers and the policeman murdered last week in Northern Ireland. Local Labour Euro MP, Arlene McCarthy, stated that a return to the old problems was not an option.

FREDDIE MERCURY has landed at the Palace Theatre in the form of a misshapen 6m statue. This is for a production of the Queen musical ‘We Will Rock You’. So now Manchester has the father of computing, Alan Turing, the fathers of Free Trade John Bright and Richard Cobden, the father of the police force Sir Robert Peel and now the daddy of glam rock and tight trousers Freddie Mercury marked by statues. See also our meggins vote (click here).

BAD DAY at the Greater Manchester office for football this weekend with Wigan the sole winners. Bury managed a draw but United, City, Bolton, Oldham, Stockport and Rochdale all lost. After Oldham’s defeat to MK Dons John Sheridan the manager was fired. Joe Royale has taken over – 15 years after his last stint at the club ended following Cup Final appearances and several years of top-flight football.