City news in 250 words

A CORONER has urged the council to review the safety of the canalside by Manchester's Gay Village. The request comes following another death caused by drowning in the canal. Coroner, Nigel Meadows has said that the number of canal deaths could be reduced by providing better signage, fencing and lifesaving equipment.

CREDIT CARD details of 38,000 customers of Cheshire clothing firm, Cotton Traders, have been stolen after the companies website was hacked. In a statement, Cotton Traders said all of its customers' credit card data was encrypted on the website. This follows a similar hack attack last year on the website of TK Maxx, in which 45 million card details were lost. The firm has said worried customers should contact their card provider.

BED SHORTAGES in Greater Manchester are due to people taking up beds they don't really need, according to reports. Hospital managers have said that 'bed blocking' is often caused by elderly patients waiting for care home places. The problem is evident across the region, with Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and north Manchester, having the highest number of people in hospital unnecessarily.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has had meeting with a Real Madrid fitness coach Valter Di Salvo, according to the Sun newspaper. The paper shows photographs of the coach apparantely handing over a dossier to the winger. Real Madrid say the photos simply cannot possibly exist. Di Salvo, who left United last summer to join Madrid, reportedly gave the Spanish giants a full detailed assessment on every aspect of Ronaldo.