City news in 250 words

B OF THE BANG designers, Thomas Heatherwick Studio Ltd, have agreed to pay Manchester City Council £1.7m in an out-of-court settlement following breach of contract. The council sued the design team after the 184ft sculpture was plagued with problems, after it was unveiled in 2005.

WAREHOUSE PROJECT TICKETS worth more than £20,000 have been stolen from Trof Cafe Bar in Fallowfield. Thieves burgled the cafe in the early hours of Wednesday 5 November. Police Constable Matthew Smith said: “They are worth a lot of money and they will undoubtedly try and sell them on to make a quick profit. I would appeal to anyone who is offered Warehouse Project tickets from anyone other than a licensed dealer to make a note of who is trying to shift them and then call police.”

THE OFFICERS who were involved in a high speed chase which resulted in the deaths of three people, acted correctly according to a police watchdog. The officers followed the car in Oldham after it failed to stop at a red light. The driver lost control after two minutes of pursuit and hit a wall outside a row of houses. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said officers were right to pursue the car.

MANCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKETS are open today. The Christmas Markets are located in Albert Square, St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street and Brazennose Street within the city centre. There are 200 stalls featuring of European and local produce, arts and crafts, fashion items and gifts.