City news in 250 words

TRANSPORT SECRETARY Ruth Kelly is stepping down from the government at the next cabinet reshuffle. The Bolton West MP is understood to have wanted to resign in May after reports she was unhappy with Gordon Brown's leadership. She now plans to spend more time with her family.

A WOMAN is critically ill after an explosion in her house on Deerhurst Drive in Cheetham Hill. The blast happened on Tuesday afternoon and police are working to establish is it was a tragic accident or deliberate act. Det Insp Mark Hussey said: "We are working closely with the fire service to try and establish exactly how this explosion occurred. I would still like to hear from anyone that may have been in the area just before the explosion or who may have witnessed what happened.”

DUTCH PROPERTY DEVELOPER, Bouwfonds is planning a huge furniture and homewares shopping centre in Greater Manchester. The Domus centre would contain 50 shops and could create up to 500 jobs. The idea came from the existing Domus centre in Paris, France. The project would rival Peel Holdings' £90m Barton Square extension to the Trafford Centre, which opened in March.

MANCHESTER CITY BOSS Mark Hughes aims to take City’s sensational form from Sunday’s win over Portsmouth to the south coast in tonight’s Carling Cup clash with Brighton. Hughes told mcfc.co.uk: “We’re tapping in to the goodwill from the weekend, it was a fantastic performance and everybody has come in to work with a smile on their face.”