City news in 250 words

A NEW HOTEL is to be built at the Trafford Centre. The 200ft tall, 15 storey hotel will dominate the skyline at the shopping complex. At a cost of £30m, bosses at development firm Peel say it will be 'a spectacular piece of architecture.' It will include a 500-seat banqueting and conference suite, meeting rooms, a 200-seat restaurant, spa, gym and swimming pool.

THE CROWN INN in Stockport has finished runner-up in a national pub of the year competition. The 200-year-old pub was awarded for it's success by members of the Campaign for Real Ale. The organisation promotes good-quality real ale and pubs. The Crown were noted for their great selection of cask beers and up to 15 hand pumps at the weekend.

CAMPAIGNERS will present a 10,000-strong petition to Downing Street today, against plans for a £400m Titan prison in Warrington. The 'American style' prison was proposed to be built on the Omega Business Park in Burtonwood and would house 2,500 inmates. Jim Gardener, spokesman for Warrington Residents Against Prison Prosposal told the BBC: "The main opposition to the the prison scheme is that the Omega site has been earmarked for blue chip industry and 25,000 high tech jobs.”

ORDSALL HALL in Salford is to be restored. The Grade I listed hall which has been a family home, working men's club, a church hall and local history museum over the last 820 years, has received Heritage Lottery funding. Repairs to the external walls and roof will be carried out along with re-development of the grounds, a new learning and community room.