City news in 250 words

THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER has banned the sharing of wine during congregation in a bid to prevent swine flu contaminating his churches. The Church of England in Greater Manchester is “monitoring the pandemic very closely”, with clergy being told to use alcohol hand gel when in contact with churchgoers. The Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, said: “If our advice is followed then we will have played our part in helping to reduce the risk of pandemic flu in church.”

MANCHESTER continues to make good progress but continues to be beset by deep-rooted challenges, a report has concluded. The State of the City report, found that 77% of us are satisfied with our lives, up two per cent from last year, but the Mancunian lifespan continues to lag behind the national average, with “significant levels of deprivation” continuing to ravage the city. Council leader, Sir Richard Leese, said the report allows city leaders to “confront challenges rather than hiding from them”.

CITY COUNCILLORS have decided against giving every household in Manchester a £50 handout after the city treasurer concluded in his report a “quick, gimmicky giveaway is not the answer” to helping recession-hit households.

A THIEF SNATCHED A CAR with an 88-year-old woman sitting inside, GMP detectives have said. The woman was sitting in the passenger seat of the Volswagen Golf when it was stolen on Castlemoor Avenue, in Kersal, Salford, yesterday afternoon. The car was later found dumped and the pensioner had made her way home.

This ‘N’ That wisdom: You can't have everything. Where would you put it?

Taken from the free calendar available at This 'n' That, Soap Street, Northern Quarter. Wisdom rating: 8/10