City news in 250 words

DOZENS of Post Offices are set to close in Greater Manchester as part of mass closures across the country. Sixty-five post offices will be axed in the region according to reports today, as part of the Post Office's Network Change programme. The Post Office say that fewer people are using their branches as they can get services like benefit payments through other means.

TRAFFIC in Greater Manchester is the slowest during peak time than any English city outside London. The Department for Transport have released figures which show average speeds on the region's main roads are just 13 miles per hour between 7am and 9.30am.

MOSS SIDE'S annual Caribbean Carnival takes place this weekend. The carnival, due to take place on 16 and 17 August, is a celebration of Caribbean music, dance, theatre and costume. Police say the carnival route is likely to affect a number of roads including: Yarburgh Street, Whitworth Street, Stretford Road, Royce Road, Bonsall Street, Epping Street, Freeman Square, Boundary Lane, Greenheys Lane, Charles Halle Road, Denmark Road, Upper Lloyd Street and Claremont Road.

FOOTBALL CLUBS should pay for the cost of policing games according to the Association of Chief Police Officers. Manchester United matches last season cost Greater Manchester Police £543,442 from their budget to patrol. Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Thomas of British Transport Police told the BBC: “Our normal police budget is being used for that purpose which means we then have to provide a lesser service to the rest of the community.”