City news in 250 words: Friday 7 May

A REDUCED MAJORITY HERE, an extended one there. Nothing much changed in Greater Manchester seats during the General Election. Hazel Blears of Labour in Salford retained her seat despite the expenses scandal and John Leech of the Lib Dems extended his slender majority in the marginal of Manchester Withington. One change was in Bury North where David Nuttall took the seat for the Conservatives.

A CROSS-DRESSING ROBBER was part of an armed gang who targeted a shop in Bury.A man, dressed as a woman in a burka and hijab, was allowed entry into Capri Jewellers on Benson Street on Wednesday. As soon as he was buzzed in a further three men, one of whom had a shotgun, barged in. The group stole a lvery arge amount of jewellery before escaping in a car waiting nearby.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE MISSED THEIR CHANCE TO VOTE yesterday after being turned away from polling stations. Huge queues meant that many of those who arrived before the 10pm election deadline, still missed out. A spokesman for the returning officer for Manchester said: "The law states that the doors to polling stations must be closed at 10pm exactly, and no-one may be issued with a ballot paper after 10pm."

SQUIRREL PIE IS ALL THE RAGE in Ramsbottom where supply reportedly can't keep up with demand. Honest. Pots ‘n’ Pies produces the popular squirrel pie, but owners Heather Nash and John Thornton admit that it's a struggle to get two pies out of one squirrel.

Out of the window weather forecast: Cloudy, then sunny, it really can't make up its mind