City news in 250 words: Thursday 29 April

MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER figures are down, according to Greater Manchester Police's latest statistics. Figures for such crimes are at their lowest level in 20 years. In 2000 police figures recorded 73 murders and 11 manslaughters. In the past year, 31 murders and four manslaughters were recorded, which is the lowest level since 1990/9.

LOUIS PAULHAN WAY is a road which has, this week, been named after the first man to fly from London to Manchester. Louis Paulhan landed his plane in a field in Burnage, Manchester, on 28 April 1910. He won a £10,000 prize from a national newspaper for completing the adventurous flight from Hampstead in north London. The road, by the Aviation Viewing Park at Manchester Airport, has now been named after him.

AN AMATEUR FOOTBALL MATCH in Moston, was disrupted after a gang carrying axes attacked Moston Brook players on the pitch. Players challenged the gang, but were subsequently hit with baseball bats. Referee Pete Tupman promptly ushered players off the pitch and abandoned the Lancashire and Cheshire League Cup match.

A MUSLIM WOMAN who was barred from boarding a flight after refusing to go through the body scanner, has had a private viewing to show how her the machine works in a bid to ease her fears. The woman, from Didsbury, returned to the airport this week after Manchester Airport chiefs invited her to see the X-ray machine and address privacy concerns. It is still not known whether the woman will be willing to fly again.

Out of the window weather forecast: Muggy. A great day for going to Spain.