City news in 250 words: Wednesday 13 October

PROTEST AT SOUTH MANCHESTER LAW CENTRE: Campaigners are demonstrating outside Manchester Town Hall this morning over the future of a law centre. South Manchester Law Centre in Longsight, gives advice on asylum, immigration and employment issues. The Legal Services Commission and the city council have stopped funding new cases in employment, housing or benefits at the centre. A spokesperson for the centre said: "Without a restoration of its funding, the law centre is likely to face closure.”

HOWARD JACOBSON WINS BOOKER PRIZE: Author and columnist Howard Jacobson has won the Man Booker Prize for his comic novel The Finkler Question. He received the £50,000 prize at London's Guildhall after judges described his book as ‘very funny, of course, but also very clever, very sad and very subtle’.

OLDHAM GAS LEAK: Most of Oldham town centre was evacuated yesterday because of a gas leak during tram extension work. Hundreds of people were told to leave their homes and businesses at around 12.30pm after workers accidentally cut into a gas pipe whilst demolishing the Baptist church in King Street.

HEAD TEACHER BANS FOUNTAIN PENS: Head teacher, Jack Williams, of Hillcrest Grammar in Cale Green, Stockport, has banned GCSE pupils from using fountain pens as he believes ballpoint pens will boost their exam technique. Williams, 37, said: "Exams are scanned in by computer or e-mailed across to markers. If my pupils don't get used to using Biros they might not get picked up by the scans and not get the credit they deserve.”

Out of the window weather forecast: Definitely not fountain pen weather.