City news in 250 words: Wednesday 25 August

WORLD CUP MONEY FOR MANCHESTER? Manchester looks set to scoop £150m if England are successful in the bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. FIFA officials headed to Old Trafford and Eastlands today for a final inspection, as both stadiums would host games if England land the tournament. The figures are based on the 2006 World Cup in Munich, which netted £80m worth of benefits using only one stadium.

SCHOOL WORKER QUITS AFTER FIVE YEARS PAID SUSPENSION. A guidance councillor at Parrs Wood High School has finally quit his job after being suspended in 2005 after an allegation of inappropriate behaviour towards a female pupil. Len Evans had been suspended on full pay for five years after delays in the investigation. Head teacher Tarun Kapur said: “Mr Evans is no longer employed at the school and is not on the payroll.”

MANCHESTER HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST BUSINESS INSOLVENCY RATE of all the UK’s towns and cities, according to new research from trade credit insurer, Euler Hermes UK. Bradford remains at the top of the table for the highest insolvency rate, but Manchester follows closely behind with a rate of 0.57 per cent.

SPINNINGFIELDS IS IN THE RUNNING FOR THREE AWARDS at the inaugural UK Event Awards. The development has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Unusual Venue' category and ‘Best Use of an Outdoor Space for an Event' category for its open-air cinema Screenfields. The Manchester Duck Race at Spinningfields has also been short-listed in the ‘Best Marketing Strategy' category.

Out of the window weather forecast: Grey clouds looming but no threat of rain