Manchester 250: 21 June 2007

THE BITE THE BULLET exhibition at Harvey Nichols has been condemned for glamorising gun culture. Organised as part of the Ars Ornata Europeana exhibition by Jo Bloxham, wife of Manchester property developer Tom Bloxham, it features a transparent bag containing a de-commissioned gold-plated gun and bullet. Harvey Nichols overlooks Manchester Cathedral scene of last week’s row about a violent computer game - Sony’s Resistance: The Fall of Man – using the interior as a backdrop

A POLL of businesses has found that 80% are against congestion charging and half thought it would deter them from further investment. But many commentators feel the poll is compromised because it didn’t link congestion charging with the extra money which would become available for public transport. The poll was conducted by Peel Holdings, owners of the Trafford Centre and the Media City site at Salford Quays, who are against the proposals.

POLICE have arrested a 31-year-old man over the rape of a student in Fallowfield. A 21-year-old woman was attacked on Whitby Road and dragged into an alleyway off Ladybarn Road on the 11 May. She had been out celebrating the end of her exams.

MANCHESTER singer Mick Hucknall of Simply Red has become a first time father at the age of 47 with partner Gabriella Wesberry. The baby, a girl, who has been named Romy True, weighed 9lb and was delivered in London maternity hospital, The Portland, on Monday. Hucknall’s band is named after the singer’s red hair, the Labour Party and Manchester United.