Manchester 250: Friday 28 September

METROLINK services to Salford Quays are to be doubled in advance of the BBC’s northern arrival. An £8m upgrade from the North West Development Agency means that in peak times there will be a tram every six minutes between Cornbrook and the Quays – currently they are every twelve. The upgrade will be complete by 2010, in time for the BBC’s move from London to Salford Quays.

A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY has been charged with gun possession after being stopped and searched in Cheetham Hill. The firearm was reportedly seized from the 15-year-old after officers stopped the group of teenagers on Heatherdale Road. The boy, from Oldham, was also charged with possession of ammunition and possession of cannabis and is due before Manchester magistrates later.

WITHINGTON LESIURE CENTRE swimming pool is being boycotted by swimmers who say it is too cold. Members, particularly from the over-50’s club, have found the low temperature to be unbearable. A council spokesperson said: “The water temperature is kept at a constant level of between 27 and 29 Celsius to keep pool users warm and comfortable.”

MANCHESTER UNITED aim to make a speedy recovery from their shock midweek Carling Cup exit earlier this week. Sir Alex Ferguson said: “I was absolutely flabbergasted by that performance, did not expect that at all. I am not interested in giving reasons or mitigating circumstances. It was just a very bad performance.” United are expected to revert back to the experienced players in the Premier League game at Birmingham on Saturday.