Manchester 250: Monday 10 December

THE WIFE of John Darwin, the canoeist who faked his own death, was arrested by armed police at Manchester Airport yesterday morning. Anne Darwin, was detained at the airport for three hours before being taken to Hartlepool police station. She is being questioned on suspicion of fraud after cashing in on life insurance knowing her husband was in fact alive and well.

THE BIG WHEEL on Exchange Square broke down yesterday, leaving 20 people stranded at 200ft for over an hour. A power cut caused the break down and also affected the intercom system which meant the stranded riders couldn’t be told what was happening. An engineer eventually fixed the problem and no one was hurt or injured.

A BABY JESUS figurine has been stolen from a nativity scene on St Ann’s Square. The ornament was taken after the thief broke into the back of the wooden shed display. In a bizarre symbolic statement, the thief left a single red rose in the figure’s place. The whole nativity scene has now been replaced with closer attention being paid to the security of the exhibition.

BEATEN BOXER, Ricky Hatton, is to return to Manchester to a hero’s welcome. Stopped in the tenth round, the WBC welterweight title clash was one of the biggest fights in recent boxing history. Manchester City Council is planning a Civic Night of Honour in the New Year to thank ‘the Hitman’ for putting Manchester on the world stage in what they described as a ‘brave attempt’.