Manchester 250: Monday 24 September

TRIBUTES are being paid to a student found dead outside a block of flats in Hulme. David Brown, 24, was found with a knife wound to his leg in a garden on Chorlton Road just after 7.30am on Friday. Detectives have launched a murder inquiry. Anyone with information should call Longsight CID on 0161 856 4343 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

VICTORIA STATION will not lose its gents’ toilets. Northern Rail announced last month that they would be considering closing the toilets because of anti-social behaviour. The toilets already have to be locked at 9pm every night because of vandalism and drug use. However, the company's area director, James Ross said: “A commercial development is being considered but I promise that gentlemen will not be left without a toilet at Victoria.”

MANCHESTER is the friendliest city in the UK and the best place to make new friends according to a recent report. Social networking company CitySocialising found Manchester to be the friendliest city, the second easiest city to make new friends and the second flirtiest city in the UK with 47% of people admitting to flirting with a friend's partner.

LANCASHIRE missed out on cricket title victory over the weekend after falling just 25 runs short. Lancashire manager Mike Watkinson has vowed that they will bounce back after missing out on the County Championship title to Sussex. He said: We have got a fantastic team spirit and we are going to come back stronger. It was an outstanding effort.”