Manchester 250: Thursday 27 September

OLDHAM could be renamed. The change would be part of the £50,000 re-branding project to give the town a more positive image. Council officials have commissioned marketing and design experts to come up with new branding ideas. Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes said: “Lot’s of people don’t like being told they’re Oldhamers and that reflects in poor satisfaction ratings. What the eventual name might be, I do not know but it could be based on a local river or anything.”

A MATERNITY WARD is to re-open after being fumigated following a cockroach infestation. The unit was fumigated to remove the insects before it was given a final deep clean on Wednesday. Part of the maternity unit at Rochdale Infirmary had to be closed earlier this week with patients being transferred to Fairfield Hospital in Bury. A spokesperson said: “The fumigation process has now finished and we've been given the all clear. We are aiming to be open by Friday.”

WONDERBRA model Eva Herzigova is to pose in Selfridges window display tomorrow afternoon. The supermodel behind the famous Hello Boys Wonderbra campaign will be posing behind the department store glass on Exchange Square at 1pm on Friday 28 September to help launch a revolutionary new TV set.

MANCHESTER UNITED were eliminated from the Carling Cup last night by second division side Coventry who won 2-0. Michael Mifsud scored both goals for Coventry at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium. United's continuing misfortune in the Carling Cup after last season’s loss to Southend United.