Manchester 250: Tuesday 4 December

BUSINESSES will no longer receive automatic fire brigade call out responses to their fire alarms. As of Friday 7 December, a double-check will be carried out before fire engines are sent. Fire bosses have said this will save them £2m a year in false callouts. Unions are concerned that it will put lives at risk by delaying response to real fires.

A BOGUS CABBIE has sexually assaulted a teenager in the city centre. The 18-year-old girl left the Pure Nightclub in the Printworks at 2.30am and got into a red car she believed to be a taxi. The driver stopped just off Dantzic Street where he assaulted the girl. Police are now seeking witnesses.

POLICE have issued a warning over a fake jewellery scam. The fraudsters, who have made a total of £18,500 by selling fake precious stones in Manchester, are now believed to be targeting Asian businessmen at Piccadilly train station. Police say the sellers are of African appearance and are good actors who employ fake jewelers to value the stones.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON believes Cristiano Ronaldo was robbed of what would have been his first hat-trick, in United’s 2-0 over Fulham last night. The Portuguese winger was yellow carded for alleged diving as he hurdled goalkeeper, Niemi. Sir Alex told Setanta Sports: “The penalty incident is a result of the referee's perceived idea that Ronaldo dives. I think all goalkeepers will try to claim they didn't touch the attacker but it's up to the referee to interpret that.”