Manchester 250: Wednesday 22 August

MANCHESTER TRAINS are to become more spacious. The Department for Transport plans to increase capacity on railways by 2014 with an extra 1,300 carriages totaling around £1m. Manchester is one of four cities outside London lined up to receive the extra space for its squashed passengers. A spokesman for the Department of Transport said: “We estimate Manchester needs at least 40 and possibly as many as 70 new train carriages.”

A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY from Wythenshawe has appeared before a Manchester youth court charged with hurling a sausage at an elderly neighbour. Judge Tim Devas was in disbelief over the case which he described as similar ‘to a story from boys’ adventure book Just William’. He asked the prosecution to reconsider the charge which has already cost several thousand pounds.

AN ELDERLY COUPLE were injured after youths threw stones at a Piccadilly train. One of the stones smashed a window and hit the woman above the eye. Her husband also got glass in his eye. British Transport Police Sgt Les Peters said: “This was a very dangerous act of vandalism. Those responsible would do well to come forward now to mitigate the seriousness of what they have done.”

GABRIEL HEINZE is ready to wash his hands of United. The 29-year-old defender is dismayed that United are blocking his move to Liverpool. Heinze said: “United never wanted me to leave for one of the big clubs, but this anti-Liverpool clause is incredible. My fight is for freedom to negotiate with any club.”