Strings attached with orchestra, Take That prepare to party and footy manager gets the chop: Tuesday 15 January

SALFORD taxpayers may have to help fund the BBC Philharmonic when it moves to the Quays. Council leaders are worried that this will pile pressure on resources which are already likely to be hit by a £12m deficit. They hope any shortfall may be filled by other grants. The uncertainty follows Salford MP and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government freezing a £400m scheme to reward councils who succeeding in attracting and growing local business.

BBC’S North West Tonight has been criticised over an email competition. Following scandals across the various TV networks over unfair competitions, the industry watchdog Ofcom, have said a promotion involving McFly in February 2007 misled schools as to a potential visit by the group. Those schools who applied for the visit outside Greater Manchester never had a chance of winning.

TAKE THAT’s popularity seems to be going from strength to strength following their reunion. This year that have been nominated in four categories for the Brit Awards – along with Mika and Leona Lewis. The nominations include Best British Group and Best Live Act – recent concerts including a record-breaking stint at the MEN Arena. Last year Take That won the Best Single Category for Patience.

BURY MANAGER, Chris Casper, has become the latest football casualty after his team suffered their ninth winless game with defeat to Darlington on Saturday. Rumours grow that Manchester United may get prolific Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov from Totttenham Hotspur. Any deal, though, will not go through until this summer.