The Mancunian Way: Collapsing kids

Hello,

"A child somewhere in this country is going to die because of a vape. It’s only a matter of time."

It's a stark warning, but it could save children's lives, one Greater Manchester headteacher believes.

A couple of months ago, we took a look in this newsletter at just how easy it is to get your hands on illegal and potentially dangerous vapes following an M.E.N investigation. Now, health reporter Helena Vesty has spoken to Westhoughton High School head Neil Coe after four different pupils at the same school were admitted to hospital.

The youngsters had all inhaled vapes thought to have been 'spiked' with dangerous substances, including THC and spice. And Mr Coe believes the situation in our schools is bleaker than ever.

He told Helena that pupils are so desperate to use their vapes that he's had to post teachers outside bathrooms around the clock in an attempt to block the youngsters. Even then, he says, it's 'almost impossible' for teachers to stop the habit.

The concern is rising across the country. The government has announced that it is planning to introduce a ban on the sale of disposable vapes in England, Scotland and Wales.

The measure, which is expected to come into force at the end of 2024 or the start of 2025, is designed to tackle the rise in young people vaping. But existing laws are already being flouted.

Mr Coe also spoke of his fears that parents are supplying their children with vape pens - but wonders if it is better than them sourcing their own, potentially illegitimate, vapes.

“It's an awful dilemma for schools,” Helena writes. “Should they stand back as parents buy these products for their children, or leave them to the alternative - where youngsters try to get hold of vapes themselves - opening them up to potentially dangerous, unchecked and possibly spiked pens.”

You can read the full piece here.

Murder investigation

A huge search triggered by human remains discovered in a Salford nature reserve will end today, police say.

A murder investigation was launched after a passer-by discovered the lower body parts of a man wrapped in multiple sheets of cellophane in Kersal Dale on April 4. Now, twelve days later, officers are preparing to leave the area.

Officers from the Tactical Aid Unit, CSI teams and sniffer dogs have been deployed across Kersal Dale and Kersal Wetlands over the last two weeks in a bid to find further evidence. No further body parts have been found but police are today expected to make a fresh appeal for information and witnesses.

Neal Keeling has the latest on possible theories and lines of enquiry here.

Disgruntled driver

On Sunday we saw the return of the Manchester Marathon - an event which saw an amazing 32,000 people take to our streets while raising a staggering £3m for charity. Incredible.

However, not everyone was quite so happy to see these amazing runners take over town. Shocking video footage has emerged, showing the moment a 'disgruntled resident' was seen driving down a closed-off street and 'nearly hitting runners' during the race.

Race stewards in hi-vis were seen running down Seymour Grove, near Old Trafford, at around 10.15am on Sunday (April 14) in an effort to try and bring the car to a stop as it was driven along the street, lined with onlookers.

It is understood that police were called to the incident and that the driver was a 'disgruntled resident'. Members of the public were given advance notice of the road closures in place by event organisers and the council and urged to use public transport where possible.

Daisy Brazenell, who caught the moment on camera, said: "There was a car on the track yesterday, not stopping and swerving, nearly hitting runners. It was mental.”

You can read the full story from James Holt here.

"Colourful, decadent baking”

A Levenshulme bakery has been praised for its imaginative and delicious bakes in a list of the top 13 bakeries "worth queuing for" published by The Telegraph national newspaper.

Long Boi's Bakehouse, which is run by an all-female team, was one of two bakeries featured for the "north of England" in the feature.

Jenny Oakenfull, who runs the bakery, said the article was a ‘complete surprise,’ adding: "As we're not a city centre bakery I think we can sometimes get overlooked when people are making lists about Manchester's bakery scene etc, so it feels really great to be included in such a prestigious list alongside so many other people in the industry we look up to.”

You can read more about this special bakehouse here.

Best beans

There’s no question that Manchester is a coffee powerhouse these days, with indie cafes sitting on every street corner.

But not all coffee is created equal. A lot of you have had something to say about your favourite spot for a caffeine boost on a recent Reddit thread asking users for their recommendations.

One user suggested Just Between Friends, on Tib Street, which was met with positive responses. "Solid flavours and rather cheap in comparison to others," one person wrote, as another commented: "Every time I tried another coffee shop it just doesn’t hit as good."

Fort, on Deansgate, was another popular choice, with one user penning: "[They] probably do the best flat white I’ve had anywhere in the UK, not just Manchester" as another agreed: "This is the real answer, so unassuming but the baristas are so knowledgeable, they can make the perfect coffee for your tastes."

Mancoco, Siop Shop, and Ancoats Coffee also earned mentions. You can read more about the city’s top coffee spots here.

Weather etc

Wednesday: Sunny changing to cloudy by lunchtime. 10C.

Trains: Possible disruption on Northern at Manchester Piccadilly due to industrial action between the 15th and 20th of April. Affecting services across the network.

Manchester headlines

• Motorbike crash: The family of a 21-year-old man who died in a crash between a motorbike and a car in Wigan have said their 'hearts are absolutely broken' in a touching tribute. More here.

• Court: A jury heard there were 'tensions' the night before Kennie Carter was fatally stabbed. The 16-year-old died following an incident in Stretford, Trafford, on January 22, 2022. Ten teenagers are on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of murder. More here.

• Fire tragedy: A four-year-old boy is fighting for his life in an induced coma after being pulled from a house fire in Wigan. Tragically, his dad died after he ran back inside to save his little boy', his family said. More here.

Worth a read

Stockport's regeneration has become a national story, with it repeatedly being named one of the country's best places to live for its amenities, spaces, culture and transport links.

But not everyone there is feeling the benefit. Local Democracy Reporter Declan Carey has been out and about speaking to residents - you can read his piece here.