City news in 250 words: Tuesday 9 February

DISCOVERY OF SKELETON LEADS TO A MURDER INQUIRY after a woman’s skull was spotted by workmen at a site on Miller Street, near the CIS Tower. Initially treated as non-suspicious, post-mortem tests found the woman had a fractured neck, collarbone and jaw. Police are unsure how long the body has been there and are now searching missing persons files to try and identify the remains of the white woman, who is aged between 16 and 30.

A NEW CHIEF IS IN CHARGE OF POLICING IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE, replacing the highly-esteemed Gerry Donnellan. Chief Superintendent Caroline Ball, who comes from the divisional commander post in Oldham, took the job at Bootle Street last week and is overseeing a team of almost 1,000 officers that will cover parts of east and north Manchester as well as the city centre.

THE ST PETER’S SQUARE REDEVELOPMENT RECEIVES A MEASLY SIX RESPONSES during a consultation with businesses and residents. Only three members of the public responded to the Civic Square consultation that would affect 10 Grade I and Grade II listed buildings. Only one of the responses were negative, which was the Radisson Edwardian Hotel expressing concern about proposals for a 15-storey building which would become the new Library Theatre and a hotel.

POLICE STORY TELLING SESSIONS HAVE BEEN SLAMMED as a waste of money. Spending £100,000 on bonding sessions that included storytelling, GMP detectives were encouraged to share tales of successful investigations in an event branded ‘Operation Jackanory’ by officers who took part.

Daft American homily wisdom: Many young people haven’t lived long enough to realise that some things are impossible; that’s their most valuable quality.

From Life's Little Instructions Calendar given to our Health and Beauty Editor as a gift.