City news in 250 words

THE BRITANNIA BUILDING SOCIETY is merging with Co-operative Financial Services to create a 'super-mutual'. The merger deal will create a business with £70 billion of assets, nine million customers and more than 300 branches. The two mutuals said in a statement they would continue to have a significant presence in Manchester, where CFS is based and customers wont see immediate changes with the businesses continuing to trade under separate names.

A BURGLAR found stuck up a Wigan supermarket chimney, naked, back in October has told Liverpool Crown Court he was trying to escape drug dealers. Daniel Davies, 20, admitted attempted burglary and was sentenced to two months in a Young Offenders' Institution. Judge Macmillan said: “Were this matter not so serious the facts would be decidedly comic. You attempted to burgle a Tesco store.”

MANCHESTER BAND, ELBOW have been honoured at the annual South Bank Show Awards in London. The Mercury Prize-winning band were named winners of the pop award. Elbow have also been nominated for three BRIT Awards for Best British Group, Best British Live Act and Best British Album.

AN ACUPUNCTURE AND AROMATHERAPHY COURSE has been scrapped at Salford University because some critics have branded it an 'anti-science course'. Respected pharmacy professor David Colquhoun attacked the university two years ago for running the three year degree in Chinese medicine. The university has said the axe is due to financial and strategic reasons and is part of wider cuts which will see the loss of 150 teaching jobs.