City News In 250 Words: Friday 16 December

CHRISTMAS shoppers and offices parties are expected to make today the busiest day of the year for Manchester town centre. More than 200,000 people are expected to descend on the city for ‘Mad Friday’ - and spend £6.5million. There could be as many as double the normal number of people in town in the evening compared to a normal Friday night. Extra police will be on hand in case of problems. 

AN AMATEUR weather forecaster says we are on track for the coldest winter in living memory. The Sale pensioner predicts the weather - often accurately - by looking for patterns that are similar to previous winters. Harry Kershaw, 85, has been right in contradicting the professionals in the past and says this winter could be the coldest since the early 1800s. 

A MAN trapped between a tram and the platform died on the scene yesterday. Police and fire crews were called after he fell from the platform at St Peter’s Square just after 11pm. Trams were suspended for several hours as emergency services tried to free the 40-year-old but they were unable to save him. 

THE stress of high-pressure football matches sent one Manchester United fan to hospital, the British Medical Journal reports. The 58-year-old noticed her symptoms were worse when the team played in important matches. Tests revealed she was having Addisonian crises, serious attacks linked to severe stress. She has now been prescribed medication to control the symptoms and can watch the bigger clashes in comfort.

Fact of the day

This week in 2008 a Greater Manchester referendum rejected transport funding proposals which would have introduced a congestion charge.

Thanks to @Revealmcr