City News In 250 Words: Friday 20 January

A MASSIVE cannabis farm was found near Bootle Street Police Station after a fire broke out in the building. Around £100,000 worth of cannabis plants were seized from a disused office building on Peter Street. It is understood the lighting used to grow the plants caused the blaze, which required more than 40 firefighters to tackle. Most of the cannabis was destroyed in the fire. No arrests have been made yet.

DESPITE money troubles of its own, Manchester CIty Council is offering a £500,000 loan to FC United. It was recently discovered the football club did not have enough money to fund its new £4.5million stadium in Moston, prompting the council to intervene. Residents have raised concerns over the move, believing it is a mistake for both the council and the club.

THE BBC needs to employ more people from Salford, Hazel Blears has said. The Salford and Eccles MP made her voice heard following the revelation that just 26 of the 680 jobs created at the company’s new MediaCity UK site went to people from the surrounding area. She said more should be done to support the city of Salford and its residents.

GREATER MANCHESTER Police will discuss plans to axe a further 75 jobs today. The force needs to cut £134million from its budget by 2015 and the job cuts have been proposed as a possible solution. This will be the third phase of cuts at GMP in recent years, with 1,300 back office staff positions under review.