Bury man Anthony Keane, a non-swimmer, had a lucky escape when he fell into the River Roch. The 40-year-old of Manchester Road was seen by a taxi driver as he fell from Blackford Bridge.

The driver informed two passing police dog handlers, Sgt Tommy Flemming and PC Mick Poole who used a 20ft tracking harness to pull Mr Keane to safety.

TREE CUTS: A council policy was responsible for the absence of Christmas trees in Bury's shopping precinct. It was decided that the number of trees installed for the festive season would be reduced from nine to six as part of cuts in spending.

IN THE DOG HOUSE: A 50-year-old Bury woman who was in breach of a two-year suspended prison term for prostitution was back in court for allegedly soliciting in Knowsley Street. In the woman's defence Mr Stephen Jones said: " My client maintains she was with another woman, and it was this woman and not my client who was soliciting. Her appearance before magistrates does appear to be a case of the dog with the bad name always being punished."