UPDATE: |Five Greater Manchester stories you might have missed today News

If you missed them, they’re here

The suburb plagued by supercars, the suspected arson which destroyed a house and a Bentley, and the cafe where classic dishes from Hong Kong are served alongside a full English breakfast.

In case you missed them, here are five stories from across Greater Manchester you may have missed today.

The cafe where you can eat Hong Kong dishes as well as full English

In the middle of a row of terraced houses on the road between Bury and Tottington sits an unassuming cafe, writes Jenna Campbell.

As the sun beats down on the sole window its name is almost indecipherable – and there’s no other signposting. But take a closer look and in bright orange cursive writing you’ll make out the words ‘Lo Jo Mate.

Set up around six months ago, it’s an off-shoot of a rather decorated takeaway called Sai Kwan Lo Jo which was established over 6,000 miles away in Hong Kong.

Operating for several years, the original spot specialised in bites from China’s Guangdong’s Xiguan region, such as hand-made lai fun noodles and sticky rice dumplings. For three years it consistently made it onto the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list.

But then it suddenly closed. A day after making the list again in March 2025, its owners called it quits on its takeaway citing the pandemic, closures happening around them and a period of low earnings.

But on the road out of Bury town centre, one of the team has been quietly serving up some of the best black char siu, otherwise known as Sorrowful Rice of Ecstasy, in Greater Manchester.

The North Manchester counterpart is a one-man show, where reservations are made via WhatsApp, and patience is their favoured currency. How’s that for setting your stall out?

You can read more here.

The suburb plagued by supercars

The government has been urged to step in over ‘chaotic’ parking blighting a Greater Manchester suburb, with supercars regularly abandoned on pavements, yellow lines, and outside driveways.

Residents in Heald Green are angry about roads becoming blocked with reports of fights breaking out with drivers.

blocked with a stream of cars in the Heald Green area in recent months – with fights even breaking out between ignorant motorists and locals.

The council has now urged the government to step in and grant extra powers crack down on dangerous parking and ‘ensure safer streets for everyone’. Enforcement is also being stepped up.

“Fridays are very bad with illegal parking. They park in front of driveways, on pavements and double yellow lines and the roads are gridlocked at these times,” one resident told us.

Read more here.

The ‘predatory’ doc

A ‘predatory’ doctor struck off after a string of allegations against him were found to be proven following a tribunal was confronted on his doorstep by a journalist.

Dr Daman Sharma, a tribunal heard, groomed and sexually harassed patients and workmates for more than a decade was ‘given the benefit of the doubt at every stage of his career’.

He has been struck off after 34 allegations containing a total of 117 claims of inappropriate behaviour; ‘unwanted touching’; sexual harassment; and dishonesty were found proven against him.

The allegations were made by three nurses, two other colleagues and two ‘vulnerable’ patients under the age of 18.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel (MPTS) heard Dr Sharma was twice arrested in connection with the incidents, but never convicted.

MPTS hearings apply the civil standard of proof. That means the panel must decide whether, on the balance of probabilities, the allegations are proven.

When a reporter visited his home in Prenton, Wirral, this week, he was working on the roof of his property before going into the street to speak.

He confirmed his identity and that he had been struck off. Asked for further comment, he said he ‘could not say anything at all’.

Dr Shama also faced a number of internal disciplinary proceedings, including on one occasion when he was forced to resign and another when he was suspended, the tribunal heard.

“I told her I loved her and I never saw her again.”

The partner of a pregnant ex-Hollyoaks star who died in a horrific crash has spoken of his grief – as her young son and nephew have launched a new campaign to help save lives.

Actress Frankie Jules-Hough, 38, died along with her unborn daughter Neeve in May 2023 after Adil Iqbal, then 22, lost control of his dad’s BMW on the M66, having filmed himself driving at speeds of up to 123mph.

He smashed into the mum-of-two’s Skoda Fabia on the hard shoulder near Bury where she was parked after sustaining a puncture.

Her two sons and nephew, who all survived, were also in the car. Frankie, who was seventeen weeks pregnant, suffered fatal brain injuries and died two days later.

Frankie’s partner, Calvin Buckley, 40 – Neeve’s father – has now spoken out about the moment he heard about the crash and when doctors told him his partner and unborn baby wouldn’t survive.

On the day of the crash, Frankie was looking after her nephew while her sister was at work, and was dropping off Tommy at his dad’s house.

“We said goodbye, I told her I loved her and I never saw her again,” Calvin recalls.

Read the full story here.

Bentley and house go up in flames in suspected arson

Neighbours have spoken of their horror after hearing ‘explosions’ as a Bentley and part of a home went up in flames in a suspected early hours arson attack.

A family was forced to flee the house on Sunny Brow Road in Middleton following the incident at around 1am this morning (Saturday, April 5).

Images taken from the street show a badly damaged Bentley. Part of the roof of the home was destroyed and windows were broken.

Greater Manchester Police said incident is being treated as arson attack. A joint investigation with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has been launched.

The family has been temporarily rehoused. One terrified neighbour spoke of being woken by three ‘bangs’.

They told the Manchester Evening News: “I heard explosions, that’s what got me up. I thought it was a car being broken into, but then I saw the smoke and the flames which was a bit scary.

“It’s a nasty shock, especially in this area, it’s quiet. We’re a close neighbourhood here.”

Our full story is here.