themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--University's plan to welcome students back branded 'irresponsible'

A university 's plans to welcome students back to its campus from September have been branded 'irresponsible ' by a staff union .
The University of Bolton announced earlier this week that it intended to reopen after introducing a raft of safety measures , including temperature scanners at entrances and compulsory face masks .
But the plans have been criticised by the University and College Union , which represents lecturers .
The union has accused the university of 'being out of step with other universities ' and said the plans 'suggest that staff and student safety is not the institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the University of Bolton 's president and vice chancellor has defended the plans and said they would do all they could 'to ensure no one will be exposed to Covid-19 ' .
In a statement issued on Wednesday , UCU 's regional official Martyn Moss said : `` This looks like an irresponsible promise from Bolton at this stage and is out of step with what other institutions are doing .
`` There has been no consultation with the staff unions over health and safety risk assessments , which does suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top priority .
`` Unfortunately , this is exactly the sort of thing we warned would happen without government support for higher education .
Institutions are worried about loss of income and students being poached by other universities .
`` The government needs to step in and underwrite income lost through fees and teaching grants .
In response , universities must promise to work together on plans for things like reopening and when to recommence face-to-face teaching . ''
Students at the university are currently using video calls to take classes virtually and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government gives the all clear .
In the meantime , bosses say work has already started on the new measures , which also include adapting workshops , laboratories and studios to ensure they meet social distancing requirements .
As well as 'airport style walk through temperature scanners ' , the university has pledged to provide face coverings to students and staff , which it says will be compulsory 'for the foreseeable future ' .
A 'rigorous cleansing programme ' is also set to be implemented , as well as extra sanitiser stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public transport , bikes will be made available along with on-campus bike parks .
Other plans include a new scheduling system aimed at limiting the number of students on campus at any one time , a one-way system , and self-service and 'café-style takeaway food ' and drink stations to minimise queues .
Professor George E Holmes , the University of Bolton 's president and vice chancellor , told the Manchester Evening News that he believed the institution was 'ahead of the game ' with the measures .
He added : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to open , which protects jobs and students .
`` Everything we do is about ensuring staff and students are able to use the campus safely .
We have an employer 's duty to look after our staff and we will follow that to the letter of law .
Read more of today 's top stories here '' No staff or students at our university will be put at any further risk than they would be in other industry .
We are going to follow the guidelines on social distance .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unions will be involved in this .
All those assessments will be published .
`` We have consulted the student union and they say students want the university to open .
They are paying for their education and want to use it . ''
The University of Bolton is one of several universities to have recently announced plans for how they will deal with the pandemic .
The University of Manchester has said there will be no face-to-face lectures in the first term , while all lectures at the University of Cambridge @ @ @ @ @ @

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A university's plans to welcome students back to its campus from September have been branded 'irresponsible' by a staff union.
The University of Bolton announced earlier this week that it intended to reopen after introducing a raft of safety measures, including temperature scanners at entrances and compulsory face masks.
But the plans have been criticised by the University and College Union, which represents lecturers.
The union has accused the university of 'being out of step with other universities' and said the plans 'suggest that staff and student safety is not the institution’s number one priority'.
However, the University of Bolton's president and vice chancellor has defended the plans and said they would do all they could 'to ensure no one will be exposed to Covid-19'.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, UCU's regional official Martyn Moss said: "This looks like an irresponsible promise from Bolton at this stage and is out of step with what other institutions are doing.
"There has been no consultation with the staff unions over health and safety risk assessments, which does suggest that staff and students are not its top priority.
"Unfortunately, this is exactly the sort of thing we warned would happen without government support for higher education. Institutions are worried about loss of income and students being poached by other universities.
(Image: University of Bolton)
"The government needs to step in and underwrite income lost through fees and teaching grants. In response, universities must promise to work together on plans for things like reopening and when to recommence face-to-face teaching."
Students at the university are currently using video calls to take classes virtually and the campus is unable to reopen until the government gives the all clear.
In the meantime, bosses say work has already started on the new measures, which also include adapting workshops, laboratories and studios to ensure they meet social distancing requirements.
As well as 'airport style walk through temperature scanners', the university has pledged to provide face coverings to students and staff, which it says will be compulsory 'for the foreseeable future'.
A 'rigorous cleansing programme' is also set to be implemented, as well as extra sanitiser stations.
And to help students avoid crowded public transport, bikes will be made available along with on-campus bike parks.
Other plans include a new scheduling system aimed at limiting the number of students on campus at any one time, a one-way system, and self-service and 'café-style takeaway food' and drink stations to minimise queues.
Professor George E Holmes, the University of Bolton's president and vice chancellor, told the Manchester Evening News that he believed the institution was 'ahead of the game' with the measures.
He added: "We have a clear and definite plan on how to open, which protects jobs and students.
"Everything we do is about ensuring staff and students are able to use the campus safely. We have an employer's duty to look after our staff and we will follow that to the letter of law.
"No staff or students at our university will be put at any further risk than they would be in other industry. We are going to follow the guidelines on social distance.
"Risk assessments are being drawn up and the unions will be involved in this. All those assessments will be published.
"We have consulted the student union and they say students want the university to open. They are paying for their education and want to use it."
The University of Bolton is one of several universities to have recently announced plans for how they will deal with the pandemic.
The University of Manchester has said there will be no face-to-face lectures in the first term, while all lectures at the University of Cambridge will be online next year.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Man United to hijack Barcelona's Martinez transfer and more rumours

Manchester United will reportedly launch a new bid to hijack Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez 's move to Barcelona .
While both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward have warned that the coming transfer window will be unrecognisable to previous editions due to the coronavirus pandemic , United still plan to pursue their top targets this summer .
Though Jadon Sancho , Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham are among the top priorities , a new striker may also be on the agenda especially with the uncertainty surrounding Odion Ighalo 's future .
Several quality strikers have already been linked but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach was Inter 's Martinez , who has been highly touted to move to Barcelona to link up with his fellow Argentina international Lionel Messi .
However , the deal is yet to be set in stone and , according to Foot Mercato , United could swoop in to bring him to Old Trafford instead .
It 's claimed that Barca will first have to raise funds for the Argentine by selling at least one player due to their own financial issues , and that United plan to take advantage of their situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MEN Sport understands that United are considering Lyon 's Moussa Dembele and Timo Werner of RB Leipzig among their striking targets this summer , but no contact has been made with either as of yet .
Meanwhile , Miralem Pjanic has turned down the chance to join United this summer , according to reports .
Mundo Deportivo suggest the Juventus midfielder has decided he will only play for Barcelona , despite lucrative offers from United , Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain .
Regardless , despite his talent Pjanic is now 30-years-old and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on United 's radar .

Manchester United will reportedly launch a new bid to hijack Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez's move to Barcelona.
While both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward have warned that the coming transfer window will be unrecognisable to previous editions due to the coronavirus pandemic, United still plan to pursue their top targets this summer.
Though Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham are among the top priorities, a new striker may also be on the agenda especially with the uncertainty surrounding Odion Ighalo's future.
Several quality strikers have already been linked but one that seemed beyond the club's reach was Inter's Martinez, who has been highly touted to move to Barcelona to link up with his fellow Argentina international Lionel Messi.
However, the deal is yet to be set in stone and, according to Foot Mercato, United could swoop in to bring him to Old Trafford instead.
It's claimed that Barca will first have to raise funds for the Argentine by selling at least one player due to their own financial issues, and that United plan to take advantage of their situation by offering a big money contract first.
MEN Sport understands that United are considering Lyon's Moussa Dembele and Timo Werner of RB Leipzig among their striking targets this summer, but no contact has been made with either as of yet.
Meanwhile, Miralem Pjanic has turned down the chance to join United this summer, according to reports.
Mundo Deportivo suggest the Juventus midfielder has decided he will only play for Barcelona, despite lucrative offers from United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Regardless, despite his talent Pjanic is now 30-years-old and it seems highly unlikely that he would be on United's radar.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Man City competing with Leicester for Celtic defender and more rumours

Manchester City are battling with several other Premier League clubs , including Leicester City , for highly-rated Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer , according to reports .
While they still have a great chance of winning the Champions League , City have seen their dominance of the Premier League slip this season and will almost certainly lose their title to Liverpool when the season finally resumes .
The biggest factor of the side 's decent has been problems at the back , with the failure to replace Vincent Kompany causing issues that were only further compounded when injuries hit Aymeric Laporte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Pep Guardiola opts to rebuild his squad in the summer then the centre of defence could be the area that receives the most attention and the latest man to be linked is Ajer .
The tall and versatile defender , who can also fill in in midfield , has started all but four games for Celtic this season and is a part of a talented group of young Norwegians alongside the likes of Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard .
According to 90min , Ajer has caught the attention of City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everton and Wolves in England as well as Paris Saint-Germain , Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan .
However , it 's reported that the Foxes are leading the race as manager Brendan Rodgers is keen on a reunion with the 22-year-old after overseeing his development in Glasgow .
Leicester will also likely be able to offer Champions League football next season , whereas City 's participation is in doubt amid their UEFA ban appeal .
Meanwhile , Leeds might have to wait to make the loan signing of City winger Jack Harrison permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say Leeds had hoped to pay the agreed £10m fee for Harrison , who has been on loan at Elland Road for the last two years , as soon as the transfer window opened in June .
But with the current season having to be extended , FIFA may not open the transfer window until after the Champions League final , potentially at the end of August .

Manchester City are battling with several other Premier League clubs, including Leicester City, for highly-rated Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer, according to reports.
While they still have a great chance of winning the Champions League, City have seen their dominance of the Premier League slip this season and will almost certainly lose their title to Liverpool when the season finally resumes.
The biggest factor of the side's decent has been problems at the back, with the failure to replace Vincent Kompany causing issues that were only further compounded when injuries hit Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.
If Pep Guardiola opts to rebuild his squad in the summer then the centre of defence could be the area that receives the most attention and the latest man to be linked is Ajer.
The tall and versatile defender, who can also fill in in midfield, has started all but four games for Celtic this season and is a part of a talented group of young Norwegians alongside the likes of Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard.
According to 90min, Ajer has caught the attention of City, but will face competition from Leicester, Everton and Wolves in England as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
However, it's reported that the Foxes are leading the race as manager Brendan Rodgers is keen on a reunion with the 22-year-old after overseeing his development in Glasgow. Leicester will also likely be able to offer Champions League football next season, whereas City's participation is in doubt amid their UEFA ban appeal.
Meanwhile, Leeds might have to wait to make the loan signing of City winger Jack Harrison permanent, according to Football Insider.
They say Leeds had hoped to pay the agreed £10m fee for Harrison, who has been on loan at Elland Road for the last two years, as soon as the transfer window opened in June.
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But with the current season having to be extended, FIFA may not open the transfer window until after the Champions League final, potentially at the end of August.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Mum hired flash cars which were used by Mancunian drug dealers

A mum hired flash cars which were used by county lines drug dealers to courier heroin and cocaine from Manchester to Scotland .
Vanessa Stansfield , 28 , got involved in the operation through her boyfriend , who drove drugs north of the border .
He will be sentenced at a later date .
The Manchester Evening News previously reported how Llewellyn Campbell led the gang , transporting class A drugs from Manchester to the 'lucrative ' drugs market in Kilmarnock , Ayrshire .
They took advantage of vulnerable addicts by 'cuckooing ' .
The area was the subject of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang and a rival Liverpool crime outfit , who stormed one of the Scottish safehouses the gang had been using .
`` Where are the Mancs ?
, '' asked one attacker as they savagely beat two addicts installed at the property .
Manchester Crown Court heard that when Campbell 's right-hand-man Macauley Peacock was arrested , Stansfield 's boyfriend took over as a drugs courier .
Stansfield hired a BMW and an Audi in her name , which were used by the drugs gang , prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the cars were not hired solely for the use of drug dealers .
She also travelled to Scotland in May 2017 with her boyfriend and stayed in a Glasgow hotel , when police pounced and seized about £5,000-worth of heroin and crack cocaine .
Her DNA was found on the sock in which the drugs were stored .
The sock was discarded during a chase with police .
Stansfield told police she had gone to Scotland because she thought her partner was cheating on her .
Defending , David James said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconciled with her boyfriend , the father of her children .
He described the relationship as 'toxic ' .
Stansfield , a mum-of-two , now feels 'humiliated ' and 'embarrassed ' by finding herself before the courts , Mr James said .
Sentencing , Judge Richard Mansell QC told Stansfield : `` It is clear that you became involved on the fringes of this illegal drugs supply operation by reason of your relationship , a man with whom you have had a troubled relationship to say the least since you met him almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a 'capable and caring mother ' , the judge added : `` I am not going to sentence you to imprisonment given your limited involvement and lack of previous convictions . ''
She was sentenced to an 18 month community order , to include 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days .
Stansfield , who lives off Dowson Road , Hyde , pleaded guilty to assisting another to commit an offence , namely the supply of class A drugs .
At a previous hearing earlier this month , Campbell , 25 , from Harpurhey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his right-hand-man Peacock , also 25 , for two years .

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A mum hired flash cars which were used by county lines drug dealers to courier heroin and cocaine from Manchester to Scotland.
Vanessa Stansfield, 28, got involved in the operation through her boyfriend, who drove drugs north of the border. He will be sentenced at a later date.
The Manchester Evening News previously reported how Llewellyn Campbell led the gang, transporting class A drugs from Manchester to the 'lucrative' drugs market in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.
They took advantage of vulnerable addicts by 'cuckooing'.
The area was the subject of a 'turf war' between the Manchester gang and a rival Liverpool crime outfit, who stormed one of the Scottish safehouses the gang had been using.
"Where are the Mancs?," asked one attacker as they savagely beat two addicts installed at the property.
(Image: MEN Media)
Manchester Crown Court heard that when Campbell's right-hand-man Macauley Peacock was arrested, Stansfield's boyfriend took over as a drugs courier.
Stansfield hired a BMW and an Audi in her name, which were used by the drugs gang, prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said.
In a 'basis of plea' document, Stansfield said that the cars were not hired solely for the use of drug dealers.
She also travelled to Scotland in May 2017 with her boyfriend and stayed in a Glasgow hotel, when police pounced and seized about £5,000-worth of heroin and crack cocaine.
Her DNA was found on the sock in which the drugs were stored. The sock was discarded during a chase with police.
Stansfield told police she had gone to Scotland because she thought her partner was cheating on her.
Defending, David James said that Stansfield's offending occurred when she reconciled with her boyfriend, the father of her children.
(Image: Facebook)
He described the relationship as 'toxic'.
Stansfield, a mum-of-two, now feels 'humiliated' and 'embarrassed' by finding herself before the courts, Mr James said.
Sentencing, Judge Richard Mansell QC told Stansfield: "It is clear that you became involved on the fringes of this illegal drugs supply operation by reason of your relationship, a man with whom you have had a troubled relationship to say the least since you met him almost a decade ago."
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Describing her as a 'capable and caring mother', the judge added: "I am not going to sentence you to imprisonment given your limited involvement and lack of previous convictions."
She was sentenced to an 18 month community order, to include 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Stansfield, who lives off Dowson Road, Hyde, pleaded guilty to assisting another to commit an offence, namely the supply of class A drugs.
At a previous hearing earlier this month, Campbell, 25, from Harpurhey, was jailed for eight years, and his right-hand-man Peacock, also 25, for two years.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Neville names two teammates who helped him the most at Man United

Gary Neville has revealed that tough love from former teammates Peter Schmeichel and Steve Bruce helped to develop him as a player at Manchester United .
Before he went on to captain the club and become a legend , Neville came through the youth ranks at United as a member of the famed Class of '92 .
Yet making the jump from youth football to the elite level is n't an easy one and Neville credits the guidance given by the leaders in the squad for helping him make it , even if they did n't make it easy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ team as a 17-year-old in a UEFA Cup game against Torpedo Moscow and Schmeichel went out of his way to make it clear he did n't rate the young right-back in the slightest .
`` The one that was hardest with me was Peter Schmeichel , he was brutal with me in that first year or two , '' Neville told Sky Sports ' The Football Show .
`` Schmeichel was constant , every single day in training at me .
'He told me on the team day out , he didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul Parker , nowhere near as good as Parker .
It was maybe true as Parker was a very good defender .
`` That back four of [ Denis ] Irwin , [ Steve ] Bruce , [ Gary ] Pallister and Parker had played two or three years and kept clean sheets .
I was the first player to break into it .
`` Schmeichel saw me as a risk and I was a risk in some ways .
I didn ’ t see it as tough love at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it did toughen me up eventually .
I realised the team wanted to win . ''
Neville would eventually earn his stripes and oust Parker as United 's first choice right-back - though not before he was taught some harsh lessons by Bruce .
`` The one who helped me the most in that first year or two was Steve Bruce , '' he added .
`` He played on the right hand side of the defence , I was right back when Paul Parker was injured .
Parker was a brilliant defender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I got a chance .
`` Brucey really looked after me on that right hand side , he talked to me through the game .
He never went quiet on me .
`` That is one of the things he taught me about being a footballer , being a defender .
Rio Ferdinand was like that as well .
He used to say : 'Never go quiet on me , we never went quiet on each other during the game . '
`` Bruce taught me that during those early years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the pitch as well so he was the one who had the biggest influence on me .
`` Some days it was hard .
I remember coming off once at Leeds at half time and he [ Bruce ] ripped me to shreds and I was thinking 'what ’ s going on here ? '
''

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Gary Neville has revealed that tough love from former teammates Peter Schmeichel and Steve Bruce helped to develop him as a player at Manchester United.
Before he went on to captain the club and become a legend, Neville came through the youth ranks at United as a member of the famed Class of '92.
Yet making the jump from youth football to the elite level isn't an easy one and Neville credits the guidance given by the leaders in the squad for helping him make it, even if they didn't make it easy.
Neville made his debut in the first team as a 17-year-old in a UEFA Cup game against Torpedo Moscow and Schmeichel went out of his way to make it clear he didn't rate the young right-back in the slightest.
"The one that was hardest with me was Peter Schmeichel, he was brutal with me in that first year or two," Neville told Sky Sports' The Football Show.
"Schmeichel was constant, every single day in training at me. 'He told me on the team day out, he didn’t think I was capable of replacing Paul Parker, nowhere near as good as Parker. It was maybe true as Parker was a very good defender.
"That back four of [Denis] Irwin, [Steve] Bruce, [Gary] Pallister and Parker had played two or three years and kept clean sheets. I was the first player to break into it.
"Schmeichel saw me as a risk and I was a risk in some ways. I didn’t see it as tough love at the time, I saw it as being brutal but it did toughen me up eventually. I realised the team wanted to win."
Neville would eventually earn his stripes and oust Parker as United's first choice right-back - though not before he was taught some harsh lessons by Bruce.
"The one who helped me the most in that first year or two was Steve Bruce," he added.
Sign up to our free MUFC email newsletter Get the latest breaking Manchester United transfer news and analysis every day direct to your inbox with our free MUFC newsletter Sign up here - it only takes a few seconds.
"He played on the right hand side of the defence, I was right back when Paul Parker was injured. Parker was a brilliant defender but unfortunately he had an ankle problem so I got a chance.
"Brucey really looked after me on that right hand side, he talked to me through the game. He never went quiet on me.
"That is one of the things he taught me about being a footballer, being a defender. Rio Ferdinand was like that as well. He used to say: 'Never go quiet on me, we never went quiet on each other during the game.'
"Bruce taught me that during those early years. He had a great manner about him off the pitch as well so he was the one who had the biggest influence on me.
"Some days it was hard. I remember coming off once at Leeds at half time and he [Bruce] ripped me to shreds and I was thinking 'what’s going on here?'"


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Harry Potter author JK Rowling invented Quidditch in a Manchester hotel

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has told how she invented Quidditch while staying in a hotel in West Didsbury .
The sport , described as a mixture of lacrosse , rugby , and dodgeball , plays a central role in the multi-million selling books .
And now the writer has revealed she came up with the idea during a stay at the now closed Bourneville Hotel in 1991 .
The revelation came after fan Miguel Rodríguez tweeted to ask the author : `` Tell me the truth about this 'birthplace of Harry Potter ' . ''
During a thread discussing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted a picture of the hotel , on Barlow Moor Road , and wrote : `` This building is in Manchester and used to be the Bourneville Hotel ( Pretty sure it 's this building .
It might be the one along ) .
Anyway , I spent a single night there in 1991 , and when I left next morning , I 'd invented Quidditch . ''
Rowling has previously said Quidditch was invented in Manchester .
In a 2013 annotated version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher ’ s stone Rowling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a small hotel in Manchester after a row with my then boyfriend .
`` I had been pondering the things that hold a society together , cause it to congregate and signify its particular character and knew I needed a sport . ''
Rowling , who lived in Manchester with her boyfriend for a short spell in 1990 , working first as a secretary at the Chamber of Commerce and then , after being laid off , in a similar role at Manchester University , conceived the idea for Harry Potter that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train from Piccadilly to London King 's Cross .
She tweeted : `` If you define the birthplace of Harry Potter as the moment when I had the initial idea , then it was a Manchester-London train .
`` But I 'm perennially amused by the idea that Hogwarts was directly inspired by beautiful places I saw or visited , because it 's so far from the truth . ''
It 's not clear when the Bourneville hotel closed down but it 's now flats .
The first Harry Potter book was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a hit film series in 2001 .
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device .
You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here .
And you can follow us on Facebook here .

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Harry Potter author JK Rowling has told how she invented Quidditch while staying in a hotel in West Didsbury.
The sport, described as a mixture of lacrosse, rugby, and dodgeball, plays a central role in the multi-million selling books.
And now the writer has revealed she came up with the idea during a stay at the now closed Bourneville Hotel in 1991. The revelation came after fan Miguel Rodríguez tweeted to ask the author: "Tell me the truth about this 'birthplace of Harry Potter'."
During a thread discussing locations associated with the books, she tweeted a picture of the hotel, on Barlow Moor Road, and wrote: "This building is in Manchester and used to be the Bourneville Hotel (Pretty sure it's this building. It might be the one along). Anyway, I spent a single night there in 1991, and when I left next morning, I'd invented Quidditch."
Rowling has previously said Quidditch was invented in Manchester. In a 2013 annotated version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone Rowling wrote: [Quidditch] was invented in a small hotel in Manchester after a row with my then boyfriend.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
"I had been pondering the things that hold a society together, cause it to congregate and signify its particular character and knew I needed a sport."
Rowling, who lived in Manchester with her boyfriend for a short spell in 1990, working first as a secretary at the Chamber of Commerce and then, after being laid off, in a similar role at Manchester University, conceived the idea for Harry Potter that same year while sitting on a delayed train from Piccadilly to London King's Cross.
She tweeted: "If you define the birthplace of Harry Potter as the moment when I had the initial idea, then it was a Manchester-London train.
"But I'm perennially amused by the idea that Hogwarts was directly inspired by beautiful places I saw or visited, because it's so far from the truth."
It's not clear when the Bourneville hotel closed down but it's now flats.
The first Harry Potter book was published in June 1997, before being turned into a hit film series in 2001.
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here . And you can follow us on Facebook here .


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Pervert dad found in bed with teenage girl he had been messaging on Snapchat

A pervert dad who was found in bed with a teenage girl in care he had been secretly messaging on Snapchat was blasted by a judge for seeking to 'condone ' the abuse of vulnerable kids .
Billy Hibbert 22 , has been accused of ruining the young girl 's life after she developed strong feelings for him and repeatedly ran away from home to stay with him .
He was twice seen on CCTV kissing her .
Hibbert has now been jailed by a judge who said he had 'exploited ' the vulnerable 14 year-old 'for a sexual purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by saying she was a `` looked after child . ''
The girl , who is under the care of foster parents , was settled with the family and at school until she met Hibbert , the court was told .
However she was reported missing on December 30 last year .
After a tip-off about her whereabouts , police attended a flat at a tower block in Stockport where Hibbert , who has no fixed address of his own , had been staying .
He told them that he had not seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted that he would sometimes let her come to sleep on the sofa in the flat or sit in the front room .
However when officers searched the flat they found her hiding under a blanket on the sofa where they had been sitting .
CCTV from the block of flats , which only emerged later , showed Hibbert and the girl kissing in the lift .
He was arrested and when interviewed he insisted their relationship was `` entirely platonic . ''
The girl also said no abduction had taken place so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in relation to this incident .
However his bail conditions stipulated he was n't to have any contact with anyone under the age of 18 .
He has a five year-old daughter of his own who he has no contact with , the court was told .
The victim in the case was reported missing again on Valentines Day , February 14 , this year .
When police attended the flat again the following day , they were told that there was no one there but again when officers searched the flat they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police were told that during the night , around 1am , the girl asked the woman whose flat it was if she could sleep in her bed .
When the woman 's partner went back into the bedroom in the morning Hibbert was also in bed with the girl and he had his hand resting on her thigh .
Hibbert was arrested and interviewed again and said he had kissed the girl on the cheek a couple of times to `` console and reassure her '' but continued to maintain that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her , Andrew Mackintosh , prosecuting said .
The girl said denied any sexual contact between them saying their relationship was like that `` of a brother and sister '' and that she was staying at the flat for a `` pamper party . ''
But the following day she sent the defendant a message `` in which she apologised for getting him arrested and told him that she loved him and missed him .
He replied telling her to message him on Snapchat and sending her a heart emoji '' , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court she believed he encouraged her to use that specific social media app as it was `` secret '' and left `` no trace of messages . ''
In a subsequent interview the girl admitted she had `` strong feelings '' for him .
She was reported missing a third time on February 27 this year and when officers attended the flat they `` found the defendant on the sofa in the living room pretending to be asleep and ( the girl ) hiding under a chair on the balcony '' Mr Mackintosh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoked cannabis whilst she was there .
Whilst separate CCTV footage also showed them again kissing in the lift .
Hibbert , of no fixed address , was charged and pleaded guilty to two counts of child abduction and one count of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced by a judge sitting at Minshull Street Crown on Thursday afternoon .
Hibbert appeared at the hearing via videolink from prison with legal counsel speaking via a video conference app in line with current court practice .
In a statement read to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was settled and happy before she met Hibbert but then : `` She became secretive and stopped coming home .
`` She started going missing for three or four nights .
She wanted to spend all her time with this man and stay with him night after night .
`` The hold he had over her was too strong .
Her took advantage of her with no concern for her mental health or wellbeing .
`` The relationship with her family has been badly damaged .
I am angry he thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life like that . ''
Thomas McKail defending admitted his client was aware she was vulnerable .
`` Mr Hibbert would say he was sympathetic to her and this was not grooming or predatory '' he said .
`` This was a relationship where boundaries had been crossed . ''
However he said Hibbert 's `` decision making and emotional control were clearly absent '' and that his mental health was `` clearly a factor '' with him now being medicated for both anxiety and depression .
`` He accepts what he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he can , '' he added .
However Judge Tina Landale said he had showed `` no remorse '' as she sentenced him to 21 months behind bars .
Passing sentence she said : `` The child concerned was 14 years old and you were 22 .
`` She was an impressionable and vulnerable girl subject of a full care order .
You knew very well she was a vulnerable child .
`` I am satisfied you targeted her , exploited her and that you did so for a sexual purpose .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , provided her with an environment to go to , facilitated and encouraged her feelings towards you and allowed her to stay overnight at the property you were staying .
`` It is clear you had a sexual intention or purpose .
`` When asked by the probation officer how you would have felt if it was your own daughter you became agitated and said it was n't the same as your daughter is n't a 'looked after ' child .
`` Your attitude seeks to condone similar offending against vulnerable children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The pre-sentence report displays a complete lack of empathy and concern only for yourself .
`` But the impact on your victim and her family has been far reaching . ''
She also made a restraining order banning him from contacting her and a sexual harm prevention order , both lasting for 10 years .

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A pervert dad who was found in bed with a teenage girl in care he had been secretly messaging on Snapchat was blasted by a judge for seeking to 'condone' the abuse of vulnerable kids.
Billy Hibbert 22, has been accused of ruining the young girl's life after she developed strong feelings for him and repeatedly ran away from home to stay with him.
He was twice seen on CCTV kissing her.
Hibbert has now been jailed by a judge who said he had 'exploited' the vulnerable 14 year-old 'for a sexual purpose' and had sought to justify it by saying she was a "looked after child."
The girl, who is under the care of foster parents, was settled with the family and at school until she met Hibbert, the court was told.
(Image: MEN Media)
However she was reported missing on December 30 last year.
After a tip-off about her whereabouts, police attended a flat at a tower block in Stockport where Hibbert, who has no fixed address of his own, had been staying.
He told them that he had not seen the girl for couple of days but admitted that he would sometimes let her come to sleep on the sofa in the flat or sit in the front room.
However when officers searched the flat they found her hiding under a blanket on the sofa where they had been sitting.
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CCTV from the block of flats, which only emerged later, showed Hibbert and the girl kissing in the lift.
He was arrested and when interviewed he insisted their relationship was "entirely platonic."
The girl also said no abduction had taken place so he was released and was never charged in relation to this incident.
However his bail conditions stipulated he wasn't to have any contact with anyone under the age of 18.
He has a five year-old daughter of his own who he has no contact with, the court was told.
The victim in the case was reported missing again on Valentines Day, February 14, this year.
When police attended the flat again the following day, they were told that there was no one there but again when officers searched the flat they found the girl hiding on the balcony.
Police were told that during the night, around 1am, the girl asked the woman whose flat it was if she could sleep in her bed.
When the woman's partner went back into the bedroom in the morning Hibbert was also in bed with the girl and he had his hand resting on her thigh.
Hibbert was arrested and interviewed again and said he had kissed the girl on the cheek a couple of times to "console and reassure her" but continued to maintain that he was not in a sexual relationship with her, Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting said.
The girl said denied any sexual contact between them saying their relationship was like that "of a brother and sister" and that she was staying at the flat for a "pamper party."
Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims - If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.
- You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515, whether or not you want make a police report.
- St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them via Greater Manchester Police, or as a self-referral.
- Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused. Confidential helpline: 0161 273 4500.
But the following day she sent the defendant a message "in which she apologised for getting him arrested and told him that she loved him and missed him. He replied telling her to message him on Snapchat and sending her a heart emoji", Mr Mackintosh said.
The judge told the court she believed he encouraged her to use that specific social media app as it was "secret" and left "no trace of messages."
In a subsequent interview the girl admitted she had "strong feelings" for him.
She was reported missing a third time on February 27 this year and when officers attended the flat they "found the defendant on the sofa in the living room pretending to be asleep and (the girl) hiding under a chair on the balcony" Mr Mackintosh said.
She later admitted she had smoked cannabis whilst she was there.
Whilst separate CCTV footage also showed them again kissing in the lift.
Hibbert, of no fixed address, was charged and pleaded guilty to two counts of child abduction and one count of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced by a judge sitting at Minshull Street Crown on Thursday afternoon.
Hibbert appeared at the hearing via videolink from prison with legal counsel speaking via a video conference app in line with current court practice.
In a statement read to the court, the girl's foster father said she was settled and happy before she met Hibbert but then: "She became secretive and stopped coming home.
"She started going missing for three or four nights. She wanted to spend all her time with this man and stay with him night after night.
"The hold he had over her was too strong. Her took advantage of her with no concern for her mental health or wellbeing.
"The relationship with her family has been badly damaged. I am angry he thought nothing of ruining a young girl's life like that."
Thomas McKail defending admitted his client was aware she was vulnerable.
"Mr Hibbert would say he was sympathetic to her and this was not grooming or predatory" he said.
"This was a relationship where boundaries had been crossed."
However he said Hibbert's "decision making and emotional control were clearly absent" and that his mental health was "clearly a factor" with him now being medicated for both anxiety and depression.
"He accepts what he has done is wrong and apologises as much as he can," he added.
However Judge Tina Landale said he had showed "no remorse" as she sentenced him to 21 months behind bars.
Passing sentence she said: "The child concerned was 14 years old and you were 22.
"She was an impressionable and vulnerable girl subject of a full care order. You knew very well she was a vulnerable child.
"I am satisfied you targeted her, exploited her and that you did so for a sexual purpose.
"You facilitated her being missing from home, provided her with an environment to go to, facilitated and encouraged her feelings towards you and allowed her to stay overnight at the property you were staying.
"It is clear you had a sexual intention or purpose.
"When asked by the probation officer how you would have felt if it was your own daughter you became agitated and said it wasn't the same as your daughter isn't a 'looked after' child.
"Your attitude seeks to condone similar offending against vulnerable children.
"There is no remorse here. The pre-sentence report displays a complete lack of empathy and concern only for yourself.
"But the impact on your victim and her family has been far reaching."
She also made a restraining order banning him from contacting her and a sexual harm prevention order, both lasting for 10 years.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--DFS to reopen Bolton sofa showroom with staff wearing  masks and gloves

DFS is to re-open its outlet near Bolton on Friday with staff provided with PPE masks and gloves and limits on the number of customers in store .
The furniture giant closed its outlets across the UK in March when the country went into the coronavirus lockdown .
But it is now reopening three stores in England , including the one at Middlebrook Retail Park .
A spokesman for DFS said : `` The Middlebrook Retail Park showroom will be operating with extensive new processes and safety measures in place '' • None personal protective equipment such as face masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of customers in the showroom at any one time • comprehensive staff training to ensure consistent adherence to new processes and social distancing The other two stores being opened by DFS are in Leicester and Milton Keynes .
DFS has three more stores in Greater Manchester and they will remain closed until at least May 29 , when the firm plans to continue opening more stores in phases .
Nick Smith , Managing Director of DFS , said : “ Since temporarily closing the majority of our operations almost eight weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processes across our manufacturing , retail and delivery operations to ensure we can prioritise colleague and customer safety.
” “ While the relatively larger size of DFS ’ stores means we can effectively maintain strict social distancing , by implementing additional safety measures in line with Government and British Retail Consortium guidance , we are well prepared to welcome colleagues and customers back into our Bolton store.
” DFS is also bringing in new services to help customers limit the time they spend in store , including a 'comfort test ' to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete their purchase at home .

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DFS has re-opened its outlet near Bolton with staff provided with PPE masks and gloves and limits on the number of customers in store.
The furniture giant closed its outlets across the UK in March when the country went into the coronavirus lockdown.
But it is now reopening three stores in England, including the one at Middlebrook Retail Park.
A spokesman for DFS said: "The Middlebrook Retail Park showroom will be operating with extensive new processes and safety measures in place"
These include
personal protective equipment such as face masks and gloves made available for staff
daily temperature checks for employees
limiting the number of customers in the showroom at any one time
introducing hand sanitiser stations
increasing the frequency of cleaning high contact areas
comprehensive staff training to ensure consistent adherence to new processes and social distancing
The other two stores being opened by DFS are in Leicester and Milton Keynes.
DFS has three more stores in Greater Manchester and they will remain closed until at least May 29, when the firm plans to continue opening more stores in phases.
Nick Smith, Managing Director of DFS, said: “Since temporarily closing the majority of our operations almost eight weeks ago, we have assessed and adapted our processes across our manufacturing, retail and delivery operations to ensure we can prioritise colleague and customer safety.”
“While the relatively larger size of DFS’ stores means we can effectively maintain strict social distancing, by implementing additional safety measures in line with Government and British Retail Consortium guidance, we are well prepared to welcome colleagues and customers back into our Bolton store.”
DFS is also bringing in new services to help customers limit the time they spend in store, including a 'comfort test' to allow people to test products in store and complete their purchase at home.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Man City evening headlines as Stones reveals lockdown transformation

Stones has finally given Guardiola what he ’ s been wanting Manchester City defender John Stones is finally giving Pep Guardiola what he wants , Joe Bray writes .
Stones has struggled to cement his place in City ’ s first-team this season after a host of unfortunate injury problems .
However , the England defender ’ s latest comments may be music to the ears of Guardiola , who admitted he needed to stay fit in order to become the best central defender possible .
Stones said : “ This season has been frustrating for me , injury-wise .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-injured , things like that .
So I ’ ve used this time really to take a step back and see where I can do more in terms of off the pitch , like gym work , strength work .
As soon as we stopped , I went straight into the gym , didn ’ t stop and started on little things .
“ Two months in now , I feel brilliant .
I can see where I ’ ve come from with my co-ordination , my strength and things like that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re playing thinking ‘ yeah , I feel fit ’ but you ’ ve not done the work off the pitch for your body to sustain it when you ’ re playing.
” Manchester City ’ s 2020/21 third kit has been 'leaked ' online - and it ’ s safe to say the club ’ s supporters are unhappy with what they have seen .
FootyHeadlines have posted an image of a City kit , made by Puma , with a white and light blue paisley design .
Whilst another said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kits continues unabated .
What the **** is this monstrosity ?
# mcfc ” Stones explains how City players teased him after cup final mistake Manchester City centre-back John Stones has revealed how his team-mates trolled him after being at fault for Aston Villa ’ s goal in the 2-1 Carabao Cup final victory over the Premier League side earlier in the season .
Stones slipped when trying to head the ball away , which allowed Anwar El-Ghazi to collect the ball and cross it to Mbwana Samatta to head past Ederson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his Twitter account , Stones said : “ You ’ ve got to come through those situations to know what to do .
“ Those things go unrecognised but not to your team-mates .
Everyone saw the mistake , which happens .
Everyone was saying I got snipered after !
”

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Stones has finally given Guardiola what he’s been wanting
Manchester City defender John Stones is finally giving Pep Guardiola what he wants, Joe Bray writes.
Stones has struggled to cement his place in City’s first-team this season after a host of unfortunate injury problems.
However, the England defender’s latest comments may be music to the ears of Guardiola, who admitted he needed to stay fit in order to become the best central defender possible.
Stones said: “This season has been frustrating for me, injury-wise.
"Coming back from injury, getting re-injured, things like that. So I’ve used this time really to take a step back and see where I can do more in terms of off the pitch, like gym work, strength work. As soon as we stopped, I went straight into the gym, didn’t stop and started on little things.
“Two months in now, I feel brilliant. I can see where I’ve come from with my co-ordination, my strength and things like that. You get wrapped up when you’re playing thinking ‘yeah, I feel fit’ but you’ve not done the work off the pitch for your body to sustain it when you’re playing.”
City fans give brutal verdict on 'leaked' kit
Manchester City’s 2020/21 third kit has been 'leaked' online - and it’s safe to say the club’s supporters are unhappy with what they have seen.
FootyHeadlines have posted an image of a City kit, made by Puma, with a white and light blue paisley design.
One supporter said: “Dreadful. @pumafootball hate us…”
Whilst another said: “Our streak of producing utterly horrific kits continues unabated. What the **** is this monstrosity? #mcfc”
Sign up to our free MCFC email newsletter Man City are Premier League champions! Get all the reaction plus daily news and analysis direct to your inbox with our free MCFC newsletter Sign up here - it only takes a few seconds.
Stones explains how City players teased him after cup final mistake
Manchester City centre-back John Stones has revealed how his team-mates trolled him after being at fault for Aston Villa’s goal in the 2-1 Carabao Cup final victory over the Premier League side earlier in the season.
Stones slipped when trying to head the ball away, which allowed Anwar El-Ghazi to collect the ball and cross it to Mbwana Samatta to head past Ederson.
Speaking to former City defender Micah Richards on his Twitter account, Stones said: “You’ve got to come through those situations to know what to do.
“Those things go unrecognised but not to your team-mates. Everyone saw the mistake, which happens. Everyone was saying I got snipered after!”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--Living with cancer during coronavirus crisis: Experts answer your questions

The coronavirus pandemic has forced hospitals to completely change the way they treat patients .
And with scientists warning that COVID-19 is here to stay - for years , rather than months - changes to hospital care are here for the long-term .
The Christie in Withington is no different .
As one of the country ’ s leading cancer centres , it treats some of the NHS ’ most vulnerable patients .
For people fighting cancer , coronavirus is another worry during an already anxious time .
We asked readers to submit their questions about cancer during the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wendy Makin , medical director of The Christie , and Dr Sarah Taylor , a Manchester GP who works closely with the hospital , answer your questions here ... Q : It 's been said that an over-active immune response , the 'cytokine storm ' , is responsible for covid fatalities .
Does that mean a cancer patient with an impacted immune system from treatment is less likely to die from coronavirus ?
Dr Makin : “ What the reader is referring to , the ‘ cytokine storm ’ , is an excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a consequence of the COVID-19 infection in some people .
We know for those people they get a very serious illness and are more likely to have serious consequences .
“ The question is about the immune status ; because some of our patients are immunosuppressed , we ’ re saying that some of our patients are at more risk of COVID-19 and complications .
“ Our hematologists are aware of some research data that rather surprisingly had shown that some immunosuppressed people hadn ’ t appeared to do worse with COVID .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ awful lot more around this .
I think the important points are that if you are someone with cancer or on some types of cancer treatment then there is a greater risk and , in particular , a greater risk of you having more serious complications from a COVID-19 infection .
“ Equally we are anxious to say that if you have a new cancer that requires urgent treatment , it ’ s all about a balance of those risks .
We would be wanting to get on and deal with that cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we can .
“ Obviously that balance varies from patient to patient and situation to situation.
” Q : I was told I was having different treatment because of the coronavirus ( capecitabine tablets at home rather than a daily infusion ) .
Is the home-based treatment less effective than the hospital based treatment ?
Dr Makin : “ Often there are alternative ways of treating cancer .
And here , this is one of the strategies our specialists have been using during the pandemic in switching to tablets rather than intravenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital that someone has to make .
“ It ’ s not as straight forward as saying one is a better option than the other .
“ Here , probably being on tablets and minimising the trips to hospital is a safer option ; I would be reassuring people that our specialists wouldn ’ t be making any changes to treatments or recommending treatments that they didn ’ t believe were effective for that type of cancer.
” Q : During the review/consultation with my oncologist I was n't allowed to have anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress involved ( and forgetfulness from the meds ) I could n't take anything in .
As everyone is wearing masks , should n't a moral supporter ( who could also wear a mask ) be allowed in these circumstances ?
Dr Makin : “ This is part of what we ’ ve been doing at the Christie to try and manage our services as safely as possible .
“ I ’ m sure we ’ ll come onto this again , but one of the first steps we took was to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site and moving around the hospital at any one time because we would usually have hundreds of people coming to The Christie everyday .
“ Some of things we did were quite straight forward ; teaching activities and professional visitors , we stopped all of those .
“ One of the steps we did take was that for most people they wouldn ’ t be able to bring visitors .
“ Most people do bring a family member or friend to support them .
We recognise that it is hard for people but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been able to keep those numbers to much more manageable levels with safer distancing and movement around the hospital .
“ I would add that there are circumstances where it is important that somebody has someone to accompany them and we can make provisions for those circumstances .
“ I ’ m afraid in normal times when we ’ d be saying you can bring someone with you , we can ’ t say that now for everybody .
“ We recognise that is hard but it is making our hospital safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Another thing we ’ re doing which is making a difference is the increased used of phone and video consultations .
Obviously if you ’ re having one of those consultations you can have two people on the end of the line .
“ It ’ s just trying to work out the best policy for each patient and trying to be flexible , and accommodate as many peoples wishes as possible while being safe .
“ The increased use of phone and video consultations is beneficial to some of these patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Q : Clinical trials being stalled by CR UK is a big worry for many of us stage 4 cancer patients .
I 'd just want to stress it further as this is our biggest problem as patients .
The lack of drug development will set us all back .
How has coronavirus impacted on clinical trials at the Christie ?
Dr Makin : “ At The Christie we are mostly looking at clinical trials where we ’ re looking at trials of new agents for cancers , so it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cancer centre .
“ For the most part , clinical trial activity has continued as far as possible .
“ But what we had to stop at the onset of the serious rise of infections was recruitment into new trials and studies .
“ This is in keeping with all cancer centres in the UK .
In trying to think about this we have also been managing the risk to staff as well as to patients .
Our staff were involved in agreeing what research work can work safely .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manage with a number of staff off sick and therefore that was seriously affecting our risk to carry on with frontline cancer treatment services .
“ Part of this has involved redeploying some of those staff who have been absolutely fantastic to support other frontline clinical staff to keep treatments going as far as possible .
“ I think the big question here is when are they going to start up again .
“ The good news is that from the middle of this month we are cautiously getting new studies underway again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review that but we are able to start up that trial activity .
There is one proviso ; in the past we used to have a number of people travelling from different parts of the country to the Christie and again , in keeping with other centres , we ’ re not able to offer that at the moment but we are starting to open up trial activity .
“ In the meantime , across the whole of NIHR and the NHS , from the start of this , research activity was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Christie along with other centres has participated in some of that work .
“ Although we have only had small numbers of patients who have been infected with Covid , it ’ s been a really important part of the research effort going on across many hospitals .
We shouldn ’ t forget that.
” Dr Taylor : “ It ’ s really about the patient ’ s needs and balancing what is right for them .
“ Normally it ’ s a case of ‘ let ’ s try to treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ but actually at the moment there ’ s a big counter argument in terms of what we do with the risk of Covid .
That has to be balanced with each patient and that ’ s why things have become a lot more difficult because we have to look at individual circumstances .
We have to discuss what the right thing is for them.
” Q : Why have so many cancer resources - researchers , labs , equipment - been diverted to Covid , and when can clinical trials , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reopen ?
Dr Makin : “ With the researchers it ’ s back to that question of pausing some of the new trials and new recruitment .
A lot of the people involved in the clinical studies are doctors and nurses , as well as pharmacists , have really helped us get through a difficult period .
“ Either when we have had a number of staff off sick at any one time , or , off sick because somebody in their household was unwell .
This is the situation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been on the response to Covid , that has impacted a number of services .
“ Being able to redeploy some of those research staff has been enormously helpful .
“ The reassurance is that we are now reopening studies and actually building that up again.
” Read more of today 's top stories here Dr Taylor : “ There is also a need for some specific research into Covid and cancer .
“ So in the early part of the pathway , if you have a patient at the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure surgery is as safe as possible .
“ The problem is , because this is all so new there has had to be research into the safest ways of doing that and how to deal with cancer patients with Covid .
“ The research has had to be diverted quickly to learn about cancer and Covid , and keep those patients safe as well.
” Dr Makin : “ For some people whose cancer has recurred and they have tried all standard therapies , clearly it ’ s very important for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new type of therapy or agent .
`` Also , we know that many of our patients are amazingly altruistic and it helps to make sense of their own illness by helping others and that ’ s the reason they go into these studies .
It ’ s such an important part of cancer work in making progress that we all want to see it continue.
” Q : What could be ways that might allow close family to reunite with cancer patients ( currently shielding ) , but still protect them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of lockdown ?
Dr Taylor : “ At the moment we feel that patients need to follow the national guidance with shielding .
“ With individual patients there is a balance , but really they should be following the national guidance and if they have specific concerns , maybe discussing it with a clinician who knows their case well and their individual circumstances .
“ But really at the moment the safest thing for everybody to do is to follow the shielding guidance because we don ’ t quite know what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safest for people .
“ Everything is so new we can ’ t predict what will be happening in a few weeks time.
” Q : I am in remission from acute myeloid leukaemia and have the vulnerable person letter from Christie ’ s .
The 12 weeks are almost up and they are talking about returning to work .
I work in a large office of about 100 staff .
I ’ m worried .
Will I be safe ?
I am working from home currently .
Dr Makin : “ From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told him to shield for 12 weeks as a vulnerable person .
“ As he says the 12 weeks are almost up and we ’ re awaiting national guidance .
“ I would be surprised if the message is other than for people in the most vulnerable category to continue to shield and we would advise him to continue working from home.
” “ There will be some difference in certain people ’ s situations .
There are certainly shielding of people currently on chemotherapy and I know that a lot of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afterwards continue with that , but as time passes by that risk lessons .
There will be other individuals where that risk is still there .
There is guidance from someone ’ s cancer specialist who can talk this through .
“ Sometimes we haven ’ t got absolute answers around this and as time goes by , we recognise that as individuals we have to live with this Covid risk .
I think people will be weighing it up themselves according to their own circumstances .
“ I think that will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well.
” Dr Taylor : “ If people are struggling with shielding I would encourage them to speak to healthcare professionals .
Not that someone is necessarily going to say to them , stop shielding but they might be able to give them some support either in terms of counselling or practical support that makes the whole situation more acceptable to them .
“ If you ’ re struggling with it , don ’ t struggle on your own .
Contact somebody .
“ GPs , specialist nurses within the cancer centres and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed to offer you advice .
“ There are lots of places where people can get support and I would be encouraging people to access that.
” Q : Some oncologists are refusing to prescribe enzalutamide or Abiraterone for men newly diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer thus forcing men to have chemo which means delay .
Why ?
Thankfully not heard that this a problem locally Dr Makin : “ This relates to new treatments for stage 4 prostate cancer , and prior to these new treatments coming along men were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of the start of Covid these new treatments had gone through trials .
They offered some benefit and were a good alternative to chemotherapy , but still had to go through all the hurdles of NICE approval .
“ I had a chance to ask one of our urology specialists about this and he was able to tell me that in the interim period there has now been approval for the enzalutamide which our specialists are using .
`` If patients don ’ t tolerate it , they can go onto the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s some good news here but it ’ s an example of how disruptive Covid has been to a number of different processes including the evaluation of different cancer treatments and getting them online .
“ The national cancer team and our cancer director are very much aware of that and want to make sure this process is happening as quickly as possible.
” Q : I am treated at another hospital for Rectal stage 3 .
I 'm in remission and my three-monthly CEA bloods for March were cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be tested in June ?
If so is it safe to have them done ( worried about hospital visit ) as I 'm NEAD is it worth the risk ?
Dr Makin : “ Each visit to any hospital could potentially carry a risk .
If you think that through , we have to consider whether there are blood tests or scans that we could safely postpone for a period of time .
“ So people on follow up for their cancer treatment may have scans at increasing intervals to check that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are well in themselves , some of those scans have been pushed back a little bit further to try and get us past the peak period of infection for everyone .
That ’ s een part of the approach here .
“ A lot of people do come to hospital for blood tests .
At The Christie we are looking at different options for how people can get blood tests done but as we ’ re going into a new phase now and hopefully past the peak , all of our specialists are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to and making plans for when they are going to reassess them .
“ Obviously if someone in the meantime has become unwell or developed a new symptom then their specialist would arrange to see them or a test as quickly as possible .
“ As to whether it ’ s safe to come into hospital takes us into a different area , which is a worry .
“ We know that there is a lot of anxiety out there for people who have new cancer symptoms .
“ Part of the fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s too unsafe to come to hospital .
“ We would say that hospitals have got a lot of processes in place now to try and keep the risk as small as possible , and we would say that we certainly have at the Christie .
“ We would say to people please attend your GP surgery or hospital if that ’ s important.
” Q : Has there been a decrease in the number of cancer referrals or contacting their GP ?
Dr Taylor : “ We are looking at a massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us with suspected cancer symptoms and that is obviously a huge worry for us .
“ Some of those patients will have cancer and the earlier it ’ s picked up , the earlier it ’ s treated and the better the outcome for patients .
“ We would strongly urge patients who suspect symptoms of cancer to contact their GP .
“ The process is that their GP would probably speak to them first , arrange to see them and if they think it ’ s necessary they ’ ll arrange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessing patients over the phone and working out what the individual risk is , how concerning they think the symptom is and how any comorbidities or problems the patient might have .
“ There ’ s a lot of reassessing at every point in the pathway at each particular time .
`` What we 're saying to patients is that you 've got symptoms or have anything you 're worried , please contact your GP .
`` That might be the only step they need to take initially , and their GP will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It maybe that they 'll be put on a cancer pathway and referred to a cancer hospital like The Christie .
`` We want to see people and we are assessing their individual risk as to risk of Covid versus risk of cancer , and how we 'll carry out those investigations . ''
`` All of the hospitals are making massive efforts to keep things safe . ''
Drop a heart on our special map of gratitude to show your support for our NHS heroes To keep up with the latest breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown , and for things to do while you are staying in , join our dedicated coronavirus Facebook group .

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The coronavirus pandemic has forced hospitals to completely change the way they treat patients.
And with scientists warning that COVID-19 is here to stay - for years, rather than months - changes to hospital care are here for the long-term.
The Christie in Withington is no different.
As one of the country’s leading cancer centres, it treats some of the NHS’ most vulnerable patients.
For people fighting cancer, coronavirus is another worry during an already anxious time.
We asked readers to submit their questions about cancer during the coronavirus crisis to our local experts.
Dr Wendy Makin, medical director of The Christie, and Dr Sarah Taylor, a Manchester GP who works closely with the hospital, answer your questions here...
(Image: The Christie)
Q: It's been said that an over-active immune response, the 'cytokine storm', is responsible for covid fatalities. Does that mean a cancer patient with an impacted immune system from treatment is less likely to die from coronavirus?
Dr Makin: “What the reader is referring to, the ‘cytokine storm’, is an excessive inflammatory reaction that is set up as a consequence of the COVID-19 infection in some people. We know for those people they get a very serious illness and are more likely to have serious consequences.
“The question is about the immune status; because some of our patients are immunosuppressed, we’re saying that some of our patients are at more risk of COVID-19 and complications.
“Our hematologists are aware of some research data that rather surprisingly had shown that some immunosuppressed people hadn’t appeared to do worse with COVID.
“But we need to understand an awful lot more around this. I think the important points are that if you are someone with cancer or on some types of cancer treatment then there is a greater risk and, in particular, a greater risk of you having more serious complications from a COVID-19 infection.
“Equally we are anxious to say that if you have a new cancer that requires urgent treatment, it’s all about a balance of those risks. We would be wanting to get on and deal with that cancer and manage the Covid risk as best as we can.
“Obviously that balance varies from patient to patient and situation to situation.”
(Image: STEVE ALLEN)
Q: I was told I was having different treatment because of the coronavirus (capecitabine tablets at home rather than a daily infusion). Is the home-based treatment less effective than the hospital based treatment?
Dr Makin: “Often there are alternative ways of treating cancer. And here, this is one of the strategies our specialists have been using during the pandemic in switching to tablets rather than intravenous infusions because it reduces the trips to hospital that someone has to make.
“It’s not as straight forward as saying one is a better option than the other.
“Here, probably being on tablets and minimising the trips to hospital is a safer option; I would be reassuring people that our specialists wouldn’t be making any changes to treatments or recommending treatments that they didn’t believe were effective for that type of cancer.”
Q: During the review/consultation with my oncologist I wasn't allowed to have anyone with me even though given the extreme stress involved (and forgetfulness from the meds) I couldn't take anything in. As everyone is wearing masks, shouldn't a moral supporter (who could also wear a mask) be allowed in these circumstances?
Dr Makin: “This is part of what we’ve been doing at the Christie to try and manage our services as safely as possible.
“I’m sure we’ll come onto this again, but one of the first steps we took was to reduce the number of people coming to the site and moving around the hospital at any one time because we would usually have hundreds of people coming to The Christie everyday.
“Some of things we did were quite straight forward; teaching activities and professional visitors, we stopped all of those.
“One of the steps we did take was that for most people they wouldn’t be able to bring visitors.
“Most people do bring a family member or friend to support them. We recognise that it is hard for people but the changes have meant that we’ve been able to keep those numbers to much more manageable levels with safer distancing and movement around the hospital.
“I would add that there are circumstances where it is important that somebody has someone to accompany them and we can make provisions for those circumstances.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“I’m afraid in normal times when we’d be saying you can bring someone with you, we can’t say that now for everybody.
“We recognise that is hard but it is making our hospital safer for other patients.”
Dr Taylor: “Another thing we’re doing which is making a difference is the increased used of phone and video consultations. Obviously if you’re having one of those consultations you can have two people on the end of the line.
“It’s just trying to work out the best policy for each patient and trying to be flexible, and accommodate as many peoples wishes as possible while being safe.
“The increased use of phone and video consultations is beneficial to some of these patients, though obviously not applicable to everybody.”
Q: Clinical trials being stalled by CR UK is a big worry for many of us stage 4 cancer patients. I'd just want to stress it further as this is our biggest problem as patients. The lack of drug development will set us all back.
How has coronavirus impacted on clinical trials at the Christie?
Dr Makin: “At The Christie we are mostly looking at clinical trials where we’re looking at trials of new agents for cancers, so it is a very important part of our role as a cancer centre.
“For the most part, clinical trial activity has continued as far as possible.
“But what we had to stop at the onset of the serious rise of infections was recruitment into new trials and studies.
“This is in keeping with all cancer centres in the UK. In trying to think about this we have also been managing the risk to staff as well as to patients. Our staff were involved in agreeing what research work can work safely.
“In the first few weeks we had to manage with a number of staff off sick and therefore that was seriously affecting our risk to carry on with frontline cancer treatment services.
“Part of this has involved redeploying some of those staff who have been absolutely fantastic to support other frontline clinical staff to keep treatments going as far as possible.
“I think the big question here is when are they going to start up again.
“The good news is that from the middle of this month we are cautiously getting new studies underway again. Obviously we are carefully having to review that but we are able to start up that trial activity. There is one proviso; in the past we used to have a number of people travelling from different parts of the country to the Christie and again, in keeping with other centres, we’re not able to offer that at the moment but we are starting to open up trial activity.
“In the meantime, across the whole of NIHR and the NHS, from the start of this, research activity was also focused on research into Covid itself and the Christie along with other centres has participated in some of that work.
“Although we have only had small numbers of patients who have been infected with Covid, it’s been a really important part of the research effort going on across many hospitals. We shouldn’t forget that.”
Dr Taylor: “It’s really about the patient’s needs and balancing what is right for them.
“Normally it’s a case of ‘let’s try to treat the cancer as well as we can’ but actually at the moment there’s a big counter argument in terms of what we do with the risk of Covid. That has to be balanced with each patient and that’s why things have become a lot more difficult because we have to look at individual circumstances. We have to discuss what the right thing is for them.”
Q: Why have so many cancer resources - researchers, labs, equipment - been diverted to Covid, and when can clinical trials, which are a lifeline for advanced cancer patients, reopen?
Dr Makin: “With the researchers it’s back to that question of pausing some of the new trials and new recruitment. A lot of the people involved in the clinical studies are doctors and nurses, as well as pharmacists, have really helped us get through a difficult period.
“Either when we have had a number of staff off sick at any one time, or, off sick because somebody in their household was unwell. This is the situation for the NHS and this is why the focus has been on the response to Covid, that has impacted a number of services.
“Being able to redeploy some of those research staff has been enormously helpful.
“The reassurance is that we are now reopening studies and actually building that up again.”
Dr Taylor: “There is also a need for some specific research into Covid and cancer.
“So in the early part of the pathway, if you have a patient at the start of the cancer pathway, we need to make sure surgery is as safe as possible.
“The problem is, because this is all so new there has had to be research into the safest ways of doing that and how to deal with cancer patients with Covid.
“The research has had to be diverted quickly to learn about cancer and Covid, and keep those patients safe as well.”
Dr Makin: “For some people whose cancer has recurred and they have tried all standard therapies, clearly it’s very important for them to have an opportunity to try a new type of therapy or agent.
"Also, we know that many of our patients are amazingly altruistic and it helps to make sense of their own illness by helping others and that’s the reason they go into these studies. It’s such an important part of cancer work in making progress that we all want to see it continue.”
Q: What could be ways that might allow close family to reunite with cancer patients (currently shielding), but still protect them to some extent, as we come out of lockdown?
Dr Taylor: “At the moment we feel that patients need to follow the national guidance with shielding.
“With individual patients there is a balance, but really they should be following the national guidance and if they have specific concerns, maybe discussing it with a clinician who knows their case well and their individual circumstances.
“But really at the moment the safest thing for everybody to do is to follow the shielding guidance because we don’t quite know what’s coming next and what’s safest for people.
“Everything is so new we can’t predict what will be happening in a few weeks time.”
Q: I am in remission from acute myeloid leukaemia and have the vulnerable person letter from Christie’s. The 12 weeks are almost up and they are talking about returning to work. I work in a large office of about 100 staff. I’m worried. Will I be safe? I am working from home currently.
Dr Makin: “From what the reader says, we have told him to shield for 12 weeks as a vulnerable person.
“As he says the 12 weeks are almost up and we’re awaiting national guidance.
“I would be surprised if the message is other than for people in the most vulnerable category to continue to shield and we would advise him to continue working from home.”
“There will be some difference in certain people’s situations. There are certainly shielding of people currently on chemotherapy and I know that a lot of our specialists feel that for a few weeks afterwards continue with that, but as time passes by that risk lessons. There will be other individuals where that risk is still there. There is guidance from someone’s cancer specialist who can talk this through.
“Sometimes we haven’t got absolute answers around this and as time goes by , we recognise that as individuals we have to live with this Covid risk. I think people will be weighing it up themselves according to their own circumstances.
“I think that will be part of the conversation with GPs as well.”
Dr Taylor: “If people are struggling with shielding I would encourage them to speak to healthcare professionals. Not that someone is necessarily going to say to them,stop shielding but they might be able to give them some support either in terms of counselling or practical support that makes the whole situation more acceptable to them.
“If you’re struggling with it, don’t struggle on your own. Contact somebody.
“GPs, specialist nurses within the cancer centres and services at the Macmillan centres are well placed to offer you advice.
“There are lots of places where people can get support and I would be encouraging people to access that.”
Q:Some oncologists are refusing to prescribe enzalutamide or Abiraterone for men newly diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer thus forcing men to have chemo which means delay. Why? Thankfully not heard that this a problem locally
Dr Makin: “This relates to new treatments for stage 4 prostate cancer, and prior to these new treatments coming along men were being put on chemotherapy.
“Around the time of the start of Covid these new treatments had gone through trials. They offered some benefit and were a good alternative to chemotherapy, but still had to go through all the hurdles of NICE approval.
“I had a chance to ask one of our urology specialists about this and he was able to tell me that in the interim period there has now been approval for the enzalutamide which our specialists are using.
"If patients don’t tolerate it, they can go onto the other one, Abiraterone, if required. That’s some good news here but it’s an example of how disruptive Covid has been to a number of different processes including the evaluation of different cancer treatments and getting them online.
“The national cancer team and our cancer director are very much aware of that and want to make sure this process is happening as quickly as possible.”
Q: I am treated at another hospital for Rectal stage 3. I'm in remission and my three-monthly CEA bloods for March were cancelled. Should I be asking if I will be tested in June? If so is it safe to have them done (worried about hospital visit) as I'm NEAD is it worth the risk?
Dr Makin: “Each visit to any hospital could potentially carry a risk. If you think that through, we have to consider whether there are blood tests or scans that we could safely postpone for a period of time.
“So people on follow up for their cancer treatment may have scans at increasing intervals to check that all is well.
“Providing they are well in themselves, some of those scans have been pushed back a little bit further to try and get us past the peak period of infection for everyone. That’s een part of the approach here.
“A lot of people do come to hospital for blood tests. At The Christie we are looking at different options for how people can get blood tests done but as we’re going into a new phase now and hopefully past the peak, all of our specialists are finding out where their patients are up to and making plans for when they are going to reassess them.
“Obviously if someone in the meantime has become unwell or developed a new symptom then their specialist would arrange to see them or a test as quickly as possible.
“As to whether it’s safe to come into hospital takes us into a different area, which is a worry.
“We know that there is a lot of anxiety out there for people who have new cancer symptoms.
“Part of the fear for some people is that it’s too unsafe to come to hospital.
“We would say that hospitals have got a lot of processes in place now to try and keep the risk as small as possible, and we would say that we certainly have at the Christie.
“We would say to people please attend your GP surgery or hospital if that’s important.”
Q: Has there been a decrease in the number of cancer referrals or contacting their GP?
Dr Taylor: “We are looking at a massive decrease in the number of people coming to us with suspected cancer symptoms and that is obviously a huge worry for us.
“Some of those patients will have cancer and the earlier it’s picked up, the earlier it’s treated and the better the outcome for patients.
“We would strongly urge patients who suspect symptoms of cancer to contact their GP.
“The process is that their GP would probably speak to them first, arrange to see them and if they think it’s necessary they’ll arrange any tests.
“Most trusts are assessing patients over the phone and working out what the individual risk is, how concerning they think the symptom is and how any comorbidities or problems the patient might have.
“There’s a lot of reassessing at every point in the pathway at each particular time.
"What we're saying to patients is that you've got symptoms or have anything you're worried, please contact your GP.
"That might be the only step they need to take initially, and their GP will arrange to call them back.
"It maybe that they'll be put on a cancer pathway and referred to a cancer hospital like The Christie.
"We want to see people and we are assessing their individual risk as to risk of Covid versus risk of cancer, and how we'll carry out those investigations."
"All of the hospitals are making massive efforts to keep things safe."
Drop a heart on our special map of gratitude to show your support for our NHS heroes
To keep up with the latest breaking news and information on Covid-19 and the lockdown, and for things to do while you are staying in, join our dedicated coronavirus Facebook group.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-21--A taxi driver with coronavirus has died after a passenger spat at him

A taxi driver died with coronavirus after being spat at by a fare-dodger who claimed to have the disease , a family friend has said .
Trevor Belle , 61 , died in the Royal London Hospital on April 18 , having tested positive for Covid-19 .
Several weeks earlier , the east Londoner had been spat at by a passenger who owed him £9 , according to his friend Damian Briggs .
The passenger reportedly told him : `` I 've got the coronavirus and now you 've got it too . ''
After the incident in Stratford on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel unwell with symptoms of coronavirus .
Mr Briggs explained : `` A few days later he got rushed into hospital , he spent three weeks battling it and unfortunately did n't make it to the end . ''
The new grandfather died three days after his 61st birthday , and his friend added : `` It 's devastating that he 's caught it doing his job . ''
After his death , Mr Belle 's blood was donated to research into the effects of Covid-19 in people from BAME communities , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his 'die-hard Arsenal supporter ' friend .
He described them as 'not blood brothers , but we are brothers ' .
He told the PA news agency : `` He loves the game , he loves Arsenal , he loves supporting to see kids do really well in the game .
`` He did a lot of volunteering stuff . ''
Mr Briggs added : `` Best way I can describe Trev is just a jovial person who , as serious as life is , would always find a way to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can take your mind off the problem .
`` It was very rare you saw something that bothered this guy .
`` No matter how bad it was , he always found a way to have a laugh and chuckle . ''

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A taxi driver died with coronavirus after being spat at by a fare-dodger who claimed to have the disease, a family friend has said.
Trevor Belle, 61, died in the Royal London Hospital on April 18, having tested positive for Covid-19.
Several weeks earlier, the east Londoner had been spat at by a passenger who owed him £9, according to his friend Damian Briggs.
The passenger reportedly told him: "I've got the coronavirus and now you've got it too."
After the incident in Stratford on March 22, Mr Belle began to feel unwell with symptoms of coronavirus.
Mr Briggs explained: "A few days later he got rushed into hospital, he spent three weeks battling it and unfortunately didn't make it to the end."
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The new grandfather died three days after his 61st birthday, and his friend added: "It's devastating that he's caught it doing his job."
After his death, Mr Belle's blood was donated to research into the effects of Covid-19 in people from BAME communities, Mr Briggs said, as he paid tribute to his 'die-hard Arsenal supporter' friend.
He described them as 'not blood brothers, but we are brothers'.
He told the PA news agency: "He loves the game, he loves Arsenal, he loves supporting to see kids do really well in the game.
"He did a lot of volunteering stuff."
Mr Briggs added: "Best way I can describe Trev is just a jovial person who, as serious as life is, would always find a way to get a smile on your face so you can take your mind off the problem.
"It was very rare you saw something that bothered this guy.
"No matter how bad it was, he always found a way to have a laugh and chuckle."