The Mancunian Way: Manchester's ghost estate

Hello,

It was once a close-knit community of pensioners - but now it’s Greater Manchester’s ghost estate.

Boarded-up windows, overgrown gardens, and graffiti now dominate the once-proud neighbourhood now lies abandoned. Housing association plans to flatten the estate saw even the most steadfast of residents move out - they told Damon Wilkinson that what their former home has been reduced to saddens them.

Michael Keogh, 81, moved into number 46 Highfield Close, at the bottom right hand side of the street, in 1997. "When I first moved I thought it had real potential," he said. "The back garden was incredible.It was such a nice community."

But around eight years ago the residents began hearing rumours that their then landlord Trafford Housing Trust was proposing to demolish the bungalows. The trust said they were on a 'high risk' flood plain and were built in a way that had 'created severe damp and mould issues' - claims some of the residents disputed.

On June 8 last year Michael was one of the last tenants to go. He was moved into a maisonette just round the corner - but still visits his old home from time to time.

Over the last year or so the bungalows have been repeatedly targeted by vandals and metal thieves. Michael says racist and far-right graffiti has been sprayed on some of the properties.

"The gates went first, then it was the lead flashing," he said. "It was bad enough when they ripped out the front doors and back doors, but then they got ransacked again and again. Look at it now, it's desolate. It's very sad.”

Damon has this full story here.

Love long before Tinder

Tinder and Bumble may be the way couples meet in the modern era - but what did Mancs do before they were around?

Lee Grimsditch has spoken to historian Dean Kirby about the Monkey Parade - a popular way to meet a prospective partner for young people in the city.

The curious ritual would take place in designated streets and parks in Manchester and Salford, and would see groups of teenagers and young adults dressed in their finest outfits gathering on Sunday nights, trying to catch the eye of a prospective new beau. More here.

Movie set Manchester

If you were out and about in town this weekend you may have noticed plenty of filming going on around the Northern Quarter.

It has become a popular spot for filming over the last few years, and looks to have become the backdrop for another big screen tale, with one very famous actor snapped in Stevenson Square.

Film crews were seen on Lever Street along with British actor Sean Bean. Pictured wearing a blue and black biker outfit outside Flok, it is believed he was working on a title called 'Avelyn'. More here.

The drug wreaking havoc along the M6

Known to cause hallucinations, paranoia and bursts of aggression, the drug Monkey Dust is causing huge concern in Stoke-on-Trent - and there is evidence it may be in Greater Manchester, too.

Monkey Dust is a synthetic psychoactive drug, similar to 'Spice'. It comes in a white powder, and can cost as little as £2 and provides a high that lasts up to 12 hours.

The drug has already been linked to the death of a baby in Stoke, and has been traced to Manchester too. Last year the M.E.N reported the shocking case of a predator under the influence who forced his way into a woman's home before trying to rape her.

Darren Roche was jailed for life following the terrifying attack at a flat in Manchester city centre. Roche, 37, fuelled by a cocktail of drugs including monkey dust. You can read John Scheerhout’s full report into the drug here.

Greater Manchester's best roast dinners

If there’s one way to banish the Sunday scaries, it’s surely a succulent roast dinner.

Whether you’re there for the roasties, the yorkshire pudding, or just the whole shebang, there are plenty of incredible options across the region for the perfect Sunday roast.

Even better, these are all suggestions from the experts themselves - our readers.We received hundreds and hundreds of responses when we asked for your opinion, and it was great to see that they came from all corners of Greater Manchester and not just the city centre. You can read them here.

Weather etc

Tuesday: Sunny intervals changing to overcast by late morning. 14C.

Roadworks: Temporary traffic lights due to water main work on A560 Northenden Road near West End Avenue. Expect delays.

Manchester headlines

• Deansgate Locks crash: A woman who was arrested after a crash into two teenagers in Manchester city centre has been released on bail, police have confirmed. More here.
• Woman arrested: A man has tragically died after being struck by a car in north Manchester - with a woman arrested on the scene. More here.
• Courts: A man who dazzled the pilot of a police helicopter with a laser pen whilst speaking to his girlfriend over the phone has been jailed for nine months. More here.

Worth a read

It has been a rough weekend for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag as his side suffered a humiliating home defeat to Tottenham. The gaffer is set to stay put - for now - but faces a defining week as he battles for his future. You can read the latest here.