Oldham Reporter

“People thought they weren’t going to do anything from now on and the fear that instilled in other people. The police knocked on every house on our road and not one of them would give any information.”

Officers investigating the ongoing moorland fires at Dovestone Reservoir which began on Saturday 11th July, 2026, have made two further arrests.

Oasis Academy Oldham staged its first-ever “Belong” Music Festival . . . a vibrant celebration of music, culture, creativity, and community that brought together students and staff for an unforgettable day of entertainment.

A local adventurer and deputy headteacher is preparing to tackle one of his toughest challenges yet as he heads deep into the Colombian jungle to raise money for charity.

Oldham are delighted to welcome back hooker Tom Forber to Oldham, having signed on loan for the remainder of the season from Wigan Warriors.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a wanted man from Oldham.

Drivers will face delays in Oldham as a dual carriageway near the town centre shuts. The closure will be in place until September.

Oldham still has no leader after another chaotic meeting saw claims Labour and Reform are ‘in cahoots’ and pleas to come together because people are ‘laughing at us’.

An Oldham hen lover is preparing to ride 230 miles across the north of England to raise funds for the British Hen Welfare Trust, inspired by her much-loved flock of rehomed ex-commercial hens.

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has launched its annual Budding Neighbourhoods competition for customers, leaseholders, volunteers and community groups who improve the environment where they live.

A 31-year-old man has been banned from entering a Greater Manchester Hospital after he threatened to set it on fire. The ban will be in place until June 2029.

With the fire still raging at Dovestone Reservoir, the firefighters tackling the blaze have thanked people for their support.

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has been shortlisted in three categories at the town’s annual business awards later this year.

Caremark, one of the UK’s leading home care providers, has announced that Oldham-based Autism Family Support has been shortlisted for a £3,000 grant through its UK-wide Community Care Fund, with the final winners now set to be decided by public vote.

An extra £7m will go towards securing the future of Oldham’s Coliseum Theatre after widespread toxic asbestos and major issues with the building were discovered.

People living on an Oldham estate say it was like a ‘war zone’ with ‘gangs running around with machetes’, with neighbours unable to ‘go out after dark’.

Potholes at a major junction on the border of Oldham and Rochdale have sparked anger.

Police are appealing to the public for help as they investigate the ongoing fires at Dovestone Reservoir.

A 14-mile tunnel beneath the Peak District mountains could cut journey times between Manchester and Sheffield by 30 minutes, according to an ambitious proposal. 

Shania Care-Slede (10/05/2006), of Market Street, Hyde, was arrested yesterday (13 July 2026) and has been charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving.

Oldham Mountain Rescue Team were called to support Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) as crews responded to fires at Dovestone on Sunday morning.

The restored former Old Library building was among the big winners at the Construction News Awards 2026.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has declared a major incident and remains at the scene, where firefighters are continuing to work alongside partner agencies to contain the Dovestone wildfires and prevent further spread.

A 20-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson following the catastrophic moorland fires at Dovestone.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the cause of the weekend’s Dovestone wildfires will be fully investigated.

Nine vehicles were seized, one traffic offence reported, and three people were arrested following a major police operation to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by e-bikes and quad bikes.

Plans to restore the site where a Grade II listed chapel once stood have been blocked despite planning permission being granted. The owners fear no progress and further decay of the building would be ‘the greatest loss’ to Oldham.

Two men and a boy were arrested following a police crackdown on anti-social use of e-bikes and Surron bikes in the St Mary’s area of Oldham.

A heartbroken police sergeant has made a poignant appeal after a tragedy at a Saddleworth beauty spot where an 18-years-old boy drowned on Friday evening.

An 18-year-old man has died after being found unresponsive in the water at Dovestone Reservoir.

Oasis Academy Leesbrook captivated audiences as students staged a spectacular production of The Wizard of Oz . . . delivering what has been hailed as the academy's best production yet.

Chadderton-born physicist Professor Brian Cox returned to his hometown for the launch of a partnership between Oldham Athletic Community Trust and Pharmaceutical Company AstraZeneca, which will help bring science to life for hundreds of primary school pupils in the borough.

Oldham StoryFest is returning with another exciting programme of author talks, illustration workshops and family activities designed to inspire a love of reading.

Thousands of Unite members working with local authorities including Oldham are balloting for strike action after rejecting this year’s pay offer.

There will be an increased police presence in Shaw following reports of a man behaving suspiciously in the area last Friday (July 3, 2026).

A murder investigation is underway following the death of a man after a serious assault in Failsworth.

Oldham Pride returns for another fun day of celebration in a borough that continues to show love, support and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community.

Dare to Know Theatre returns with the second Dare to Create Festival, bringing together artists, communities and audiences for five days of music, dance, poetry, visual arts and creative workshops across Oldham.

Nearly 20 students from Greater Manchester have returned home after completing a life-changing five-day residential programme at Eton College. . . thanks to growing partnerships with schools across the region.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace the family of a man who has passed away.

Serial Oldham health campaigner Dr Anita Sharma is back on the familiar ground of raising awareness of a women’s blight that has been tragically trivialised by medics.

Hulme Grammar School has been officially commended in the national Independent Schools of the Year 2026 awards for Outstanding Educational Partnerships.

One of Oldham Netball Club’s senior players has been selected to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games this month in Glasgow.

A pedestrian was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle fleeing police.

The family of a man who has died two years after suffering a serious assault have paid tribute to him – with officers now launching a murder investigation.

Businesses could benefit from a new grant programme designed to support growth, create jobs, and encourage investment across the borough.

Five inspirational headteachers who have dedicated decades of their lives to educating and supporting Oldham’s children have been honoured by the new Mayor of Oldham at a special civic reception.

St John Ambulance is launching a pilot programme across Greater Manchester to help meet increasing demand for event healthcare services.

Police are appealing for help in locating this man (pictured) who is wanted in connection with an attempted burglary.

Brave children aged from newborn to ten years old got up close with lizards, snakes, tarantulas and a tortoise at an animal experience hosted in Oldham.

Officers from the Royton and Shaw Neighbourhood Team have recovered a stolen van and arrested a man following an incident spanning Oldham, Rochdale and Bury.

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) joined forces with the council and police to host a positive behaviour workshop at St Hugh’s Primary School in Holts.

Retailers and service providers in Oldham town centre can apply for shop front improvement grants.

Drivers face overnight M60 closures for the next two weekends as major roadworks continue near Audenshaw. 

Police have seized five illegal e-bikes and made several arrests in St Mary’s and Coldhurst over the weekend in a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Oldham councillors have been warned the local authority could soon be breaking the law, as a top boss issues a warning. Elected members have been told they have two weeks to come up with someone to lead them or things could get much worse.

Roadworks are taking place on key A and B roads in nearly every area across Greater Manchester. Temporary traffic lights on Wilmslow Road could last until January 2027.

GM4Women2028 is bringing its annual Dialogue, Deeds & Determination event to Rochdale tomorrow (Sat, July 4) uniting women, girls and male allies from Greater Manchester for a day of discussion, collaboration and action focused on advancing gender equality.

Oldham’s Parent-Infant Mental Health Service (PIMHS) was recently visited by Diane Hawkins JP LLB, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

Dozens of staff at train operator TransPennine Express (TPE) are learning sign language to help make rail journeys easier for hearing-impaired customers.

More than a century on these casualties have finally been honoured with Commonwealth War Grave headstones.

Another hugely successful Co-op Congress concluded recently at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, bringing together co-operative leaders, innovators, policymakers, campaigners and community organisations from across the UK and beyond for two days of debate, collaboration and action.

Hundreds of people are fighting against plans to renovate a Grade II listed church in Shaw that has partially collapsed. The chapel was abandoned in 1975 and is now dangerous but could have a new future under plans put forward.

Oldham councillors met for half an hour, agreed one thing, and then decided to go home again. Some elected members were seen after watching England play the Democratic Republic of the Congo after another meeting failed to break a deadlock on who should run the authority.

The person behind plans to turn an Oldham chippy into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) has responded over fears HMOs were ‘turning our area into the slums’. A nearby nursery said they were ‘worried’ and parents are already concerned.

Police have been informed after a group of elderly pensioners were attacked last night in Shaw.

Hulme Grammar School is celebrating a historic sporting triumph after its Under-13 netball team was crowned champions at the prestigious World Schools Netball Cup, held at the world-class sports facilities of Loughborough University.

Oldham Council has launched the new Oldham Advice Service.

A free art exhibition shares Oldham women's lived experiences of access to reproductive healthcare over the ages.

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice supporters are invited to take a spin for a good cause by booking a free test drive in collaboration with OMC Motor Group.

A £3.7 million scheme to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of 302 First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) properties in Holts is now underway.

Oldham Greenhill Community Sports and Recreation Club has officially hosted the launch of the Oldham Alliance, a major new initiative backed by Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to tackle youth violence.

Young people aged 18 to 25 from Oldham are being encouraged to take up the opportunity to gain real work experience by volunteering at one of the world's greatest sporting events.

A professional drummer and an actor who has taught at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester are determined to help social enterprise Upturn unearth some working-class artists - after branding the current creative industries “elitist.”

A dedicated team of volunteers have taken over Delph’s famous Millgate Arts Centre from Oldham Council.

Students from The Radclyffe School have achieved national recognition after winning the prestigious Best Build Award at the STEM on Track National Finals, competing against more than 100 schools from across the country.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace the family of a man who has passed away.

£1m plans to buy and then demolish a ‘rare’ town centre pub are still moving forward despite pleas to stop. There are fears from one local MP the borough is ‘wiping away our history in the name of progress’.

Oldham council has slammed at ‘vile’ and ‘racist’ comments made amid a ‘wave of hateful abuse’ following the selection of the town’s youth mayor.

An Oldham deputy headteacher has been named on the Top Explorers List again following a series of inspiring expeditions.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace the family of a man from Oldham.

Oldham Music Service’s summer festival will bring together many of the borough’s talented musicians, from children just starting their musical journey to their award-winning youth ensembles and adult community groups.