An Irlam nursery at the centre of a rat infestation scandal has been raided by police, who discovered a gun and a 'substantial quantity' of ammunition inside the building. Two men, aged in their 30s and 50s, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and taken into police custody for questioning.
Nursery closure and rat discovery
Mini Fingers Day Nursery in Irlam announced its closure on Monday, telling parents the 'business was struggling'. However, it later emerged that Salford council had issued a prohibition order the previous Friday after discovering a rat infestation beneath collapsed drains under the baby room.
In an email to parents after the inspection, the nursery manager stated the rats 'had managed to burrow their way into the main building'. On Wednesday night, police raided the now empty building.
Parents react to shocking events
The rapid turn of events has left parents reeling. Chloe Malpus, whose two-year-old son attended the nursery, said: "It does fill me with guilt. Because you're handing your child into someone's care believing they'll be safe and well looked-after. My kid will no longer be attending any kind of nursery setting ever again. It's completely destroyed my trust."
The nursery manager was approached but said she was 'too upset' to comment. A spokesman for the nursery later said: "This matter is now subject to a police investigation and at this moment in time we are unable to comment any further." There is no suggestion from GMP that the gun uncovered at the premises is linked to nursery staff or management.
Maresca addresses City charges
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca faced the press for the first time since the club were found guilty of breaking 115 financial rules. Maresca said there was no club he would rather be at and that he would still have joined City in the summer if the guilty verdict was already public knowledge. He said he would rather discuss the process 'when we win on appeal' but added City's titles were 'absolutely not' tainted.
Simister Island closure warning
Prestwich, Whitefield, Blackley and Middleton are braced for more chaos this weekend as Simister Island is set for another major closure. Drivers are warned to expect 'four hour delays' as the motorway junction shuts for roadworks from Saturday night to Monday morning as part of an ongoing £296M upgrade. During the last closure in late September, drivers complained of journey times doubling and tripling on diversion routes.
Hidden gem cafe and weekend weather
Mayya, a family-run Turkish bakery wedged between two tyre shops on an industrial estate off Regent Road in Salford, has been described as one of the city's best cafes. The weekend forecast is a mixed bag: light showers with odd sunshine on Saturday, dry and cloudy on Sunday, temperatures around 14C. Heys Road and Heywood Road in Prestwich remain shut due to a sinkhole, so drivers should avoid shortcutting around the Simister Island closure.
