By Damon Wilkinson

Copyright manchestereveningnews

A major bus strike this weekend is set to cause travel chaos across Greater Manchester – and it’s also highlighted the tricky position the Bee Network finds itself in when it comes to industrial relations. Around two thirds of bus services will be disrupted when 2,000 members of the Unite union begin a four-day walkout over pay tomorrow. It’s the first wave of industrial action to hit the Bee Network since buses were brought under public control by Andy Burnham . But because the staff are actually employed by three companies – First, Metroline and Stagecoach – the Bee Network is not involved with the negotiations. It’s left transport bosses trying to walk a fine line between expressing support for the striking workers and sympathy with the affected passengers. Take Coun Anthony McCaul’s statement on the matter for instance. The Deputy Executive Member for Environment, Clean Air and Transport at Manchester council, told the press: “Whilst this is a matter between drivers, the bus companies, and the Unions, we understand the importance bus drivers play in providing a safe and reliable bee network and hope an agreement can be made that works for all parties to avoid the strikes and the impacts it will have on our residents, businesses, and visitors over the weekend.” As you might expect the bus companies have said they are ‘disappointed’ with the union’s decision to take strike action and said they are ‘open’ to discussions. For their part Unite, who have also called a second strike from September 30 to October 2, remain bullish. They say the offers are ‘unsatisfactory’ following ‘years of low pay’ and the ‘ongoing cost of living crisis’, with inflation now at 3.8 pc – and have left the threat of further action on the table if their demands aren’t met. “The strikes this week as well as the further action we have called will cause travel chaos in Greater Manchester,” said regional officer Colin Hayden. “However, it is entirely the fault of the employers involved, who have failed to address the issue of low pay and reward their staff accordingly. Unite is not afraid to escalate to more strikes, which will only intensify going forward.” Politics reporter Jo Timan has more here. Questions have been asked about how the Lowry was allowed to reach ‘such a crisis point’ that it needs £10m to pay for major works to ‘prevent closure’. A bombshell report at the start of September revealed the arts and theatre venue is in need of urgent support, looking for ‘substantial investment to continue operating’. Salford council has now agreed to provide £1.5m towards the repair bill, if an £8.5m bid for cash from the Arts Council is successful. But Coun Paul Heilbron, from Salford Lib Dems , questioned how the situation ended up so urgent. “The real concern I have is why was the funding needed in the first place, why was the situation allowed to reach such a crisis point?,” he asked. Declan Carey reports. A father with terminal cancer who had two-thirds of his penis ‘chopped off’ has defied doctors’ 12-month prognosis after undergoing the ‘radical’ treatment. Patrick Howard, 65, was diagnosed with an ‘aggressive’ and terminal form of penile cancer in April 2020. Patrick jokingly said to wife Laura ‘surely they’re not going to chop it off?’, but his consultant The Christie said a penectomy was the best course of treatment, and he had two-thirds – approximately four inches – of his penis surgically removed. He also underwent radiotherapy and has defied doctors’ expectations, outliving his initial 12-month prognosis. Now, ahead of International Penile Cancer Awareness Day on September 20, Patrick is approaching nearly two years since his last treatment and cannot believe his progress. Bruce, Pablo, Lola, and Nellie had a tough start. They were among nearly 80 springer spaniels found living in squalor earlier this year in a house of horrors in Doncaster, South Yorks. Rescued by the RSPCA, all four have now been given a new lease of life – fighting crime on the streets of Manchester. The quartet are Greater Manchester Police ‘s newest recruits, and will now go through specialist training to become sniffer dogs, as Neal Keeling reports. Donald Trump is in the middle of an unprecedented and highly controversial second state visit to the UK. But this type of soft diplomacy has a long history. The first to make the trip across the Atlantic was Woodrow Wilson. On Boxing Day, 1918, just six weeks after the First World War Armistice, thousands gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the 28th president of the United States. Days later, from December 29 to 30, he would do the same to huge crowds in Manchester. And although 12 US Presidents have set foot on British soil since, Wilson remains the only one to have been welcomed by Manchester, as Ben Winship reports. Friday: Cloudy changing to light rain by early evening, 21C. Bus disruption: We’ve already heard about this weekend’s bus strikes. The full list of affected services is here . Abedi court refusal: Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi has refused to appear in court after being charged with attempting to murder prison officers at a maximum security jail. The 28-year-old did not appear on a scheduled video-link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, forcing an adjournment of the case. Read more Club attack: Police are investigating an alleged attack at Liquid & Envy nightclub in Oldham that left a woman with facial injuries. The alleged attack is said to have taken place in the town centre club in the early hours of Saturday. More here Fake delivery driver: Police arrested a man suspected of posing as a food delivery driver to drop off drugs in Gorton . After running off when confronted by police the 33-year-old suspect was later found hiding behind a bin.