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In July 2024 Stephen Wallwork was found dead in his cell at Forest Bank prison. The 34-year-old dad-of-two, was one of 27 inmates to have died at the Salford jail in just five years. As Stephen’s mum Kelly Kay said: "It is 27 too many.” Stephen, who had been sentenced to 51 months in prison for affray, died just 15 hours after he was transferred to Forest Bank. An investigation found he had taken drugs and said it was 'possible' he smuggled synthetic cannabinoids inside after a transfer from HMP Wymott in Lancashire. But staff at Forest Bank didn't search him - or property he had with him - properly on his arrival there. "People are going to prison, and they seem to be dying in prison,” said Ms Kay. "I have read the report into Stephen's death and I was horrified by it. "I just want my son back, but I know that will not happen. Conditions there have to improve." The shocking number of deaths at the troubled category B jail has been uncovered by our reporter Paul Britton using Freedom of Information legislation . And his investigation has prompted Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey to call on the Government to urgently review the management and operation of the prison. Writing to Justice Secretary David Lammy she described the number of fatalities as 'alarmingly high' saying it 'suggests serious systemic shortcomings in management, oversight and safeguarding of prisoners'. Forest Bank is privately run by France-based facilities giant Sodexo, but has long faced criticism and concern over the number of deaths there. Following its most recent inspection in 2022, saw Sodexo were issued with a formal notice after concerns about the safety of prisoners, conditions, drugs, organised crime and staff corruption. Despite that, Sodexo was awarded a new 10-year contract to continue its management and maintenance of the prison in May. A Sodexo spokesperson said: "Following any death in custody, our priority is to implement effective and positive changes in the prison. “We review all conclusions and recommendations made by the Coroner or Prisons and Probation Ombudsman with great care, as we continue to build on the progress made to provide a safe and rehabilitative environment to all prisoners." Paris has one, as does London. And so does Lower Broughton. We’re talking, of course, about fine examples of the work of noted Victorian architect William Robert ‘Bertie’ Crewe. In Lower Broughton’s case it’s the long-derelict, Baroque-inspired Victoria Theatre. Built in 1899 the foundation stone was laid by legendary actor Sir Henry Irving and his friend, Bram Stoker, author of Dracula. It’s stood empty since 2008, but over its colourful history it has attempted to bring culture to the masses, providing a stage for 60s stars like Englebert Humperdinck, been a mecca for bingo fanatics and commandeered as a cannabis farm. But, as Neal Keeling reports , it might not be long before the building dubbed Salford’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ stirs again. On January 27 the Halifax building society will shut its branch in Middleton . It means a town of around 50,000 people will no longer have a bank. And it’s left many locals concerned about the difficulties they may face when their home joins the UK’s growing list of ‘banking deserts’. Anita McCormack, 74, told local democracy reporter George Lythgoe : “I think it’s dreadful. They tell me I should do it online, but I want to speak to a person, not a robot.” Just a few days after headlining Co-op Live in the biggest show of his career, Jason Manford took the stage in the much-more mundane surroundings of a council planning meeting . The comic was there to speak up in support of a riding school for deprived kids which has been set up by a friend of his in the affluent Cheshire village of Over Peover. And in a passionate and principled speech, he criticised the ‘entitled’ villagers who objected to the plan. He said at an earlier meeting someone had said ‘why are their problems becoming mine?’. “These words don’t come from empathy, they come from entitlement,” he told councillors. “They come from people who have everything – stability, comfort, opportunity – handed down like furniture, people who talk about protecting the countryside, but what they really mean is protecting it from anyone who doesn’t look like me.” There’s been huge disruption on the railways today after an Avanti train derailed in Cumbria. A major incident was declared after the train hit a suspected landslip at 80mph at 6.10am near the village of Shap in Cumbria. Thankfully just four people suffered minor injuries, according to the ambulance service which assessed 87 patients in total, but all lines are blocked between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District. Avanti is advising customers not to travel north of Preston today with 'days of disruption' expected. We’ve been live-blogging this story all day - you can read the latest here. Tuesday’s forecast: Light winds and light rain, 13C. Airline strikes: Possible disruption on Aer Lingus flights to and from Manchester Airport due to strike action by cabin crew on November 9-11, November 14 and November 16-18. Nightclub stabbing: Two men were left with 'serious injuries' after they were stabbed at a club night in Manchester. The M.E.N. understands that they were both attending a Halloween-themed event at the Nowhere night club on Burstock Street on Friday night. Pub attack: A man is due to appear in court following an alleged assault outside the Church Inn pub in Failsworth on Friday night. Harry Hesketh, of Plane Road, Failsworth, has been charged with GBH, affray and possession of a class A substance. More here Demolition plans: Oldham council plans to spend £1m to buy and demolish the old pub in the town centre to ‘improve sightlines’ to the Coliseum theatre. Read more
