ON A CLOUDY summer afternoon, an eerie silence lingers over the Alkrington Moss estate.
The school holidays have just begun and children up and down the country are enjoying the first of many long days of freedom. But on the streets and pathways around the estate, there is barely anyone in sight.
The new playground lies empty, the sound of children playing conspicuously absent among the rows of grey and orange blocks of flats.
People living on the estate, on the outskirts of Middleton, say it has become plagued by anti-social behaviour and drug-dealing gangs, leaving some residents too afraid to walk to the shops, let alone allow their children to play outside.
Last month, an armed gang wearing balaclavas descended on the estate before smashing up a block of flats in The Meadows. People living nearby heard a 'loud bang' as windows were shattered.
Coun Dylan Williams, Rochdale council member for Middleton East, viewed CCTV of the incident and reported seeing three vehicles pull up on nearby Kingsway before 16 men arrived on the scene with 'axes, spades, machetes and other weapons! It is the latest in a string of violent incidents that have left people afraid to leave their own homes. Back in May, two men were arrested after another man was left with serious injuries during a 'disorder' at a block of flats at The Heath.
The drama came just days after three people were injured following a stabbing in the area. In the aftermath of the incident, one mum said her young son came across blood spattered across a pavement just yards from their family home.
Several months later, she worries about the impact it may have had on him.
"He has been quiet since then," the woman said. "He won't play out or walk home from school. It's horrible. I don't feel safe here. The door is always locked."
Esta historia es de la edición August 14, 2023 de Manchester Evening News.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 14, 2023 de Manchester Evening News.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
JOS LEARNS TO LIGHTEN LOAD
JOS Buttler admitted lightening his workload by giving up the wicketkeeping role has helped him to appreciate England's T20 series victory over the West Indies even more.
ON CLAUD NINE City's teen star on his humble journey to global headlines
CLAUDIO Echeverri is used to life in the limelight.
Starmer in call for 'respectful' ties with China
SIR Keir Starmer has said he told Xi Jinping he wanted \"respectful\" relations with Beijing as he became the first prime minister to meet the Chinese president since 2018.
Farmers to protest over inheritance tax
LARGE demonstrations by farmers were expected in London today as they fight to reverse \"absolutely unacceptable\" changes to inheritance tax.
Man jailed for arson threat on mosques
A FATHER-OF-FOUR who made a TikTok video threatening to burn down every mosque in Newcastle has been jailed for 20 months.
STABBING VICTIM IS FOUND 'COVERED IN BLOOD'
A MAN was seen 'bleeding on the floor' after he was stabbed in a horror attack on a street.
Mexican drinks and pool right on cue at new bar
A RESTAURANT recently nominated as one of the city's best has unveiled a first look at its new sister bar set to open next month - which will focus on tequila and pool.
Can Eibn project solve homes crisis?
PLANS TO BUILD 3,300 'HIGH QUALITY' HOMES AND A 'VIBRANT NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD' HAS BEEN GREETED WITH CYNICISM
Crumbling hospital unit gets mayor redevelopment
A HOSPITAL building where crumbling concrete was discovered is set to undergo a major redevelopment.
More comedy dates from special Kay
COMEDY fans are in for a treat after Peter Kay announced a new run of tour dates in a surprise announcement on Sunday night.