The Mancunian Way: Just metres away

Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter.

You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here.

Here is today's Mancunian Way:

by BETH ABBIT - Tues July 26, 2022

Hello,

The uncovering of human remains at a fire-ravaged mill has shocked neighbours in Oldham. The sad discovery was made by demolition workers - more than two months after a huge fire at the site.

We'll be exploring that story, and our joint campaign urging the next Prime Minster not to neglect the North, in today's newsletter.

The site of a demolished mill where human remains were discovered was being used to house a suspected cannabis farm, Charlotte Green reports.

Bismark House Mill went up in flames on May 7, with firefighters believing nobody was inside. They spent four days tackling the blaze, which began in the early hours.

More than ten weeks later, on July 21, police received a report that ‘four Vietnamese nationals were missing and may have been involved in a fire’. Demolition workers found human remains, relating to one person, at the mill on Bower Street, last Saturday, July 23.

Police suspect the discovery is connected to the four missing people and detectives are working to contact next of kin. Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes said yesterday: “The number of bodies found may change based on the progress of the work over the coming days.”

Greater Manchester Police has declared a major incident and has referred itself to the Professional Standards Branch due to previous contact relating to the fire and missing persons.

Shocked residents of Oldham have spoken of their horror after learning about the sad discovery. Emma Hughes says