The BBC Breakfast crew wearing hi-vis jackets filming next to a giant salt pile at the Oldham gritting depot

We're working hard to keep your roads safe this winter

Just take look at our giant salt pile - and it has decreased during the cold snap thanks to the tireless efforts of our gritting teams.

Last week we welcomed the BBC Breakfast crew to our gritting depot to report on how we are working around the clock to keep roads safe.

They heard from Gordon Anderson, Assistant Director of Highways, Engineering and Operations, who said: "It's a 24 hour operation that continues all the time from October to April."

For more information on our gritting operation and staying safe on the roads you can visit our website by clicking here.

Time is ticking to get your application in - so don't miss out

These are your final days to apply for a primary school place for your child for September.

Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 15 January.

Late applications may result in fewer choices so get your application in today.

Apply here now by clicking on this link to our website.

Inspirational teen shares his powerful story

As a child, 15-year-old Brooke Travis Newcombe survived life-threatening illnesses including sepsis and meningitis, which resulted in four limb amputations, organ failure and partial blindness.

Despite these challenges, Brooke has turned his experiences into a mission to raise awareness with the aim of saving lives through better understanding.

Since becoming Mayor, Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE replaced the traditional Prayers section at council meetings with a 'Moment of Reflection' to give members the chance to hear real stories from local residents and reflect on how their decisions in the Chamber directly affect people in the community.

Brooke’s story is a powerful example of this initiative in action.

Read the full moving story by clicking on our website here.

Sixteen-year-old nursery apprentice says more men should consider a rewarding career in early years education

Former Co-op Academy Failsworth pupil Harley Keenan is proud to be a positive role model working in an early years setting, and he is urging more males to consider it as a career after helping to give children the best start in life at the nursery where he grew up.

Harley, an apprentice at Buttercup Corner Day Nursery in Chadderton, helped out during the holidays at the nursery when he was 14, and his connections with Buttercup Corner go back even further.

Harley used to attend the after-school club at the nursery, and his former key worker Danielle Atkins is now his room leader.

He explained: “It’s a very rewarding career and not many men do it. It’s important because there are a lot of boys who don’t have that role model.”

Read the full story and find out how you can work with small children in Oldham by clicking on our website here.

Celebrating work starting on 132 new homes in Derker

Oldham Council and Hive Homes are celebrating the start of works which will see 132 new homes built in Derker across four brownfield sites.

The development will include 44 much-needed affordable homes - 21 for truly affordable rent and 23 for shared ownership.

The two and three-bedroom homes are being built on vacant plots at Cromford Street, London Road, Evelyn Street and Abbotsford Road.

Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: "I'm delighted that these sites will soon be transformed into fantastic homes, giving 132 families a great place to live."

To read the full story click on our website here.

Get the latest news, books, magazines and audiobooks for free

Oldham residents can get all of the above delivered free to their device through Oldham Libraries.

Simply download the Borrowbox app for Apple or Android, select Oldham Libraries from the list and enter your library card number and PIN.

If you need a library card, just pop in to your nearest library or get a temporary card number by clicking here.

It’s free to join and you don’t need to bring any ID.

A62 Oldham Way Lane closures

One lane in each direction of the A62 Oldham Way will be closed for 6 weeks starting Monday 13 January to allow for structural investigations on the Oldham Way flyover.

To minimise disruption and keep traffic flowing, lane closures will be in place from Union Street Footbridge to the end of the flyover in both directions.

Please plan your journeys accordingly.

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