Cameron targets Manchester region as a vital step towards No10 – page 4

Tories target Manchester as part of pre-election ‘policy push.’ Constituencies such as Bolton and Cheadle are to be targeted with cash and high-profile visits.

MEN Media makes the news – page 5

MEN named newspaper of the year at O2 media awards – page 5

Black belt BBC man fights off drunken yobs – page 6

TV Journalist Paresh Patel fights off group of yobs whilst planning for a live broadcast.

Buckets of fun in 1.5m final push – page 13

Students in fancy dress take to streets for Manchester’s Children’s hospital appeal.

Business:

Racing’s £3.4bn role in economy – page 23

Horseracing in the north west attracted 5.7m spectators and generated £3.4bn for the economy.

Loft interiors’ goes overseas – page 23

Loft Interiors based in Didsbury wins first overseas contract.

£10m milestone at Positive Cash Flow finance – page 23

Manchester based business Positive Cash Flow Finance which provides funding for small firms has topped 100 clients.

Matalan in possible £1.5bn sell-off  -page 24

Matalan could be put on sale next year.

Is Tesco still the king of the grocers? – page 24

Loyalty card war between Tesco and Sainsburys winner will be revealed when they both issue updates.

Confidence is growing – but still fragile – page 24

Confidence amongst businesses in Greater Manchester is improving but remains fragile, Greater Manchester Chamber’s latest survey finds.

Headlines:

Mystery chemical alert at airport after chemicals were discovered in baggage – Front page

Brown: I’ll fight ‘shameless’ culture – page 4

Girl dies after cervical cancer jab at school – page 4

Voters in Manchester say no to an elected mayor – page 7

Imperial War Museum and The Lowry Hotel win Northwest Tourism Awards

Manchester youngster receives bravest child award and  meets Harry at WellChild awards ceremony in London – page 12

Education:

Kids who get to horse around during lessons – page 3

PE sessions are taught in stables as horse riding becomes a part of the curriculum at a Salford Primary School

Recession:

Why the recession is nothing to smile about – page 13

Just 12% of people feel happier with their lives since the recession – results from Community Service Volunteers leading up to the CSV Make a Difference Day – Britain’s biggest day of volunteering.

Plea from the plinth – page 18

Unemployed graduate stands on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth wearing a sandwich board seeking employment.

Trends:

Students hungry for basic survival grub – page 16

Economical students see sales of beans, noodles and other student classics go into overdrive.

And a diet coke please – page 20

Britain’s biggest burger, 2645 calories goes for sale at a takeaway in Bristol.

Lyme Park, yours for £400 –page 21

Monopoly launches National Trust version.

The futures Orange for IPhone – page 21

Apples IPhone will soon be available to Orange.

Business:

The Original factory shop sees sales surge – page 23

North west business that sales surplus of M&S and Woolworths sees sales surge

New Air Livery Operation – page 23

New paint shop for planes opens up at Manchester Airport.

Michelle heads up north – page 25

Michelle Dewberry from The Apprentice heads to Manchester as a keynote speaker at Business North West.

Pet retail:

Pets at Home ready to float in 2010

Retailer prepares for stock market launch

The Mirror:

Trends:

What we all did before gadgets – page 10

Our £51 ebay wedding – page 29

Drop in house prices is slowing – page 48

Fundraising:

Take That…you’re a brave lad. – page 18

Gary Barlow surprises cancer fundraiser.

Dizzee Rascal: Getting stabbed isn’t glamorous –interview page 27

Competitions:

Win Lego game set – page 28