Man held in stab probe

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an 18-year-old man was stabbed in Failsworth.

Police were called to a house in Mabel Road at 10.20pm on Sunday where they found the victim with injuries to his upper arm and chest. He is now said to be recovering in hospital.

The suspect has been remanded in custody.

The Failsworth stabbing follows a weekend of violence which saw one man killed in Bolton and four others injured in Greater Manchester.

Paul Gilligan (31) died after he was knifed outside the Pepper Alley pub.

A 19-year-old man was stabbed in the neck as he sat in his car in Chorley Old Road and a 24-year-old man was stabbed in the same street several hours later.

The fourth incident took place outside a nightclub in Manchester city centre when a 23-year-old man was knifed.

Tougher

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced tough action on knife-wielding thugs including hard labour such as cleaning the streets.

Mr Brown said the Government would make community sentences tougher and more effective for people caught with knives.

The PM welcomed the extension of searches in schools in a bid to uncover knives, alcohol and drugs.

Anyone with any information on the Failsworth stabbing is asked to contact police on 0161-856 8955.