In Bolton, a 30-year-old man was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital following an altercation on Church Road, Farnworth.

A 24-year-old man died in hospital following an incident at the Moss Side Community Centre on Westwood Street.

And a 21-year-old man died while paramedics were treating him for stab wounds on Stockport Road, Hattersley, in Tameside.

Not linked

Police officers discovered the injured man in Bolton while they were patrolling Church Road at 2315 GMT and witnessed an "altercation".

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of his murder.

In the second stabbing, the ambulance and police were called to the community centre at about 0100 GMT following reports that a man had been stabbed.

It is believed that a 66-year-old man also suffered very minor knife wounds in the same incident. He was treated in hospital and later discharged.

Seven people have been arrested over the third fatal attack.

Witness appeal

Police were called to the Outside Inn and Premier Lodge on Stockport Road, Hattersley, in Tameside, in the early hours of Saturday.

Paramedics treated the 21-year-old man but he died at the scene shortly after 0430 GMT.

Two men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene and four more people were later arrested on suspicion of murder.

They remain in police custody for questioning.