That's all from the live team for now, but we'll be back from 08:00 on Monday with more of the latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the region.

In the meantime, this page will be updated automatically with content from across the BBC.

Have a great weekend.

BBC Weather

Dry for most of the time this afternoon, with some sunshine developing at times. Cloud will thicken later on though, bringing a chance of rain by dusk. Brisk winds and highs of 11C.

Cooler tonight with some clear spells.

More from BBC Weather

A girl with cancer's dreams came true when she received thousands of birthday cards from strangers around the world.

Image source, lee taggart

Tia Taggart, from Padiham, Lancashire received more than 3,000 greetings when she turned 10 following an appeal on Facebook.

Her family put out the appeal on social media after seeing how much Tia loved receiving "Get Well Soon" cards while she was in hospital.

"Thank you for making my birthday so special," said Tia.

Nine people have been charged after police raids to stop the alleged supply of drugs from Liverpool to Torquay.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Five Liverpool men, three Torquay men and a man of no fixed address were charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Large quantities of cash, drugs, vehicles worth about £40,000, including motorbikes, and a stun-gun were seized on Thursday.

All the accused, aged 20 to 57, are due to appear before Plymouth magistrates.

A doctor was held up at knifepoint and had her car stolen at a hospital in Greater Manchester.

Image source, David Dixon/Geograph

The female medic was approached by four men as she walked to her car at Royal Oldham Hospital, on Friday 15 March, said a police spokesman.

The robbers threatened her with a knife before making off in the Audi Q2.

Hospital bosses said it was the latest in series of crimes at the site and extra guards were being brought in to escort staff to their vehicles.

Greater Manchester Police have also stepped up patrols in the area.

A family-run drug gang who forced a vulnerable 15-year-old boy to sell drugs for them has been jailed.

Brothers Ratib Ali, 20 and Asad Ali, 19, and Janaid Rehman 18, from Rochdale, were caught as part of a special operation by Greater Manchester Police into drugs supply and modern slavery.

Image source, GMP

The force said the trio made and received hundreds of calls every day to and from people buying drugs and a "large quantity of cash" was found during a search of a home on Royds Street West in April last year.

Inquiries later revealed the teenage boy - who owed the men money - was being threatened by them into selling class A drugs.

He is now being supported by specialist officers.

• At Minshull Street Crown Court earlier, Ratib Ali was sentenced to four years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.
• Asad Ali was sentenced to four years and nine months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.
• Janaid Rehman was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine

Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested amid reports a pupil was cut with a meat cleaver during a brawl.

Image source, Twitter

The victim, who was also 15, suffered cuts to his leg during a fight in Burnley Lane, Chadderton, Oldham.

A video of the alleged attack on Thursday was shared on social media. It apparently shows pupils fighting.

Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of affray, attempted assault and possession of a bladed article, police said.

Travel firm Thomas Cook is closing 21 stores across the country, including two in the North West, and cutting more than 300 jobs.

Image source, Getty Images

Stores in Accrington and Bury Haymarket are earmarked for closure.

The company said 102 "customer-facing" roles would be axed, alongside a further 218 jobs "following a review of the retail workforce".

It said holidaymakers were continuing to switch bookings from stores to online.

In September, Thomas Cook said profits would be hit after the summer heatwave saw many people take their holidays in the UK.

A 13-year-old girl died from MDMA toxicity after falling ill at home, a post-mortem examination has confirmed.

Eboney Cheshire, from Rainhill in St Helens, died in hospital on 3 December.

Image source, Family handout

Her death was previously being treated as "unexplained" after an earlier post-mortem examination proved inconclusive and further tests were needed.

Paying tribute to her "beautiful princess" shortly after her death, Eboney's mother Kerry Williams said she was "heartbroken".

She said her daughter had been "so funny, full of character and so popular".

Merseyside Police confirmed investigations are continuing into Eboney's death.

BBC Sport

Former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew retired soon after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in November, ending an eventful 11-year career as a professional.

Image source, Getty Images

In his latest BBC Sport column the Liverpool boxer points to new challenges and gives a definitive view of the heavyweight hierarchy.

Eboney Cheshire, 13, who died in "unexplained" circumstances at her home in Rainhill in December, died from MDMA toxicity, a post-mortem examination has found.

More to follow

Plans have been unveiled to spend £137.3m on cycling and walking projects in Greater Manchester.

Image source, TfGM

A scheme to turn Levenshulme into a "mini-Holland" and a bridge linking bus and rail stations in Stockport are among 18 projects to be considered by transport bosses.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority will fund £76.5m of the cost.

The projects will form part of the region's Bee Network, aimed at encouraging people to walk and cycle.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A £300,000 government study is to examine if better road links can be forged between East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire,

Next month, Highways England is to analyse transport connections between the end of the M65 at Colne and place in Yorkshire including Skipton, Keighley and Bradford, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has announced.

Mr Grayling said:

The government said the corridor is home to many manufacturing industries which could benefit from improved roads, and the investment could boost economic growth.

Highways England chief executive Jim O’ Sullivan said the study will also look at the M62, adding:

An elephant calf at Chester Zoo has tested positive for a life-threatening virus.

Image source, Chester Zoo

Two-year-old Indali Hi Way is being treated for endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV).

Two calves died at the zoo last year after falling ill with EEHV, which is often fatal.

Almost all Asian elephants carry the virus but it only develops into an illness for some and there is no vaccination against it.

Manchester City Women and England forward Georgia Stanway signs a new contract until the end of the 2022 season.

Dozens of fire extinguishers have been dumped on a Pennine hill near the M62.

Image source, @WYP_PCWILLIS

They were left next to a transmitter on Windy Hill, above junction 22 of the motorway near the border of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire motorway patrol officer PC Martin Willis tweeted a photo of the fly-tipping.

One commenter said they could be easily traced via information on the inspection labels.

Rochdale Council has been approached for comment.

BBC Sport

Coach Danny Byrne believes Manchester Giants could still finish in the top four of the British Basketball League.

Image source, Getty Images

The Giants, who reached the Cup and Trophy semi-finals this season, will improve their chances if they beat bottom club Worcester on Friday night.

"Tenth up to fourth is still anyone's at the minute," Byrne told BBC Sport. "London Royals in fourth have a tough run-in too - they could slip up a bit."

The game will be shown live on the BBC Sport website, app and connected TV.

Forty firefighters are at the scene of a large blaze at a timber yard in Wigan.

Image source, GMFRS

Crews were called to Park Lane Industrial Estate in Bryn, where an outdoor pile of timber was alight, just before 01:30.

The fire is causing smoke to spread and residents have been urged to keep doors and windows closed.

Incident commander Lee Coleman said he was confident the fire would be put out soon.

He added:

There are no reports of any injuries.

John Lennon's own copy of a Beatles record that caused controversy due to its graphic cover is expected to fetch £136,000 at auction.

Image source, Julien's Auctions

The so-called "butcher" cover of Yesterday And Today showed the Fab Four covered in raw meat and decapitated baby dolls and was withdrawn in 1966.

Beatles expert Gary Hein said the album bearing three Beatles signatures was unique in "both rarity and value."

It will be sold in an auction at The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool.

BBC News Travel

The M6 northbound is closed between junctions 25 and 26 due to a crash involving a lorry which is causing major congestion in the area.

There are severe delays from J25 for Bryn to J26 for the M58 at the Orrell Interchange and there is congestion is back to J23 Newton-le-Willows.

Traffic is being diverted through Wigan, Ashton-in-Makerfield and Platt Bridge and traffic is very heavy, particularly on the A58 and A573.