Scottish First Minister John Swinney spoke out about how independence could allow a ‘different policy approach’ on energy.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp meanwhile urged the Government to adopt inquiry rules which would examine the ethnicity of perpetrators.

Heroic residents dragged their elderly neighbour from her home after an 'explosion' caused it to go up in flames in Abbey Drive, Bury, on Saturday.

Several drivers in parts of Bury were breathalysed by police as part of an operation tackling early-morning speeding and driving on Sunday.