On a residential street two miles north of Bolton, Christmas music plays softly from behind an off-licence door. A woman sweeps her patio, two dog walkers chat among themselves.
Across the road, a shop owner stands by his window. Speaking on his phone, he glances up and smiles at the occasional passer-by.
Many businesses either side of him are hidden behind metal shutters. Some are adorned in decorations, glistening as they catch the December light.
From afar, the street is a warming festive scene. But for some families in Halliwell, the run up to the holiday season is a time filled with dread and anxiety. READ MORE: Boris Johnson 'considering three options including full lockdown' to curb spread of Omicron The small residential part of
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk