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In September 1987 I made my debut for the Manchester Evening News when 'home' was on Deansgate . A fleet of yellow and black vans, often driven with gusto, carried the news. You could hear the street corner chant of the vendors: "Eve nin nooooza".

The paper was a clean, classic, elegant looking broadsheet - nothing online then - but, incredibly, five editions a day were printed.

I had an early deadline test after being sent across the river to Salford . The city news editor called to say there had been an explosion at a factory in Lower Broughton.

The blast happened at about 3.30pm. I was at the scene for 3.50pm. I found a friendly and helpful Fire Station Sub Officer who gave me enough guidance to write the front page for the next edition. Crucially I found a phone b

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