Stabbings, burned-out buildings and neatly trimmed lawns: The Greater Manchester estate of two halves

Years ago, Baguley Crescent was a ‘beautiful place to live’. Longstanding residents remember a ‘well-manicured’ estate, with ‘lovely trees’ and people who cared about their small community.But they say the last decade or so has seen the estate, between Prestwich and Middleton, transformed – and not for the better. Violence, arson, squatters and fly-tipping are the new normal for the residents who remain on the edge of the M60.Today, locals describe the community as a street of two halves. At one end, flowers sit in pots on neat lawns, behind trimmed hedges.Click here for the latest on Greater Manchester's politics in our newsletter‌But, around halfway up, a burnt out caravan sits in front of what remains of derelict garages. Walk on a few paces and collapsed fencing fails to fully secure a