IT'S Christmas morning in 2024.
Once again this year, as the sun rose over the otherwise deserted city centre, too many people were curled up and asleep in doorways.
One of them is Max. He is slouched outside the doors of a shop on St Mary's Gate, with a bacon sandwich in his hand.
"Merry Christmas," he says to passers-by.
He has spent much of the last 16 years on the streets after being kicked out by his parents as a teenager. Christmas morning is just two days after his 38th birthday yet another day experienced without celebration.
"It's horrible, seeing all these people walking past you," he admits.
"You say 'Merry Christmas' to people, and they just assume you want money. All I want to do is ask people how they are, and for them to stop judging me. But because I am on the street, people think we are all the same." Max is sat outside a Spar. He has a hot drink in a cup in front of him and is eating his breakfast - a bacon sandwich given to him by a volunteer. He has a blanket over his legs to keep him warm and a hat on.
"I sit outside Greggs most days.
People look at me like I am a piece of s**t." Max, originally from Nottingham, said. "I spent my birthday on the street too. I turned 38 on the 23rd of December. It's no different." Surrounded by only a few tattered possessions, the homeless don't have anyone to spend the day with.
As millions of others clinked glasses and sat beside their nearest and dearest for a dinner together, for those living on the streets, it was another regular day.
Pictures taken from the city centre on Christmas morning depict a stark reality.
Men and women, of all ages, were opening their eyes to yet another December 25 on street corners and in sheltered shop doorways.
The only difference was that the city centre, just a day before packed out with the hustle and bustle of lastminute shoppers, was almost completely deserted.
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Small-time United show true colours with another backward step
RUBEN Amorim slumped his shoulders in the 57th minute. Three minutes later, his body language worsened. This week was as huge as the Arsenal and Liverpool weeks. This was another backward step for a club that is seemingly incapable of moving forwards. This small-time United side has shown its true colours.
Village restaurant set for move after staff struggles
ONE of Manchester's best restaurants is to close its eatery in Prestwich. The Scandinavian-influenced, Michelin-rated restaurant OSMA has been a feature of the village since it opened in 2020. Its owners have announced its final day of service will be Sunday, February 9 ahead of a move to an un-named Manchester city centre location.
TOONE HITS HAT-TRICK IN DERBY WIN FOR REDS
A HAT-TRICK by Ella Toone helped United stun City by a 4-2 score to leapfrog their rivals in the Women's Super League.
Date set for Ruud return in cup clash with Foxes
RUUD van Nistelrooy will return to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving the club next month, with the date for United's FA Cup fourth round clash against Leicester City confirmed.
BRU RUES 'LACK OF CONFIDENCE' IN UNITED SIDE
BRUNO Fernandes has admitted that United's players are currently experiencing a 'lack of confidence' after being beaten 3-1 by Brighton at Old Trafford yesterday.
May's stroke recovery
ACTRESS Anita Dobson has said her husband Sir Brian May is \"stable\" and they are \"taking each day as it comes\" following his stroke last year.
'We should be more than the place with the man with a paper mache head'
RESIDENTS HAVE THEIR SAY AMID PUSH FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SUBURB
What are social media platforms doing about it?
TIKTOK told us the sale of drugs on the platform violates their Community Guidelines. They added they have tens of thousands of safety professionals dedicated to keeping Tik Tok safe and continue to invest in strengthening their enforcement strategies.
Guardiola has faith his side are on the road to recovery
PEP Guardiola believes City are edging closer to their best after a fluent performance saw them dismantle Ipswich at Portman Road to climb back into the Premier League top four.
£86m misfit Ant sure Bet for loan to a Spanish club
UNITED are preparing for Antony to leave on loan before the winter transfer window closes. There is a growing belief that the winger will secure a loan for the remainder of the season before deadline day on February 3, with Real Betis interested in Antony.
