Self-driving electric cars will this year be tested on Greater Manchester's roads in a trial which will see passengers ferried across Manchester Airport in futuristic pods. The robot cars which use technology and sensors to run without a driver, are to be tested on both the airport site and along roads including the new Airport Relief Road. Dubbed'Project Synergy', the trial has two parts. The vehicles to take part in the £5m pilot - funded through a Government innovation grant - are currently being manufactured by Westfield Technology Group, which has now opened an office in Manchester. Run with partners including Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the airport, the trial will run in December and January.

A drone was flown just 30 metres from a Boeing 757 jet near Manchester airport, according to an official near-miss report. The pilot of the airliner "expressed his surprise" after spotting the object shortly after take-off, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) said. He was turning right at an altitude of 450 metres (1,500ft) – a "critical phase of flight" – when the incident occurred. The report stated that the drone was "extremely close to the aircraft", passing just 15 metres above and 30 metres to the left. Experts "quickly agreed that there had been a definite risk of collision" and the incident was put in the most serious risk category.