It was one of Greater Manchester’s most notorious estates. Once described as an “island of deprivation in a sea of affluence”, The Racecourse estate in Sale was considered a no-go zone.
Built amid high optimism in the 1960s, it was supposed to be the finest among the council's estate programme. But the area soon became neglected, run-down and overtaken by crime. Life on the estate became so dire, even night buses were cancelled due to anti-social behaviour.
In March 1997, the estate's reputation hit an all-time low when shop owner Ian Marshall was murdered inside his own off-licence on West Parade. The 48-year-old was shot in the head while trying to protect his father-in-law from two robbers.
