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Stars pick their cream of Manchester

Photographer Andrew Moseley is asking the region's celebrities to pose wherever they feel most at home in the city. And then he's giving them the opportunity to wax lyrical about the places they love for his book, which he's planning to publish next year.

So far he's snapped X-Factor star Rowetta Satchell at One Central bar and legendary DJ Graeme Park at the City Road pub - both close to their spiritual home the Hacienda club, knocked down in 1992.

Rowetta said: "I chose One Central Street because it's where everybody from the old days goes, and there's still some of the same feeling as there was at the Hacienda."

And Graeme Park, who chose the City Road Inn, opposite the old Hacienda site, said: "If you close your eyes on a damp, dark evening you can still feel the excitement as people queued to get into the Hacienda."

Andrew also caught up with veteran politician Gerald Kaufman, who was photographed at his home in Victoria Park. And former Manchester City manager Malcolm Alison has chosen the remains of the club's former stadium, at Maine Road, in Moss Side.

Andrew, 35, from Marple Bridge, said: "I first had the idea ten years ago during Manchester's Olympic bid, but did nothing about it. Now I've set aside this entire year to put it together."

Initially he wanted just 40 famous faces, but just six weeks into the project he's had dozens of offers. He said: "It's got to the point where people will be offended if they're left out."

Over the next few weeks Andrew plans to snap DJ Mike Pickering at the `B of the Bang', in Eastlands, and Bez at an undecided location.

Andrew said: "I'd love to get some of the younger Corrie stars like Tina O'Brien and Samia Gadhie. Most of those photographed are, erm, middle aged."

But next on the wish list is Peter Hook, bassist with New Order. He said: "I'd be photographed on a restored 19th century street in Pell Park Museum. It's very spooky and still looks sooty, which is part of the Salford I remember."

Manchester DJ Mike Toolan admitted his favourite place is the Dutch Pancake House, on Oxford Street, in the city centre. He said: "It's really atmospheric and I used to go there when I was a student to try to impress girls on the cheap."

And Clint Boon, DJ and founder of the band the Inspiral Carpets, said: "I'd choose the site of the old Electric Circus in Collyhurst. In the 1970s it was the best club in the world."

The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Coun Afzal Khan, has picked out one of the city's oases of calm - Heaton Park.

He said: "I love the fact it is so vast and there is so much to do there."