Littleborough Urban District, a local government district in the Rochdale Poor Law Union and administrative county of Lancashire. Under the Local Government Act 1972, the Littleborough Urban District was abolished, and Littleborough and its outlying settlements have, since 1 April 1974, formed an unparished area of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, within the Metropolitan county of Greater Manchester. In anticipation of the new local government arrangement, Littleborough Urban District Council applied for civil parish status to be granted to the locality after 1974, however the application was not successful. The Littleborough Neighbourhood Forum is now forming as a result of the Localism Act 2011. Geography At (53.644°, −2.098°), and north-northwest of central London, Littleborough stands roughly above sea level, on the western slopes of the Pennines, north-northeast of Manchester city centre, in the valley of the River Roch. Blackstone Edge and West Yorkshire are to the east; Rochdale and Milnrow are to the southwest and south respectively. In Littleborough are the localities and suburbs of Calderbrook, Chelburn, Durn, Featherstall, Gale, Hollinworth, Laneside, Rake, Shore, Sladen, Smithy Bridge, Stansfield, Summit and Whitelees. Transport Littleborough is served by the town's two railway stations, Littleborough itself and at Smithy Bridge. The town is situated on the A58 between Rochdale and Halifax and is the starting point of the A6033 which runs northwards up to Todmorden. The town is also well provided with buses which connect all districts in the Rochdale area and into the Pennine towns as far as Halifax. Notable people Agyness Deyn was born in Littleborough. Andy and Liz Kershaw, broadcasters, were both born in Littleborough. Keith Parry (died 2005) was a local author with several published works such as Trans-Pennine Heritage and a broadcaster with Greater Manchester Radio. Matt Calland - former International Rugby League player and current Rochdale Hornets head coach, who played in two Challenge Cup and one county championship final, also coached Halifax RLFC to the 2012 Northern Rail Cup final victory over Featherstone Rovers, currently lives in Littleborough. See also Listed buildings in Littleborough, Greater Manchester References Notes Bibliography Towns in Greater Manchester Unparished areas in Greater Manchester Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale