He's had the city baffled, but a Manchester whodunnit might just have been solved

It's the name that has been scrawled across the city for months. 'Howard' has left Mancunians baffled throughout 2024.

The moniker has been painted on buildings, bridges and shutters. But the identity of the graffiti artist behind the name scrawled on countless walls across Manchester has so far been shrouded in mystery.

It has been a saga that even led to one of the country's most famous Howards - Take That's Howard Donald - issuing a public denial that he was the man behind the tag. But now, the notorious 'Howard' could be a step closer to being unmasked.

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A 32-year-old man, suspected of daubing 'Howard' on a property in Manchester city centre, has been arrested. Greater Manchester Police says the suspect was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage last Friday (November 8).

He was arrested on New Wakefield Street, near to Oxford Road railway station, and has since been bailed pending further enquiries. 'Howard' had attracted criticism from some in the city.

The graffiti has been a common sight across parts of the city centre and north Manchester throughout the year. "It's nearly on every building and every wall," Coun Pat Karney told the Manchester Evening News back in April.

"People will put up with a bit of graffiti but this is just disgustingly over the top... it's really disgraceful. If anyone has got any information please let me know - I'm on his case."

In a post on X earlier today (Friday), Coun Karney wrote simply: "HOWARD has been caught." The M.E.N. understands the arrest was made after the suspect was seen spraying paint onto a building, before he later moved to New Wakefield Street.