Police in 110-mile trek in memory of murdered PCs

READY to go . . . the officers at Uppermill Civic Hall today as they began their trek. From left, Sgt Stuart Charlesworth, PC Will Fairchild, PC Chris Hayden, PC Karl Darlington, PCSO Annabell Biddle and PC Danny Parsley

POLICE officers are taking a 110-mile trek in honour of murdered PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone.

Nicola (23), from Diggle, and Fiona were killed by Dale Cregan when they were lured to a fake burglary in Mottram in September.

The hardy group of 10 officers from Oldham and Tameside set off from Uppermill Civic Hall earlier today.

They will walk throughout the night for more than 50 hours before finishing back at the starting point in Uppermill on Sunday morning.

Their journey will take them through Marple and Hazel Grove in Stockport, Manchester Airport, Altrincham, Hale, Culcheth, Wigan town centre, Horwich, Ramsbottom and Denshaw.

Sgt Stuart Charlesworth, of the Tameside West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Our walk was originally planned for September, but following the shootings we postponed it.

“We are now being joined by some of Nicola and Fiona’s former colleagues, who also want to be able to raise money in their name while doing something worthwhile.”

Sponsorship money raised from this weekend’s walk will go to COPS (Care of Police Survivors). Anyone wanting to donate can visit the website www.justgiving.com/cop walk.