Funeral dates set for murdered Pcs

The funeral arrangements of two murdered policewomen have been released as their relatives joined hundreds of their colleagues and the public for a vigil and minute's silence.

Pcs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, had been called to a burglary on the Hattersley estate in Tameside, Greater Manchester, when they were attacked last Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of people gathered near Abbey Gardens, Hattersley, where the silence was observed at 10.58am to mark a week since the attack.

At the entrance to the road was a stage with two large pictures of the fallen constables, whose funerals will take place over two days at Manchester Cathedral.

The funeral of Pc Hughes will be on October 3 at 1pm, and the service for Pc Bone will take place at 10am the following morning.

Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy and Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan led Greater Manchester Police at today's vigil.

Rank and file police officers standing nearby, some carrying candles, bowed their heads in sombre thought as the silence was observed.

Members of the public crowded under umbrellas to shelter from the relentless rain.

Chief Superintendent Nick Adderley, the top officer in the Tameside Division for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said: "The numbers of people that are here today not only symbolises the popularity of what Nicola and Fiona stood for.

"But it is also a symbol of hope that actually, within the community, we want to rid these communities of individuals that cause fear, cause misery."