Police have praised the ‘overwhelming’ community support in the search for the ashes of the husband of tragic Nellie Geraghty.

More than 160 people gathered in Shaw to comb the streets, alleyways and hedgerows for Frank Geraghty’s remains.

Widow Nellie, 79, died after trying to stop muggers taking her handbag which contained the remains of her late husband, Frank.

The tragedy sent shock waves through the local community and sparked a Facebook campaign to help police find Frank’s ashes – which Nellie had carried with her for 17 years.

On Wednesday, more than 160 volunteers gathered at the scene for a fingertip search of the crime scene.

People of all ages came from across the area to search for Nellie’s personal items which might have been thrown away by her attackers.

Children too young to legally search with their parents came to help by delivering leaflets appealing for information.

Officers from GMP’s tactical aid unit have already been conducting a painstaking search of the area and continued when volunteers filed home. It is not believed any of the items have so far been recovered.

Retired caretaker James Kershaw, 75, who lives on nearby Shaw Road, joined the search. The granddad-of-four said: "I wanted to come and help because I’ve lived here since 1946 and know the area really well.

"I haven’t heard of anything this serious before. It’s appalling."

Kathryn Fletcher-Brown, whose partner David Dagnall knows Nellie’s family, added: "I saw on the news (an hour before the search) that it was happening. I got down here as fast as I could to help."

Det Chief Insp Joanne Rawlinson, speaking at the scene, said: "The public support has been overwhelming, and they are clearly appalled by the attack.

"Someone in this community knows what has happened, and I urge them to do the right thing and come forward."

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