LANCASHIRE Police officers joined colleagues from Greater Manchester to mourn a courageous policewoman gunned down in the line of duty.
Thousands of officers and members of the public paid their respects at the funeral of PC Nicola Hughes, killed in a gun and grenade attack.
Officers from across the UK stood shoulder to shoulder, heads bowed, lining the streets of central Manchester as the funeral cortege for PC Hughes, 23, made its way to the city’s cathedral.
They were joined on Deansgate by hundreds of members of the public who heeded a call from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) for “decent people” to stand with the force and show support for PC Hughes and her colleague, PC Fiona Bone, 32.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “The chief constable attended the funeral to represent the force while two of our officers headed to Manchester to help out operationally.”
Both officers were lured to their deaths by what appeared to be a routine burglary call to a house in Hattersley, Tameside, on September 18.
Police motorcycle outriders provided a guard of honour ahead of the cortege, led by the funeral carriage pulled by six horses from GMP’s mounted unit and bearing the coffin, shrouded in black cloth.
The family of PC Hughes led mourners into the cathedral including her mother Susan, father Bryn and younger brother Sam, following the coffin, carried by colleagues of PC Hughes, with the fallen officer’s hat and a floral tribute atop.
Officers from forces nationwide volunteered to cover the shifts of GMP colleagues so they could join the 1,000 mourners inside the cathedral.