Ellen Higginbottom death: Man charged with 18-year-old student's murder

A post-mortem examination revealed she died from multiple wounds to the neck

Ellen Higginbottom's family raised the alarm after she failed to return from college (Ellen Higginbottom/Facebook)

A man has been charged with murder after an 18-year-old studentwho was found with neck injuries in a park in Wigan.

Mark Steven Buckley, 51, was arrested at an address in Preston, Lancashire, on Sunday evening and has been charged today, Greater Manchester Police said.

The body of Ellen Higginbottom was discovered in Orrell Water Park in Wigan around 2.30am on Saturday.

Her family raised the alarm on Friday evening after she failed to return from college.

Earlier, police described the attack she had suffered as "brutal" and added that it was of a type "rarely seen in Greater Manchester".

A post-mortem examination revealed Miss Higginbottom died from multiple wounds to the neck.

Detective Superintendent Howard Millington, from Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team, said: "It is unimaginable what Ellen's family and friends must be going through right now, and my thoughts continue to be with them throughout all of this.

"Last night we made a second arrest after our investigation identified an address in Preston.

"Today we will search the address whilst the man is in custody for questioning.

"I wish to again thank the public for their help in this investigation. Their support and the information we have been given has been vital in this investigation.

"Whilst we have now made two arrests, our investigation continues as we piece together the puzzle to find out what exactly happened to Ellen on Friday and give her family the answers they deserve."

Additional reporting by Press Association