Updated 4.55pm

POLICE IN MANCHESTER have launched a murder investigation after the body of a woman was found in the boot of a car.

Police in the city received a call on Thursday afternoon at around 7.35pm reporting that a woman’s body was in the boot of a car in the Heywood area.

The following day shortly before 4pm police found a car fitting the description they had been given on Claybank Street in the city. The car was pursued by police through the streets of Manchester before being abandoned on River Street in the city.

Two men – a 48 year old and a 70 year old – were subsequently detained nearby and the woman’s body was found.

The men were arrested on suspicion of murder. They remain in custody and are facing questioning.

Formal identification of the woman is yet to take place, police said this afternoon.

“Understandably an incident like this has caused a lot of concern in the community and interest in the media, but I would like to assure everybody that a thorough investigation has been launched, led by officers from the GMP Serious Crime Division,” commented detective superintendent Tony Creely of the GMP serious crime division today.

“We have made two arrests but this is still very much an active investigation and I would like to urge anybody with any information to please come forward.”

- With additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy.

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