The family of a young woman who was found dead in Bury over the weekend have paid a touching tribute to her.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers were called out to an address on Walnut Avenue, in the Greater Manchester town of Bury, at approximately 10:30pm last Friday night (6 September, and once arriving on the scene, discovered a woman with “multiple injuries”.
The woman, who has now been named as Barbara Nomakhosi, was believed to have died earlier that evening.
Specialist officers are continuing to support the 35-year-old’s family, as work continues into the circumstances of her death, GMP confirmed.
At this time, extensive enquiries into the situation are still ongoing, but what is known is that police did identify a suspect following Ms Nomakhosi’s death, but it is believed that he subsequently died in a fatal collision between a HGV and a pedestrian on the M65 Eastbound at approximately 9pm that same evening (6 September).
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The man, in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are appealing for information after a ‘caring and hardworking’ woman has died in Bury / Credit: GMP
No other suspects are being sought in connection with Barbara’s death at this time, GMP has revealed, and there is no wider risk to the public either.
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Officers are continuing to work through the full circumstances of both the incidents – with both GMP and Lancashire Police progressing the investigation.
As investigations are ongoing, and police appeal for information, a spokesperson for Ms Nomakhosi’s family have paid tribute to her, which reads: “Barbara was a caring and hardworking person. She was so thoughtful and always checking up on her family and friends. Barbara loved her family and enjoyed working as a carer. We loved Barbara so much and life will not be the same without her.”
#TRIBUTE | The family of a woman who was sadly found dead at a property on Walnut Avenue in Bury have paid tribute to her.
Barbara Nomakhosi, aged 35, has been described as ‘caring and hard-working’ in the tribute from her family.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Davis, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, called this a “complex investigation”.
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“I know just how much Barbara’s family will miss her and I hope that the memories of her can provide comfort as they begin to come to terms with this heartbreaking loss,” DCI Davis added.
“This is a complex investigation, which is very much ongoing, and we remain in contact with colleagues in Lancashire as they progress their own investigation into the circumstances of the fatal collision.”
Anyone with information they think would be helpful is urged to get in touch police via 101 or gmp.police.uk, quoting log 4106 of 06/09/24, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Similarly, if you have any footage or information about the fatal collision, you can contact Lancashire Police quoting log 1512 of 6 September, or email their Serious Collision Investigation Unit at [email protected].
Featured Image – GMP
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Body of woman found in River Mersey last year finally identified after ‘extensive’ investigation
Emily Sergeant
The body of woman who was found in the River Mersey last year has finally been identified.
Following what has been described as an ‘extensive investigation’ by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team to determine the identity of the body, which was sadly discovered in the river adjacent to Chorlton Water Park on 21 March 2024, the family of the victim has now been informed and supported by specialist officers.
The victim has been formally named as 38-year-old Laura Stanley, who was originally from Derbyshire but was living in Stockport.
After the body was discovered, and ‘exhaustive and determined’ investigation by GMP officers began to identify here, including detailed checks of both national and international databases.
The Major Incident Team (MIT) also closely worked in collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile, which eventually culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.
Following several media appeals, a relative of Laura contacted officers and then a DNA match was confirmed through a familial link.
“Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure,” Laura’s family said in a heartbreaking tribute to her.
“She was generous, thoughtful, caring and always keen to volunteer within the community. Laura was a proud and loving mum and she will be greatly missed by her girls and all of her friends and family who loved her dearly.”
The River Mersey, across from Chorlton Water Park, where Laura’s body was discovered / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
While Laura has now been identified, police say further investigations will take place to understand her last movements, the events that led to her death, and her discovery in the river.
Additionally, as is standard practice, GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate is also reviewing a previous missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body, which will determine prior contact relating to Laura, and whether the appropriate measures were enacted.
#UPDATE | A woman who was discovered in the River Mersey last year has been identified following an extensive investigation by officers in GMP’s Major Incident Team.
Thank you to those of you who have shared our appeals over the last year.
Anyone who knew Laura and thinks they may be able to assist with the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024.
Alternatively, you can contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
It is currently believed that Laura was last seen around January 2024.
Featured Image – GMP
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More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline
Emily Sergeant
More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.
This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.
In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.
But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.
While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.
A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.
Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.
But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.
“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”
Emily Sergeant -
9th September 2024 
