The family of a beloved lollipop lady in Bury have paid a heartfelt tribute to her after she was hit by a van.
Irene Allen, 87, tragically died as a result of her injuries sustained in a serious road traffic collision on Walmersley Road on Tuesday 6 December.
She had notably been Bury’s first lollipop lady and had campaigned for more safe crossings on the very stretch of road that she was injured on.
Her family have said that the circumstances that led to her death are a ‘tragic irony’.
Irene’s daughter Melanie said in a tribute issued through GMP: “Irene was a much loved ex-medical receptionist at Ribblesdale House and AgeUK Jubilee Centre committee member.
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“Irene lost the fight for her life on Sunday 11th December, she had been involved in a road traffic collision on Walmersley Road Bury on Tuesday morning, and despite the best efforts of Salford Royal Rescue and ICU teams, Irene never fully regained consciousness.
#TRIBUTE | The daughter Irene Allen, aged 87, who sadly passed away as a result of her injuries after a serious road traffic collision in Bury, pays tribute
📞 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 1115 of 06/12/22 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“The police are continuing to investigate the circumstances but a post mortem concluded that she died of multiple injuries caused by the collision.
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“Irene, a keen walker and Rawtenstall Cricket fan, leaves behind a daughter and three grandchildren and a whole community who miss her sunny personality.
“Always putting others before herself, in the mid 1960’s Irene complained to Bury Council about the lack of safe crossings for school children across the busy Walmersley Road, and became the newsworthy first lollipop lady in Bury.
Officers are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have footage, including dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV/doorbell footage from the area in the moments leading up to and before the collision took place.
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 1115 of 06/12/22.
Alternatively, details can be passed via the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Featured image: GMP
Bury
Urgent search for missing 80-year-old ‘keen walker’ from Bury
Daisy Jackson
A keen walker and birdwatcher from Bury has gone missing while out walking in a local beauty spot, with an urgent search now taking place.
Brian Fletcher, 80, travelled from his home to the Tockholes area of Lancashire on Saturday afternoon.
Brian regularly walks in the area, police have said, including the Higher Roddlesworth and Lower Roddlesworth Reservoirs.
He hasn’t been seen since the weekend and officers are now urgently appealing for anyone who was in the area to come forward with dashcam footage.
If you were on the A675 Belmont Road – from Abbey Village to Tockholes – between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Saturday, and have footage or information, you should contact the police immediately.
Brian was driving a grey Citroen C4 Cactus car, registration WP64HSC, which was found parked in a layby on the A675, near to Tockholes Road.
He’s described as 5ft 8, slim, with grey hair and a small scar on his face from a recent procedure.
When Brian was last seen he was wearing a dark blue jumper, blue cargo trousers, a tan baseball cap and walking boots.
Bolton Mountain Rescue confirmed that search helicopters and dogs are being used in the search.
Lancashire Police said: “We are concerned for Brian’s welfare and if you think you have seen him over the weekend in the Tockholes and surrounding areas, please get in touch.
“Any sightings, please call 999 immediately. If you have dashcam footage of his car or any information which could assist us in finding Brian, contact 101 – quoting log 1544 of 22nd March 2025.
“Our officers are being assisted by Mountain Rescue teams in the search.”
Man arrested after ‘letting gas off’ on Metrolink trams in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Police have arrested a man following reports of a person ‘letting gas off’ on Metrolink trams.
Passengers had reported a man ‘wearing a gas mask’ boarding services between Bury and Victoria, who was releasing gas.
Several witnesses reported ‘feeling discomfort or dizziness’ following the ‘concerning incidents’, but thankfully no serious injuries have been reported.
A man in his 30s has now been arrested on suspicion of possessing a noxious substance with intent to injure, and remains in police custody.
There’s not believed to be any wider threat to the public.
Trams on the Bury line were also suspended this morning due to a ‘police incident’ at Crumpsall.
Anyone who believes they may have witnessed something suspicious is urged to get in touch with police as this work continues.
Trams were halted due to a police incident at Crumpsall this morning – a man has now been arrested for releasing gas. Credit: Geograph, David Dixon
Detective Chief Inspector Paddy Connell, from GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “We fully appreciate that incidents of this nature can cause concern in our communities, but I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there is any wider threat present.
“We have now secured the arrest of a man and are working hard to establish the full circumstances of the events that have been reported over recent days.
“As officers continue to work their way through all the evidence available, we are asking anyone who has any information to please come forward. This includes anyone who believes they have witnessed something suspicious, or similar to the incidents that we are dealing with.
“Our transport hubs are operating as usual, and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to speak to a police officer, who will be more than happy to discuss any queries you may have.”
You can contact police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Daisy Jackson -
19th December 2022 
