Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has reissued an appeal for witnesses following the disappearance of a woman one year after she went missing.
24-year-old Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin from Ashton-under-Lyne was last seen in County Durham in January 2022, but was reported missing by her grandmother on 2 February 2022 after she had not heard from her and became concerned for her safety.
A missing persons investigation then launched shortly after.
After various lines of enquiry were followed initially by police, the search for Alisha then developed into a murder investigation.
A 59-year-old man, from Willington in County Durham, but with connections to Ashton-under-Lyne was arrested on suspicion of her murder in March 2022 after detectives established at the time that, although Alisha was still missing, evidence suggested that she had “come to serious harm” – but he has since been released on bail.
ADVERTISEMENT
Although the man is still being investigated, police are still continuing the search for Alisha one year on from her disappearance, and are re-appealing for witnesses.
DCI Liam Boden, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “Alisha travelled as a passenger in a vehicle to the Bishop Auckland area on Friday 14 January 2022, and she was later seen travelling in the same vehicle on Saturday 22 January 2022, leaving Glossop towards Chapel-en-le-frith in Derbyshire.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Alisha has not been seen or heard from since.
“The vehicle she was a passenger in is described as a 2003 gold coloured Volkswagen Passat saloon.
“The car has been seized and examined extensively [but] a year has passed now and still Alisha has not been seen by family, friends and loved ones and as the investigation continues it is believed that she may have come to serious harm.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin / Credit: GMP
DCI Boden is calling on the public to “cast your minds” back to Saturday 22 January 2022.
“Did you see Alisha? Have you seen the vehicle in question? Do you know where that vehicle went? Did you witness any suspicious activity on nearby lanes or land?,” he said in the appeal for witnesses.
GMP is also appealing to rural communities in Derbyshire, mainly around Glossop, Buxton, and Chapel-en-le-frith, to come forward “if you have seen anything suspicious or vehicles trespassing on private land around these dates”.
DCI Boden continued: “We are looking for CCTV, dashcam footage, images or any accounts of suspicious behaviour around that date as this will bring us one step closer to finding Alisha and help us understand what has happened to her.”
The 24-year-old was last seen in County Durham in January 2022 / Credit: GMP
Anyone with any information on Alisha’s disappearance are urged to call GMPs Major Incident team on 0161 856 6777, contact police on 101, or submit information via GMP’s Major Incident Portal here.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Greater Manchester’s heritage railway issues statement as it’s forced to cancel services this week
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway has been forced to cancel its services this weekend due to the heatwave.
In case you hadn’t heard, Amber Extreme Heat warnings and heat-health alerts have been issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) through to Thursday this week – with temperatures widely exceeding 35°C nationwide, and in some areas – particularly on the south coast – potentially even reaching 38°C.
Heatwave conditions in the UK are met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with temperature values meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold for that location.
It does seem, however, that northern parts of the country – especially the North West – are missing most of the extremely hot conditions.
Current forecasts indicate that the peak temperatures for Greater Manchester this week will be tomorrow and Thursday, with highs of 33°C in the city centre.
Despite not reaching the heights of the south, East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has still had to act in advance and has taken the decision to cancel its scheduled services for the next two days as the forecast is ‘too severe’.
Taking to social media to share its decision today, ELR wrote: “Due to the current weather warning for the UK, the decision has been taken to cancel all services on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June 2026, including the afternoon tea and mid-week luncheon dining experiences.
“The welfare of both staff and customers is paramount to the ELR, and we believe that the risk in the extreme heat that has been forecast is too severe to allow for the running of our ordinary services.”
As things stand, ELR says its current plan is to have services resume with the evening dining train on Friday 26 June, but this will still be ‘subject to review’, and further updates on this will be issued later in the week.
Visitors who have already pre-booked services over the two cancelled days will be contacted via email to have their options explained to them.
“We apologise for any inconvenience,” ELR closed out its statement.
Featured Image – ELR
News
TfGM issues safety warning and advice for travelling on public transport during extreme heat wave – including ‘get off’
Daisy Jackson
Transport for Greater Manchester has urged passengers to ‘stay safe’ when travelling as the city braces for an extreme heatwave this week.
As well as issuing some safety advice, TfGM has also warning that delays and disruption are possible across the network as temperatures climb as high as 36ºC on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Customers are being advised to carry water with them when travelling, and to wear light clothing.
Also included in the travel advice is to ‘get off’ public transport at the next stop if you feel unwell, to seek fresh air.
It’s also advised to allow more time for your journey and to check the latest information and advice before setting off.
And most importantly, passengers are asked to look out for each other, especially those who are vulnerable.
The Bee Network may experience disruption later this week as the overhead lines that power the trams and trains are often adversely affected by high temperatures.
TfGM’s Customer and Growth Director, Fran Wilkinson, said: “Very high temperatures are forecast this week that can affect both people and the transport network.
“We will have staff out to help those who need it, and I would encourage customers to take a few simple steps to stay safe and comfortable while travelling, such as by carrying water, travelling at cooler times of the day and looking out for others.
“Due to the heat, there may be some disruption to Bee Network or local train services and I would encourage people to check for the latest information and advice before making their journey.”
TfGM advice for travelling in heatwave
Carry water and drink plenty of fluids
Avoid travelling during the hottest part of the day where possible
Wear light clothing and stay in the shade
If you feel unwell while travelling, get off at the next stop and seek fresh air
Plan your journey, check for the latest information and advice before setting off and allow extra time to make your journey
Look out for other passengers who may need help, especially those who are more vulnerable
Bee Network staff will be out across the network to help passengers, who can get the latest travel information and advice by checking the website or app.
Emily Sergeant -
7th February 2023 
