Wigan murder probe mum's funeral - heartbreaking pictures of her final journey

Under leaden skies, a horse-drawn hearse carried mum-of-one Melissa Belshaw to Gidlow Cemetery for a graveside funeral attended by fewer than 10 mourners due to Covid-19 restrictions.

But onlookers lined the streets in numbers as the cortege began its procession from her mother Jean Mulvaney’s home in Pemberton.

The 32-year-old died on Wednesday May 20 after a violent stabbing incident at her own house in Up Holland Road, Billinge.

A Home Office pathologist later confirmed that Melissa had succumbed to what police had described as “catastrophic” injuries.

Officers had hailed the heroism of two passers-by who dashed into the house after hearing screams and intervened, one of whom was seriously injured.

Tributes have been paid to beautician Melissa, who lived with her 13-year-old daughter and was about to open a new beauty salon on Hallgate in Wigan town centre called The Lash Room.

Only days before her death she had been on social media expressing how excited she had been about the new business venture.

Andrea Bennett wrote on Wigan Today’s social media page that she had taught Melissa hairdressing and described her as “an outgoing young lady with a big personality”.

Andrew Wadsworth, 36, of Cranfield Road, Hawkley Hall, is accused of killing Melissa. The former cage fighter is further charged with the attempted murder of a man at the home, assaulting two police officers, issuing threats to kill and possession of a bladed weapon.

Currently remanded in custody, he is expected to enter his pleas at a Manchester Crown Court hearing on September 14, with a provisional trial date set for November 16.

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.