Middleton woman dies and man injured in sea

A 21-year-old woman from Middleton, Claire Burns, has died and a man is in hospital after a couple were rescued off the Blackpool coast.

The pair were pulled from the water at Blackpool Promenade in the early hours of the morning.

It is not known how or why the couple were in the water and a police investigation is under way.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being questioned by police.

It is believed that the couple had been out in Blackpool in several bars and pubs in the Queen Street area where they had been seen to argue.

The last known sighting was near to the Metropole Hotel where they were again seen arguing before walking towards middle walk in the direction of the sea wall.

A lifeboat and police helicopter were scrambled shortly before 03:00am after a passerby raised the alarm.

A man was rescued from the water opposite the Cenotaph but had suffered a serious head injury which police believe may have occurred as he was crashed against the sea wall by waves.

As officers were dealing with the rescue they were informed a woman was also in the water.

It is not clear how the pair have entered the water and we are appealing for anyone who may have seen the couple on middle walk or in the area at around 2:30am to come forward

The body of the woman was pulled aboard the boat a short time later.

She was given emergency treatment by paramedics and taken Blackpool Victoria Hospital where she died at about 6:00am. The man was treated at the same hospital.

Det Ch Insp Mark Gray said: "It is not clear how the pair have entered the water and we are appealing for anyone who may have seen the couple on middle walk or in the area at around 2:30am to come forward."