Inquiry into 10-year-old's murder

Lauren had been out playing with friends near her home

Police investigating the murder of a 10-year-old girl are appealing for anyone who may have seen her in the hours before her death to come forward.

The body of Lauren Pilkington-Smith was found by her grandfather in woodland near her home in Twist Lane, Leigh, Greater Manchester, early on Friday.

Her family became concerned on Thursday evening when she did not return home.

Detectives are carrying out a forensic search of the scene and say a post-mortem will be carried out later.

Lauren's body was found in a wooded area by Sanderson Street, which is close to her home and near the banks of the Bridgewater Canal.

We will be speaking to her friends and other people she knew Det Supt Andy Tattersall

Det Supt Andy Tattersall, who is leading the investigation, said: "We have now received a number of confirmed sightings of Lauren on Thursday evening.

"These are currently being followed up and as part of this we will be speaking to her friends and other people she knew.

"A very detailed investigative plan is now being developed, which will encompass all reported incidents in and around the Leigh area that may have relevance to Lauren's murder.

"We are in the process of tracing a number of people from the Leigh area. As part of this process there may be arrests and interviews in order to eliminate individuals from our investigation."

'Football-mad'

Detectives have been viewing CCTV footage of the area and say a detailed examination is underway.

Lauren's mother, Alison Pilkington-Smith, and father, Glen Smith, paid tribute to their "beautiful, lovely little girl" on Friday.

Our world has collapsed in the last 24 hours and we can't even begin to think what we will do without her," they said.

"Lauren was a tomboy who loved playing with her friends.

"Everyone around here loved her. She was football-mad and a huge Manchester United fan. She loved playing golf and riding her BMX."