Police sorry about forgotten body

Mr Hughes died of natural causes

Greater Manchester Police force has issued an apology after two of its officers forgot to report that a body had been found in the street.

Anthony Hughes, 58, of Brogan Street, Gorton, died of natural causes and lay near Gorton market for about four hours before emergency services arrived.

The officers had been on their way to a firearms incident in October 2006.

The two officers have been issued with formal warnings as a result of a police internal investigation.

A police spokesman said: "GMP would like to apologise to the deceased's family for any distress this may have caused."

Natural causes

At the inquest into Mr Hughes's death, Manchester coroner Nigel Meadows told the officers: "At the time you heard about the body it was unknown to you if that person was dead or alive, or impossible for you to know if you could have administered first aid."

Recording a verdict of death from natural causes, Mr Meadows said: "The officers involved could not have been more apologetic and regretful."

The two officers, who work in the Greater Manchester Police armed response team, were on duty and on their way to an incident when they stopped their car to check a map at about 0230 GMT.

They were approached by a member of the public who told them about the body at Gorton Market.

The two officers said they would deal with the matter after they had attended the other incident.

But it was not until another couple found Mr Hughes' body about four hours later that the authorities were finally alerted.