Tributes pour in for shot Pc Fiona Bone who spent childhood in Leicestershire

One of the two Greater Manchester police officers killed in the line of duty grew up in Leicestershire, it was confirmed yesterday.

Pc Fiona Bone, 32, spent her childhood in Castle Donington, north west Leicestershire, before moving to the Isle of Man as a teenager. Tributes continued to pour in yesterday for Pc Bone – who was planning to marry – and her colleague, Pc Nicola Hughes, 23.

The unarmed officers were killed in a suspected gun and grenade attack when they went to investigate a burglary in Tameside on Tuesday.

Senior officers believe they were lured into a trap.

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Yesterday, Reverend Andrew Micklethwaite, of St Edward the King and Martyr Church in Castle Donington, said the deaths had shocked members of the congregation.

"Everyone in the church is shocked and our thoughts are with both officers' families," he said.

"I presume she would have attended Christmas and Easter services at the church, as local students tended to do.

"There will no doubt be shock in the village at this news."

Police officers across the country came to a standstill yesterday to observe a minute's silence in memory of the pair.

The tribute was formally observed at Leicestershire police headquarters in Enderby at 11am, and officers across the city and county are reported to have taken part, too.

Leicestershire Chief Constable Simon Cole said: "Of course, we spare a thought for the family and friends of Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes following such a tragic incident."

Ivan Stafford, chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation, said the officers' deaths were "a very dark day for policing in Britain and a stark reminder of the dangers officers face on a daily basis".

Mr Stafford, who writes about the tragedy in today's Mercury First Person column, said: "Just like other officers, day in, day out, they responded not really knowing what they would have to deal with.

"Tragically, this incident turned out to be anything but routine."

Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said Pc Bone, who had been a police officer for five years, was a "calm, gentle woman".

Paying tribute, he said: "Fellow officers said they loved being partnered with her because she could defuse situations with her calm, gentle way."

The headteacher of the Isle of Man school where Pc Bone studied for her A-levels paid tribute to his former student.

Andrew Cole, head of Castle Rushen High School, said: "Fiona's outgoing nature, friendliness and undaunted sense of humour saw her quickly make new friends here.

"Her form tutor at the time noted that she had a great sense of responsibility and was totally reliable."

Dale Cregan, 29, was arrested after he walked into a police station in Tameside a short time after the attack.

He has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of two police officers and in connection with two other murders in the region.

Related article: Family's tribute to Pc Fiona Bone