Lindsay Birbeck murder: Boy arrested after teaching assistant found strangled in Accrington Cemetery

Teenager interviewed by detectives after 47-year-old’s body found last week

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teaching assistant whose body was found in a cemetery in Lancashire.

The teenager is to be questioned by detectives over the killing of Lindsay Birbeck, 47, who was found strangled in Accrington on Saturday.

He was arrested on Tuesday evening after Lancashire Police released CCTV footage of a suspect pulling a wheelie bin.

Detective superintendent Andy Cribbin, of the force’s major investigation team, said: “The response to our earlier appeal has been absolutely overwhelming and I would like to thank everyone who has come forward with information.

“While we have made an arrest our inquiries are very much continuing and I would continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

“However, I would urge people not to speculate and to be mindful of the comments they make, especially on social media, as this causes distress to the family and could impact on our investigation.”

Birbeck was last seen shortly after 4pm on 12 August in the village of Huncoat, near Accrington, where she lived.

Police launched a murder inquiry after her body was found by a member of the public in Accrington Cemetery on Saturday.

A post-mortem examination concluded she died as a result of compression of the neck.

Linday Birbeck was found strangled in Accrington Cemetery (PA)

Police have been conducting door-to-door enquiries in a bid to piece together the teaching assistant’s movements before her death.

On Tuesday, detectives released CCTV images of a suspect walking along a road in Accrington with a blue wheelie bin at about 2.30pm on 17 August.

A similar bin was found near the scene where Birbeck was discovered, police said.

The arrested teenager, who is from Accrington, was being held in custody on Tuesday night.