A MAN has been charged in connection with the murder of Winstanley College student Ellen Higginbottom.

Mark Steven Buckley, 51, of New Hall Lane, Preston, has been charged with murder.


He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Wigan Magistrates' Court tomorrow. (Wednesday, June 21).

Eighteen-year-old Ellen was found dead at around 2.30am on Saturday morning at Orrell Water Park, hours after family reported her missing and a social media appeal had been launched to find her.

A post-mortem examination found that Ellen, who was from Salford, had died from severe neck injuries.

A 47-year-old, from Billinge, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday.

Last night  a man and a woman, both aged 30, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and remain in police custody for questioning. 

It is understood the man was arrested in Cob Moor Road, Billinge.