Body found in hunt for missing girl, 17, with man arrested for ‘murder’

Catherine, 17, was reported missing on Saturday (Picture: Greater Manchester Police)

A body has been found in the search for a missing teenager in Greater Manchester.

Catherine, 17, was last seen on Queens Road in Ashton-under-Lyne, a town six miles east of Manchester, at around 2.20am on Saturday.

Searches led to a property on Whalley Close – about one mile away from her last sighting – at around 9am yesterday.

Police said that a girl, 17, was found at the scene. She was given CPR but was declared dead that day.

Her cause of death remains unclear, as detectives are ‘keeping an open mind’.

The teen is believed to be Catherine, though she has not been formally identified. Her next of kin have been informed.

A murder investigation has been launched (Picture: Getty Images)

A man, 55, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Anna Barker said: ‘Firstly, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young person who has tragically lost their life, who we sadly believe was missing Catherine.

‘Although we have a man in custody, our investigation team is keeping an open mind and are following several lines of enquiry.’

Barker said that a cordon will remain in place around Whalley Close, a small road surrounded by flats and industrial sites.

He added: ‘We are trying to get all the answers we can for the family of this young person, who is at the forefront of the investigation team’s mind.’

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