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PC Nicola Hughes's funeral: Thousands line Manchester streets PC Nicola Hughes's funeral: Thousands line Manchester streets
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of people have lined the streets of Manchester city centre for the funeral of PC Nicola Hughes. The funeral of PC Nicola Hughes, who was killed alongside a colleague, has begun at Manchester cathedral.
The 23-year-old Greater Manchester Police officer died alongside her colleague PC Fiona Bone last month. The 23-year-old Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer and PC Fiona Bone were shot last month as they investigated a reported burglary.
The funeral cortege began making its way along Deansgate at about 12:30 BST, led by six mounted police officers. People threw flowers as it passed by. Thousands of people lined Deansgate in the city centre to watch the cortege pass by, led by six mounted officers.
As the procession reached Manchester Cathedral, police officers formed a guard of honour outside. Police formed a guard of honour outside the cathedral, ahead of the service which began at at 13:00 BST.
Police had urged members of the public to join them standing along the route. Police had urged members of the public, a number of whom threw flowers as the cortege passed, to join them standing along the route.
Greater Manchester Police officers acted as pallbearers for the coffin, which was shrouded with black cloth with PC Hughes' police hat on top.
It was led in to Pie Jesu sung by the cathedral choir.
The family of PC Hughes then entered the cathedral including her mother Susan, father Bryn, and younger brother Sam.
Opening the service, The Reverend Keith Stuart, Tameside Chaplain for GMP, said: "What we cannot change what has been, we cannot turn back the clock, but we can show by our presence in this cathedral, and in the streets, homes and offices of this land that we stand beside you."
The constables were killed in a gun and grenade attack after being called to investigate a burglary in Mottram.The constables were killed in a gun and grenade attack after being called to investigate a burglary in Mottram.
'Always smiling'
The road was closed to traffic from 11:00 BST as final preparations were made.
The half-mile procession is travelling from the junction of Deansgate with Quay Street to the cathedral for the service at 13:00 BST.
The Greater Manchester Police flag is flying at half mast above the cathedral.The Greater Manchester Police flag is flying at half mast above the cathedral.
Entry to the cathedral is by invitation only for family, friends and colleagues of PC Hughes. Family, friends and colleagues of PC Hughes are inside the cathedral, while the service is also being broadcast on a screen in Cathedral Gardens for people gathering outside.
The service will be broadcast on a screen in Cathedral Gardens for people gathering outside.
It will be followed by a private funeral.It will be followed by a private funeral.
Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester force, Sir Peter Fahy, has begun his tributes to PC Hughes.
Poems and Bible readings are also being read by some of her colleagues.
'Always smiling'
The Police Federation has urged members of the public to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the police.The Police Federation has urged members of the public to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the police.
Ian Hanson, chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of the federation, said: "We do a difficult job, we do a dangerous job and people respect the job that is done, and perhaps sometimes we lose sight of that, but what has happened in recent weeks is the support of the community has polarised and it has got behind GMP.Ian Hanson, chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of the federation, said: "We do a difficult job, we do a dangerous job and people respect the job that is done, and perhaps sometimes we lose sight of that, but what has happened in recent weeks is the support of the community has polarised and it has got behind GMP.
"What I would like to see over the next few days is that everybody come to the city centre and stand shoulder to shoulder.""What I would like to see over the next few days is that everybody come to the city centre and stand shoulder to shoulder."
Police chiefs said they had been overwhelmed and heartened by the public support, with more than 25,000 messages of condolence on its website, 19,000 via Facebook and another 1,000 on Twitter.Police chiefs said they had been overwhelmed and heartened by the public support, with more than 25,000 messages of condolence on its website, 19,000 via Facebook and another 1,000 on Twitter.
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said every police officer wanted to pay their respects.Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said every police officer wanted to pay their respects.
"Policing is a police family and there is a real desire for every officer from every force to pay their respects in the best way they could, whilst still delivering a 24-hour service," he said."Policing is a police family and there is a real desire for every officer from every force to pay their respects in the best way they could, whilst still delivering a 24-hour service," he said.
"So officers from every force will be here today and I know a large number will be lining the route along with a large number of members of the public who will come out to pay their respects to their police officer."
The funeral of 32-year-old PC Bone will take place at the cathedral at 10:00 on Thursday.
The unarmed police constables had been sent to Abbey Gardens in Mottram on 18 September to investigate what appeared to be a routine burglary report when they were killed.
Dale Cregan, 29, is in custody charged with the officers' murders, along with those of two other men.
The family of PC Hughes, who lived in Oldham with her mother, said she "died doing a job she loved".
One of Manchester's busiest roads fell silent on Wednesday morning as hundreds of police officers began to line the route ahead of their colleague's funeral procession.One of Manchester's busiest roads fell silent on Wednesday morning as hundreds of police officers began to line the route ahead of their colleague's funeral procession.
Deansgate was brought to a standstill as people who would usually be seen bustling in and out of shops and restaurants stopped to stand and watch as the officers took their positions.Deansgate was brought to a standstill as people who would usually be seen bustling in and out of shops and restaurants stopped to stand and watch as the officers took their positions.
Greater Manchester Police officers in full dress uniform looked sombre as they waited for the cortege to arrive.Greater Manchester Police officers in full dress uniform looked sombre as they waited for the cortege to arrive.
Officers have travelled from all over the country to pay their respects to PC Nicola Hughes. Those from forces across the UK were wearing black armbands in a show of support to the fallen officer.Officers have travelled from all over the country to pay their respects to PC Nicola Hughes. Those from forces across the UK were wearing black armbands in a show of support to the fallen officer.
"So officers from every force will be here today and I know a large number will be lining the route along with a large number of members of the public who will come out to pay their respects to their police officer."
The funeral of 32-year-old PC Bone will take place at the cathedral at 10:00 BST on Thursday.
The unarmed police constables had been sent to Abbey Gardens in Mottram on 18 September to investigate what appeared to be a routine burglary report when they were killed.
Dale Cregan, 29, is in custody charged with the officers' murders, along with those of two other men.
The family of PC Hughes, who lived in Oldham with her mother Susan, said she "died doing a job she loved".
She also leaves behind her father, Bryn, and younger brother, Sam.
PC Hughes joined Greater Manchester Police in 2009, serving all three years with the Tameside division.PC Hughes joined Greater Manchester Police in 2009, serving all three years with the Tameside division.
In tribute to her, her colleagues said: "She was a chatterbox and was always smiling, even after a night shift when everyone else was a bit grumpy."In tribute to her, her colleagues said: "She was a chatterbox and was always smiling, even after a night shift when everyone else was a bit grumpy."
Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said PCs Hughes and Bone "exemplified the very best of British policing". Sir Peter Fahy said PCs Hughes and Bone "exemplified the very best of British policing".
One of the thousands who turned out to watch the cortege was Beryl Cowen, a street pastor in Stalybridge.
She met PC Hughes at 2am one morning when she was on patrol in the town.
"We asked her if she enjoyed her job, she said I love every minute of it," she said.
"She had a wonderful smile, she was really happy with what she did, and it was a real tragedy what happened."
"She was there doing her job, a job she loved, and we just feel so sad."
"The turnout here is wonderful, I don't think I could be anywhere else but here today."
The Police Federation has begun selling wristbands in honour of the officers, with all money raised to be donated to their families.The Police Federation has begun selling wristbands in honour of the officers, with all money raised to be donated to their families.