DETECTIVES are searching for a Bury DJ after his girlfriend was found murdered in her home.

Paul Sharpe (30), of Wellington Road has not been seen since 28-year-old Sarah Jane Widdup's body was found on Saturday morning (Oct 14).

She had been strangled in the bedroom of her semi-detached house in Deepdale Road, Breightmet.

Detectives took the unusual step of naming Mr Sharpe, saying he may be able to assist them in their investigation.

A police spokesman said: "We're trying to trace the last movements of the victim and Mr Sharpe in the hours leading up to her death."

Police are trying to track down a maroon Vauxhall Astra, registration number N305 XNB, which Mr Sharpe is believed to have been driving. Mr Sharpe, a DJ who works under the name Paul Shaw, hosted a late-night show on Bolton's Tower FM until he left two months ago. Former colleagues said they did not know where he was now working.

A Wellington Road resident told the Bury Times that CID officers had visited Mr Sharpe's home on Saturday night, asking questions about his whereabouts. They also asked about a car with a Tower FM sticker in the back window.

"I don't think he has lived there very long," said the resident, who also reported seeing a woman and child visiting the house on several occasions. "I didn't see much of him, but he seemed to come and go at unusual hours."

It is understood that Sarah Widdup's father found his daughter's body around 9am on Saturday after he called to give her a lift to work.

The victim's 10-year-old diabetic son, Cody, was not in the house at the time. He is understood to have spent the weekend at his grandparents' home.

Sarah's parents June and Riley Widdup, who live in Garstang Avenue, Breightmet, were too upset to talk about their daughter's death.

The murder left nearby residents stunned. They told of the "lovely girl" who was a college student studying holistic therapy and who worked part-time at a florist.

Neighbour Kathleen Harte revealed she had lived alone at the house with Cody for between four and five years.

She said: "She was a good neighbour and a lovely girl. We used to talk over the back fence and she was very friendly.

Anyone who can help the police with their inquiries should call 856 5743.