A WOMAN and her boyfriend found dead in Leigh have been formally identified.

The body of Nyaria Nymatanga, aged 22, was found in a car near in Manchester Road on Wednesday. She had been stabbed in the head and neck.

As police launched a murder hunt to catch her killer, they found the body of her boyfriend, 30 year-old Leon Katina, at the house the couple shared.

Their home is less than 400 yards from the spot where his girlfriend's body was found, near Leigh Cemetery.

Police were able to identify Ms Nymatanga from documents in her purse.

Post-mortem examinations conducted on Thursday found that Ms Nymatanga had died as a result of a stab wound to her neck. Mr Katina died as a result of strangulation. He is believed to have taken his own life.

The couple, who both originate from Zimbabwe, are believed to have lived in the UK for two years.

Ms Nymatanga's bloodstained body was discovered slumped in the front passenger seat of a green Rover by a passer-by on Wednesday evening.

Police not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.