POLICE officers from across Greater Manchester joined the family and friends of a "traditional" Bury cop to pay their final respects.

Retired detective constable Mick Anderson died on Christmas Eve in Bury General Hospital from complications arising from a cancer operation.

Mr Anderson retired from Bury police in June 1999.

Born and bred in Bury, Mr Anderson (54) followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Lancashire Constabulary in 1967. He continued his service with the Greater Manchester Police Force when it was formed in 1974.

Serving most of his career in Radcliffe, Whitefield and Bury, the father of two joined the CID in the late '70s. He was later to take a leading role in the creation of Bury's Crime Management Unit.

Mr Anderson, who lived in Whitefield, is survived by his wife and two sons, Michael and Philip, who is also a serving police officer within GMP.

Friends and colleagues from the police attended his funeral at St Bernadette's RC Church in Whitefield on Wednesday (Jan 3). The service was followed by cremation at Overdale.