URGENT talks are continuing between police and prosecutors into the murder of a Whitefield mother of two.

An inquest last week revealed that Mrs Linda Southwood was viciously beaten to death at her home in Pinfold Lane on January 28.

And in a statement later issued by Mrs Southwood's children, David and Deborah, the family said: "It has been proven beyond all doubt that the cause of death was by an act of violence.

"We cannot rest until justice has been done and the person responsible has been charged."

Mrs Southwood's husband, Albert, was originally arrested on suspicion of her murder but, after questioning, was released without charge. The Crown Prosecution Service felt that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. On Friday (Aug 25), Mr Southwood walked away from the two-day inquest into his wife's death declaring: "I have nothing to hide."

Mr Southwood was rushed from Bury Magistrates Court by his family to a car after a coroner's verdict that his wife was unlawfully killed.

Bury North Coroner Barrie Williams said Mrs Southwood was violently killed in a secured house where only three others, Mr Southwood, step-son Darren and his Greek-born girlfriend Arkadia "Carrie" Alawanoo, slept. There was no evidence to suggest an intruder had entered the property.

The 52-year-old's body was discovered on the bedroom floor with her head hanging over a waste-paper bin.

Mr Southwood attempted to resuscitate his wife and a paramedic confirmed she had been dead for more than one hour prior to the body being discovered.

The inquest heard how Mrs Southwood had rejected her husband's amorous advances the night before her death and the couple slept in separate rooms, but Mr Southwood denied attacking his wife.

Two Home Office pathologists agreed that an injury to Mrs Southwood's throat was caused after her death while other bruising and abrasions were caused before she died. Dr Charles Wilson said: "I do not accept that Mrs Southwood rolled off her bed on to the waste bin but that her body was moved into that position, after she had died, by a third party."

Recording the verdict of "unlawful killing", coroner Mr Williams said: "I am satisfied with the evidence of the pathologist that a third party was involved.

"Linda Southwood had some measure of violence used against her and died as a consequence of that violence."