THE funeral of murdered student Janet Murgatroyd is to take place next week - more than two months after she was killed.

Preston Coroner Howard McCann gave Janet's family permission to go ahead with the funeral following an inquest into her death last Wednesday.

The service is set to take place at St Teresa's Church in Penwortham on Tuesday, September 3 - the same day that Crimewatch will screen a reconstruction of the events leading up to her murder.

Janet's mother Mary Murgatroyd spoke out publicly on BBC Radio Lancashire to plead for anyone with information about the killer to come forward.

She said: "Don't protect the b*****dw that killed her, let the police know. Because someone is protecting him, someone knows.

"One of his friends knows who did it and for some reason, whether it is fear of him or total disdain for the police, they are protecting him. They are not bothered about me at all, or my family.

"Justice will be done, I'm absolutely certain of that. Now that Janet's upstairs she's not going to let him go free. She will be bossing Him around upstairs and saying get your act together. I'm sure, I'm sure he will be found."

Detectives hunting the killer are still anxious to trace a man seen arguing on Penwortham Bridge with at 1.15am on the night of the murder, June 16, with a woman fitting Janet's description.

He had dark hair which was longer on top than at the sides, was about 5ft 8-10ins tall, of medium build and was wearing a white shirt with dark trousers.

Det Insp Ian Kennedy is appealing for a woman caller who claimed to recognise this description to ring back with full details. He stressed all calls can be taken in confidence.

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