A 40-year-old man has been arrested after a woman was stabbed to death in Heaton Park.

It is understood she was stabbed in the throat in a wooded area on a path to the park's reservoir.

Witnesses have described the drama that occured before dozens of park users on Friday morning.

One man, who asked not to be named, said: "A man got into a disagreement with a woman and grabbed her by the neck and then slit her throat with a knife."

Bury Police said they got a call at 10:15am about the incident, which took place near the reservoir in the north west section of the park, nearest the St Margaret's Road entrance.

They sent at least a dozen vehicles to the scene and used a helicopter to circle the park. Officers sealed off every entrance to the park.

The woman, who was in her early 30s, died at the scene. Police said she knew the man who killed her and it was not a random attack.

Paul Whitehead, a workman for P&H Pipelines, was working with a team near the scene when the woman was attacked.

He said: “I went out to get some breakfast about 10am and when I came back there were police everywhere and we haven’t been allowed back in since.

“Some of the other guys, sub-contractors who are working for us, were welding down a hole and they heard a woman scream. They got out and someone was shouting ‘he’s stabbing her, help’."

Meanwhile, the man ran off on foot up out of the park towards Bridle Road.

Tradesman Shane Houghton was stood on scaffolding at a house in Parrenthorn Road, overlooking Bridle Road.

He said: "I saw two lads on the bank near the reservoir and there was another guy circling around and on his mobile phone.

"His hands were covered in blood. He looked like he had tried to harm himself.

"Then police started coming from everywhere.

"The man was lying on the floor and he was in and out of consciousness.

"Then they took him away in an ambulance."

A Bury Police spokeswoman said: "Workmen saw a man trying to leave the park who appeared badly injured.

"They detained him before alerting nearby police officers.

"A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and was immediately taken to hospital for treatment to an injury. He is in a stable condition.

A post mortem examination will take place to establish the cause of death. Formal identification has yet to be completed.

Craig Brisbane, of Prestwich, said: "There were police cars and officers everywhere and they closed off every entrance to the park."

Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, Bury divisional commander, said: "I want to reassure members of the public we do not believe this was a random attack.

"However, we would still urge anyone with information to get in touch.

"We want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything out of the ordinary in the park in the run up to, or after, this incident.

"No matter how insignificant you think your information might be, it could be vital to us.

"We have a number of scenes in the park where we are carrying out forensic examinations including a car found in a nearby car park.

"The park remains closed to the public while we continue our investigations and we thank the public for their co-operation."

Headteacher of Parrenthorn High School, Mick Fitzgerald, said: “I have spoken with police and they have assured me that the children are safe and that is my duty.

"They are saying it is an historical event. The pupils have heard what has happened, news travels fast."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 872 5050 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.