A SON charged with the murder of his elderly mother has been committed to the Crown Court for trial.

Stanley Crank, aged 45, of Cross Street, Bolton is charged with stabbing to death Ellen Crank at her home in Brownlow Fold between February 21 and 23. The father of three is accused with another 45-year-old man, Duncan Runciman, of Laurel Court, Bolton. They both appeared before Bolton magistrates on Friday lunchtime.

The body of Mrs Crank, a grandmother of three, was discovered in the kitchen of her home in Kingscourt Avenue on Sunday, February 23. A post mortem examination revealed the 76-year-old woman died as a result of stab wounds.

Two days earlier on the Friday evening, Mrs Crank had celebrated her birthday with friends at the Victory Community Centre, in Chorley Old Road.

Crank and Runciman were arrested on Monday night by detectives. They were interviewed for two days, and jointly charged last night with the murder.

Dressed in a black jumper and jeans, Crank spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, and that he understood the charge.

The hearing lasted five minutes.

The two men were remanded in custody until a preliminary hearing at Manchester Crown Court on March 21. A bail application was not made.

A 44-year-old woman from Bolton who was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, has been released without charge.

She was not released on police bail as stated on Thursday.