MURDER squad detectives today named a man they want to speak to after a mother was found strangled at her Bolton home. Police are concerned for the safety of Paul Sharpe, 30, of Wellington Road, Bury, after his girfriend Sarah Jane Widdup was found murdered in a bedroom of her semi-detached house in Deepdale Road, Breightmet. Mr Sharpe, a DJ who works under the name Paul Shaw, hosted a late-night show on Bolton's Tower FM until two months ago, when he left the station.

Former workmates today said they did not know where Mr Sharpe was now working.

Detectives took the unusual step of naming Mr Sharpe, saying he may be able to assist them in their investigation.

A police spokesman said: "We're trying to trace the last movements of the victim -- and Mr Sharpe -- in the hours leading up to her death."

It is understood Miss Widdup's father discovered her body at about 9am on Saturday after he called to give her a lift to work.

Her 10-year-old son, Cody, was not in the house at the time and is understood to have spent the weekend at his grandparents' home.

The death stunned residents and today neighbours told of the "lovely girl" who was a college student studying holistic therapy and who helped out at a florist's shop in Bury Road.

Soon after the body was discovered the house was cordoned off by police and forensic officers were at the scene for most of Saturday. Today floral tributes had been left on the doorstep.

Today Miss Widdup's parents June and Riley, who live in Garstang Avenue, Breightmet, were too upset to talk about their daughter's death.

But Miss Widdup's neighbour Kathleen Harte revealed she had lived alone at the house with Cody for between four and five years. Mrs Harte spoke of her shock at the news of Miss Widdup's death. She added: "She was a good neighbour and a lovely girl. We used to talk over the back fence and she was very friendly.

"She and her father used to do my shopping for me, she was the best neighbour I ever had."

Mrs Harte said she believed Miss Widdup attended college three days a week learning sign language and aromatherapy massage.

"I never heard a thing from her house either on Friday night or on Saturday morning," said Mrs Harte. "The first I new was when I saw Mr Widdup walking up and down the path and the police arrived."

Mrs Harte told how Sarah had been going out with her boyfriend for about four months, with whom she had spoken on Friday.

She added: "I asked him how Sarah was and he said she was very depressed and he did not know what to do with her. I suggested he took her for a day out."

Newsagent David Patel had known Sarah for many years. He said: "I'm really shocked by her death, she was a very bright and bubbly girl, she came in here every day for magazines and we always had a good chat."

Anyone who can help police with their inquiries is asked to contact Astley Bridge CID on 0161 856 5743.