AN 80-year-old woman from Bolton has been named as the eldest of the 100 victims of stabbing in the UK this year, two of which are from Bolton.

Mrs Heywood was among 100 people compiled in a list by the BBC who have died as a result of a fatal stabbing this year so far.

Barbara Heywood, 80, was found dead in her Farnworth home in March this year after being attacked.

An 88-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and has since been detained under the Mental Health Act following assessments by specialist medical staff.

In a family tribute, issued via the police, Mrs Heywood's children said: “Our mum has been taken from us under tragic circumstances.

“She was a generous, kind hearted lady who loved life. She was simply the best and we will miss her forever.

“We are finding it difficult to comprehend life without her."

A second victim on the list was also from Bolton. Paul Dickson, 47, was found with stab wounds in Montserrat Road, Johnson Fold on December 30.

He died two weeks later in hospital from his injuries. No one has been charged with Mr Dickson’s murder, but a 34-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assault at the time of the stabbing. She has been bailed pending further police enquiries.

READ MORE: Tributes to 'generous, kind hearted' Farnworth woman found dead at home

Those killed in 2019 range in age from 14-year-old Jaden Moodie, who was stabbed in Leyton, east London in January - to Mrs Heywood.

Other stabbings in the area include two in Leigh — that of 47-year-old Debbie Twist and 32-year-old Phillip Rooney, who both died after suffering wounds.

Out of the 100 fatal stabbings, a total of ten were in Greater Manchester.

READ MORE: VIDEO: Woman arrested and man in critical condition after stabbing in Johnson Fold

Knife crime in England and Wales rose to record levels in 2017-18 with the number of fatal stabbings the highest since Home Office records began in 1946.

There has been one fatal stabbing every 1.45 days so far this year in England and Wales. If killings continued at that rate for the rest of the year, the total would be slightly lower than the 285 stabbing deaths recorded in 2017-18.

The figures were compiled by the BBC.