MURDER squad detectives say they have had little response following an emotional plea by a son to track down the teenage girl thug who murdered his 83-year-old mother.

David Povah yesterday made his plea to "bring to justice" the girl who knocked his mother to the floor in a street mugging in Leigh.

He told how the death of his mother Mary Povah was a "waste", adding that she had been very active and was well known in the Leigh area.

Officers say it is still very early in the investigation and are confident someone will come forward with vital clues.

Det Chief Insp Ian Hilton said: "We are still looking for this teenage girl.

"There are people who must have seen something at the time and I ask those people to search their consciences."

And Det Supt Ian Seabridge, who is leading the investigation, added: "We hope that people will come forward with additional information now that Mrs Povah has sadly died." Mrs Povah, who would have celebrated her 84th birthday on Monday, died seven months after the attempt to snatch her handbag.

The elderly widow was attacked on Monday, March 23, at 4pm, at the junction with Church Street and Union Street in Leigh.

Detectives say she was approached by a young woman who tried to grab her handbag.

But the brave pensioner refused to release her grip and was knocked to the floor.

She continued to struggle with her attacker until the girl thug ran off empty handed.

Mrs Povah suffered a fractured left hip and died on October 20 as a result of complications from her injury.

Daughter-in-law Angela told the Bolton Evening News at the launch of the murder inquiry yesterday that the girl attacker was "wicked". She added: "I would like the woman who did this to come forward and accept her punishment.

"Then maybe she could get on with her life. Mary's life has gone."

Police are still urging anyone who may have witnessed the assault to contact them, as they might have valuable information.

In particular detectives would like to speak to a woman who was pushing a baby in a pram nearby, a small crowd of people gathered around Mrs Povah as she lay on the floor, a group of teenage girls seen in the area or anyone visiting the Liberal Club on Church Street.

The woman who assaulted Mrs Povah is white and aged between her mid-teens to late 20s.

Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 0161 8567282.

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