A MEMORIAL garden has been opened outside Cheshire police headquarters to remember colleagues who have died on duty.

And families of former Warrington officers were among those in attendance last Thursday as the Duchess of Gloucester officially opened the memorial.

In the last 12 months, PC Jonny Speakman was killed while saving the live of a boy when surfing in Australia in January.

PC Mark Leach died in a traffic collision in Knutsford and PC Kevin Brinkman also died in a accident in Thailand in March.

The garden is dedicated to officers and staff from Cheshire and the Duchess also planted a rose bush in tribute to those who had died.

Peter Nurse, chairman of the police authority, said: "The memorial is a fitting way to honour police officers and staff who have died in service.

"The garden will provide a place where staff can take a moment's break from their busy schedules and enable them to reflect on the dedication of their former colleagues."

PC Speakman, of Appleton, was killed while on holiday in January. He was hailed a hero after his quick-thinking saved the life of a boy he was surfing with.

And PC Leach died in March 2004 when he was involved in a collision.

Other families who attended the tribute were those of Sgt Kath Wood who served in Warrington and Mike Alsop who died on December 31 and worked in the information management department.

gdunning@guardiangrp.co.uk