Cheshire Chief Constable Simon Byrne has issued a heartfelt tribute to an off-duty detective from Ellesmere Port who perished in the Manchester bomb.

Elaine McIver, 43, who grew up in the town but is believed to have been living in Frodsham, had been at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester arena with her partner Paul who was seriously injured.

According to The Telegraph they had been to the concert with Paul's children who were also injured in the blast which killed 22 people and caused dozens of casualties.

Cheshire Chief Constable Simon Byrne

Chief Constable Mr Byrne said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to speak about the loss of a serving officer of ours in the Manchester Arena terrorist incident and all our thoughts are with her family at this time.

“Detective Constable Elaine McIver, 43, joined the constabulary as a special 20 years ago and became a regular officer in September 1998.

“Elaine worked in Ellesmere Port, Warrington and in the Economic Crime Unit at headquarters in Winsford before moving to the regional organised crime unit TITAN in 2013.

“Friends who knew her well have described her as big hearted, bubbly and a positive person. We are supporting her family at this very difficult time, and will be providing support for friends and colleagues from the constabulary as we come to terms with the loss of an officer in such tragic and heart-rending circumstances. We will not let evil win.”

Ellesmere Port vigil to remember the victims of the Manchester Arena bomb attack, Civic Square (Wednesday, May 24). Member of Ellesmere Port Police were in attendance. Picture by Sallie Ehlen

Cheshire police & crime commissioner David Keane commented: “Our thoughts are with Elaine’s family, friends and colleagues. I know this is an extremely difficult time and that great sadness has been felt across the constabulary and the wider community - from colleagues and friends in Cheshire to her current team at TITAN.

“We will be doing everything we can to support Elaine’s family and our officers and staff. It is at moments like this that we must remain unified and strong.”

Police & Crime Commissioner David Keane
Police & Crime Commissioner David Keane

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she was 'profoundly saddened' at the news.

She said: “Elaine was off-duty at the time of this brutal, cowardly attack, going about her normal daily life.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and to everyone who has been affected by this horrendous act.

“I also want to pay tribute to Elaine’s colleagues at Cheshire Police who, despite the overwhelming sense of loss I know they must be feeling, have continued to perform their duties, keeping people safe with the same diligence and professionalism on which we all rely.”

Minister of State for Policing Brandon Lewis said DC McIver was 'a huge loss for the police community in Cheshire'.

He added: “She will never be forgotten and my thoughts are with Elaine’s family, friends, colleagues and the wider policing community at this incredibly difficult time.

“I also want to express my heartfelt thanks for the incredible efforts being made by police officers, both in the region and up and down the country, in the wake of Monday’s attack.

"Their tireless work merely confirms what we already knew – that we have the best police force in the world, of which Elaine was a proud, dedicated and much-loved member.”

Mark Furnace wrote on the Pride in the Port Facebook page: “ I have only just heard about this, and I am so shocked. Elaine was my next door neighbour when we were young. Went on family camping trips together. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, as I know how devastated they will be.”

Jillian Everitt commented: “She was a lovely person, worked with her years ago at Capenhurst. My thoughts are with you. x”