Forensic officers are combing the gardens of an historic church after a man was found dead.
A murder probe was launched following the discovery at Wigan Parish Church on Thursday evening.
Two men aged 19 and 29, and another man whose age is unknown have since been arrested on suspicion of murder and are being questioned by detectives.
A woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
A large cordon remains in place today with officers guarding all entrances to the gardens, in Wigan town centre.
Crime scene investigators could be seen working at the scene, off Bishopgate.
An air ambulance was sent to the area at around 7.50pm last night (Thursday) and paramedics attempted to treat the victim but he died at the scene.
Witnesses reported a huge emergency response to the incident, with a large number of police cars and ambulances called to the scene.
A worker at a nearby pub told the Manchester Evening News: “I was working last night when the police turned up at the front and ran round to the church.
“There were a lot of people gathered round in the gardens. The police moved everyone on.
“It’s not nice to hear that someone has died.”
Claire Bailey is the owner of a Hair Envy, a salon in Bishopgate.
She said the church gardens were ‘notorious’ for trouble.
“There’s always problems with people fighting, drinking and taking drugs on there.
“It is a shame because it’s a church and it should be a nice area, but I always walk around rather going through.
“It was a matter of time before something like this happened.”
Police are asking anyone who may have spotted a group of men in the area between 7-7.30pm to get in touch as soon as possible.
Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident number 2974 of 06/08/2020. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
