The Warrington Guardian received an unprecedented response from readers when it set up an online tribute board following the killing of a young woman in the town.

In just 11 days, the page, set up for readers to leave messages of condolence, was viewed 4,284 times, while more than 240 people left memorial messages.

It followed the death of 22-year-old Nicola Sutton, who was stabbed to death with a samurai sword, causing widespread shock, horror and outrage across the town.

Some of the posts came from as far afield as Florida, Canada, Poland and Australia and Nicola’s family e-mailed in their own tributes to her which reporters were able to use in newspaper stories on the crime.

Warrington Guardian news editor Gareth Dunning said: “We have run tribute boards before as we have found they have been beneficial to us, in terms of information gathering, and also to the families, as it can provide a great source of comfort for them.

“We have just been staggered with the response we received from this tribute board.

“To get that many hits on one page of the website in less than two weeks is unbelievable.”

Nicola Sutton’s family has also told the paper that the tribute board has provided comfort for them following her death.

A man has been charged with Nicola’s murder and is awaiting trial.