Seafield Road's grisly history of murder as Eddie Forrester's killer is jailed for life

Cold-blooded killer William Wilkinson, 65, bludgeoned 'harmless' Eddie Forrester at his flat in Seafield Road, North Shore - before cutting off his limbs, removing the heart and dumping his remains in bins around Blackpool.

The murder is the latest grisly chapter in Seafield Road's history of horrors which began in 1998 with the savage double murder of two Blackpool pensioners at the hands of a demented serial killer.

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The first two murders took place in 1998 when Eric and Joan Boardman were found slain in their home in Seafield Road by their daughter Marilyn on October 30.

The murder weapon appeared to be a makeshift 'cosh' consisting of six torch batteries held together with white masking tape.

Mr Boardman, a 76-year-old retired seaman, suffered a wound to his head and was found trapped underneath a wardrobe in the hallway of the couple's end terrace home.

Police found the home-made weapon on the floor when they moved Mr Boardman's body. Mrs Boardman, 74, was found lying on her back in a rear living room with no apparent injuries.

But post-mortem examination examinations found Mrs Boardman had suffered fatal neck injuries, while her husband had also sustained fatal injuries to his head and neck.

Det Supt Bob Denmark said: “This was a savage attack on two defenceless elderly people and we are keen to establish why it might have happened.”

A community in shock

Mr Boardman used to take holidaymakers for pleasure boat trips off the Fylde coast during the 1960s and was well known among Blackpool’s seafaring community.

Mrs Boardman especially was well known on the street, and would often lend a helping hand to neighbours.

One close neighbour described her as a “diamond”. Others said she was always a friendly face who would stop to say hello in the morning.

One neighbour said: “I am just really shocked. I can't believe it. It’s so sad. It’s a quiet street and we all know each other.

“Joan was an extremely nice lady. I used to bump into her sometimes in Morrisons or Marks and Spencer’s with her daughter. She would always inquire about my mum.

“She was just a very nice lady. Joan used to feed my dog with bones, and even posted them through the letterbox.

“She was the sort of person you would always say hello to.”

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