Police have launched a murder investigation after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Bolton in the early hours of Tuesday. The teenager, named locally as Reece Tansey, was attacked in Walker Avenue shortly before 4.45am. He knocked on the door of a nearby house to ask for help and was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries. Greater Manchester police said no arrests had yet been made and detectives were pursuing a number of lines of inquiry. Investigators cordoned off a large section of Walker Avenue and a forensic tent was erected in the front garden of one address. The victim was a pupil at Harper Green school in Farnworth. In a message on its website, the school said it was “shocked and saddened” by the killing. “For a life to be ended at such a young age is a total tragedy. We will ensure any students who need it receive support and advice through our pastoral system. Harper Green is a close-knit community we will work together over the coming days and weeks in supporting all those affected,” it said. Det Supt Chris Bridge said: “This incident will understandably be a huge shock to the community and our thoughts are with the boy’s family at this awful time. These are very early stages of our investigation but we would like to reassure the public that we are doing all we can to piece together what happened and find those responsible. “There will be an increased police presence in the area whilst we carry out a number of lines of inquiry and anyone concerned in the local neighbourhood can speak to our officers. I would urge anyone who may have information or witnessed anything in the area to come forward. Even the smallest information may be crucial to our investigation.”