THE shadow of notorious serial killer Peter Sutcliffe has once again returned to haunt a picturesque south Cumbrian coastal resort after it was revealed that his ashes were scattered in the village.

Emily Sutcliffe, niece of 'The Yorkshire Ripper', revealed in an interview with a national newspaper that her evil uncle’s ashes were scattered by the sea in Arnside, a place he used to visit as a boy, staying at his uncle's caravan.

Ms Sutcliffe revealed: "I was taken there once or twice when I was a child. It is lovely.

"That area means a lot to the whole family. We had family living in the area at the time and would visit them."

Sutcliffe, who died aged 74 in November 2020 after reportedly refusing treatment for Covid, was convicted of murdering 13 women between 1975 and 1981, and also of attempting to kill seven more.

READ MORE: 'He stole her from me': The Furness man whose mum was killed by Peter Sutcliffe

He was handed 20 concurrent life sentences, which was changed to a whole life order in 2010.

The ashes of Sutcliffe's father John were scattered in Arnside in 2004 in a ceremony that the murderer was refused permission to attend.

But his visit the following year sparked local fury after authorities allowed him to grieve at the site under the supervision of prison staff on a day-trip from his Broadmoor high-security hospital cell.

The visit was said to be permitted 'on compassionate grounds'.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale in 2005, Tim Collins, said at the time: "It is both breathtaking and despicable that a serial killer should be brought to Arnside because he was apparently feeling depressed.

"There is a real risk both that local people will feel threatened and that potential tourists may feel put off coming."

It is widely thought that Sutcliffe had a secret plan to divide his ashes up among his relatives – and that some was scattered out to sea in Arnside, according to his niece.

She told the newspaper that her life has been scarred by association with her twisted uncle, saying: "When he died it felt a bit like freedom, a relief."