AN ELDERLY couple received death threats after a Facebook group mocking the death of James Bulger was falsely linked to them.

Police said a group was set up featuring sick messages referring to the Merseyside youngster, who was murdered by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993.

The group named the couple, who are from Chorley, as the administrators.

A statement from police said: “Lancashire Police has been made aware of a social network page about the murdered toddler James Bulger which has falsely identified an elderly couple from the Chorley area as the site administrators.

“We would like to stress that the couple identified have no connection to this site and we are working with them to offer them protection and reassurance after they were subject to a number of direct threats.

“We are now working with Merseyside Police to identify who has set up the site and anyone who has posted malicious comments.”

A 26-year-old man from Chorley was arrested on Monday on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and malicious communication.

He was questioned for several hours at a police station after officers seized computer equipment including a laptop.

The suspect has been released on police bail until Wednesday, May 9.