THE body of a man has been found floating face down in a pond surrounded by bushes on Rainford Road between Billinge and Crank.

The gruesome find was made early on Tuesday, November 16 by a local father and son. The pair had been fishing at the pond, near Billinge playing fields, the day before and seen something in the water but were not sure what it was. However, when they returned the following day to have another look, they realised it was a body.

DCI Taffy Williams, who attended the scene, told the Star: "The fully clothed body is that of a man aged between 30 and 40. It has been examined by a doctor but as of yet, there is no indication of how long he has been in the water. We have arranged for Dr Alison Armour, a Home Office pathologist, to examine the body."

A post mortem was carried out at Fazackerly Hospital later that afternoon.

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