POLICE have today named a man whose body was found in the canal in Blackburn yesterday.

Mark Atherton, 40, was last seen leaving the Infirmary Hotel in Bolton Road, Blackburn, where he had been drinking with friends until the early hours of Saturday morning.

At 1.45am he began his journey alone on foot along the Leeds Liverpool Canal to his home in Hamilton Street, but never arrived.

Ten hours later, at 11.45am, a group of people walking along the canal close to The Moorings pub, off Bolton Road, made the grim discovery and called police.

Police attended along with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Blackburn and Darwen, and the body was recovered from the water along with a mobile phone and a set of keys.

Officers said there were no signs of injury to Mr Atherton’s body and ‘there is no reason to believe his death is suspicious’.

They have appealed for help from the public to piece together his last movements.

Detective Inspector Mark Winstanley, of Blackburn CID, said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to Mr Atherton's family and friends.

"We know that Mark left the Infirmary ub at about 1.45am on Saturday intending to make the short walk home to his house on Hamilton Street. It would be usual for him to take a route along the canal path to get home.

"I would like to speak to anyone who saw him after he had left the pub or indeed who may have any other information to offer which may help in establishing how Mark came to be in the canal.”

Mr Atherton is described as white, 5ft7in tall and of medium build with a bald, shaved head. He was wearing a navy blue zip up top with two white stripes down the sleeves, blue work trousers and black and white Adidas training shoes.

It is not thought that Mr Atherton had a partner or any children.

Anyone with information should call the police on 08451 25 35 45.