A MURDER-STYLE investigation has been launched after the discovery of a man’s body floating in a reservoir yesterday.

Police were called to the Clough Bottom reservoir, a popular beauty spot, at around 4.30pm.

Detectives and an underwater search team, together with fire crews from Nelson and Rawtenstall, worked for more than five hours to recover the body, which was around 50 yards from the bank.

They used a yellow buoy to prevent it from sinking and to navigate it to the bank, pulling the man’s body from the reservoir at around 10pm that night.

People in nearby Water said the body appeared to have chains attached to it when it was brought out but police refused to confirm or deny that.

They believe it may have been in the water for around seven to 10 days. It is understood to be the body of a white man, but no age or description has been released.

Today, investigators wearing forensic suits searched the bridge to the reservoir’s tower, close to where the body was found, and made house-to-house inquiries.

The area was closed to the public.

Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, who is leading the investigation, said it was too soon to say how the man had died.

He said he was awaiting the results of the post-mortem tests which would say if the man was already dead when he entered the water.

He said: “We are treating the death as unexplained. “There was significant decomposition, which makes it hard to determine how long the body was in the water and the cause of death.

“I appeal to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Clough Bottom area in the past seven to 10 days.

“The area is very popular with dog walkers and ramblers and there is a very well used eco-trail.”

Det Supt Hunter would not comment on whether there had been an attempt to conceal the body.

He said: “I cannot confirm or deny whether the body was weighted down at this stage of the investigation. The investigation is very much in his infancy.”

But he did add: “As a matter of course we have looked into missing person cases locally and the man does not fit any of the descriptions we have.

“We are working closely with neighbouring forces and across the UK. I suspect the man isn’t local or even from Lancashire.

“At this stage it would be total guess work to say if this was related to serious or organised crime.”

The United Utilities drinking water reservoir, which is at a fairly low level, is just off Burnley Road East, which runs between Rawtenstall and Burnley.

A spokesman for United Utilities said people should not be worried about the quality of water from the reservoir.

He said: "All of our water is thoroughly treated before it is sent to our customers taps.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0845 125 3545.