A MURDER investigation launched after the discovery of human remains in a river is continuing as police finish their search of the crime scene.

Officers with Suffolk Police were called at around 4.35pm on Thursday 27 August after human remains were found inside two black bin bags in the River Stour, near Meadow Gate and Croft Bridge in Sudbury.

The police launched a murder inquiry as an initial post-mortem examination by the Home Office, conducted on Sunday 30 August, was unable to find a cause of death or any identification.

Further forensic tests are ongoing and have so far found the victim was an adult male who likely had an athletic or muscular build.

The police has said DNA will be a vital factor in the efforts to identify the victim.

However, they say it is likely to take considerable time to complete as DNA comparisons have to be made across a number of both national and international databases.

Searches of the River Stour and its banks, between Croft Gate Weir and Brundon Mill, finished on Sunday 6 September.

The area closed off from the public has now been reopened by the police.

Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Bridger, Head of Crime, said: “We continue to do all we can to identify the deceased and are working with a number of other agencies to assist us in this.

“The UK Missing Persons Bureau hold records on every missing person in the country and where DNA profiles have been obtained, these are held on their database.

"We have run the initial profile we have of this individual through that database, but have not had a match at this time.

“There are other opportunities that remain open to us and we are continuing to develop these.

"However, as we have said from the outset, this is an investigation that will take considerable time.

“Following ten days of searches in and around the River Stour, this work has now finished and the areas which had been closed off to members of the public are now open again.

“I would once again like to thank local residents for their patience whilst we completed this work and also the officers from the Metropolitan Police and Essex Police, along with the volunteers from SULSAR, for their assistance with the searches.

"We are also receiving ongoing support from the National Crime Agency and the experts that they are able to provide, for which we are also grateful.

“We are continuing to appeal for anyone with information about this shocking discovery to come forward. Someone must know who the deceased was, or have information about who deposited the remains, so please come forward and talk to us – any information you give us will be dealt with in confidence.”

Detectives are appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour near to the river in the week preceding the discovery to come forward.

"They say they would like to hear from anyone who has seen black bin bags in unusual locations, such as ditches or hedgerows.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team via their online portal at mipp.police.uk/operation/363720N59-PO1 or by calling 101.

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via crimestoppers-uk.org.