ONE year on from the discovery of human remains in a river, police have released more information about the victim.

Suffolk Police are continuing their investigation after human remains were found in two black bin bags in the River Stour at Sudbury.

Officers were called at around 4.35pm on Thursday, August 27 2020, to the river near Meadow Gate and Croft Bridge.

A Home Office post-mortem examination conducted three days later was not able to establish a cause of death or any form of identification.

However, forensic tests have been taking place over the past year and established at an early stage that the victim was an adult male, who was likely to have been of an athletic or muscular build.

Police are now able to reveal the results of further tests that have taken place, which have determined that the victim was likely to have been aged in his late 50s to early 60s.

The man is said to have been approximately 5ft 6in tall and the date of the victim’s death is believed to be between 2008 and 2012.

The approximate age of the victim and time frame for his death are based around the results of radiocarbon dating, which has been undertaken as part of the ongoing specialist forensic work in the case.

Police say efforts to identify the victim are also ongoing.

According to Suffolk Police 230 missing person records have been reviewed so far.

It comes after a 26-year-old man from Sudbury was arrested on May 25 n connection with the inquiry.

He was subsequently bailed in respect of this case and has since been released under investigation.

In the 12 months since the discovery was made, police say a substantial amount of work has been completed, with officers collating 1,672 exhibits - both physical and forensic.

More than 1,400 people have been spoken to and as a result of this more than 1,140 statements or reports have been taken.

Assistant Chief Constable Eamonn Bridger said: “A huge amount of progress has been made over the past year by everyone who has been working on this extremely complex murder inquiry.

“We said from the outset that this would be a long and methodical process and it has proven to be just so, especially due to the type of specialist forensic testing that has been – and continues to be – taking place.

“Many of the results that have come back then need to be subject to further tests and so we still have a distance to go.

"However, we have received many positive and helpful results including the approximate age of the victim and dates between which he is believed to have died.

“We remain grateful to all the members of the public, experts, specialists and partner organisations who have, or continue to, assist us with this investigation.

“I would like to repeat my appeal from last year for anyone who knows anything about this discovery to come forward.

"If you have concerns over a male relative, friend or colleague you haven’t seen or heard from, since between 2008 and 2012 and who was aged in their late 50s or early 60s at the time, then please contact us.

“Equally, if someone you know was acting suspiciously or displayed a real change in their character in the days and weeks before - and after - the discovery which gives you concern, then please come forward and talk to us. Any information you provide will be dealt with in confidence.”