A RETIRED detective has re-opened the case of the mysterious death of his great grandfather - and is appealing for the public's help.

The body of John Bond was found floating in a pond at West Hunwick Colliery in Hunwick near Crook, County Durham, on November 29, 1887.

A coroner's report at the time failed to determine what killed him or how his body ended up in the colliery pond.

His great-grandson Richard Bond, a retired Detective Sergeant who investigated numerous murders for West Yorkshire Police, does have one tanalising clue provided by a relative many years ago.

Mr Bond, who lives in Dewsbury near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, said: "When I was a boy I remember an uncle of mine saying John Bond was murdered, he was kicked to death.

"I didn't know who John Bond was then and thought nothing of it.

"Now it is all I have to work on in this mystery."

The coroner's report made after an inquest held on December 1, 1887, said: "There is no evidence to show as to how or by which means he died."

John Bond left behind three sons, George, 22 (Richard Bond's grandfather), Thomas, 21, and William, 16.

His wife Margaret died during childbirth when she was 30 in 1874 in Witton-le-Wear.

The family lived in Pipe Row Terrace and Roughlea Terrace in Hunwick before moving to Wear Terrace in Bishop Auckland.

John is buried at St Paul's Church in Hunwick.

After the death of John Bond, Mr Bond's grandfather, George, joined the 46 Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery.

While visiting family in Scarborough in 1897, he met and fell in love with Martha Ann Hill, only to discover she was his cousin.

The pair eloped to Shoreditch where they got married, much to the disapproval of the family.

George Bond was then posted to India before ending his career as a chauffeur for Sir Eric Geddes in Scotland.

He was never reunited with his brothers or their families after his controversial marriage to Martha. Mr Bond is appealing for anyone with information about the colliery and pipe works where John and his sons worked to contact him.

Mr Bond is also hoping to trace any other descendants of John Bond, and can be contacted on Hattie1268@virginmedia.com.