Police investigating the murder of a man whose remains were found in a remote lay-by more than seven years ago arrested two people today in connection with his death.

Parts of Leonard Fulbirg's skeleton were discovered by the side of the A6033 in the picturesque village of Oxenhope, near Keighley, West Yorkshire, in March 1997.

The victim's identity had remained a mystery until a recent DNA test finally proved the bones were those of the missing Bradford man.

Police, who only yesterday confirmed the remains to be those of Mr Fulbirg, said they had arrested a 38-year-old woman from Bierley, Bradford, and a 38-year-old man from the Thornhill area of Dewsbury after executing search warrants at two addresses.

''Both were arrested on suspicion on the murder of Leonard Fulbirg and are being detained at Bradford central police station,'' a spokeswoman from West Yorkshire Police said.

The arrests follow an appeal by detectives yesterday for information on the events surrounding Mr Fulbirg's disappearance.

The 49-year-old, who was originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, lived with his brother Robert in the Buttershaw area of Bradford.

He disappeared on the evening of August 11, 1996 after telling his family he was meeting a friend at a McDonald's restaurant on Rooley Lane in Bradford. He was never seen again.

Police revealed his body had been dismembered and burnt before being dumped in the lay-by.

A search and rescue team was yesterday searching moorland near where Mr Fulbirg's remains were found for his missing skull, leg and arm bones.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who is leading the inquiry, said Mr Fulbirg, who was known as Lennie, had been married four times and had fathered up to 32 children.

He was also known to police as a thief with a number of convictions for dishonesty.

Police today re-appealed for information on Mr Fulbirg's murder.