Walkers urged to help hunt for killer

The body of Mark Corley, 22, was found with a gunshot wound near the village of Bolam, near Darlington, last month.

A well-known criminal to police in the Lincolnshire area, Mr Corley had disappeared from his home in Grantham, in July last year.

He was found by agricultural workers carrying out repair work, after flooding badly affected fields around the village.

Mr Corley was found near a bridleway between Bolam and Killerby, not far from the B6275 road from Piercebridge and Royal Oak.

It is believed he was killed where his body was found, rather than having been transported from elsewhere in the country.

An investigation into his disappearance was under way long before the discovery of his body on December 13, and officers have spoken to a number of people, many of whom they believe would have reason to cause harm to Mr Corley.

About a dozen people were arrested and released on police bail before Christmas, in relation to a variety of offences linked to the murder.

Those arrested included people from Lincolnshire and Scotland.

None are from the North-East, a spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said yesterday.

Some of the offences were described as "peripheral offences", and included such things as perverting the course of justice and abetting alleged criminals.

A team of 20 detectives from Lincolnshire Police are contin-uing their investigations in a number of locations around Britain.

Leaflets featuring Mr Corley's photograph and a map pinpointing where he was found, was distributed in the Bolam area, yesterday, urging local walkers to help with the investigation.

The Lincolnshire Police spokesman added: "Our inquiries are still progressing. Inquiries are being conducted in Lincolnshire, Scotland and in the North-East."

Anyone who can help with the inquiry is urged to contact the incident room at Grantham police station on (01476) 403297, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555555