FORENSIC experts spent most of yesterday searching toxic waters on Teesside as they stepped up their hunt for a murder weapon.

Specialist staff from Cleveland Fire Brigade worked alongside detectives to search for a hammer believed to have been used in the murder of 39-year-old father-of-four Abdul Ghafoor, who was found dead in his home in Teak Street, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday.

But the murky waters of the dock at Middlehaven, close by Middlesbrough FC's Riverside Stadium, is toxic with carcinogenic sludge at the bottom of the water.

Firefighters wearing protective suits were brought in as a digger from Harbour and General, the construction company regenerating the site, dragged up the pungent sludge as part of the gruesome hunt.

Sergeant Clive Pengilley, of Cleveland Police, said metal detectors would be used in an attempt to locate the hammer, and said it was very important it was found.

He said: "It is a very unusual step in the fact that we are using the fire brigade to assist us. It is very important that we find the murder weapon because in this case it confirms the evidence we have."

Last night, officers called off their fruitless search for the day, saying the painstaking hunt would, if necessary, continue over the coming months.

Police said they were still appealing for anyone who saw Mr Ghafoor from 9pm on Sunday evening to call them on (01642) 303388.

l Three flatmates have appeared in court charged with Mr Ghafoor's murder. Malcolm Edwards, 18, and Joseph Limon, 22, were remanded in custody while Derek Mendum, 20, also of Borough Road, Middlesbrough, was granted bail by Teesside magistrates on Thursday.