A massive manhunt has been launched after a man was found dead on a riverside bench, with house-to-house enquiries taking place and extra police patrols deployed to find his killer.
The murder investigation was launched after the man in his 50s was found dead on the canal footpath near the River Nene, Northampton, on Friday.
Northamptonshire Police were called by East Midlands Ambulance Service at around 6.30pm after the man was discovered on a bench behind Auctioneers Court.
The River Nene is shut off to pedestrians and river traffic between London Road bridge and Nunn Mills Road bridge and will likely remain closed until Tuesday evening while the search takes place.
The police are currently appealing for witnesses or CCTV footage of the nearby area, specifically from those living in apartments that overlook the river.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Torie Harrison, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: ‘Our investigation is continuing at pace and we have a dedicated team of officers working hard to establish the circumstances that have led to the man’s death.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are firmly with his family at this time and they are being supported by specially trained officers from the investigation team.
‘Officers have been in the area today carrying out house-to-house enquiries and have spoken with a number of people.
‘However, we are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward and we’re particularly keen to locate any CCTV or other camera footage of the nearby area.
‘There are a large number of apartments that overlook the river and the area near to where the man was found, and anyone from these residences, or anywhere else nearby, who may have camera footage or any other information, is urged to contact police as soon as possible.
‘Any information, no matter how small, can help us piece together exactly what happened.
‘We will continue to have an increased police presence in the area, and neighbourhood officers will be carrying out high-visibility patrols throughout the weekend to offer reassurance and support the community. If you have any concerns, please do speak to an officer.’
