A TOP detective has told two murder suspects to hand themselves in now the alleged victim’s body has been found.

After it was confirmed today that the body discovered in a culvert was Alan Street, Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter warned Alan Palmer and Peter Leonard: “We will never give up looking for you.

"My message to them is simple – hand yourselves in”, Mr Hunter said.

“We are as committed as ever to finding them and will go wherever we have to in order to do so.

"I intend to pursue them relentlessly and if they fail to heed this strong advice they will spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders.

“This weekend we have spoken with Alan Palmer’s close family and even they now admit the most sensible thing for him to do is to surrender himself to the police.”

Police have confirmed that the body found yesterday in an Accrington underground stream was that of 26-year-old Mr Street, who they believe was killed at a house in Padiham on December 21.

Mr Street's body was discovered by Environment Agency contract workers checking the underground culverts beneath Woodnook Mill in Mount Street.

Forensic tests are being carried out on the body to establish exactly how Mr Street - a convicted rapist - died.

Natural causes or accidental injuries have already been ruled out.

The body was found face down in knee-high water. It is not known how long it had been there.

Officers were called to the home of Alan Palmer in Stockbridge Road, Padiham, shortly before Christmas, where they discovered a front room soaked with Mr Street's blood.

Neither Palmer, nor his associate Peter Leonard, have been seen since the killing.

Mr Hunter said: “The progress over the weekend and now the discovery of Alan Street’s body is a significant development in our investigation and I would like to express my appreciation for the co-operation and information we received that led to the recovery of the body.”

•Two men have already been charged with Mr Street’s murder and have been remanded in custody by the courts.