A FULL inquest will be held in Burnley next week to try to solve the body in the river mystery.

The hearing into the death of Maurice Charles Sorbie will be held by East Lancashire Coroner David Smith at the magistrates' court building in Parker Lane on Thursday.

Extensive police inquiries were made after two anglers found the badly decomposed body in the River Calder near Burnley town centre on Saturday, February 21.

Identification was made by dental records after Claire Sorbie of Robinson Street, Burnley, realised from newspaper reports that the body could be that of her missing father.

Mr Sorbie, 44, was last seen by his daughter in August when they were living on a caravan site in Colne.

He then moved to live with his son Jason in Burnley but was not seen by his family again.

Police are still asking the public for help in tracing Mr Sorbie's last movements.

Det Insp Ron Griffiths said the body had obviously been in the water for months rather than weeks.

There were no obvious signs of violence and while the pathologist had been unable to give a cause of death inquiries suggested there were no suspicious circumstances.

Mr Sorbie served in the navy and worked in local factories before arthritis forced him to give up work.

Anyone who can help unravel the mystery of his last days is asked to contact police on 01282 425001.

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