DETECTIVES investigating the killing of mum-of-two Lindsay Birbeck have released footage of a suspect pulling a wheelie bin down a road.

The CCTV footage shows a man walking along Burnley Road towards Accrington at about 2.30pm on August 17 - five days after Ms Birbeck disappeared - pulling a blue wheelie bin.

After he passes the camera the man turns down Whitewell Road towards the cemetery.

A bin similar to the one in the footage was found near the scene where Lindsay was discovered at Accrington Cemetery.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Detective Supt Andy Cribbin, of the Force Major Investigation Team, who is leading the murder inquiry said: “The man in these images is now a suspect in our investigation and I am appealing for the public’s help to try and identify him.

"If anyone thinks they know who this person is I would urge them to come forward and contact us urgently.

"I am however conscious that there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this footage so if this is you in these images then I would ask you to come and speak to us so we can eliminate you from our inquiry."

Earlier on Tuesday police confirmed the body found at Accrington Cemetery at the weekend was that of missing teaching assistant Lindsay Birbeck.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Ms Birbeck, 47, went missing from home on August 12 and after the discovery on Saturday evening of a woman’s body at Accrington Cemetery, detectives launched a murder inquiry.

A post mortem examination showed that Lindsay died as a result of compression of the neck.

A police spokesperson added: "We are aware of rumours circulating on social media about what may have happened to Lindsay and for the family’s sake we once again would urge people not to speculate as this is causing her loved ones significant additional distress at what is clearly an extremely difficult time for them.

"A large team of detectives, uniformed officers and staff are working on the enquiry to establish what happened to Lindsay after she went missing and to identify who was responsible for her death.

"No arrests have been made at this stage."

Detectives continue to carry out a review of CCTV, and are conducting house to house enquiries to try and piece together Lindsay’s movements since she was captured on CCTV on Burnley Road at just after 4pm on Monday, August 12.

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Detective Supt Cribbin added: “I understand that people in the community will be concerned about what has happened and we are doing all we can to try to find out what has happened to Lindsay so we can reassure people and provide answers for her family.

“There are a large number of police in and around the Burnley Road area and if anyone has any concerns they should speak to an officer but I would urge people to go about the lives as usual.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Ms Birbeck was last seen wearing a purple Rab bubble jacket, black leggings, a white shirt with blue pin stripes and black trainers with a white sole.

Her Huawei mobile phone is also missing.

Police urge anyone with information to submit it through the major crime web portal at mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020119E06-PO1

Alternatively call police on 101 quoting log number 0824 of August 26 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.The teaching assistant went missing from home on Monday, August 12, and a woman's body was found on Saturday at the cemetery.