THE EX-BOSS of 'body in the lake' murder suspect Robert Lund today spoke out in support of his friend -- and insisted he was sure he was innocent.

Claude Quarin employed Lund, 52, in the town of Albi in Southern France for four years until earlier this year.

He says he took on Lund despite him being considered to be the prime suspect in the disappearance of Evelyn Lund, his 52-year-old former Darwen wife, whose body was found at the bottom of a lake close to their 400-year-old farmhouse in October 2001.

She had vanished on December 29, 1999, prompting one of the biggest investigations ever seen in the area of France the couple had moved to in 1997.

Lund was arrested at his home, in the small village in La Veaute, on Monday and, after a brief appearance in court, was put behind bars while investigations continue.

He is said to have initially been calm when questioned by police when first interviewed on Monday, but later 'disintegrated' when he was told legal proceedings were to begin against him.

Mr Quarin said he was confident of his former employee's innocence, saying he had always been a good judge of character.

He said: "He left us because of a work matter, a difference of opinion.

"He was conscientious and worked hard, travelling 25km every day to get to work.

"I do not believe he could harm anyone."

It is not the first time he has spoken up in defence of Lund who, he said, he also considered was a friend.

Last December, when the Lancashire Evening Telegraph visited the region to investigate the case on the fourth anniversary of Evelyn's disappearance, he said: "I would drop a mile out of the sky if you came to me in the future and said he had been found guilty of any involvement with Evelyn's disappearance. I am a very demanding boss, but I am also a friend.

"What has happened to Robert is abominable. They have treated him like a criminal."

A support group has been set up to fight to get Lund released from prison in Albi.

In the meantime, family friend Barbara Bullen from Blackburn is staying at Lund's house.

She said: "We're trying to find out what is happening. I hope to get a visiting order so I can go and see him. I have no idea how he is."