POLICE have named the man they want to interview in connection with abduction and murder after the body of a woman was found in a car behind a Blackpool town centre pub on October 18.

Mother of three, Megan Margerison - pictured here - was found with a stab wound in the boot of her blue Citroen Saxo, parked in a pay and display car park at the back of the Ramsden Arms, in Buchanan Street, at 10.30am.

Police are keen to speak to 49-year-old John Steele, a former boyfriend of the woman, as they fear he could be a danger to the public and relatives of the dead woman.

He was last seen with 52-year-old Miss Margerison after she was taken against her will from outside her daughter's Preston home at 9pm on October 17.

The search for the couple ended when police were called to a car after a passer by spotted it had a shattered window. They identified the car as being Miss Margerison's before making the gruesome find A countywide hunt was yesterday taking place to find Mr Steele, from Higher Walton, who is described as being 5ft 4ins tall and of stocky build with short, receeding mousey hair and wearing a black fleece and dark blue jeans.

A police spokesperson said unemployed Mr Steele, who had been suffering from depression, was in a disturbed state and they were appealing for anyone who had seen the couple or the blue Citroen Saxo car registration number T914 BCW from the time Miss Margerison was abducted to it being found on the car park.

Detective Sergeant Graham Gooch, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "We have not yet found Mr Steele and we are looking for him in conncertion with the death. We have named him because we fear there may be danger to other members of the public or to other relatives. We are appealing to the public to report any sightings of him. It is very important and very urgent that we speak to him."

Anyone with any information can call the incident room on (01772) 203203.