Missing man Peter Curphey's body found in Wigan canal

A body pulled from a canal in Wigan has been confirmed as being missing man Peter Curphey.

Mr Curphey went missing on March 16 this year. A huge search was sparked for the 44-year-old by Greater Manchester Police.

Earlier this month, on April 11, the body of a man was pulled from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. A spokesperson for Bolton Coroners' Court confirmed this morning (April 27) that it was tragically Mr Curphey.

READ MORE: Man arrested on suspicion of murder of missing mum as GMP officers drafted in to help mass search

An inquest into his death will be opened at a later date, the spokesperson added. Police said previously that there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and that his next of kin had been informed.

Officers first issued an appeal for help to find Mr Curphey on March 27. He had been missing for 11 days at that stage.

They said officers were becoming 'increasingly concerned' about him. Emergency services were then called to the canal near to Horton Street in Wigan to a report of body being spotted.

Mr Curphey was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. In a statement issued earlier this month, a GMP spokesperson said: "We were called at around 3.40pm on Monday 11 April to a report of a body in the canal close to Horton Street, Wigan, Emergency services attended and a man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"He has not been formally identified but we believe he is a man in his 40s - we have informed his next of kin. Enquiries suggest there are no suspicious circumstances and a file has been passed to the coroner."

Read more of today's top stories here