DETECTIVES investigating the murder of an oriental man whose body was found in a canal near Burn in the Selby area have now confirmed his identity.

Police who say they have made “significant progress” with the enquiry have also moved their probe to the York area.

The real name of the man recovered from the canal near Burn, Selby on March 20 was Cai Guan Chen, aged 38, and his assumed name was Bing Lin.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “He was a Chinese national who has been living illegally in the UK under a false identity since 2001. He is believed to have lived in various locations around the UK, his last known address was in the London area.

“The investigation is currently progressing and police are following a number of lines of enquiry.

“Police are currently carrying out a forensic examination of a property in Heslington Lane in York as part of the enquiry.”