DETECTIVES today urged the tenant of a York bedsit where two men were found bludgeoned to death to come forward.

Police named the two men, whose partially-decomposed bodies were found on the floor of the council-owned flat in Gillygate, as Kevin Mulgrew, 38, and Daniel Wall, 27.

Both men, who had no fixed address but were from the York area, had suffered severe head injuries, which police believe were caused during an attack with a blunt object.

Detective Superintendent Javad Ali said today that the dead men were known members of the city's drug community.

He asked the missing tenant of the flat, who has not been named, to contact the police as soon as possible.

Daniel's devastated parents, Jeff and Rosie Wall, of Chapelfields, York, told the Evening Press that it was a "terrible loss".

Mrs Wall, who is chairwoman of Chapelfields Residents Association, said: "We just want the opportunity to grieve in peace. I've spoken to the police and I've got nothing more to say at the moment."

Mr Ali said other drug users in York may well hold evidence which could be vital to the inquiry, and he urged them to contact the police, in confidence.

"This was no random killing. It was no indiscriminate attack so we do not believe the public are at risk at this stage," he said.

"I would like to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to trace and identify those persons responsible for this horrendous assault," he said.

More than 20 detectives are working on the double murder inquiry which follows the discovery of the two men's bodies last Thursday.

Investigators believe the partially-covered bodies may have been in the flat for up to a week.

Attention was first drawn to the flat when workers in the bakery below reported a brownish-coloured fluid staining their walls on Tuesday.

Forensic experts were continuing to examine the first-floor one-bedroomed flat today. The weapon has not yet been recovered. DS Ali said Mr Mulgrew was recently separated from his wife, with whom he had three sons, aged ten, 13 and 14.

He said that Mr Wall, a single man, was "well-known in the area and well-liked and loved".

"He loved his family and recently when his father was in hospital, he was a regular visitor to see and support him.

"Daniel liked football and was a keen Liverpool supporter. He also enjoyed music and videos," said Mr Ali. Police have appealed for information from people who may have been in the Gillygate, Lord Mayor's Walk or Moatside Court areas between November 25 and December 4.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious can phone the incident room on 01904 669430 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Updated: 15:36 Monday, December 08, 2003