Police find human remains in Cumbria in search for missing man

Officers searching for missing Blackpool man Edward Forrester have issued an update.

Edward, 55, who goes by Eddie, was last seen in Seafield Road at 1.31pm on September 1. He was reported missing the following day.

Extensive enquiries have been ongoing since, with specialist search teams, uniformed officers, detectives, search dogs and colleagues from Cumbria Police all involved in searching multiple locations.

Yesterday morning (September 13) Lancashire Police were contacted by colleagues from Cumbria Police who had found human remains in land off Ashes Lane, Staveley, Kendal.

Enquiries are ongoing to identify who those remains belong to. A scene remains in place.

Eddie’s family have been made aware of the development and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

Further searches will take place in Cumbria over the coming days.

Last week, after consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service, William Wilkinson, 65, of Seafield Road, Blackpool, was charged with Eddie’s murder.

He has since appeared at Preston Crown Court where he was remanded back into custody to stand trial on March 4, 2024.

DCI Mark Haworth-Oates, of our Force Major Investigation Team, said: “This remains a fast-moving investigation and yesterday’s sad discovery is potentially a very significant development.

“Eddie’s family are being kept up to date and this is clearly a very distressing time for them. With that in mind, I would ask for measured and accurate reporting and for the avoidance of unhelpful speculation. A man has been charged with murder and we are also keen for the integrity of the investigation to be protected.

“We are still asking for anybody who saw a white Peugeot Boxer van, registration KX09 XPA, which was in Blackpool and Lytham St Annes on September 2, and in Blackpool and Cumbria, specifically Kendal and Windermere, on September 3 and 4 to come forward.”