River remains do not belong to murdered prostitutes

Forensic tests on the matter found in the River Aire at Shipley, West Yorkshire, revealed that they were animal, not human.

Meanwhile, tests continued on tools discovered in a suitcase pulled out of the river over the weekend.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Further forensic examinations on remains recovered this weekend show they are not human but animal waste which appears to be from food preparation."

Stephen Griffiths, 40, who referred to himself in court as the "crossbow cannibal", has been charged with murdering Ms Blamires.

He is also accused of killing Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, whose bodies have not been found.

The remains were recovered on Friday, a short distance from where the body parts of Ms Blamires had been dumped.

The suitcase containing tools was found on Saturday and was still to undergo forensic tests, police said.

Officers from West Yorkshire Police's Underwater Search Unit were yesterday continuing to search the water.

Police were also continuing to search areas of Bradford city centre, including excavations carried out by utility companies.

The searches will continue into next week, police said.

Griffiths will appear before Bradford Crown Court on 7 June via video link from Wakefield Prison.