Items tested in Bradford women murder case

Police are examining dozens of items of possible evidence in their inquiry into the deaths of three women in Bradford.

Stephen Griffiths has been charged with the murders of Suzanne Blamires, Susan Rushworth and Shelley Armitage.

Items found in the River Aire at Shipley, close to where the remains of Ms Blamires, 36, were found last Tuesday, are being examined.

Searches of sites across Bradford city centre are also taking place, as the inquiry enters its second week.

There have been no signs of Ms Armitage, 31, or Ms Rushworth, 43.

Mr Griffiths, of Thornton Road, Bradford, appeared in court on Friday where he gave his name as the "the crossbow cannibal".

He is due to appear at Bradford Crown Court again via videolink from Wakefield Prison on 7 June.

West Yorkshire Police said at least 40 detectives were involved with the case.

Police divers were seen searching and removing items from the river on Tuesday, while officers used wheelbarrows to remove material from the area around Mr Griffiths's flat.

About 100 sites across the city centre were being searched, including excavations made by utility companies.

On Friday, further remains were found a short distance from where Ms Balmires's remains were discovered, but tests later revealed they were animal and not human.

A suitcase containing tools was pulled out of the river over the weekend. It cannot be forensically tested until it has dried out fully.