Detectives in Greater Manchester are probing Bradford links to the murder of a dad whose body was found at a beauty spot near Oldham.

Craig Wilcox was discovered in the water at Dovestone Reservoir, on the edge of Saddleworth Moor, on February 24.

A post mortem examination on his body was carried out, but the results were inconclusive.

But when police enquiries found that Mr Wilcox had confided in friends that he feared for his safety, detectives started a murder probe – with some of their investigations focusing on Bradford.

Detective Inspector Terry Crompton, of Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team (MIT), said Mr Wilcox had spoken to a number of people to tell them he was in trouble and that some lads were after him.

However, said DI Crompton, the father-of-one did not tell his friends of any details about what the trouble was or who the lads were.

Nine days before Mr Wilcox’s body was found, there was a missing person appeal in the Telegraph & Argus asking for information on the 28-year-old’s whereabouts.

He had last been seen on January 6 at the home of relatives in Failsworth, near Manchester.

A police spokesman said: “When Craig Wilcox initially went missing there had been sightings in the Bradford area. People had said that he was seen in that area.

“Detectives are looking into the connections.”

On the day he was last seen, Mr Wilcox left his relatives’ house at about 7pm but didn’t say where he was going.

His parents reported him missing a few days later when he failed to return home.

He was wearing a grey hooded top and blue combat pants when he was last seen alive. Detectives are also looking for a blue canvas Vans shoe Mr Wilcox is believed to have lost between January 6 and his body being discovered.

Det Chf Insp Pete Marsh, of the MIT, said: “We are trying to piece together his movements from when he went missing in January to when his body was recovered.”

Mr Wilcox’s dad said: “He was positive about the future for the first time in a long time.

“We are totally devastated that Craig has died, we will never forgot him and will keep his memory alive for his son ‘Little Craig’.

If anyone knows of Mr Wilcox being in Bradford or of any connections he had to the city, connect the investigation room at Greater Manchester Police on 0161 8564711.