"Dogged" police work led to the identification of a dismembered body found on remote moorland more than eight years ago, an inquest has heard.

A walker discovered several bones in a lay-by off the A6033 Hebden Bridge Road above Oxenhope in March 1997, but it was only after advances in DNA testing that detectives were able to identify them as belonging to 49-year-old Leonard Fulbirg.

Four-times-married Mr Fulbirg, who had fathered 32 children, disappeared on August 11, 1996, after telling his brother Robert that he was going to meet a woman friend.

Yesterday Detective Inspector Chris Binns told the Bradford inquest how DNA samples were taken from Mr Fulbirg's brother, his mother Irene, daughter Kimberley and son Mark during 2003.

They were taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory, in Wetherby, where an expert concluded there was "extremely strong support" for the view that they were all linked to the deceased.

Det Supt Phil Sedgwick said it was apparent by July 2003 that Mr Fulbirg was the person concerned and a murder investigation was launched.

Last year police were unsuccessful with a major search of Oxenhope Moor in a bid to find his missing skull and limbs.

In April this year, two local people - a 38-year-old woman from Bierley and a 39-year-old man from Batley - were charged with murder and have since appeared before Bradford Crown Court.

After hearing that a trial date had been fixed, Bradford Coroner Roger Whittaker adjourned the inquest and gave permission for the release of Mr Fulbirg's remains so that a cremation service could be held in Newcastle on Thursday.

Mr Fulbirg was born in Newcastle, where he still has family.

Mr Whittaker said: "It is clear there has been a dogged investigation by Det Supt Sedgwick and Det Insp Binns."

Coroner's officer Leslie Scaife said the original post mortem had failed to reach a conclusion on the cause of death.

A second post mortem had been carried out at the request of the accused's lawyers and police no longer required the body to be retained.