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Police are trying to trace the family of a man who’s body was found in a canal.

Officers received a call at around 12.50pm on Sunday, September 7 reporting the body of a man in the water in the Leeds Liverpool canal near to Blackburn Road in Oswaldtwistle.

Andrea Renwick from Co Durham, was on a barge holiday with her family travelling down the canal when they spotted the man floating in the water and alerted the police. Underwater search teams were called in to recover the man’s body from the canal and there was a heavy police presence in the area.

Police are attempting to trace the man’s family before releasing his name.

A post mortem examination was carried out at Royal Blackburn Hospital, but the cause of death for the 32 year-old from East Africa is not yet known.

His death was originally being treated as unexplained, but police have said they are now satisfied there was no-one else involved in the man’s death.

Conservative Councillor Peter Britcliffe said it was a very sad situation.

He said: “Obviously this is a terrible tragedy and a great shock to the people who found him on their holiday.”

Residents who live on Buttermere Drive near to where the body was found said they were in shock at the discovery.

Jim Roberts said: “You don’t like to hear things like that, I have never heard of anything like this before in the area.

“It is very sad news.”

Mark Rutherford said: “It is always quite worrying when you see police cars in the area.

“I thought there had been a car crash, but to know they found a body it is quite shocking.”

A resident who wished to remain anonymous added: “I think unfortunately things like this are going to happen now and again, my grandmother died in that canal.

“My thoughts and condolences are with the family who have to now deal with the aftermath.”

Another resident who wished to remain anonymous added: “My thoughts are with the family, to lose someone is never nice and especially not like this.”

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “A Home Office post mortem examination has been carried out but the cause of death is unascertained.

“Further tests including toxicology will now be carried out but could take some time.

“What we can say, however, is that we are satisfied at this stage that there was no third party involvement in the man’s death. We are still trying to trace the man’s next of kin so we aren’t in a position to name him at this stage.”

Lancashire police officers are now appealing for anyone who may be able to help identify the man or who witnessed what happened to contact them.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101.