POLICE said they have new leads in their hunt for the killers of a father-of-two following an intensive search.

Cleveland Police set up roadblocks around a sprawling grid of back streets in Middlesbrough, spoke to 700 people and stopped 180 vehicles.

Detective Superintendent Karnail Dulku, the man leading the hunt to find the killers of 31-year-old heroin addict Darren Manders, said the inconvenience to travellers was justified.

He said the operation, which involved more than 50 officers, had thrown up "excellent results."

He said: "We now have several new lines of inquiry to follow up.

"We have uncovered further information from several members of the public, which will now be acted on in the hope of finding those responsible for Darren's death."

The decomposed remains of Mr Manders were found by a dog-walker, half-concealed under a pile of logs in Starvation Clump plantation, on the edge of Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, ten weeks ago. He had been bludgeoned to death.

Mr Manders was last seen alive in Bow Street, central Middlesbrough, where he shared a house with several others.

It was Bow Street and neighbouring streets which police concentrated their operation on Thursday night.

Anyone with information about the murder is asked to call police on (01642) 303188 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.