THE body of a missing rapist could be buried in remote moorland above Bolton, police revealed.

The search for Alan Lee Street is now set to focus on land in the Rivington Pike and Winter Hill areas, detectives said.

They believe Mr Street, aged 26, of Oswaldtwistle, was killed at a house in Padiham, near Burnley, in a “frenzied attack” before his body was taken in a blue Mitsubishi Colt belonging to a man they want to question.

But his body has never been found and now — following a series of tip-offs from the public — officers are to carry out their search in the Bolton area.

Police also want locals, or anyone who has recently visited the beauty spot, to come forward to help the narrow down the burial site.

As the location is made up of vast swathes of moorland, officers say they need this assistance before specialist teams can begin searching.

They are also planning to focus on land between Knuzden and Oswaldtwistle, near Blackburn.

Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter of Lancashire police said: “In response to information received from the public these two sites have been identified.

“I am appealing to ramblers or dog walkers in both areas who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously or driving a blue Mitsubishi Colt, particularly on Sunday, December 21, to come forward.

“We are extremely interested in those areas but we have an open mind about other locations.”

Mr Hunter was speaking after forensic tests revealed that blood found in the boot of the Mitsubishi Colt found abandoned in Accrington last week was Mr Street’s.

Detectives say they suspected Mr Street, from Oswaldtwistle, had been killed after finding his blood splattered in the house in Padiham last month.

Police want to speak to two men, lorry driver Alan Palmer — the owner of the Mitsubishi Colt — and Peter Leonard, who have not been since since the alleged attack took place on December 21.

Lancashire Police have refused to comment on whether the case is being treated as a possible vigilante attack but detectives have confirmed that Mr Street was a registered sex offender. He was convicted of rape in 1999.

A 20-year-old man has appeared before Burnley magistrates charged with Mr Street’s murder.