THE death of a man found drowned in a Bolton lodge is still shrouded in mystery -- up to two months after the tragedy.

Despite an intensive police probe into Mervyn Little's death, detectives are still unclear about the events which led to his body being discovered in Doffcocker Lodge.

Mr Little, 45, was last seen walking from the Nelson pub on Chorley Old Road at 11pm on June 26.

Seven hours later he was found face down in the water by a woman walking her dog along the banks of the lodge.

Detectives have managed to track down more members of Mr Little's family and have spoken to dozens of people following house-to-house and pub-to-pub inquiries into his death which is being treated as suspicious.

But senior officers are still appealing for anyone who may have spotted Mr Little -- who lived in Chorley Old Road, Bolton -- to contact them, having failed to establish why he may have gone to the lodge.

And yesterday, it was confirmed that Mr Little's brother and sister, who had not seen the dead man for several years, had contacted detectives.

Det Insp John Chadwick, who is heading the team which is probing the death, said: "As a result of this story going to press, family members have come forward in recent weeks and we have been liaising with them.

"Last week they also visited our office to discuss the case with officers.

"It's being treated as suspicious in as much as we do not know what Mr Little's movements were before his death and why he was at the lodge."

It is understood Mr Little's brother and sister, who live in the Preston area, rang Bolton police after spotting a police appeal about his death.

The family had tried to contact Mr Little about seven years ago, following the death of his father, but were unable to get hold of him.

Mr Little's body has still not been released by the coroner's office for burial as the investigation continues. An inquest has been opened and adjourned.

And today police chiefs put out a new appeal for anyone with information about the dead man's final hours to contact them.

Det Insp Chadwick added: "We're still trying to trace people who may have seen him overnight."

Anyone with information should contact Astley Bridge CID on 0161 872 5050.