Murdered man 'was sex offender'

Police have charged a man with Alan Street's murder

A man who police believe was murdered - even though they have not found a body - was a registered sex offender, officers have confirmed.

Blood found at a house on 21 December on Stockbridge Road, Padiham, matched that of 26-year-old Alan Street.

Keiran Davison, 20, of Stockbridge Road, has been charged with his murder.

Police are searching for Alan Palmer and Peter Leonard. Mr Palmer's car was found in Accrington, Lancashire, on Tuesday afternoon.

Lancashire Police confirmed that Mr Street was a registered sex offender, but were not releasing further details.

I do believe that the two men may be together Det Supt Neil Hunter

Det Supt Neil Hunter, of Lancashire Police, said: "We need to speak to both Mr Leonard and Mr Palmer in relation to this incident as a matter of urgency.

"I would urge them both or anybody who knows of their whereabouts or has been contacted by them or been in their company recently to contact police immediately. I do believe that the two men may be together.

"I would like to make people aware that Mr Palmer is a long distance lorry driver and has strong connections in Padiham and Oswaldtwistle, but due to his employment I cannot rule out that he and Mr Leonard may well have travelled out of the county and could be anywhere in the country."

Forensic tests

Mr Palmer's car, a blue five-door Mitsubishi Colt saloon, was found in Annie Street, Accrington.

Police said the car has been taken for forensic testing and urged anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area to come forward.

Det Supt Hunter, added: "We are appealing for anyone who may have any information at all to come forward, particularly anyone who may have seen the Mitsubishi vehicle in the area or anybody approaching or leaving the vehicle since Sunday the 21st of December.

"House to house inquiries will be conducted in the Annie Street area to establish if anyone locally has seen anything suspicious."

Mr Leonard, 51, is white, about 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build with blue eyes and light brown hair, cut very short.

Snake tattoos

He has a two-inch scar on his nose and the words "LOVE" and "HEIDI" tattooed on his hands.

Mr Palmer, 43, is white, 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build, with receding dark brown hair. He has brown eyes and several tattoos on his left arm, including a snake head, a bull, an eagle and a swallow.

On his right arm he has tattoos of a snake and a skull, as well as the words "MAM" and "LUCKY".

Mr Street is described as being of medium build, about 5ft 11ins tall with blue eyes and light, straight brown hair, cut short. He had a local accent.

Police know he went from Burnley to Oswaldtwistle on 19 December and are appealing for anyone who saw him to contact them.

Mr Davison has been remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on 18 March.