Oil drum murder victim identified

The man's body was recovered from an oil drum in the river

Police have identified the man whose body was found in an oil drum in the River Clyde on Thursday.

William Bates, 43, from Possilpark, Glasgow, was the victim of a "sustained and brutal attack" and suffered "horrific injuries", police said.

A murder inquiry was launched after his body was found near the Erskine Bridge in West Dunbartonshire.

Detectives had hoped someone might be able to identify the man from the distinctive jewellery he was wearing.

He had a gold-coloured ring on the little finger of his left hand, which had the word 'Dad' written on it, with stones embedded in the letters.

His body was thought to have been in the water for between three and 14 days.

Police said that although Mr Bates had not been reported missing, he had not been seen by his family for some time.

Det Supt John Riggans, the officer leading the investigation, said: "We are very keen to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard from him or who has any information that will help us trace his whereabouts between the end of June and when his body was found on Thursday."