West Yorkshire Police identifies Headingley resident as Hyde Park murder victim.

DETECTIVES investigating a murder following the discovery of a body in the Hyde Park area of Leeds at the weekend have identified the victim.

Firefighters were called about a bin on fire at Hyde Park Terrace at around 7pm on Saturday 16th January where they found the body of Michael Ayres, 60, from Headingley.

Two local men, aged 37 and 50, were arrested on Saturday night on suspicion of murder and a third man, 61, from Leeds, was arrested on Sunday 17th January on suspicion of murder.

Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson of the West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team said: “We have now informed Mr. Ayres’ family about his death and they are understandably devastated.

“Three men remain in custody having been arrested on suspicion of his murder and our enquiries are ongoing.

“We are still keen to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity of St. Augustine’s Wrangthorn church hall in the period leading up to when Mr. Ayres’ body was found.

“We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw three men pulling a wheelie bin along Hyde Park Terrace at about tea-time on Saturday.

“While we are still establishing the full circumstances surrounding his death, we can say that this appears to have been an incident involving people that are known to each other and there is no threat to the wider community in that area.

“We recognise however that this incident will cause concern among people living there and officers from the local neighbourhood policing team are conducting increased patrols of the area to provide reassurance.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team via 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.