POLICE divers are to resume their search of the River Yare for the body of missing Great Yarmouth man Derick Tempest.The father of three, of Nottingham Way, was last seen on October 28 walking along Blackfriars Road towards Hall's Garage in nearby Camden Place.

POLICE divers are to resume their search of the River Yare for the body of missing Great Yarmouth man Derick Tempest.

The father of three, of Nottingham Way, was last seen on October 28 walking along Blackfriars Road towards Hall's Garage in nearby Camden Place.

Forensic evidence discovered in the workshop has led detectives to believe he was murdered there.

They suspect his body was dumped in the river later that night after being moved from the premises in a white van.

Garage owners Jim Hall, 60, and Andrew Ventham, 49, were found dead in their workshop five days after Mr Tempest's disappearance, having apparently committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

In a further twist to the case, a 24-year-old local man was arrested before Christmas in connection with the alleged murder of Mr Tempest and released on police bail after questioning. On Wednesday, he reported to Yarmouth police station, where his bail was extended until Tuesday.

Det Chief Insp Rick Munns, who is leading an investigation that still involves 15 officers, said: “We will be continuing our search of the river between Haven Bridge and the harbour mouth on the basis of specific lines of inquiry, supported by the known movements of the van.

There is a limited number of access points to the river, and that is relevant.” He said completion of the river search, started before Christmas, had been delayed by the bad weather affecting diving conditions; to date, nothing of relevance had been found in the Yare.

Det Chief Insp Munns said his appeal for witnesses who might have seen the van - registration T625 HJW - on the evening of October 28 had drawn a disappointing response.

“I realise it is asking a lot for someone to remember the movements of a van that long ago, but I am still keen to hear from anyone who might have seen it in an unlikely place,” he said.

The vehicle, used by the two dead garage owners, was seen to leave the Queens Road area at about 7.05pm. Further sightings were made across town, including one at the Pasteur Road roundabout at 7.30pm, before the van returned to the Black-friars Road area at about 9pm.