Were you in travelling along the footpath between Wathen Wigg bridge and Beckett’s bridge in Northampton town centre in the early hours of Friday, August 1?

Police were called by the East Midlands Ambulance Service at about 6.30am on Friday, August 1, after 57-year-old Robert Brown was found fatally injured on a bench on the towpath behind Auctioneers Court, and a murder investigation was launched.

Over the past three days, detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), supported by colleagues from other Northamptonshire Police departments, and specialist diving officers from the region, has continued to follow up various lines of enquiries.

As a result of these enquiries, the investigation team has re-issued their appeal for anyone with information to come forward and would particularly like to hear from any cyclists or e-scooter riders who were travelling along the footpath between 1.50am and 5am last Friday (August 1).

Detective Inspector Torie Harrison, who is leading the murder investigation, said: “This is a popular route with people walking to and from work, and through our inquiries, we know there were several cyclists and e-scooter rider who were in the area near to where Robert was found.

“While we would like to thank the community for their support, in particularly those who have contacted us with information which has helped with our investigation so far, we are still appealing for help to piece together the circumstances surrounding Robert’s death.

“We still need to trace cyclists and an e-scooter rider who were seen in the area and would urge them to please contact us as a matter of urgency. They may not realise it, but it’s possible they saw or heard something that could help us with the investigation.”