FOUR people, including three from the York area, have been arrested in connection with the suspected murder of a man whose body was found more than two years ago.

Stephen Pollard, 58, was reported missing from his home in Wakefield on February 27, 2015, and his vehicle was discovered by police on March 5, 2015.

Mr Pollard’s body was found on May 22, 2015, on the banks of the River Aire, between Beal and Birkin in the Selby district of North Yorkshire.

Police said at the time the death was not treated as suspicious, but a West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said the reinvestigation of Mr Pollard's death had been ongoing for more than 18 months.

She said new information had recently come to light, which led to the announcement on Wednesday night that two men from the York area - aged 24 and 52 - and a 52-year-old man from the Wakefield area had been arrested on suspicion of murder. All have since been released under investigation by police.

On Thursday afternoon, West Yorkshire Police confirmed a further arrest had been made in the investigation, with a 51-year-old York woman held by police on suspicion of assisting an offender.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "Officers are re-examining the case and the family of Mr Pollard have been informed."

Detective superintendent Nick Wallen, from the Protective Services (Crime) team at West Yorkshire Police, said: “Inquiries into the incident remain ongoing and I would urge anyone who has information about how Mr Pollard died to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to phone police on 101.