THESE are the faces of the two men found bludgeoned to death in a York bedsit.

York Police released the images today as the distraught families of father-of-three Kevin Mulgrew, 38, and Daniel Wall, 27, spoke of their anguish.

The two York families backed detectives in calling on the public for potentially-vital information about the events which led up to the gruesome discovery of the two men's bodies in a Gillygate flat.

Senior officers launched a double murder investigation after the partially-decomposed bodies were found in the council-owned first-floor flat last Thursday.

In a statement, the Mulgrew family said: "We would like to say that although Kevin was by no means an angel, and had his problems with drugs, he was a good man to his family and a devoted father to his sons, David, Jake and Liam.

"We would appeal to anyone that has information as to the murders of Kevin and Danny to contact the police, no matter how small or insignificant they think that information is."

A member of the Wall family said: "The entire family are still grieving over the tragic loss of Daniel our son and brother."

The bodies of Mr Mulgrew and Mr Wall were found, partially-covered, at the flat by police officers last Thursday at 4pm.

Officers said the two men, who lived in York, but were of no fixed address, had connections with the city's "drugs community".

Police were called to the one-bedroomed property, which backs on to the city walls at Moatside Court, by neighbours complaining about a bad smell.

On Tuesday workers at the Ovenglove Bakery, below the flat, had found a brown-coloured substance coming from the ceiling and staining their walls.

Council workers attended and thought the staining was due to a water leak. They spoke to an occupant of the flat and arranged for the leak to be fixed, but when a plumber arrived no one answered the door.

Officers have asked for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the areas of Gillygate, Moatside Court or Lord Mayor's Walk between November 25 and December 4 to contact them.

An incident room for the inquiry, named Operation Calendar, has been set up at Fulford Police Station. Members of the public can contact detectives on 01904 669430 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Updated: 10:48 Tuesday, December 09, 2003