THE body of a man found floating in the River Derwent at Malton has been identified as William Andrew Twomey.

Police today issued an urgent appeal for anyone who may have seen the North Easterner before his death.

Mr Twomey was found this week when a driver for Dennis Distribution, based at York Road Industrial Estate, spotted his body floating in the River Derwent this week. He is thought to have been in the water for up to six weeks.

The 52-year-old, who lived at South View West, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was last seen discharging himself from York District Hospital on December 23, said a police spokesman.

"We want to know where he went next," said the spokesman.

"Did he seek accommodation in York, perhaps at a hostel, or did he go straight to Malton?"

"If he did go straight to Malton, did he travel by car, bus or train and did he seek accommodation there? These are all questions we would like answering and we hope someone has the answers."

Mr Twomey has been described by police as having a very distinctive appearance and personality.

"Detectives feel that anyone who might have seen him around Christmas time would have remembered him," said the spokesman.

"He was six foot tall and heavily built. He had greying, fair hair and blue eyes. He was missing several teeth and had one protruding tooth at the front.

"He was wearing blue jogging bottoms with the words 'consultant physiotherapist' embroidered on them.

"He also had, what can best be described as, an argumentative and noisy disposition.

"Does anyone in Malton remember seeing a big man with a North East accent having a loud debate with someone in the town over Christmas?"

Police are appealing to anyone with further information or who might be able to answer any of these questions to contact Malton Police on 01723 509352.

Updated: 11:49 Thursday, February 07, 2002