ANOTHER "suspicious item" has been found in a Northampton lake – but DNA tests on body parts already found in the area have proved inconclusive.Further investigations were today being carried out on the grim find uncovered just yards away from where a foot and part of a leg were discovered.

ANOTHER "suspicious item" has been found in a Northampton lake – but DNA tests on body parts already found in the area have proved inconclusive.

Further investigations were today being carried out on the grim find uncovered just yards away from where a foot and part of a leg were discovered.

The grim find was made by a man walking his dog at Ransome Road lake early yesterday morning .

The area was cordoned off while a Thames Valley police underwater search team recovered the "suspicious item" during a two-hour search of the area.

Northamptonshire police said the item would be examined by a pathologist to determine whether it is human.

The discovery comes after a lower part of a right leg and a complete foot were recovered from the former gravel pit last Monday after they were spotted by another dog walker.

Initial DNA tests have proved inconclusive in proving the identity of the body part. More tests will now be carried out to investigate the possible link with Ian Halls enquiry.

Inspector Chris Wolton, from Suffolk police, said: "Suffolk police can confirm that we have been made aware of a further discovery of body parts, thought to be human, at Ransome Road lake in Northampton by Northamptonshire police on Saturday 15 May 2004.

"Suffolk police are maintaining liaison with Northamptonshire police over this latest discovery in addition to the earlier find on Monday 10 May 2004.

"Further enquiries will be carried out to ascertain whether these discoveries are linked to Suffolk Constabulary's investigation into the murder of Ian Halls."

Mr Halls, 63, of Tower Mill Road, Ipswich, was reported missing in January.

In March, a leg, head and two hands were found in the River Witham in Lincolnshire, and tests proved they belonged to Mr Halls, who lived in Tower Mill Road in Ipswich.

Michael Harvey, 49, of North Down Avenue, Manchester, was charged with his murder in February.