POLICE investigating the brutal murder of an Enfield man have this week hinted that possible criminal connections may have played a part in his killing.

John William Harvey, 59, of Drapers Road, a former market trader and boxing fan who was well known in the East End of London. His body was found battered and burning behind a wall in a Cumbrian field, near Killington Lake, last month. He was not known to have had any connections with the area.

The investigation is being conducted by 30 officers from Cumbria, but is being centred around London in a bid to find out more about his recent past and criminal connections and what possible reason there could be for the discovery of his body in the Lake District.

DCI Keith Churchman, in charge of the inquiry, said: "What we have been able to establish is that Mr Harvey had a number of previous convictions.

"However, at this stage, we have not been able to determine whether this, or indeed any circumstance of his past or most current lifestyle, may indicate why he was killed and his body disposed of in such a brutal fashion."

Enquiries are continuing in London, and posters asking for information have gone up in pubs, shops and public places all over Enfield.

Investigators are also asking anyone who saw a person buying petrol or a petrol container in suspicious circumstances, possibly from Killington Services near to where his burning body was discovered by the lake, to come forward.

Police are also hoping that he may have been spotted after his visit to the Mastercare Valet Services shop in Potters Bar at 11.30am on Tuesday, April 22, which is currently the last sighting of him alive.

If you think you may have information that could help enquiries, contact the incident room on 01539 722611.