Police find missing woman remains

Shelley Armitage had been missing for a month

Human remains found in the River Aire in Shipley are those of missing woman Shelley Armitage, West Yorkshire Police have said.

Extensive forensic tests on "a small piece of human tissue" showed it to belong to the 31-year-old sex worker.

Officers said her family have been informed.

Stephen Griffiths, 40, who described himself as "the crossbow cannibal", has been charged with the murder of Ms Armitage along with two other women.

Ms Armitage, who disappeared a month ago and was known to have drink and drug problems, was "a much-loved daughter and sister", detectives said.

Ongoing forensic tests

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Further exhaustive forensic tests carried out on a small piece of human tissue recovered from the River Aire over the weekend have confirmed that it is that of Shelley Armitage.

"Shelley's family have been informed.

"Searches are continuing, as are ongoing forensic tests. This includes work on the black holdall and contents recovered at the weekend."

Other remains found at the weekend were dismissed on Monday after testing confirmed they were from an animal.

A large black suitcase pulled from the river on Saturday was found to contain tools which are currentlybeing examined.

Body parts found in the river on May 25 were later found to be those of 36-year-old Suzanne Blamires. The body of Susan Rushworth, 42, has not yet been found. She went missing a year ago.

Griffiths is due to appear at Bradford Crown Court via video link from Wakefield Prison on Monday.