Detectives investigating the murder of Swindon man Darren Carley in 2002 have made two arrests.

A 50-year-old man from Gloucester and a 36-year-old woman from Worcester were held today on suspicion of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Hurst of Lancashire’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “I’d like to thank those people who have already come forward with information.

“While these arrests mark a significant point in our investigation, I’d like to reiterate that our enquiries are ongoing.

"If you have any information at all about Darren, or his final movements, please let us know.

“Any information you have could be vital to our investigation and establishing exactly what happened to Darren.”

Darren was last seen at home on Lyndhurst Crescent, Park North, in January 2002.

Human remains were found on farmland in Charnock Richard, near Chorley, in July that year.

This sparked a major investigation but the identity of the man remained unknown for over 15 years.

But advances in DNA allowed police to identify the body as Darren, who went missing from his home in Swindon in January 2002. He was 24 at the time.

Following the identification, a fresh appeal for information about Darren’s murder was launched earlier this month.

Earlier this month when Darren's body was finally identified, his mum Barbara, who lives in Swindon, spoke spoken of her relief at having her missing son’s body returned to her.

The 81-year-old Park North woman said: “I don’t have to worry about what was happening to him.”

At the time of her son’s disappearance, Barbara issued emotional pleas for information. Through the pages of the Swindon Advertiser she told her son: “I love you, please come ome.”

She added: “I just keep breaking down and crying every time I think about it. He always said he wanted to go to Manchester, but whether he’s gone there I don’t know.”

A year after he disappeared, Barbara told reporters: “In my heart I think someone has done him a mischief. It has been absolutely dreadful over the last year.

"We’ve heard nothing and Darren would ring me regularly when he was happy or unhappy.”

On the day of his disappearance Darren had split from a girlfriend with whom he had lived in Birmingham.

He was unemployed at the time he went missing but had previously worked in shops and warehouses.

Police said Darren was last seen wearing white tracksuit bottoms with black stripes, an orange fleece and white trainers. He was 5ft 6ins tall, with brown eyes and short, mousey hair.

Anyone with information should contact us on 101, ask for Lancashire Police and quote log number 456 of October 4 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.