QLocal was the first to break the story of a police search for a buried body in Bickerstaffe this time last week.

According to an officer at the scene, his colleagues were on a 'training exercise' in woodland owned by Lord Derby off Intake Lane on 19 November.

Excuse me? Some training exercise!

Reporter Roger Blaxall returned this morning and after taking these exclusive photos called the enigmatic M - who's very well connected locally - for an update.

This afternoon, the Merseyside Police PR office issued this statement: "We can confirm Merseyside Police officers have today, Thursday 26th November, finished a search of land near Intake Lane on the border of Bickerstaffe and Rainford.

"Officers were responding to reports suggesting a body had been historically buried on the land.

"An extensive search of the area has been carried out over the past seven days but nothing has been located."

The statement added that the search was not confirmed to any historical investigations being carried out by Merseyside Police.

And while the police team might have left the 'Big Wood' (as it's known locally) it's not the end of the story...

In fact they're now switching their attention to two areas of woodland in nearby Rainford - although exactly where is still unknown.

Over to you M...