Manhunt continues after body found at disused mine

A community in Falmouth is today coming to terms with the news that one of its residents could have been murdered.

It had been thought David Alderson died in a cycling accident when his body was found at a disused mine.

But his death is now being treated as suspicious and a manhunt is underway.

Kathy Wardle reports:

Police investigating the death of David Alderson in Cornwall are continuing their search for a man they'd like to speak to.

33-year-old Kevin Cooper from Redruth was last seen in the Plymouth area on Tuesday morning.

Police have warned people not to approach Mr Cooper if they see him, but to call 999.

Meanwhile, a local community leader has paid tribute to David Alderson. Grenville Chappel from Beacon Community Regeneration said:

"He did come in, he was a pleasant enough sort of fellow, but he kept very much to himself, so we'd see him if he was riding past on his bike or he had some photocopying to do or he'd come in for a cup of tea, but he kept himself very much to himself.

"It was a terrible shock to hear what's happened, when we first thought he'd had an accident, that was a big enough shock and in fact we'd started the last meeting last week with a minutes silence as a tribute to him.

"But to hear he's been murdered is absolutely shocking and I think the whole estate are quite shocked about it."

Police have tonight launched a murder inquiry after a man found in an old copper mine in Cornwall didn't die accidentally. The body of 72 year old David Alderson was found at Wheal Maid near Redruth earlier this month.

They're now seeking a 33 year old man in connection with the death. Our Cornwall correspondent Steve Hardy reports.

Police investigating the death of a 72 year old man from Falmouth have released a picture of a man they are seeking in connection with the death.

33 year old Kevin Cooper (above) from Redruth has been reported missing by his family and police are now trying to trace him.

David Alderson's body was found on Saturday. It was initially thought he had died in a cycling accident, but now a murder investigation has been launched.

Police have warned people not to approach Mr Cooper if they see him, but to call 999.

A murder inquiry is underway in Cornwall tonight after police said a man found in an old copper mine didn't die accidentally.

72 year old David Alderson from Falmouth was found at Wheal Maid near Redruth on January 18th. He'd been biking in the old mine works.

At first police thought he'd fallen off his bike. But this afternoon they held a news conference to announce that he'd been murdered.

A man found dead at a mine works in Cornwall is believed to have had a serious cycling accident, police said.

The body of David Alderson, 72, was discovered within the grounds of the works, at Wheal Maid, near Carharrack.

Mr Alderson, a keen cyclist from Falmouth, was found by a dog walker at the former copper mine at around 9am on Saturday.

Officers are also trying to trace a vehicle in relation to Mr Alderson - a red Ford Fiesta Freestyle, registration number RV51 MZZ.

Mr Alderson was wearing a blue fleece, dark Ron Hill running trousers and black Specialised Sport TR cycling shoes when he was discovered on Saturday.

Police say a body found on Saturday 18 January at Carharrack, Cornwall, was a man in his seventies from Falmouth.

A local dog walker located the body in the grounds of the mine works at Wheal Maid near Carharrack. Police think the man died at the scene but an investigation into the circumstances of his death is continuing.

A man's body has been found within the grounds of a mine works at Wheal Maid, near Carharrack, in Cornwall.

It was discovered early this morning by a dog walker.

Police believe the man, aged between 50 - 65, had a serious accident within the works and died at the scene. His identity is unknown at this time.

He has a full grey beard and a bald head. He was dressed in a blue fleece, dark coloured running bottoms and black Specialized Sport TR cycling shoes.

He was also wearing a pair of brown gardening gloves. A pair of spectacles and a black baseball cap were located nearby.

The area is used by mountain bikers, and officers are appealing for any cyclists who may have seen the man in the area to contact them on 101.