By Nick Griffiths Crime Reporter

Last updated 12:05, Monday, 17 November 2008

A man found dead in a Carlisle river at the weekend is now the centre of a police investigation.

Kenneth Watson

The body of Kenneth Watson, 44, of Ellesmere Way, Morton, was spotted by a passer-by in the River Petteril at 8.30am on Saturday.

Police and the fire service were called out and he was pulled from the water, at the back of Riverside Way, off Greystone Road.

A post mortem examination took place at 5.30pm yesterday but officers said no cause of death had been determined today.

They are treating it as “an unexplained death” and investigations are centring on how Mr Watson ended up in the water. No arrests had been made this morning.

An incident room staffed with some of the force’s most experienced detectives has been set up in the city and they are appealing for the public’s help during the investigation.

Detective Superintendent Andy Slattery said: “We would like to hear from anybody who knew Kenneth Watson and has any knowledge of his movements on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15.

“We are also keen to hear from anyone who was in the area of the river Petteril, upstream from the Warwick Road bridge, and saw anything unusual during this time.

“We have not yet established the circumstances of this incident and we would like to reassure the residents of Carlisle that there is no reason to be alarmed.”

Mr Watson was wearing a blue and beige reversible Rockport jacket, a dark Burberry checked shirt, blue jeans and black trainers.

Anyone with information phone police on 0845 3300247.