Three more families fear their loved ones were working in the bay

They will take DNA samples from the relatives of the 20 cocklers who are known to have died.

They will also interview the families of three other people, who, it is feared, may also have drowned.

The cocklers died when they were caught in fast incoming tides off Hest Bank on the bay.

Charges dropped

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Brunskill, in charge of the two-week trip to China, said: "We now believe we know the names of all 20 of the victims but we need to travel to China in order to obtain DNA evidence that will confirm the identities.

"At this time, there are still three outstanding missing persons who were believed by their families to be cockle pickers at Morecambe, and have not been in contact since the tragedy.

"We will have a clearer picture about this after the work in China has been completed."

Inquiries are expected to take a further two to three months.

Two people arrested over the deaths of the cockle pickers had all charges against them dropped on Tuesday.

A further six arrested in connection with the tragedy have had their bail extended by Lancashire Police.

Four of these six are no longer suspected of manslaughter and are being questioned over immigration offences.