Cockle pickers are back at Morecambe Bay

David Eden, 60, and his son, also David, are on police bail after being held on suspicion of manslaughter.

The pair, who run the Liverpool Bay Fishing Company, said they came forward as they might have useful information.

They are among seven people who have been held in connection with the deaths of the cockle pickers who were caught by rising tides on Friday.

The five others - three male and two female survivors arrested on Sunday - are still being questioned by police.

The pair's solicitor Tony Nelson issued a statement saying his clients voluntarily handed themselves in to the police as they believed they may have information which was useful to the inquiry.

I am in great danger, I am up to my chest in water... I am dying. Guo Binglong Cockle picker's last call to wife

"There is no suggestion that they were acting as gangmasters, nor of their exploiting those who lost their lives so tragically.

"At no time have my clients ever been to Morecambe Bay, and nor were they ever at any time supervising those who died.

"They had no part in disciplining or organising or employing the Chinese cockle pickers."

The father and son, from Merseyside, were questioned by detectives at Blackpool police station on Tuesday.

Police have not confirmed that they were the two men released on bail.

None of the 19 victims have yet been named by police, who say it could be weeks or months before they are identified.

Last phone call

But details of a poignant last phone call from one of the victims to his wife have emerged.

Father-of-two Guo Binglong, told his wife in China's Fujian province: "I am in great danger, I am up to my chest in water... I am dying," said the Daily Telegraph.

It said the 29-year-old was among those who died in rising tides.

Other cockle pickers went back to work in Morecambe Bay on Tuesday after police declared that the area was no longer a crime scene.