Police are heading to China to continue investigations

Twenty people were killed when they were caught in fast incoming tides off the Lancashire coast in February.

Three more Chinese families have told police they had relatives working in the bay that have not been seen since.

Meanwhile, a detective has been taken off the inquiry for using a racially offensive word.

DNA evidence

Officers are travelling to China on Wednesday to try to confirm the identities of all the dead.

Eight detectives from Lancashire Police are going to the Fujian Province to find out if three more could have died.

The officers are due to speak to relatives of all the victims and plan to collect DNA evidence during the trip.

A police spokeswoman said: "There are three missing people whose families in China have said they think they were at Morecambe Bay.

Racial slur

"These people have not been in touch with their families since the tragedy.

"It's quite possible that there are three more bodies, but it might be that they were not at Morecambe on that night."

On Tuesday it emerged Detective Constable Neil Thompson had been removed from the inquiry for using an offensive racial word.

He has been given a formal written warning after using the slur during an interview with a then suspect in the case.

Bail extended

A Lancashire police spokesman said: "This is extremely demeaning for any officer, particularly when the case is one of such high profile national interest and concern."

Inquiries into the tragedy 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.