Police say they think they know who the victim is

The body was found on the foreshore at Bolton-le-Sands in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, on Monday.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of the man's death was drowning.

Twenty bodies of Chinese cocklers who drowned at the bay in rising tides in February have already been found; police believe the death toll was 23.

Visit to relatives

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Brunskill, of Lancashire Police, said: "At this stage it is too early to give a positive identification, but we think we know who he is through documentation found on his body.

"I have spoken this morning to colleagues in China and they will be visiting relatives to confirm that a 21st body has been found."

Charges against two people arrested over the deaths of the cockle pickers were dropped on 13 April.

Another six arrested in connection with the tragedy are currently on extended bail.

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

DNA samples

Officers from Lancashire Police travelled to China to gather DNA samples to help with identification.

Speaking on Thursday, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Brunskill said the families were still coming to terms with the tragedy.

He said: "They could not understand how this could happen in this country.

"As far as they were aware, fishing permits had been issued and they were entitled to be out there working and someone must be responsible for them."