Murder suspect's car is recovered

Clare Wood was found dead on Friday

A car belonging to a man wanted over a murder in Greater Manchester has been seized by police.

Police want to trace George Appleton in connection with the death of Clare Wood, 36, whose badly burnt body was found at her home in Blackfriars.

Officers have been examining Mr Appleton's red Ford Escort estate since it was found on Greengate, in the city centre, on Monday evening.

Police revealed the 40-year-old contacted women via the internet.

A number of women told detectives they had had online contact with the murder suspect through dating and social networking websites.

Mr Appleton is known to use aliases on the websites he visits.

Appleton might be trying to contact women online and arranging to meet them

Det Supt Pete Jackson, Greater Manchester Police

His car was taken away after it "became clear that Mr Appleton had not returned to the car for some time", added a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police.

Ms Wood, who has a 10-year-old daughter, had been in a relationship with Mr Appleton. Her body was found on Friday.

Detectives emphasised that women who had had recent contact with Mr Appleton on dating websites should not attempt to meet him and contact police if they hear from him.

Det Supt Pete Jackson, leading the murder inquiry, said: "We are still worried that Appleton might be trying to contact women online and arranging to meet them."

Meanwhile information about Mr Appleton has been circulated to all major ports and transport networks.

Searches in the local area have also been stepped up.

CCTV footage of Mr Appleton, taken outside his house in Adelphi Court, Salford, on Thursday, was released by police at the weekend.

He is seen wearing tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down them, white Reebok trainers, a dark puffer jacket and a woolly hat with brown, red and purple stripes.