Police today revealed that a murder victim, whose battered body was found in the grounds of a former nursing home in Bradford, was a successful businessman and great granddad.

Edward Simpson, 56, has been subjected to an "absolutely brutal and vicious assault" in his detached home in Sticker Lane, Laisterdyke, and died of multiple injuries.

Mr Simpson, known as Teddy, is then thought to have been bundled into a car and dumped in the secluded lane near to the derelict Shirley Manor Residential Home off Huddersfield Road, Lower Wyke.

Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor, of West Yorkshire police's homicide and major inquiry team, who is leading the murder investigation, said police did not have a motive at this stage.

He said Mr Simpson, who was married with four grown up children, seven grand children and a great grandchild, was known to police.

But Det Supt Taylor said: "He did not deserve that. We need to put 100 per cent in to detecting his murder for Teddy and his family, who are very, very distressed."

Mr Simpson's body was found on the lane by two council workmen at the site, which is now used as a storage depot. The body had not been concealed.

Police said Mr Simpson, who ran stone sales and car businesses, had been attacked at his home between 7pm and 8pm on Wednesday.

His body was discovered at 8.40am on Thursday and police are anxious to find out what happened to him during the missing 12 hours.

The lane and woods are open to the public but it is understood there are security patrols around the buildings during the night.

The former residential home is walled up and graffiti has been sprayed on the buildings.

One woman resident, living nearby in Huddersfield Road, said local people walked their dogs in the woods.

But she said the grounds were also used by teenagers from a local council estate to ride motorbikes.

She said: "I won't walk my dog there on my own. The youths drive around on bikes and have Rottweiler dogs roaming about with them.

"We have lived here since April and you can hear the bikes at night, but they don't cause us any problems and I have not heard of any other sort of trouble."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on (01274) 373700, or text WYKE, followed by a message, to 07786 200806. Information can also be given by ringing Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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