Experts are to probe whether a dismembered skeleton discovered in a shallow moorland grave is the remains of a missing Bradford dad.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Graham Whitton ordered for DNA tests to be carried out on the bones which were discovered by an isolated lay-by in Oxenhope in March 1997.

Officers believe they may belong to dad-of-two Mr Whitton who has not been seen alive in the past decade.

An inquest on the skeleton showed that sections of the head, arms, rib cage and legs had been cut away and were still missing. A forensic pathologist concluded that the unknown man had been killed, dismembered and burned.

It is believed the size, age and time of death of the victim is consistent with those of 38-year-old Mr Whitton who was last seen walking out of a Bradford pub in December 1992.

He had left money and holiday tickets untouched at the friend's house he was staying in Louis Avenue on the city's Canterbury estate. Having walked out of one bar in the area, he said he was walking to another nearby but never arrived.

Yesterday, Mr Whitton's former wife told the Telegraph & Argus she feared he had been murdered after running up huge gambling debts.

Detective Inspector Chris Binns, who leads the hunt for the heavy gambler, said the bones had been stored since their discovery while officers tried to identify them.

He added: "However, advances in DNA testing hopefully give us a new lead to explore."

If a DNA profile can be obtained, this will be checked against Mr Whitton's as well as a list of relevant missing people from Bradford and beyond.

The skeleton's characteristics are also thought to be similar to those of 49-year-old Buttershaw man Leonard Robert Fulbirg who went missing in August 1996.

Det Insp Binns said he had been liaising with officers from Keighley CID who had originally dealt with the gruesome discovery on the Oxenhope to Hebden Bridge Road close to Keighley.

He said: "I have been in contact with the pathologist who will pass them on to the forensic science service to be examined.

"But this is a slow process and it could be a matter of months before we have any results."

Det Insp Binns stressed that there was no concrete evidence to suggest Mr Whitton had been killed and that the DNA test was 'just one more line of inquiry'.

But Bernadette Baker, Mr Whitton's former wife and mother of his two children, believes he "may have been murdered" over gambling debts.

She said he had always made regular visits to his son and daughter and added: "There is no way he would have gone off without telling them what was happening."

Det Insp Binns said: "Obviously we hope that Mr Whitton is alive and well somewhere. We really need anyone who knows anything about him or his whereabouts to contact us so that his family can put their minds at rest."

Anyone with information should contact Bradford South CID on (01274) 376459.