POLICE have extended the bail of a man and a woman from Warrington arrested over the deaths of 39 people found dead in a lorry.

The couple, both aged 38, were arrested last month, two days after dozens of dead bodies were found in the HGV in Grays, Essex.

They had been held on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people, but were later released on bail by Essex Police.

While the pair had been bailed until yesterday, Monday, November 11, the force has now confirmed that their bail dates have been extended until Friday, January 24.

The 31 males – including two 15-year-old boys and a 17-year-old – and eight women found dead were Vietnamese nationals.

Officers executed a search warrant at an address on Wiltshire Close in Woolston at around 7am on Friday, October 25, in connection with the investigation.

Warrington Guardian:

Two Range Rovers, a white Chevrolet sports car and a motorbike were taken away to be examined yesterday, Saturday.

Joanna and Thomas Maher, who both live in Woolston, had earlier told the MailOnline that they had sold the Scania lorry cab – which is registered in Bulgaria – to a company in Ireland.

Police also searched a salon on Fearnhead Lane, which is believed to be owned by Mrs Maher.

Maurice Robinson, a 25-year-old lorry driver from Northern Ireland, has appeared in court charged 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering.

Extradition proceedings have begun against 22-year-old Eamonn Harrison, held in Dublin on a European Arrest Warrant.

Two brothers from Northern Ireland, Ronan and Christopher Hughes, are currently wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking.

And police have made 11 arrests in two provinces of Vietnam in connection with the deaths.