POLICE trying to solve the mystery death of Evelyn Lund are studying a five-day Evening Telegraph investigation as part of their hunt for clues.

The move came as the man labelled the police's prime suspect - husband Robert - said he had no regrets about lifting the lid on their tumultuous marriage.

Robert, 51, said he hoped the investigation would help push the police enquiry in France to an end and enable the funeral of his wife to take place.

He said this would then enable the estate of Mrs Lund, formerly of Winter Hill, Darwen, to be administered.

Evelyn, whose first husband Arthur Taylor was from Burnley and whose parents live in Cotswold Avenue, Rawtenstall, was found in a French lake in October 2001.

She disappeared in December, 1999, on her way home to the couple's farmhouse near Castres.

Robert has always accepted he was the prime murder suspect but stressed throughout our investigation that he had nothing to do with her death.

Today Det Chief Insp Ian Kennedy said: "We have been assisting the gendarmes with their investigations since Evelyn went missing.

"Obviously, any new information that comes to light is of interest to us and we will be studying the articles which have appeared in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph to establish whether they can assist with our investigation."

Mr Lund told the Evening Telegraph said he loved Evelyn but admitted he slapped his wife during their violent marriage and even sought to demonstrate his theory of how a misjudged three-point turn at the French lakeside resulted in tragedy.

Mr Lund said today: "I have friends in Blackburn and Todmorden and the general feedback is that the articles have been positive.

"Hopefully now things will get moved on.

"We want to get the estate of my wife administered, which at present is being blocked.

"The enquiry is still on-going therefore we need to get an end post in sight."

Mr Lund said he was always confident speaking out because he had nothing to hide.

He said: "Whilst being implicated I never considered not speaking to the Press.

"I have been able to tell the truth right from the word go because I have nothing to hide. Being open like this I have not had to make stories up."