Police searching for body parts of two missing prostitutes have revealed that a black suitcase they found underwater contained tools.

Forensic tests were being carried out on what could be human remains recovered on Saturday from the River Aire in Shipley, West Yorkshire, a short distance from where other parts of prostitute Suzanne Blamires had been dumped.

Criminology student Stephen Griffiths, 40, who dubbed himself the "crossbow cannibal", appeared in court on Friday charged with the murders of Ms Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, who all went missing in Bradford.

Ms Blamires, 36, was last seen last Friday, while Ms Armitage, 31, has been missing since Monday April 26, and Ms Rushworth, 43, disappeared on June 22 last year.

Griffiths is charged with murdering Ms Blamires between May 20 and May 25; murdering Ms Rushworth between June 22 2009 and May 25 this year, and murdering Ms Armitage between April 25 and May 25 this year.

Griffiths will appear before Bradford Crown Court again on June 7 via video link from Wakefield Prison.