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Tucked away in the countryside less than an hour's drive from Liverpool is an attraction which harbours a dark secret. Over 20 metres beneath the surface of Eccleston Delph, Chorley lies a children's playground, armoured personnel carriers and an aeroplane. With several cars and a speedboat that once belonged to comedians Dudley Moore and Peter Cook, the abandoned quarry is a haven for divers to explore.

It has even served as the backdrop for several dramatic TV scenes for shows including Hollyoaks and Coronation Street. In scenes filmed in 2014, Hollyoaks' shady detective Sonny Valentine - portrayed by Aaron Fontaine - was tied up in the boot of a car. As the show's McQueen family looked away, the car could be seen rolling into the quarry.



But Eccleston Delph has had its own real-life crime drama unfolding beneath the surface. Back in 1979, the tranquil spot on Halfpenny Lane was buzzing with activity when the body of a handless corpse was discovered floating near an underwater platform, reports . As divers Jeff Ashcroft and Ian Reading approached the water's edge, they made the grim discovery that would connect the secluded location to an international crime ring.

The state of the body and the nature of the injuries led police to conclude this was no 'ordinary' murder - and this was not a local man, sparking an international murder investigation into the gangland execution. These days, Eccleston Delph is a peaceful haven for wildlife and outdoor swimmers. The on-site dive s.

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