Body parts found in barrel in Melbourne

19:56 AEST Tue Oct 27 2009

A barrel containing human body parts believed to be that of a woman has been pulled from a creek bed in Melbourne's north.

Police on Tuesday would not confirm the sex of the body until a pathologist's examination but said indications were that it was a woman.

Detective Sergeant Peter Trachias told reporters there was no indication of the identity or age of the victim.

As he spoke, search and rescue police and SES volunteers waded through the Jack Roper Reserve Creek at Campbellfield looking for evidence in an area that was cordoned off as a crime scene.

"Hopefully in the next couple of days we'll have a few more leads," Det Sgt Trachias said.

"We are yet to establish the identity or the cause of death."

The black plastic barrel was among debris pulled out of the creek in a clean-up last Saturday and had been taken to a factory at nearby Merola Way.

Workers at the factory opened the barrel on Tuesday after noticing a foul smell coming from it.

"When the workers opened the barrel, they were shocked when they discovered the body," Det Sgt Trachias said.

He appealed for anybody who may have been in the park in recent days and may have seen something suspicious or who had seen the barrel in the creek to contact police.

They will investigate whether the remains belong to murdered Melbourne child care worker Raechel Betts or missing Bendigo woman Krystal Fraser.