THE funeral arrangements of Stephen Swanton, the missing man whose body was found in the Manchester Ship Canal in December, have been announced.

Stephen disappeared in mid-September when he disappeared from the family home in Brunswick Court, Halliwell, after an argument.

He had been asked to leave the house earlier that day and returned in secret in the evening.

The 33-year-old fled through a window when confronted by mother Caroline Swanton and stepfather Stephen Swanick, who had raised him since he was young.

Unemployed Stephen's body was found in the canal near Media City in Salford on December 16 - one day shy of exactly three months after he went missing.

Formal identification only took place on January 15.

Stephen's family have confirmed details of the funeral as taking place on Monday, February 8, at Overdale Crematorium in Overdale Drive, Heaton, at 2.30pm.

The family have asked that only relatives leave flowers and other mourners may make donations in memory of Stephen to Bolton Hospice.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances of Stephen's death on behalf of the South Manchester Coroner although it is not being treating as murder.

Stephen was found with a broken nose, two broken teeth and a possible neck injury - injuries that could be explained by his movement through the water course.

Bolton officer Detective Inspector Sarah May told The Bolton News previously: "We appeal for anyone who saw Stephen after he went missing to come forward particular around the time he went missing."

The inquest into Stephen's death opened on December 30 and will resume on June 3 at South Manchester's Coroner's Court in Stockport.

No formal cause of death has been recorded pending further post-mortem examination tests.

Stephen's cremation service will take place in the same location where the funeral of his father, also called Stephen, was held in July last year.

Stephen's father had passed away the previous month at the age of 54.