TRIBUTES have been paid to a Bolton grandfather whose body was found in a reservoir.

Darren McMinn, aged 48, was discovered in the Yarrow Reservoir in Hodge Brow, near Rivington, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Portuguese national Candido Pereira, of Chorley New Road, appeared before Bolton magistrates today charged with murder.

He is accused of carrying out the offence on April 11.

Mr McMinn, who was single, was devoted to his only son Saul, Saul's partner Kirstie Morris and their young son Regan.

Tributes have been paid to former warehouseman Mr McMinn – who was known as Macky.

Jeff Robby, aged 53, who owns Skin City Tattoo Studio in Tonge Moor Road, Hall I' Th' Wood, had been friends with the grandfather since childhood.

Mr Robby, who set up a tribute page on Facebook, said: "I was very shocked when I heard the news.

"There's a lot of sadness and as you can see from Facebook there's a lot of people who had a lot of time and respect for Macky."

Mr Robby, who attended Castle Hill High School in Tonge Moor with Mr McMinn, said: "He has always been the same: happy, bubbly and genuine. You couldn't meet a nicer lad. He was loved by everybody and was a true gentleman.

"He loved football – he supported Bolton Wanderers – and he loved sports training. He always kept himself fit and he had completed some qualifications to become a gym instructor."

Mr McMinn attended Mr Robby's tattoo parlour twice last year to have separate designs applied. He had an angel etched on the top of his back and later had a pair of hands, clasped in prayer and holding rosary beds, inked on the middle of his back.

Other acquaintances took to social media to pay tribute to Mr McMinn, who has an older brother Carl.

Shirley Chapman said: "Was a good lad. We had so many good times with him in our younger years.

"He did not deserve this. RIP Macky. Sweet dreams."

Mr McMinn was last seen on April 11 and his disappearance sparked a missing person inquiry that saw specialist undercover search teams scouring some of the the borough's lakes and reservoirs.

Prior to going missing, Mr McMinn had moved out of his Connaught Square, Tonge Moor, flat and had spoken of possibly sleeping rough.

Pereira was arrested and charged after the discovery of Mr McMinn's body.

The defendant, dressed in a grey sweatshirt, spoke only to confirm his name and address when he was brought before magistrates yesterday from HMP Forest Bank.

The 37-year-old is also accused of one charge of supplying heroin, a class A drug, and one of producing class B cannabis.

He did not enter any pleas and was remanded back into custody to appear before Manchester Crown Court today.

Pereira, whose profile on the Linked In website says he is a plasterer for Bolton at Home, acknowledged and nodded to a woman in the public gallery as he was being led to and from the cells.

Two other men, aged 34 and 29, who were arrested on suspicion of murder have been bailed pending further police enquiries. As a result of the arrest, one of them has been recalled to prison on a separate matter.