A MAN has appeared in court accused of the murder of a missing grandad whose body was found in a Lancashire reservoir.

Portuguese national Candido Pereira, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, was brought before the town’s magistrates’ court yesterday to face a charge of murdering Darren McMinn on April 11.

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The body of 48-year-old Mr McMinn was discovered in the Yarrow Reservoir in Hodge Brow near Rivington in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr McMinn was last seen on April 11 and his disappearance sparked a missing-person inquiry that saw specialist undercover search teams scouring 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 37-year-old 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.

He 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.

Two other men, aged 34 and 29, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, have been bailed pending further police inquiries.

As a result of the arrest, one of them has been recalled to prison on a separate matter.

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

Jeff Robby, 53, had been friends with the grandfather, who had held a variety of jobs including warehouse work, since childhood.

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

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

“He has always been the same: happy, bubbly and genuine.

“You could not 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.”