MURDER inquiry detectives investigating the suspicious death of a 62-year-old man in the Kendal Hotel fire are "vigorously pursuing" a number of lines of inquiry.

But they are still seeking the help of anyone who may be able to supply them with information about who was in the hotel in the lead up to the fire in the early hours of January 7 in which Norman Picken died.

The two youths who featured in CCTV footage walking up Finkle Street in the direction of the hotel and Jazz's nightclub have been eliminated from inquiries after they came forward following publication of video 'still' in The Westmorland Gazette.

Police were anxious to speak to the two men as they continue to piece together the movements of everyone who was at the club and the area of the hotel that night.

The footage was shown on a hi-tech screen in the window of Hadwins Ltd, Finkle Street, on Saturday, with a policeman standing by to speak to members of the public who had any relevant information.

Detective Inspector Geoff Steele said: "We are pleased that the individuals have come forward and have been eliminated from the inquiry.

It was a big drain on our resources and means that we can now concentrate on other issues.

"We remain very confident that unknown individuals have been inside the Kendal Hotel prior to the fire alarm activating at around 12.30am.

These individuals have still not come forward despite all our appeals.

"I would like to personally stress that there might well be innocent explanations for being in the hotel.

As with the two men on the video tape, we deal with all these matters with fairness and an open mind."

DI Steele said he was very pleased with the level of support the police received from members of the public viewing the video tape on Saturday.

"We are pursuing all lines of inquiry vigorously and they revolve around who was in the hotel that night," he said.