AN ANONYMOUS caller alerted police to the incident in Tabley from a public phone box.

Detective Inspector Paul Rumney said the man phoned from Plumley Moor Road after spotting someone being attacked at Burnt House Farm.

"We need to establish who made the 999 call and whether he was a Good Samaritan or someone involved in the attack whose conscience got the better of him," he said.

"The caller had no noticeable accent and could be from anywhere in the country."

Journalists heard a recording of the call at a press conference at Congleton Police Station yesterday.

The man was heard telling police that he had just left the M6 and had seen an incident on June 19.

"It looked like there was three men beating somebody up in the courtyard," he said.

"It didn't look nice at all." Police responded immediately and found 43-year-old Brian Waters dead and another man seriously injured.

During the press conference it emerged Mr Waters, who was from Nantwich and had worked as market trader, had been renting the farm, but was not living there.

Cannabis was found at the property.

Police are still searching for up to four people who were seen running away from Burnt House Farm. Officers have appealed to members of the drugs and criminal fraternity for help. Yesterday it emerged that police had taken advice from the Crown Prosecution Service before releasing details of the incident for fear of prejudicing the trials of three men already in custody.

It is the first time Cheshire Police have offered a reward despite making arrests in a case.

"We have decided now is the optimum time to do this for the inquiry," said Det Insp Rumney. Farmers near Knutsford were asked to provide information to police after the incident on June 19.

They called for anyone working in the fields around Tabley to report anything suspicious.

"We've had a lot of support from the public around Tabley and I would like to thank them for that," he said.

"As lines of inquiry develop we may need to go back to members of the public again."

Anyone who can help police with their inquiries can call 01244 613550 or 0800 555111.