A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said: “If Ian Griffin is in the North West, we would urge him to make contact with police, either in Cheshire or elsewhere in the region.”

Detectives were examining recent financial transactions or cash withdrawals from accounts held by Mr Griffin and Miss Legg.

Miss Legg died from internal bleeding after being attacked. She checked into the hotel alone on Monday and was joined by Mr Griffin later.

A hotel cleaner found the room splattered with blood and furniture smashed. Police said there was clear evidence of a struggle.

The couple are understood to have been in a relationship for three years.

Mr Griffin built up a string of businesses including tanning salons and gadget shops across the North West. But it has been reported the business foundered and he was declared bankrupt in 2006.

Miss Legg ran Vegex which supplies tomatoes to British supermarkets and has a base in Surrey and in her home town in Poland, Opatowek.

The couple initially shared a home in Knutsford which was searched by police but more recently they lived in Oxshott, Surrey.

Police were this weekend stationed outside the £1m home of Mr Griffin’s parents.

His father, Bernard, said he had not seen his son for some time.

Speaking from Opatowek, Miss Legg’s father Jan Wolf told reporters: “It’s devastating.”