POLICE have started to unravel the mystery surrounding a badly decomposed woman's body found on the banks of the River Kent south of Kendal.

An appeal to police forces nationwide was launched after the remains were discovered by a passer-by near Force Bridge at Sedgwick on the morning of February 4.

This week, police divers joined the operation, swimming through the river's cold, dark waters searching for clues.

Det Insp Mike Forrester, who is leading the investigation, said police experts were fairly sure the woman was aged between 17 and 23 when she died.

He said the main priority was still finding her identity and investigators were combing through hundreds of missing persons' descriptions.

Despite the woman being dead for some time, Det Insp Forrester said the police experts were still able to take DNA samples that were being matched to police files.

However, he said the investigators still did not know who she was and he made a renewed an appeal for any information anyone might have.

"Someone may have seen something out of the ordinary they didn't think at the time warranted contacting the police," he said. "However unimportant they think that information may be, I would urge them to get in touch and then I can decide its importance."

He added that the river ran close to a road used by motorists to get to the A590 and a driver might have seen something unusual.

Det Insp Forrester said the deceased could have been underwater and got dislodged by the rushing flood-waters, or the rising water could have washed the body from its resting place.

"We don't know whether she was deposited or exposed there," he said.

He added members of the public had already contacted the police with information but he could not reveal what that was.

The dead woman was dressed in plain cream long trousers, a Jodie Jo t-shirt with 'Little Italy', '142nd Street, NYC' written on it, and a front-zipped hooded woollen cardigan.

A zigzag-shaped bracelet and a blue topaz dress ring were also recovered from the scene. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Kendal police on 01539-722611.