A BURNED body found in a field at Killington, near Kendal, has been identified as that of 59-year-old Londoner, John William Harvey.

His body was found at around 10.20 am on Friday, April 25, by a motorist who stopped to investigate smoke rising from a field beside a minor road off the A684 Kendal to Sedbergh road, close to its the junction with M6.

A post mortem examination showed that Mr Harvey, from Enfield, North London, had died of head injuries. The Metropolitan Police began a murder inquiry on Monday and are working with officers from Kendal.

Mr Harvey was last seen in London on Tuesday, April 22. Police said he had probably been dead for several hours before being set alight using some sort of accelerant.

Reports of smoke seen in the area to the north of Killington Lake on Friday morning have led police to believe the body could not have been dumped in the field any later 6.30 am.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw a suspicious person or vehicle in the area before 6:30 am to contact the incident room on 01539-722611.

Officers are also keen to speak to anyone who worked or stayed at Killington Lake Services from Thursday night to Friday morning, to anyone who had recently used the service road to Killington Services road and to anglers who had used the Lake.

April 28, 2003 16:00