A partially burned body has been discovered in open countryside close to the A684 Kendal to Sedbergh Road this morning (Friday, April 25).

The body of the unidentified man was found by a member of the public in a field close to a dry-stone wall at around 10.20am.

Police cordoned off an area around a minor road only a few hundred yards from the junction of the A684 Sedbergh Road and the M6 motorway near Killington Services.

Forensic experts were on the scene and a Home Office pathologist was expected later today. After an initial investigation, the body will be taken to Westmorland General Hospital at Kendal for a post mortem examination. A search of fields and hedgerows around the scene is expected to follow.

Speaking at the scene today, Inspector Tudor Griffiths, of Kendal police, confirmed that police did not yet know the age or ethnic background of the man or how long he had been dead.

"We do not know how long he has been there but the post mortem should give us some indication of the time of death," he said, and added that it was too early to speculate as to how he met his death but police were treating it as suspicious.

Inspector Griffiths said they were interested to speak to anyone who was in the area last night (Thursday) or early this morning. Anyone with information should call Cumbria police on 01539-722611.

April 25, 2003 17:02