A BODY found buried in woodland is expected to be sent for post-mortem today.

But after two days of painstaking forensic work by experts, mystery continues to surround the identity and even the sex of the body.

The experts have been carrying out detailed examination of the area and ground where the body lay since the gruesome discovery in woodland at Worsley on Sunday by a man walking his dog.

Since then forensic and scene-of-crime experts have been carefully clearing away the earth surrounding the body while also preserving vital clues.

Today Det Chief Insp Andy Durkin, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are continuing with our work and hope to be able to remove the body some time later.

"However, we will have to see how the process goes and it may be that we have to continue into tomorrow.

"We have a series of experts at the scene including an entomologist, who is an expert in insects, which will help us establish how long the body has been in the ground.

Experts

"We have compiled a list of missing persons from this and other surrounding areas but until we have the information we need from the body itself there is no way we can confirm whether the body belongs to any of the people on that list."

Scaffolding was erected over an area of land in the woodlands off Walkden Road to enable experts to work at the scene.

Today an ambulance vehicle was parked on Walkden Road, near to the path behind St Mark's vicarage which passes the area of land where the body was found.

Residents this week reacted with shock at hearing the news of the gruesome find.

Gordon Hassall, who walks his border collie in the area, said today: "I come down here in the morning during the week.

"I came on Monday and there were police everywhere and a big white incident van.

"This has not put me off using the path. Normally I do not meet anyone down here but I do tend to see burned out cars here quite a lot."

And he added: "What everyone wants to know is who this is and just how long the body has been here."

Tweet