Body found at Haughmond Hill

A body has been discovered at a Shropshire beauty spot by a dog walker.

The body, which has not yet been identified, was found at Haughmond Hill, near Shrewsbury, yesterday afternoon.

Police today said they were treating the discovery as an unexplained death but added that the body appeared to have been there for some time.

Officers attended the scene at about 4pm yesterday.

Police said an investigation had been launched and was at a very early stage.

Maria Wilkinson, a spokeswoman for West Mercia Police, said today: "Police received a report that a member of the public had found what he believed to be a body.

"Officers attended the scene and the discovery was confirmed as being human remains which are thought to have been there for some time.

"The scene has been cordoned off and at this stage the incident is being treated as an unexplained death with the police investigation in its very early stages.

"A Home Office pathologist is due to make an initial assessment of the remains today and a postmortem examination will be held in due course."

She said Mr John Ellery, the coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, had been informed.