DETECTIVES in Winchester have launched an investigation after the body of a 49-year-old man was found near the city centre.

Officers were called to the woods behind the former Red Cross building near Durngate Place by paramedics from Hampshire Ambulance Service.

It is understood that ambulance staff were alerted by an anonymous call.

A post-mortem examination conducted yesterday by a Home Office pathologist has revealed no obvious cause of death. Police are awaiting toxicology results.

Police say that, as with any sudden death, they are currently treating it as suspicious and investigations are continuing into how he died.

The man, who is understood to be local, has not yet been named as officers are still trying to contact all his family.

The body was discovered at about 7.40pm on Wednesday. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Winchester CID on 0845 045 4545.

A 27-year-old man from Winchester was arrested and questioned in connection with this incident but was later released on police bail without charge.