MYSTERY STILL surrounds the death of a man who was discovered lying in a canal at Romsey on New Year's Day.

Police have named the man as 70 year-old Gordon Newman from the Romsey area.

However, his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Officers were called to the canal behind the Plaza Theatre in Winchester Road after Mr Newman's body was found at about 7.30am.

A post-mortem was conducted by a pathologist at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

The examination proved inconclusive and further tests are required to establish a specific cause of death.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "It will be some time before the results of these tests become known.

"But the death is not being treated as suspicious."

Meanwhile, police are continuing to prepare a file for the coroner and the spokesman added that an inquest would be opened in due course.

It is hoped that the tests will establish how long Mr Newman was lying in the shallow, freezing water in the canal near to the footpath to Timsbury Village.

New Year's Day walkers enjoying a frosty morning stroll were turned away from the path by police officers guarding the scene.

The area had been sealed off while forensic experts carried out an extensive search.

The tragedy has saddened residents living in the quiet neighbourhood.