THE body of a young man has been discovered hanging in woodland next to the grounds of a private Southampton school.

The man's body was found hanging from a tree by a dog walker near The Gregg School in Mansbridge.

Police sealed off an area around the body while investigations got under way.

Yesterday afternoon police investigating the find had sealed off the path leading to the scene site, which is in the small Marlhill copse behind the Haskins Garden Centre on the A27.

The copse is a regular spot for dog walkers who live in the surrounding area.

The dead man is understood to be in his 20s although he has not yet been formally identified by police.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out and the Southampton coroner's office has been informed.

Detectives said initial investigations into the death showed there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances.

The discovery was made at 11.10am yesterday morning. It is unclear how long the man had been dead.

The site is also just metres away from the 20-acre grounds of The Gregg School, which charges £2,270 per term.

Police said the deceased was not thought to have any connection with the school, which has 300 pupils aged from 11 to 16.