POLICE have launched an investigation as to how the body of a road accident victim lay undiscovered for more than four hours.

Officers found a high-powered motorbike on a grass verge after being called to Mountbatten Way flyover to deal with a report of an abandoned vehicle in the early hours of Saturday.

However, despite searching the area, they failed to find the body of its 38-year-old rider and moved the machine to the side of the road before leaving.

But the driver appears to have been thrown from the motorcycle and was later discovered yards down the road, underneath a central reservation barrier.

It is not known whether he was alive or dead at the time of the first police call.

A New Forest motorist on his way to work at about 7.30am on Saturday made the shocking discovery and called 999.

Today police confirmed that an inquiry was taking place.

A spokesman said: "We are looking at all matters in relation to the accident, including the discrepancy as to how the vehicle was found at 3.16am and the body was not discovered until 7.30am.''

Officers closed the flyover to traffic as they examined the scene following the discovery, causing tailbacks as far as the Redbridge flyover.

The road was reopened later in the morning.

It is not yet known what caused the rider to come off his red Kawasaki 750 bike but police do not believe any other vehicle was involved.

The victim's identity was due to be released today when relatives have been informed but police have confirmed he was a local man and was not married.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact PC Neil Budden at Shirley traffic police on 0845 045 4545.