POLICE are hunting a killer who dumped the mutilated body of his victim in a suitcase outside Basingstoke's train station.

The body of a young Asian man in his mid-20s was found in the four-feet by three-feet case on the pavement outside Basingstoke Cycle Works - about 80 yards from the station entrance - on Thursday evening after a passer-by spotted it and sounded the alarm, thinking it might be a bomb.

Police are searching for an Asian man in his late 40s who was seen abandoning the case.

Detective Inspector Bob Duncan, one of the officers heading the murder enquiry, said: "The young man in the case died from severe lacerations. We believe a sharp, heavy weapon was used.

"He died of wounds to his head and body - there were a number.

"We have a witness who saw a slightly-built Asian man drop the case off outside the station.

"He was wearing a brown suit and a tie and a three-quarter-length coat. He walked off with another smaller navy blue suitcase and three white plastic bags.

"He may have got on a train or he may have turned around and gone away from the station. Someone must have seen him."

Police questioned commuters at the station at the same time on Friday night to see if anyone had seen the Asian man or if he had got on their train.

The Asian man is believed to have been taken to the station in a taxi from Audley's Wood Thistle Hotel in Alton Road - two miles away.

A murder incident room has been set up at Basingstoke police station. Anyone with information should call Basingstoke CID on 0845 045 45 45.