A man’s body was discovered in an overgrown pool in countryside near Lichfield by police officers called to the scene of a car accident.

Officers who went to Wood End Lane in Curborough in the early hours of Sunday found the car abandoned across the road and later discovered the body submerged in a pool in fields off the country lane.

A passing driver had called the police at around 2.15am after spotting the grey Mazda 323, which had hit concrete fencing.

But when police officers arrived at the scene they found the car was empty.

Later, in the light of day, the 20-year-old man’s body was discovered in an overgrown pond in a nearby field. Police officers and firefighters worked together using an inflatable craft to recover the victim from the water at the rural spot close to Curborough Sprint Course.

Staffordshire Police spokesman Peter Stevens said investigations were being carried out to establish whether there was a connection between the body found in the water and the Mazda.

“The indications are that the man in the pond had at some point been in the vehicle,” he said.

Mr Stevens said inquiries were under way to ascertain the man’s identity and the circumstances surrounding his death.

“We are keen to find out where this vehicle had been earlier in the evening,” he said. “The indication is that it came from the direction of Lichfield before driving along Wood End Lane.

“We are appealing for any information from anyone who knows anything about this vehicle or who was driving it.”

A post mortem was due to be carried out on the body today.

Staffordshire Police are urging anyone with any information about the incident to contact Sgt Philip Hudson on 0300 123 4455.