The badly-burned body of a man was discovered in a blazing garden shed in the Midlands today. The body was found in Orchard Grove, Kidderminster.

They were called shortly before 7.30am to the fire by a woman and were shocked to discover the body of a man.

He is believed to have been in his 60s, but his name has not been released by police who are investigating the blaze. Officers were today carrying out forensic checks and talking to people in the village in an attempt to discover what happened and confirm the identity of the man.

Shocked villagers awoke to the news and to discover police tape sealing off Orchard Grove.

Inspector Gurjit Singh, of Kidderminster Police, said: “We can confirm that following a shed fire in the garden of a house in Caunsall a man’s body has been found.

“The man has not yet been identified and inquiries are continuing.

“The cause of the fire is unknown and the man’s death is being treated as unexplained.”

Alec Mackie, from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The alarm was raised by a woman who called fire control to report the shed fire but said she did not know the whereabouts of her husband.”