Tests fail to give clues in man's death

A post-mortem held on the body of a man found near woodland at Kidderminster has proved inconclusive.

Youths playing on a grass off Spennells Valley Road made the discovery at 7pm on Wednesday.

Police are waiting for the results of toxicology and other tests after pathologists failed to establish a cause of death at a post-mortem yesterday.

An inquest on the death of the man, a local resident in his 40s, is expected to be opened today by the Worcestershire coroner and adjourned pending the results of the police investigation.

The man has been formally identified but his name has not been released by police.

Detective Inspector Dean Jones said the death was still being treated as unexplained but added officers were not seeking anyone else in connection with the matter.

Police closed off Spennells Valley Road following the discovery of the body on Wednesday evening. They also taped off a 40-yard area of woodland from a wooden footbridge.

The road was reopened yesterday but police tape still surrounded the area where the body was found.

People living in nearby Heronswood Road said they were shocked at the discovery in the woods near to an area popular with children and dog-walkers. It is not known how long the body lay in the woodland.