Police looking to identify skeletal remains

Police are attempting to identify a man whose skeletal remains were discovered behind a bush by a dog walker.

The remains are thought to have been left in the residential street some time during the past week - although the man, said to be over 70 years old, had been dead for at least six months, Scotland Yard said.

A post-mortem examination has proved inconclusive and the death is being treated as unexplained. No arrests have been made.

Police believe the man had been sleeping rough before he died.

His remains were found in Lovelinch Close, Peckham, south east London, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We have yet to identify the dead man and ask anyone who may be able to assist in naming him to come forward.

"The deceased is believed to be white, and is thought to be at least 70 years old, and about 5ft 4in tall. He had a long grey beard, and grey hair.

"He was wearing dark-coloured trousers and a white T-shirt which had 'England 2002 World Cup Campaign' on the front and a large St George's cross on the back.

"There was also a dark-coloured suit jacket with the body, but the deceased was not wearing it."

He added that the remains had been placed where they were found at some point between 2pm on August 5 and 7.45am on the day they were found.

A man who saw the body said the remains had been tied up in a windsurfing bag.

SOURCE:PA