Body found in burning skip outside Manchester Apollo

Police discovered the body after being called to deal with a fire

A man has been shot dead by police in Islington, north London (Getty Images)

A body has been found in a burning bin wagon near a major music venue in Manchester.

Police and fire crews discovered the body after they were called to the scene of a fire in a bin lorry found in a car park on the A57 Hyde Road in Ardwick, Manchester at about 5.30 am.

The car park is adjacent to the Apollo Theatre.

The police do not know if the body discovered is a man or a woman. The A57 road has been closed in both directions between A665 Devonshire Street North and the A6 Stockport Road and a police investigation is under way.

The Manchester Fire Service has posted on Twitter telling people to avoid the area while they work with police.

A Veolia spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: “We can confirm that at approximately 5am on Monday 15 September, a fire was reported in the rear of one of our commercial vehicles located in a car park on the A57 in Ardwick, Greater Manchester.

"Both the fire brigade and police attended the scene.

"We can confirm this matter is now subject to an ongoing police investigation and we cannot comment further.